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With some coastal ports constrained for space, a new Ot o hub will alleviate this problem, create hundreds of jobs and remove thousands of heavy trucks from our roads. P6 some coastal ports for a new Otago create hundreds of
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Leading dairy women recognised
Awards
Sonita Chandar
Waikato farmer, and Owl Farm demonstration manager, Jo Sheridan still has a bit of thinking to do about the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme scholarship after she was named the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
The award was announced at the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) 2025 Conference, called “Success through Inspiration”, in Hamilton last month
The Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award celebrates women who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to the dairy industry.
Sheridan was recognised for her outstanding passion and advocacy for the dairy sector.
She will receive a scholarship to be part of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. The scholarship covers the programme fee, travel and accommodation, mentoring and access to DWN and Fonterra platforms to share research. “How awesome is that?” Sheridan said of the scholarship.
“I am still thinking hard about the actual topic I want to study but perhaps it might be something around pathways and making sure they are available for our youngsters wanting to enter the industry.”
Sheridan said she was excited about the win and felt “incredibly humbled” by it.
“When I looked around the room at all the incredible amazing women in the industry, it was very humbling and a privilege to be recognised among them.”
Sheridan said the win was also an emotional one for her as she acknowledged her dad, who passed away 18 months ago.
“Going through the process of the award, you have to reflect on your journey to date and how you had got there. My dad got me into the industry and was integral in my journey so it would have been great if he had been there to see it.
“It was lovely to have my mum there, along with my husband and two boys, and be able to thank and acknowledge
their help and support too.”
Growing up on a dairy farm in South Taranaki, Sheridan developed a deep appreciation for agriculture, later earning a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Soil Science from Massey University. She is a passionate advocate for inspiring young people into the dairy sector.
Sheridan has worked in various roles at DairyNZ, served as an independent industry consultant and in 2019, took on the role of demonstration manager at Owl Farm, a 140-hectare dairy farm and commercial venture at St Peter’s School, where young people can walk straight onto the farm and see firsthand the joy of farming The farm opens regularly for visitor days, bringing dairy farming to the whole community
courage, clarity and heart.”
Anne Douglas, Fonterra’s group director for Farm Source who was part of the judging panel this year, said the calibre and depth of talent across all the nominations and finalists showed the strength of women right across the industry.
“We’re thrilled to see Jo recognised as the winner of the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award,” says Douglas.
“Jo is a passionate and visionary leader, who has proven to have a significant positive impact on stakeholders, partners, communities and farmers. It was clear through the process that she adopts a holistic approach, with a clear focus on sustainability and desire to empower others – especially young people.
Sheridan is also active in governance, serving on school boards and industry committees. Her leadership, innovation and mentorship make her a transformative force in New Zealand’s dairy sector.
DWN trustee and lead judge Jenna Smith said Sheridan brings unstoppable energy, big-picture thinking and a fierce commitment to making things better – for people, for animals and for the future of farming.
“She doesn’t just talk about change; she rolls up her sleeves and makes it happen Jo is tackling complex industry challenges, while passionately championing and empowering young people and innovation.
“For those that know her – and a lot of people do – they know that she is a humble and generous leader, showcasing
“Jo’s authenticity and strategic leadership extends beyond the dairy industry into broader communities, and this recognition feels like just the beginning of even more incredible achievements for her.”
Te Awamutu sharemilker
Aimee Wilson was named the
2025 Dairy Woman’s Network Regional Leader of the Year, sponsored by FMG at the conference. is a dedicated dairy farmer, community leader, and advocate for women in agriculture. With more than a decade of experience in farm management, Wilson values balance in life, prioritising family and farm while remaining actively involved in her local community.
She became a regional leader to learn new skills, experience new opportunities and to meet inspiring women within the industry.
As a hub leader for DWN, Wilson covers the Waikato region, has served on the conference committee and is part of the DWN business groups. She takes pride in creating engaging events for local dairy women and fostering meaningful connections within the sector.
Outside of DWN, she has been involved in her children’s schools and assisting with coaching and managing tennis and youth soccer teams.
Above: Owl Farm demonstration manager Jo Sheridan was named the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year at a gala dinner during the Dairy Women’s Network conference last month.
Right: Te Awamutu sharemilker, Aimee Wilson has been named the 2025 Dairy Woman’s Network Regional Leader of the Year.
We may be a small country that is tucked away at the bottom of the world –and sometimes gets left off world maps – but our agricultural sector is anything but small.
It’s rather big. In fact, it’s huge. Agriculture is the backbone on which our country is built
What will be New Zealand’s largest inland port, planned in the Milburn Quadrant north of Milton in Otago, is a godsend that won’t hit taxpayers in the pocket but will grow export revenue and the regional economy.
Property and construction firm Calder Stewart will privately fund the $3b facility, pictured above, which will help relieve storage constraints on exporters.
Freight volumes have been increasing, and seasonal peaks in forestry and dairy are expected to grow 30-40% over the next 10 years.
Port Chalmers faces storage limits and upgrading other sites to increase storage capacity comes at a huge expense.
The region produces a range of export products, including forestry, dairy, sheep and beef, and an inland port will allow exporters to get their goods away to markets quickly and efficiently.
However, the Port Otago chief executive
reckons the inland port is too far away from the seaside port. But at 63 kilometres, is that really too far? I disagree.
Hamilton’s inland port at Ruakura links Waikato importers and exporters to Auckland and Tauranga, both more than 100km away. The Palmerston North inland port, otherwise known as Te Utanganui Central New Zealand Distribution Hub, links to Wellington, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki.
Again, a lot more than 100km from the nearest seaside port. So it begs the question, how far is too far? Certainly, a mere 63km doesn’t seem to qualify.
Regardless of diverging opinions, a new inland port in Otago will create hundreds of jobs in the region, which could only be good for the morale of the population.
The unemployment rate in New Zealand is currently 5.1%, with the most recent data (as of March 2025), this is unchanged from the previous quarter which was a slight increase from 4.8% in the September 2024 quarter. Getting people back into the workforce is not only good for morale, allowing people to use their skills and take home a decent wage to support their family, it also reduces the strain on social services and budgets. So surely, once again, this is good news for the economy.
Then there is the added benefit of removing thousands of trucks off our roads when our road network infrastructure is costing the country
billions of dollars in works and maintenance. Especially when inland ports or hubs – such as this new one –are near existing railroad networks.
The beauty of the port near Milton is that it is closer than a coastal port to the area’s agricultural producers, is already zoned for industrial development, won’t cost the taxpayer a cent, is shovel-ready, increases export storage capacity and improves regional connectivity.
The new inland port ticks so many boxes that it can’t be seen as anything but a win-win. As I said, it’s a godsend and will be welcome news by many in agriculture. Nice one, Calder Stewart. Agriculture can always do with more champions like you.
The new inland port ticks so many boxes that it can’t be seen as anything but a
CALDER STEWART
Genetic technology - the good and the bad
Soil scientist Doug Edmeades says there are potential benefits of gene technology but there may also be downsides.
The Gene Technology Bill is up for discussion and debate Where to begin?
As a starting point it is useful to recall that there was a Royal Commission on Genetic Modification in 2000. At this time – the report was tabled in 2001 – they advised to “proceed with caution”.
The result, according to one wellinformed commentator, Dr John Caradus, has been that New Zealand is becoming an outlier internationally in developing this potentially important scientific tool. New Zealand, he asserts, “needs to determine, based on evidence, whether the benefits accrued through the use of genetic modification in crops and pasture plants outweigh the real and/or perceived risks”.
The potential benefits include increased crop yields, reduced pesticide and herbicide use, and improved nutritional value of food. These benefits can lead to greater food security, lower food costs, and reduced environmental impact. The potential goals are wide and inviting.
From my New Zealand soil fertility-pasture perspective, for example, how about commencing a programme to develop more drought-tolerant pasture grasses and clovers? How about creating a “super”
“
We must therefore proceed with caution as the royal commission advised in 2001
Doug Edmeades
white clover that fixes more atmospheric nitrogen for free? What about developing pasture plants that are more nutrientefficient and hence require less fertiliser per unit production? The potential wishlist is inviting and very long.
There are of course, as with any new technology, risks. These reduce to concerns about human and ecological health and concerns about the economic impact on “GE-free” markets. The problem at this stage is that we do not know the long-term effects of applying this new technology.
We must therefore proceed with caution, as the royal commission advised in 2001, noting that in the intervening 20-plus years the science internationally around gene technology has progressed and some of the earlier concerns have already been waylaid.
However, it seems obvious to me that if we are to confidently, fully embrace this new technology more science is required, and therein lies the rub The Government’s current investment in research in plant genetics and breeding is woeful. There is now no independent plant breeding research undertaken in New Zealand and the little research currently in progress is short-term cultivar development research undertaken by industry levy bodies and the private sector (such as commercial plant breeding companies). Given the contentious nature of this technology it seems important that the Government has someone to turn to for independent advice.
I have the same problem personally On this topic I am essentially a layman – this is all new science to me too, and so I have to figure out what to read, who to listen to and who to believe to guide me through this labyrinth.
I take comfort from the fact that this is not the first time in our history that humanity has been challenged by some new technology – it has an obvious
descriptor, “technophobia”. The great philosopher Socrates left no written word – he feared that writing things down would damage human memory In the 16th century, with the development of the printing press and subsequent introduction of books, there was concern about information overload generated by “a confusing, harmful abundance of books”.
When steam engines were first developed and tested in the 1800s there were real fears that the human body would “fall to bits” if it travelled at speeds faster than a horse. A flag-bearer preceded the train to warn people of the approaching nasty iron horse!
Adding to this, it is reassuring to reflect that mankind has made tremendous progress since the beginning of the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th century by the application of the scientific method to the problems it encountered.
This is exactly the approach required if we are to make use of this new technology: experimentation, evidence, reason and logic. Leave your pet theories and ideologies at the door – please! It is also comforting to realise that mankind has been manipulating plant and animal genes since the advent of agriculture 10,000 to 12,000 years ago Modern gene technology simply allows us to speed up this process. To reject it on the basis that it is not natural is simply to misunderstand or to miss the point! I will leave you with those immortal words from Roosevelt’s 1933 inaugural speech which paved the way from the Depression to the American “New Deal” programme: “We have nothing to fear except fear itself.”
Plans for NZ’s largest inland port announced
The privately funded facility, north of Milton, would cost $3 billion, and would not require fast-track approval
Commerce
Hamish McNeilly
New Zealand’s largest inland port has been announced, with the $3 billion privately funded project expected to take 10,000 heavy trucks off the road each year.
The 200-hectare Milburn Quadrant development by Calder Stewart is located by State Highway 1 and the South Island’s main trunk rail line.
The site, which is located north of Milton, is zoned for heavy industrial use and requires no public infrastructure investment, according to backers.
But the company is seeking local government support to fast-track approvals, which would then be presented to Government officials and stakeholders in the coming weeks.
The creation of the port is critical for Port Otago, the country’s sixth largest by export, which serves Otago and Southland’s forestry, dairy and aquaculture sectors but has been constrained due to capacity issues.
Calder Stewart land and delivery manager Mark Johnston said the new regional infrastructure will act as a “pressure relief valve” to address storage capacity constraints at Port Chalmers
That comes as freight volumes from central and south Otago are forecast to grow 30-40% over the next decade, driven by seasonal peaks in forestry and dairy exports
“Milburn is a shovel-ready, future-facing development that solves real capacity issues for our exporters. It’s fully privately funded, so it won’t burden ratepayers and offers the scale and connectivity our regional economy urgently needs.”
Johnston noted that Port Chalmers faces container storage limits, with the cost of upgrading alternate sites like its Mosgiel facilities projected to cost more than $100 million in public spending.
Calder Stewart has already completed stage one of the project, which includes a campus with offices and a 10,000m2 steel fabrication facility at Revolution Hills.
The company would build the inland port infrastructure using its own property, design, manufacturing, construction teams and plant.
“With concrete, steel, cranes and a local labour force already onsite, we can deliver faster and more efficiently than anyone else in the market,” Johnston said.
Construction on the inland port is expected to begin within 24 months, subject to resource consent approvals.
All new buildings at the site would have rooftop solar generation and, once fully developed had the potential to generate up to 50MW of power, which could be used onsite or distributed to the local community.
The precinct would also include 30-metre native planting buffers, walking trails, bridges and cycleway integration with the Clutha Gold Trail.
In addition, the facility would support hundreds of jobs, Johnston said.
Clutha District mayor Bryan Cadogan said the project was a decade in the making: “What a magnificent day for the south.”
He praised Calder Stewart “for their vision, for their determination over a number of years to see this come to fruition”.
“This is transformational for the lower south.”
The wider area produces a large amount of forestry, dairy, and sheep and beef products, and this would allow
them to be exported efficiently rather than subjected to bottlenecks, Cadogan said.
“There has never been an announcement in our lifetime that has greater implications for the financial vitality of the south than this.”
Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said the company had been “unaware of their plans, and clearly not a partner of the project”.
Both the port company and Calder Stewart agree that the region is growing, but not on the location of an inland port.
Typically, inland ports are about 20-30kms from a port, but “63km to Milburn is just too far”.
That made it uneconomic for the port, and “we discounted that option a number of years ago, I’m sure much to their disappointment”.
The port is focused on its own project with freight company Dynes Transport – an inland port and logistics hub near Mosgiel. Phase one of the plan is expected to open on an existing site on Dukes Rd later this year.
Councillor Jim O’Malley, of Dunedin City Council, said while he is not involved in the project, he has been advocating at the regional transport committee level for an inland port. “I’m happy to see it happening.”
The development has a large area of industrial land, is closer to forestry areas and means the impact on city roads by heavy trucks would be reduced significantly.
“It strengthens the whole rail prospect of the lower South Island.”
It would also future-proof the area for any changes in the medium to long-term, should large shipping companies decide not to service the South Island.
A plan for a $3 billion inland port south of Dunedin has been revealed.
Above: A cruise ship at Port Otago, Port Chalmers.
Left: Calder Stewart land and delivery manager Mark Johnston.
Explained: Why a company is planning a $3 billion inland port
Transport
Milton, Otago-based construction and property investment and development company Calder Stewart has announced plans for an inland port, that will be part of what it describes as a “$3 billion” development.
The proposed 55-hectare inland port will be part of a development of more than 200 hectares called the Milburn Quadrant, to the north of Milton, which is about 50km southwest of Dunedin
What is an inland port?
An online search turns up a range of variations on the theme, but essentially an inland port, in this context, is a key transport hub located some distance from the coast.
They have good access to road and rail at least – and possibly air transport – and serve as a distribution centre for goods coming in through a port, and as a collection centre for goods that are going to go out through a port
An inland port would have warehouse and distribution centre space and could have customs and tariff processing.
A direct rail connection to the port at the coast is a key advantage for inland ports, helping limit congestion near the seaport.
What does an inland port look like?
They can look a lot like a port on the coast, just without the ships and the water – essentially rows of neatly stacked containers on a large flat area, possibly along with a massive warehouse or two
Why does Otago need an inland port?
In their media release announcing the proposal, Calder Stewart said Port Chalmers – the port near Dunedin – was approaching constraints, particularly for
container storage and log volume. Freight volumes from central and south Otago were forecast to grow 30-40% in the next decade, driven by seasonal peaks in forestry and dairy exports.
“Without scaleable inland port infrastructure, exporters will face rising costs, road congestion and lost opportunities,” Calder Stewart land and delivery manager Mark Johnston said
It was estimated the proposed inland port would eliminate more than 10,000 heavy truck movements each year by shifting volume to rail.
Why Milton?
The Calder Stewart press release said the site was already zoned for industrial development, the project would be privately funded, and no public infrastructure investment would be needed
“With concrete, steel, cranes and a local labour force already on site, we can deliver faster and more efficiently than anyone else in the market.”
The Milburn Quadrant site connected directly to State Highway 1 and the main trunk rail line.
Milton was also closer than Port Chalmers to the area’s agricultural producers, where the bulk of the freight originated.
Where is the project at?
Calder Stewart says it has built Stage 1 of the project, “a state-of-the-art campus with offices and a 10,000 square metre steel fabrication facility at Revolution Hills”.
It expects construction of the inland port facilities to start within 24 months, subject to resource consent approvals.
Johnston told Newstalk ZB work was under way on a master plan now, and
resource consent applications would be lodged later in 2025. The plan was for an integrated inland port with land available to develop warehousing and other industrial buildings.
Many of the details of the proposal have yet to be made public.
Are there other inland ports in New Zealand? Several.
Johnston said the proposal was for something similar to the Ruakura Inland Port, which is on Hamilton’s southeastern boundary.
That serves Waikato importers and
exporters and is linked by rail to Auckland and Tauranga. It was developed in a joint venture by Port of Tauranga and Tainui Group Holdings, and is part of the Ruakura Superhub logistics precinct being developed by Tainui.
Ports of Auckland uses what it calls the South Auckland Freight Hub at Wiri. The hub is operated by Nexus Logistics, whose website says the hub is processing 22 trains a week between the hub and the port, through a private rail siding. Nexus also operates the Manawatū Inland Port at Longburn, near Palmerston North, and the MidlandPort freight hub at Rolleston, west of Christchurch.
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Farming literacy education should include rural flavour
Business adviser Gordon Stuart welcomes the inclusion of financial literacy in the school curriculum
As one door closes another opens. The Sage of Omaha
– Warren Buffett – shocked an arena full of shareholders recently by announcing that he will retire at the end of the year, bringing the curtain down on six decades leading Berkshire Hathaway, which made him the most influential investor in the world.
The Warren Buffett Way is a fantastic read, as are his comments/letters to shareholders such as:
■ “A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”
■ “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get,” Buffett wrote in a 2008 shareholder letter.
Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced an opening. Financial education will be embedded as a core element of the refreshed social sciences curriculum for year 1-10 students, from 2026.
Financial literacy is a life skill which includes understanding budgeting, compound interest, long-term savings, mortgages, taxes, credit cards, benchmarking, shares and, most importantly, financial decision-making. Successful implementation will take time, and teachers will need support, but it is a vital step in the right direction for New Zealand.
I recently went with a client to the Rural Nats conference in Rotorua, where one of the presenters talked about Agribusiness in Schools and their Farmer Time for Schools programme that helps enrich classroom content via virtual field trips with farmers across the country. I see no reason why practical farming examples can’t be added to financial education.
Unfortunately, like so many good things, Farmer Time for Schools is run on the “sniff of an oily rag” and needs more funding It looks to be a great programme. Farming is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy and our export income. Attracting kids to the industry is vital for our future. Many urban kids have no idea how food
is produced, manufactured, distributed and sold. If they can learn about and understand the value chain from pasture to plate, they may find an area of interest that inspires them such as genetics, technology used in the cow shed, or even international logistics and shipping to market.
Imagine being asked at the dinner table: how do Trump’s tariffs impact us?
Theory for many is hard to grasp. However, get boys to push a car around a field, and they quickly understand Newton’s second law of motion – force = mass x acceleration.
Farming provides lots of similar practical examples for children to learn, starting from how fields are ploughed, trees are pruned, or cows are milked in a rotary shed, to the annual budget where milk income plus animal sales need to exceed farming working expenses and overheads, including interest, for a dairy farm to break even
Moreover, successful farming nowadays requires embracing technology. Who turns to their sons or daughter when their smart
“
I see no reason why practical farming examples can’t be added to financial education.
TV doesn’t work? Many sons and daughters are digital nomads on the farms.
Children can also grasp mathematical and statistic concepts like productivity and food conversion efficiency. Farms that produce more dry matter/hectare can carry more stock/hectare, meaning the pastures can be rotated faster or grazed more intensely Virtual teaching or videos also enables them to see this with their eyes.
Farmers are also well placed to explain the impact of weather, climate change,
sustainability and soil management, and most importantly, how they manage these risks – for example, by using irrigation to grow more dry matter, or cutting hay and silage and storing for winter fed.
They could easily link to the fable of The Ant and the Grasshopper The ant diligently gathers and stores food all summer, while the grasshopper lazes around, enjoying the warmer weather. When winter arrives and the grasshopper faces starvation, the ant refuses to share, highlighting the importance of preparation and planning.
Or alternatively, more grass production means more exports. Optimising dry matter per hectare is a question of maths. Farmers do it, without thinking of it as maths.
Students can also learn first-hand that plant and animal welfare is front of mind for farmers and to have a sustainable business for the future, they play a key role in maintaining, improving and protecting the environment e.g. by fencing waterways and being the custodians of the land.
Here at Chaperon, helping business navigate banking, we see a lot of grumbles about banks. But the problem is sometimes the client and their bankability or financial acumen, so we are behind anything that lifts that acumen.
One of the great things I admire about Fieldays is the growing number of kids and students going through the gates. It provides opportunities for real-life observation, participation and learning that supplement our school’s curriculum. Stimulating the mind is as important as “kids playing sport stay out of court” to growing our leaders of tomorrow.
So, let’s celebrate the inclusion of financial literacy but hope we can add a rural flavour too.
A recent article by Cecilia Robinson was positive on financial literacy’s inclusion, but it also had one of the best finishing sentences I’ve ever seen. “Now, if only someone could embed ‘how to pack a lunchbox your child will actually eat’ into the curriculum, we’d really be winning.”
Potential buyers for Alliance plant
Potential buyers are showing interest in purchasing the now-empty Alliance Group Smithfield plant and associated land on the northern outskirts of Timaru, the co-operative says.
“Alliance is currently in confidential discussions with interested parties regarding the future of the Smithfield site,” Alliance’s general manager safety and processing Wayne Shaw said.
“Some equipment has been transferred to other Alliance plants, and basic decommissioning work has been completed. Buildings on the site remain intact.”
Alliance announced the plant’s closure late last year, with the loss of more than 600 jobs. When the plant’s future had been in doubt last year, economic consultancy Infometrics and Timaru economic agencyVenture Timaru
estimated its closure would wipe out $50 million in annual wages from the local economy, with knock-on losses of multiple millions of dollars for other industries connected to the plant.
The plant had operated for 139 years under various owners with Alliance taking over in 1989
“Approximately 90 staff were redeployed to other processing sites, including our Pukeuri plant near Ōamaru, which has additional processing capacity,” Shaw said.
“The future use of the site will ultimately be determined by its new owner.
Redundancy costs remain commercially sensitive and will not be disclosed.”
Colliers had been marketing the site, which comprises 7.9 hectares of rural zoned land fronting the State Highway 1 entrance to Timaru. Bridge St divides the property from neighbouring retail development The Showgrounds.
The industrial site, with the former processing plant overlooking the Pacific Ocean, covers 24.2ha.
Colliers said “functional cold store improvements”, “trade waste discharge ability and water take” closeness to Primeport Timaru, a main trunk rail siding next to the plant and “a huge
power supply” could appeal to potential buyers from the export and distribution industries.
A deadline treaty sale deadline was originally set for March 26.
New Zealand Meat Workers’ Union southern region organiser Bill Watt said a number of workers made redundant last year still had not found work, although the numbers were unclear.
He wondered if Alliance Group’s financial situation had improved since the closure
After announcing the closure, Alliance chairperson Mark Wynne told the Alliance annual meeting in Gore that the co-operative expected to return to profitability.
Alliance announced a loss after tax of $95.8m for the year ending September 30, 2024 on a turnover of $1.8b. This followed a loss of $70.2m after tax in the previous year on a turnover of $2b. In the year ending September 30, 2022, the co-operative had
Timaru
Chris Tobin
Business adviser Gordon Stuart, from financial services company Chaperon, says attracting young people to agriculture is vital for the economy.
NZFarmer RegionalRound-up
From hobby to a fully-grown business
A woman who grew up foraging for mushrooms in Thailand has built a successful mushroom business in Northland and demand is skyrocketing.
By Steve Macmillan
Growing mushrooms has gone from a passion to something of a science for a former Aucklander who made the shift to a Northland lifestyle block in 2016
Now Tann Duangprasit is on the cusp of launching a mushroom-based health capsule which is good for brain health, amidst running a slick propagating and growing operation from which she produces between 50 and 60 kilograms of mushrooms per week.
Duangprasit believes the mushroom capsule will be the first locally produced of its kind in New Zealand.
Maungatapere Mushrooms is situated on 11 hectares within a 15-minute drive east of Whangārei, just a few minutes from Maungatapere Village, putting Duangprasit in close proximity to the town’s weekly grower market.
“On my first time at the market I sold eight kilograms of oyster mushrooms in one hour – I sold out,” says Duangprasit.
“I clearly filled a void in the market and now I sell 50-60 kg per week. At the market my customers do the selling for me because while people are lining up to buy the product, they are asking people in front of them what they do with the mushrooms and what recipes they use.”
“The people sharing their knowledge encourage people to buy more and they just keep coming back.”
Duangprasit noticed that more customers are becoming aware of the health benefits of mushrooms, which has led her to explore other New Zealand native mushrooms and expand into health products. Duangprasit
also has people dropping into her shop at home and says they cannot get enough of the mushrooms.
Growing up in Thailand, Duangprasit says foraging for mushrooms was a part of daily rural life which is why she also makes use of a beautiful stand of native bush on the property to find, clone and grow different varieties such as turkey tail, which has an anti-cancer property.
“In Thailand, there is always one person in the village growing mushroom, so for me it is easy. It is like riding a bike. What a lot of people do not realise is that mushrooms are rich in vitamin B1, B2 and B5, so once you cook mushrooms properly, the availability of nutrients is immense.”
As word of the quality of produce Duangprasit is growing, plenty of Northland’s top local restaurants have come calling, with chefs having access to her products. From the outset, Duangprasit was passionate about growing a core selection of New Zealand native mushroom varieties but continues to be open to more varieties.
The bulk of her production comprises oyster mushrooms – which commonly grow on cabbage trees – shiitake and lion’s mane.
She also dabbles in the enoki variety. It is ironic that when Duangprasit first dabbled in growing mushrooms, she only set out to hopefully grow enough for personal use, friends and family.Now Duangprasit and her partner Greg Rathbun are the only mushroom grower of size in Te Taitokerau and say they can easily double production – something that will most likely happen in the next year or two, especially with the move to bringing health capsules to market.
Growing up in Thailand,
They are even considering producing a mushroom/avocado oil by utilising the increasingly productive and improved 6-hectare avocado canopy on the property which is managed by Rathbun. Ironically, the Maungatapere Mushroom footprint at 150m2 is barely the size of an average house in comparison but is the money maker of the two operations and provides the cashflow needed to reinvest in the land and product.
“Thanks to all of the mushroom farmers around New Zealand, we are able to share information and learn from each other and support each other which is growing the sector.”
She is constantly researching mushrooms
and fungi cultivation and is keen to educate people about the health benefits the more she learns.
“So many people who buy my mushrooms are using them daily. Some even make a tea out of them because mushrooms are just so good for your health in so many ways.
“They boost immunity and New Zealand’s lion’s mane is known for helping cognitive brain functions.
“Studies also show mushroom consumption can help reduce dementia for people seeking alternative healthy products.”
Reflecting on their journey to rural life, Duangprasit says they have the perfect
Will and Annabelle Lilburn have opened up their 2500ha farm near Hunterville in a new venture inviting visitors to stay and embark on two walks. By Kiah Radcliffe.
Walkers enjoy the views from one of the tracks at Drysdale Station, a working sheep and beef farm near Hunterville.
TDrysdale Station owners on track
hose looking for a weekend escape need look no further than Drysdale Station, a picturesque 2500-hectare sheep and beef station in the Turakina Valley.
Owners Annabelle and Will Lilburn recently opened up their farm to the public in a new business venture called Drysdale Station Walk and Accommodation.
The couple are inviting visitors to catch a glimpse of the farm, see the shepherds on horseback and grazing livestock, peacocks and native birdlife while embarking on a two-day walk covering 28km through their slice of the country.
The Lilburns moved to the station near Hunterville as newlyweds, taking over from Will’s parents in 2023.
Annabelle said she initially did not realise the size of the operation.
“I quickly discovered that because it was such a big enterprise Will had taken over, I wanted to be on the farm full-time to support him, and not only him but the other staff members too.”
already on the farm. Annabelle, who is keen on interior design, thought it would be a good idea to host the walkers in the old shearing quarters.
After a few weeks of talking about it, she turned to Will and said: “Are we going to do this or [are] we just going to keep talking about it?”
Renovations on the old quarters started in January last year and were completed 12 months later.
“We totally gutted it, renovated and made it into the kitchen, dining and living area and an outdoor living area,” she said
“And then opposite that, across the driveway, was a cottage called the cook house We renovated that to be the accommodation part.”
Once that was done, they started work on improving their 17km and 11km walking tracks, which included marking both tracks and installing 45 culverts in order to make the tracks weatherproof.
The two walks take people past some of the station’s more scenic sites such as the Mare’s Tail waterfall and a 5ha lake that reflects nearby hills.
She remembered throwing around a few ideas about how they could diversify the farm.
However, it was when they were discussing the idea with Will’s parents that a plan was formed to take advantage of the walking tracks
Walkers will also be able to see Kāpiti Island and Mt Ruapehu while traversing Drysdale’s ridges.
Access to the walks was exclusive to guests of the station and weather-dependent. The current package includes a two-day and two-
Tann Duangprasit says foraging for mushrooms was a part of daily rural life. What started out as growing some mushrooms for friends and family has turned into a flourishing business
lifestyle mix. She usually has two helpers two or three days a week all year round and that has enabled the business to grow so strongly in recent years.
Compared to when she started out experimenting, Duangprasit now has the sterilisation equipment she needs, a purpose-built shed and shipping containers which provide the perfect growing environment for the hundreds of mushroom bags which need to be moved around during the growing phases.
Maungatapere Mushrooms has become the bulk of the farm’s income with between 50-100kg of mushrooms produced every week and the future is looking extremely positive.
Tann Duangprasit left Auckland and moved to Northland where she grows and sells 50-100 kilograms of mushrooms each week for the local markets and to restaurants on her 11-hectare lifestyle block
STEVE MACMILLAN
“
What a lot of people do not realise is that mushrooms are rich in vitamin B1, B2 and B5.
Tann Duangprasit
to diversification
night stay with all food included.
Annabelle provides breakfast, lunch and dinner plus home baking for guests made with locally sourced produce. The meat for dinners comes from the farm.
“On their arrival, I do a grazing platter and leave them little nibbles for dessert.”
The walk and accommodation package is available from November to March, as the walks became too slippery in winter. The accommodation is open year-round and can be booked for a midwinter getaway
The shearer’s quarters can accommodate up to 11 guests and feature five bedrooms, “piping hot showers” and wi-fi
People have already booked for next summer, Annabelle said.
“It is exciting having a good response, and I have asked people for constructive feedback – like, tell me what I could improve on.”
The couple are slowly adding other things to their setup.
A recent addition was an outdoor fire pit, and Annabelle also wanted to get an outdoor hot tub.
After setting out to diversify their business, the couple were pleased to share their home with those wanting to visit the region, she said.
As animal activists step up their action against winter grazing, Environment Southland is encouraging farmers to have a plan, make sure the whole farm team knows the plan, and they are prepared for when the poor weather strikes.
A well-planned winter grazing system supports good animal health and welfare. It ensures animals have sufficient and appropriate feed, access to clean water, and comfortable areas to lie down and rest
Environment Southland general manager regulatory services Hayley Fitchett said getting through a successful winter would require planning and an understanding of the rules.
“Southland farmers already know the weather in winter is wet and cold.
“Even though predictions are for normal rainfall and average temperatures, farmers should be prepared in case that changes.”
Recent early assessments by the regional council’s land sustainability staff highlighted some issues where farmers needed to pay extra attention as stock started to graze crop, including setbacks of crop from waterways being too small to meet the rules, and the cropping of critical source areas
If farmers have cultivated on slopes above 20 degrees, in critical source areas or within setbacks to waterways they will need to fence off those areas and not allow grazing until after the winter grazing period has ended, Fitchett said.
Throughout winter, staff would be focusing on these areas as well as pasture-based winter grazing, which also had rules in the regional plan.
“The team will be carrying out monthly aerial monitoring flights as well as roadside assessments,” she said.
“We’ll also be following up on any reports through our pollution response phone number.
“If we are alerted to properties with potential environmental risks, staff will investigate. The options following these investigations will depend on a few factors, including the level of environmental impact,” she said.
Fitchett said the council had seen a real effort from farmers to improve practices and comply with rules as they came in, and it had been difficult at times with changes in both regional and national regulations.
Save Animals from Exploitation has launched a petition calling on the Government to introduce legislation to prohibit winter grazing in its entirety,
saying the practice “forced animals to endure prolonged confinement in dangerous, cruel, and unhygienic conditions, where they are exposed to mud, rain, and cold temperatures without adequate shelter or dry lying areas”.
The petition has been signed by more than 11,000 people.
The winter grazing season runs from May 1 to September 30. There are rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan for cultivation, intensive winter grazing and pasture-based winter grazing that farmers need to consider.
Lower soil temperatures through autumn and winter means less grass growth in Southland, making it difficult to grow enough feed for animals.
To cater for this, farmers in the region turn to intensive winter grazing, where livestock are grazed on forage crops, such as swedes and kale, in paddocks.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) stepped up proactive farm visits and provided practical advice for farmers in the leadup to the winter grazing season. They prioritised farms where it was problematic to manage soil conditions during periods of wet weather.
“We’ll be assessing these farms before livestock start grazing winter feed and they will be closely monitored to ensure they are meeting animal welfare standards. We will do follow-up visits in June,” MPI national response manager Andrew Curtis said.
“Extra support is available for Southland farmers around managing their animals and reducing mud buildup should they need it.”
Curtis said most farmers did the right thing and plan ahead to look after their animals
“We visited numerous properties throughout Southland during winter 2024 and found most farmers were on top of their winter grazing requirements with good plans in place.”
He did say that some farmers would need to continue adapting their approaches to ensure they had robust back-up plans during extreme weather events.
MPI has a checklist available and during the winter grazing months, will monitor farms from the air to pinpoint potential problem areas.
Sector groups also have useful resources and information on their websites to help minimise the amount of mud created during winter grazing, such as back fencing and using portable water troughs to reduce walking distances for livestock.
In January this year, FFPM Grazing Ltd was fined $48,750 and ordered to pay $15,000 in costs after allowing cattle at its farm to graze in mud after an investigation from MPI.
A growing business
Craigmore Sustainables may have a relatively young horticultural footprint, but the company is on target to be one of the country’s largest apple growers in the next few years.
Investment
Craigmore Sustainables manages a $1.1 billion portfolio of New Zealand farmland, forestry and cropping, but horticulture has steadily grown to become the larger part of its business, covering more than 2000 hectares.
This year has seen the company’s biggest ever fruit harvest to date, mostly apples, grapes and kiwifruit. Despite being relatively young in the horticultural sector, Craigmore is on course to become one of the country’s largest apple growers within the next few years.
Con Williams, Craigmore’s general manager of horticulture, is responsible operationally and commercially for 22 growing sites in Kerikeri, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.
Over the past year, Craigmore has acquired four more apple orchards, two new Marlborough vineyards and a kiwifruit orchard. The purchases and investment in further developing these will total more than $250 million
Williams says the company’s main focus is on creating value up to the orchard gate by investing in high-performing teams, premium varieties and creating leading assets through redevelopment into modern growing systems.
However, he says that needs to be combined with reducing production costs while growing the same amount of fruit and that is critical to navigating the challenging business environment growers face.
“Productivity is paramount,” he says. “There has been a structural lift in the cost of production and wages. In order to achieve consistent profitability and to lift wages further, you need productivity gains.
“That’s about how to reduce your cost of production but grow the same amount, or more fruit, so you increase your operating margins.”
Investment in building or redeveloping first-class assets and management skill base is also essential to support growing the still relatively young company’s horticultural footprint in credible ways.
Williams leads Craigmore’s team of horticulture business managers, including Ben James for apples, Emma Taylor for viticulture, Alan Dobbie for kiwifruit and Shane Flynn for developments.
“We’ve expanded quickly so we have put in a lot of work into building a base of skilled and experienced people in each sector, and continue to do so,” he says
“Ben James, for instance, has put significant effort into building a management team that can deliver apple crops within the top quartile for production and revenue.”
The largest of Craigmore’s horticultural developments is Springhill, a greenfield conversion from grazing land in the Ruataniwha Basin in Central Hawke’s Bay.
Planting between 2019 and 2024 has seen a 350-canopy hectare apple and vineyard developed. Much of the apple orchard is under netting to provide hail protection.
Springhill’s third commercial apple and grape harvest this year has yielded more than 20,000 bins of apples (up from 11,242 bins last year) and 2040 tonnes of grapes (up from 532 tonnes last year)
This contributes to an overall production across the horticulture business of 39,400 bins of apples and 2970 tonnes of grapes. Kiwifruit is expected to yield in excess of 1.85 million trays, with final harvest numbers still being counted as the last fruit
comes off the vines. Capital is being invested in rejuvenating older areas of recently acquired orchards.
When fully developed this will bring Craigmore’s apple footprint to about 720 canopy hectares of apples, 525 canopy hectares of vineyard and 228 canopy hectares of kiwifruit.
The company has become an accredited Recognised Seasonal Employer and the 2024 acquisition of Te Papa Orchard, near Springhill, came with a 148-bed accommodation facility.
Williams joined Craigmore two years ago. His role covers a range of operational, commercial and governance-related matters – informed by a career spanning diverse areas of the primary sector.
Raised in a livestock farming family in Central Hawke’s Bay, he began his graduate life as a rural economist, first for Beef + Lamb New Zealand, then eight years on the trading floor at ANZ Bank.
Moving on to MyFarm Investments, he was responsible for capital raising and the end-to-end process of establishing commercial syndicates.
Craigmore has different business structures for managing its portfolio. This includes partnering with Indevin for grape growing in Central Hawke’s Bay and Babich Wines at its Cat Creek vineyard development in Marlborough.
Third-party orchard management is well
and
established in kiwifruit – Craigmore works with EHC Orchard Management in the Bay of Plenty and Seeka in Northland.
The company’s three orchards on the Heretaunga Plains are leased or on short-term management agreements, but Craigmore has a staged implementation plan to assume management of these longer term.
Williams is optimistic for the future of New Zealand horticulture, particularly with support from overseas investors, who he says will be attracted by a falling New
Zealand dollar and a receptive New Zealand Government. “It’s actually quite a good time if you’re a US dollar investor to invest in New Zealand.
“Our Government is looking for new capital to grow the economy and New Zealand business. There’s definitely been a different direction from the Government to the Overseas Investment Office.
“If New Zealand wants to grow its economy and business sector, it needs more risk capital, and some of that has got to be foreign investment.”
Springhill in Hawke’s Bay is a greenfield conversion from grazing land, which now produces apples
grapes.
Con Williams, Craigmore Sustainables’ general manager of horticulture, oversees 22 sites in Kerikeri, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.
Meet Muttley’s fine line of catnip wines
Startup
Rural reporter
Grumpy cats and boisterous dogs are both par for the course for pet owners but an innovative new product that adds diversity to the horticulture sector has the added benefits of calming and soothing cats and dogs.
Just as some people enjoy a good glass of red wine or bubbles, so do cats and dogs. Catnip Wine is a new horticultural initiative that is set to transform New Zealand into a commercial catnip producer, paving the way for the export of locally-made pet wines to international markets.
Catnip (or Nepeta cataria) was introduced to New Zealand as a garden herb in 1870 and has been seen to positively impact mood in about twothirds of cats while helping to soothe anxiety in dogs.
Global demand for catnip is rising, driven by pet product manufacturers and natural health industries. The catnip essential oil market alone is projected to grow by 5.8% annually by 2030 to reach $400 million.
Kiwi startup Muttley’s Estate is believed to be the world’s first manufacturer to have created a shelf-stable pet wine that can be stored for up to 12 months. The breakthrough has made large-scale production and export more viable.
John Roberts, Muttley’s Estate director, says catnip is a resilient crop that has adapted to grow well in New Zealand’s temperate climate and well-drained soils since it was introduced He says the
commercial-scale farming of catnip will further diversify New Zealand’s horticultural sector.
Roberts says with a growing domestic footprint, the company is now setting its sights on the lucrative US market, where pet owners are increasingly seeking premium, novelty products for their furry companions.
“One of the key advantages of catnip is that even a small crop yields enough to produce a batch of pet wine, allowing us to create a high-value product without requiring extensive land investment.
“With the growing international interest in catnip and the ‘humanification’ of pet diets, it was a natural extension to explore the development of a premium beverage for
pet owners to celebrate with their pets Since launching the range in New Zealand less than a year ago we have already signed over 40 retailers and have developed a strong direct-to-consumer channel presence.
“We believe the reputation of NZ’s wine sector in North America will help us establish an entry into this market and we now actively looking for US distributors,” he says.
Roberts says research shows the impact of chronic anxiety and stress among pets has become more prevalent due to a combination of urbanisation, multi-pet household dynamics, ongoing issues relating to the pandemic and shifting lifestyles.
“International studies have found almost a third of dogs showed high sensitivity to noise, with fireworks a particular problem, while 29% of dogs were said to be highly fearful and 14% showed highly problematic
aggression Symptoms of anxiety in cats are often more subtle yet owners reported signs of tail flicking, avoiding eye contact, and shifting head/body away repeatedly (every week or every other day) or more often than usual.
“We created the range to help alleviate some of the modern stressors on pets but unlike conventional wines, our products contain zero alcohol.
“The range offers multiple “varietals,” each featuring a different concentration of catnip: lighter whites such as the Champawgne appeals more to cats, while the deeper blends such as the Purrno Noir and Pawt are popular with dogs,” he says.
Muttley’s Estate is already selling through veterinary clinics and pet retailers across the country. It has also held tasting events at local dog parks.
“We were overrun by canines wanting to taste the pet wine and it demonstrated the positive response across a wide variety of breeds. We’re now working with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to identify distributors in overseas markets.
“We’d love to see entire fields of catnip grown right here. The idea that we could turn a small backyard experiment into a nationwide horticultural endeavour, and share it with pet lovers worldwide, is really exciting. It’s a chance for New Zealand to do something fresh and unexpected – yet again,” he says.
The company is also investigating the potential of catnip for human consumption, with trials under way to determine its suitability for the human market.
“Catnip is related to the mint family, so it is safe for humans. We’re working with food technologists to explore the possibilities,” he says.
Bubbles helping farmers save water
Technology
Leon Power might be the only person in Taranaki who was grateful for the summer drought. Although very sympathetic to the plight of the region’s farmers, the dry conditions over the past two summers have helped demonstrate the effectiveness of the innovative irrigation equipment he has developed.
Power is co-founder and chief executive of Nanobubble Agritech, a system that uses water filled with extremely tiny bubbles to improve plant growth, disease resistance, soil health and moisture retention, while using less water than conventional irrigation.
The company works with farmers and orchards in New Zealand and Australia, and has been trialling the system on a range of dairy farms, including one in South Taranaki
“What we are trying to do as a company is bring a new way of irrigating that is a lot more water-use efficient and, as a result, more environmentally friendly,” he said.
Gates open to virtual possibilities
Innovation
Sonita Chandar
Trailblazing technology developed in New Zealand and used here for several years is set to expand to New South Wales in Australia. And they are looking to New Zealand company Halter to help implement it
While some parts of Australia already used virtual fencing and herding technology to boost animal health and productivity, New South Wales had prohibited the use of it.
“The NSW Government has responded to a groundswell of demand from farmers crying out for this technology and the
Power, a former professional rugby player, grew up in Taranaki and has an agriscience degree from Massey University.
He saw nanobubble technology being used in hydroponic strawberry and tomato farms in the United States and Europe, and realised it could also benefit New Zealand, with 23% of the country’s dairy farms using irrigation.
Nanobubbles are invisible to the naked eye.
Unlike other bubbles, they stay suspended in water, slowly releasing oxygen.
“With nanobubbles the water will hold three or four times above normal saturation,” he said.
Tests done in conjunction with Massey University showed that Nanobubble Agritech’s systems used water much more efficiently.
Typically, it resulted in 25-30% more plant growth through the irrigation period, using 15-20% less water, Power said.
The increased oxygenation to the plant’s root zone results in stronger root systems, improved soil structure and
improved pasture resilience to heat and stress.
He has been trialling the system on 11 sites, most of them in Canterbury and Otago, where irrigation is the norm.
His system can be retrofitted to existing conventional irrigation equipment, but instead of being sprayed onto the grass, the nanobubble-filled water is delivered to the soil via driplines, lengths of hose that hang from the irrigator arms.
“The water just dribbles out on the ground and is applied directly to the soil, so you don’t get evaporation losses in places with wind.
“It’s really helpful in Canterbury, which is really wind-exposed. It’s twofold.”
It works best on larger farms where stock can be separated from the irrigator, so the cows don’t step on the hoses.
In Taranaki, the system has been at work for two seasons in a Ministry for Primary Industries-funded trial on Mark Schrider’s coastal Pātea farm, which has sandy soil and is irrigated through the area’s dry summers.
The changing climate meant farmers would see more extremely wet or extremely dry conditions in the future,
increased productivity it unlocks,” Halter spokesperson Charlie Baker said. “As the leading provider in virtual fencing and herding, Halter applauds the NSW Government for this decision.
“Kiwi farmers can be proud of this announcement as hundreds of Kiwi farmers have blazed a trail with virtual fencing for years in New Zealand – these farmers have been an influential reference for this change in NSW.”
New South Wales has a significant beef sector, with 4.4 million beef cattle, representing roughly 20% of Australia’s beef population. Historically, farmers in NSW have been denied access to virtual
This announcement is part of a broader trend to allow virtual fencing throughout Australia. In February, the South Australian Government also passed legislation to soon allow virtual fencing It is now developing regulations to allow farmers to access this technology within 12 months. South Australia also has a significant agriculture sector with more than 1 million cattle.
These are exciting developments for Halter, as it prepares to start serving farmers in NSW and South Australia –states where there is significant pent-up
Power said. “Irrigation is becoming more important, and as we put more irrigation in, we have to use it more wisely, so it goes further.”
Farm owner Mark Schrider said he had noticed an increase in grass growth in the trial area, compared to the standard irrigated pasture
“You’d probably get the same amount of grass with less water.
“Or more grass with the same amount of water, there are efficiencies there.”
The two-year trial was done on a portion of his 280ha farm which was irrigated for between two to five months each year, depending on the rainfall that season.
“Most years we get restrictions for a couple of weeks in February.
“But this year we were under restrictions in December, January, February and into March, we couldn’t fully utilise our consent,” he said.
“Water is a valuable resource.
“How we look after it, how we use it, how we manage it, that’s quite important.
“These ideas have got to be good for the people that use water, going forward.”
demand for Halter. In Tasmania, Halter is already used by 25% of the state’s dairy herd. Halter also serves beef and dairy farmers in Queensland. ter is the brainchild of Craig Piggott, who grew up on his family’s Waikato dairy farm. His fascination with how things work led him to study engineering.
Rocket Lab was the dream and he said working there was hugely inspiring.
“If they could build rockets and transform the space industry from Zealand, why was no-one bringing tech to ag? With my background in farming, I knew it was an industry ripe for disruption.”
Leaving Rocket Lab in 2016, he built the company from the ground up. Today, Halter is used by more than 1000 farmers, has set more than 207,000 kilometres in virtual fencing and its collars are used to shift cows from paddock to paddock or bring them to the milking shed, monitor production and cow health, alert farmers when cows are in season during mating and more
Catherine Groenestein
Nanobubble Agritech founder Leon Power, right, with farm manager Edward Doloiras, checking the lush growth during the summer drought on a Pātea farm where the technology is being trialled.
CATHERINE GROENESTEIN/TARANAKI DAILY NEWS
Fieldays is the place to be
The fun, excitement and bargains galore return once again to the New Zealand National Fieldays at Mystery Creek.
By Sonita Chandar.
It’s that time of year again when the gumboots, swandris and utes come out for the New Zealand National Fieldays at Mystery Creek. It is an annual pilgrimage for many who return year after year and have done so for 55 years.
The team behind Fieldays this month are throwing a party and ever one is invited. For 2025, they are adopting the mullet strategy; business in the front, party at the back.
The mullet, a hairstyle regularly seen during the annual four-day event at Mystery Creek Events Centre, symbolises the important business and entertainment factors that make Fieldays.
“Fieldays has always been about combining cutting-edge agricultural technology, networking and insightful discussions, all while celebrating the uniqueness of the rural sector and bringing town and country together,” says Taryn Storey, head of customer and strategic engagement, New Zealand National Fieldays Society.
“This year, we’re leaning into that even more with the mullet strategy, ensuring both business and entertainment factors are equally compelling,” says Storey Up front are new initiatives like Fieldays Tent Talks, in association with the University of Waikato, which will focus on engaging educational discussions, expert-led sessions and real-world solutions, and the Fieldays Drone Zone, which is a live demonstration area. The Fieldays Sector Spotlight – It’s Wool will join existing Fieldays hubs, the Rural Advocacy Hub, Forestry Hub Careers &
Education Hub, Innovation Hub and the Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub.
The Fieldays Sector Spotlight highlights a sector within primary industries each year, in conjunction with the Ministry for Primary Industries. For 2025, the focus will be on wool, showcasing the versatility and quality of New Zealand’s wool. Exhibitors will demonstrate the key roles they play in the wool sector, and the consumeruse opportunities. The site will also connect producers designers to help ensure a secure future for this timeless resource
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation has previously said he loves to see the new areas of the event come to life
“A lot of shoe leather goes into Fieldays,” Nation says.
“The team spends a of time thinking about people want to see and hear. They work incredibly hard and put a great deal of time and effort into developing new hubs, areas and overall planning of the Fieldays.”
And bringing the fun, out back is the Fieldays Family Fun Zone, One New Zealand’s popular One Big Dig activity, and a 50-year celebration of Fieldays Tractor Pull in association with PTS Logistics, plus more.
With more than 1200 exhibitors presenting a diverse range of the latest and greatest in innovative agri-tech to lifestyle gear, there’s something for everyone at the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere, where visitors can bag a bargain.
Fieldays is the ultimate launch platform for edge technology and innovation. Technology has been at the forefront of that progression.
Innovation is at the heart of Fieldays, and this year’s Innovation Centre and awards are set to showcase the latest in agriculture, backyard inventions and commercial improvements. These are always an integral part of Fieldays with thousands of visitors eager to view the latest rural advancements.
This year’s competition has attracted a diverse and impressive array of innovations from across the primary industries, highlighting the growing importance of technology shaping the future of farming Sixty-three entries will compete for cash and the opportunity to help launch or
accelerate their new product. These include automation, robotics and AI innovations, alongside practical on-farm efficiencyincreasing devices and ‘problem-solvers’ – all of which will be displayed in the Innovation Hub or on the exhibitor’s site, and on the Innovation Trail.
“What stands out this year is the breadth of areas the entries come from. Innovation is thriving as groundbreaking ideas redefine sustainability, automation, and efficiency,” says Fieldays programme manager Steve Chappell.
“From eco-friendly materials that transform waste into valuable resources to AI-powered tools optimising livestock management, precision monitoring and crop growth, each development embodies the future of smart, sustainable progress.”
There are 23 participants in the Prototype category, 32 in Early-Stage, and eight in the Growth & Scale section. Five participants
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation says a lot of shoe leather goes into organising each Fieldays
are also in the running for the Young Innovator of the Year award for participants 19 years old and under.
Awards participants will display their entries at Fieldays in the Fieldays Innovation Hub or on their own site around the event and on the Fieldays Innovation Trail.
The public can vote in the People’s Choice Award at the Innovation Hub for the chance to win a prize valued at $500 Tractor Pull, the big loud competition with big machines that never fails to attract the crowds, is back to thrill the crowds. And this year, it will be celebrating 50 years at Fieldays.
From humble beginnings in 1975 to today’s powerhouse machines boasting four-wheel drive, computerised tech, and up to 260 horsepower – this annual competition has come a long way Catch the ultimate showdown as the
The Tractor Pull consistently ranks as one of the main attractions at Fieldays, offering a place of great fun and camaraderie for entrants and spectators.
Fieldays 2025 will take place from June 11-14 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, with the Innovation Awards ceremony scheduled for June 12 to be livestreamed on social media.
petrol-heads of the farming world go head-to-head in the Fieldays Tractor Pull, in association with PTS Logistics. The action runs all week, with the finals firing up on Saturday morning.
Tickets can be purchased online via the Fieldays website, or at the gate during the event. Every ticket purchased is a chance to win the ultimate Fieldays gate prize of a JAC T9 Ute (RRP $49,990) and $10,000 of Stoney Creek gear.Visitors can triple their chances to win during the event byvisiting the JAC site at F90 and Stoney Creek at site F55.
The New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek is a fun day out for the family. PETER DRURY/ WAIKATO TIMES.
The Fieldays Innovation Centre is always a popular spot.
Top right: The Tractor Pull has been a favourite for Fieldays visitors since its inception 50 years ago.
VisitTechniPharm at Fieldays StopbytheTechniPharmexhibitto experiencethefutureoffarmingfirsthand. Don’tmissthechancetoseetheirproducts inactionandchatwiththeteamwhoare justaspassionateaboutagricultureasyou are.
Discover More Before theEvent Can’twaittolearnmore?Visittheall-new TechniPharmwebsiteatwww.technipharm co.nzforasneakpeekattheirsolutions,or contactthemdirectlyon0800809098. Make This Fieldays theStart of SomethingBig
Whetheryou’refocusedoncutting-edge cattlehandlingorsustainabilityindairy, TechniPharm’sinnovativesolutionsbring youthetoolsyouneedtotakeyourfarmto thenextlevel.Cometalktotheteamthat’s been“makingfarmingezy”forover30 years. SeeyouatFieldays2025!
“WEMAKEFARMINGEZY”
Technipharm will have twositesatFieldays. TheFarm-Ready Cattle Handlerssite outsideat D117&D115and inside the AgribussinessPavilion at PB22 &PB24.
•Extra-largecapacity –4times standardwheelbarrow.
•Removable end panelstocarrylong loads
•Ergonomically engineered forlightweight, easyand comfortable handling.
•Ideal forfirewood,hay bales,buckets of calffeed, etc
•Two largewheels roll easily even with heavy loads and no more flattyres!
•Tool-less conversion to aride-on mowertrailer(optional).
•Flatdecktray(optional). Convertsyour Bernie’s Barrow to amobile workbench.
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Kevin Gretener likes having all the data from the robotsand then makedecisions based on that.
Fieldays honours for stalwart
Recognition
Sir William Gallagher has been awarded a National Fieldays Life Membership in recognition of his decades-long contribution to the event and New Zealand’s agri-tech industry.
William Gallagher has been a part of Fieldays since its inception, playing a pivotal role in its foundation alongside other influential farmers in New Zealand Gallagher’s presence at the very first Fieldays in Te Rapa in 1969 was a milestone moment, as the company was already emerging as a leader in farm technology and export markets.
William Gallagher, alongside his brother John, had been exhibiting at agricultural field days in Australia before 1968 and was an early advocate for establishing a national event in New Zealand.
A champion of agricultural innovation, William Gallagher has been instrumental in Gallagher’s success at Fieldays, using the event as a platform to introduce world-first products, engage with farmers, and showcase the company’s latest technological advancements.
“Fieldays has been an important part of Gallagher’s journey,” William Gallagher says. “It has always been a place for us to connect with farmers, showcase new developments, and contribute to the growth of our farming sector
“Receiving this recognition from the Fieldays Society is truly an honour. Our long-standing partnership with Fieldays goes beyond exhibiting,” he says.
“It’s a place and a community of people dedicated to fostering new ideas,
supporting the primary sector, and shaping the future of farming in New Zealand. It is something truly special.”
Over the years, Gallagher has launched numerous breakthrough products at Fieldays, won multiple Innovation Awards, and used the event to gain valuable farmer feedback to make sure that new solutions met farmers’ needs.
“Having the support of an innovative company like Gallagher from the very beginning played a key role in laying a strong foundation for Fieldays,” National Fieldays Society chairperson Jenni Vernon says. “Sir William has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership –bringing together talented teams and maintaining a clear focus on progress within the industry
“Even during challenging times,
Sir William Gallagher has been a part of Fieldays since it began and has been awarded a National Fieldays Life Membership for his involvement
impact in helping shape Fieldays into the world-class event that it is today,”Vernon said.
Fieldays head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey says William Gallagher’s leadership has reinforced Fieldays’ reputation as a global hub for agri-tech.
“Through Gallagher, Sir William has helped position Fieldays as a premier stage for world-leading innovation,” Storey says.
“His ongoing support has helped attract international interest, turning Fieldays into a truly global agricultural event. We are hugely grateful for his incredible vision and support.”
“Sir
William has helped position Fieldays as a premier stage for world-leading innovation.
Taryn Storey
Gallagher remained committed to investing in new technologies, fostering a steady stream of fresh ideas.
“This life membership is a modest but heartfelt tribute to Sir William’s profound
Gallagher has supported and exhibited at Fieldays every year since its launch –never missing an event The company is a staple presence, not just due to its large site but also through its iconic orange stock sticks, sold to support the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
For two decades, Gallagher ran the legendary fence-building competitions at Fieldays, which became known as the “Olympics of Fencing”.
The tradition remains a strong part of the event today, reflecting the values of practical skill, forward thinking, and community that Fieldays embodies.
“I am incredibly proud of and grateful for this recognition and what it represents,” William Gallagher says.
“The Gallagher team is always looking for new ways to innovate, adopt the latest technology, and we will continue to work alongside Fieldays to set up Gallagher’s future at the event and support the future of farming.”
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Cream of the crop honoured
Awards
Sonita Chandar
The creme de la creme of New Zealand dairying shows the industry is in good hands.
The biggest night on the dairy calendar was once again a dazzling display of all the finest the industry has to offer as the winners of the National Dairy Industry Awards were announced at a gala dinner held at Mt Maunganui’s Baypark Stadium last month.
The 2025 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winners and finalists represent a group of people who are acutely aware of environmental issues and the dairy industry’s role in farming responsibly, with use of technology and data interpretation driving environmental benefits through improved systems.
2025 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year
Thomas and Fiona Langford, who were first-time entrants, swapped corporate roles at Fonterra for life on the land. They are equity partners and contract milkers for Marian and Jos van Loon on their 262-hectare, 1090-cow farm at Putaruru, and scooped the award for their overall excellent performance across all areas of farm management.
Fiona holds a masters in dietetics and Tom a bachelor of food science (hons). They both began work in the Fonterra Technical Graduate Programme, with Fiona moving to Melbourne to work in the nutritional’s team and Tom working with the Fonterra nutrient management team. Both have a masters in dairy science and technology which they completed during their time in the Fonterra programme.
“Tom had never been on a farm before we met,” Fiona says.
“In June 2017, after a three-week crash course on-farm, I began managing our family farm, with Tom joining me in 2019.”
The couple say they chose farming because it provides great flexibility for family life and provides opportunities to grow equity quickly to meet their financial goals
“We’re also passionate about training people into the dairy industry and providing a career path for them.”
Speaking on the radio, Thomas said they “didn’t enter for the glitz and glory”.
“It was more the process of looking at our business and seeing where we could improve so the win came as a surprise
“Entering the awards was also an awesome opportunity to meet and get to know some great young farmers, especially in the share farmer category.”
Share Farmer category head judge Steve Canton, from DairyNZ, says Tom and Fiona
Langford impressed the judges with their overall excellence across the board.
“Tom and Fiona are very focused on the detail,” he says. “They both come from corporate lives and they have brought that experience into a lot of their systems and processes.”
The couple are involved in several roles in the community, including Putaruru Athletics Club, Puketurua Hall Committee, Putaruru Rangers FC, South Waikato Environment Initiative, their local playcentre and Te Waotu SSG.
The Langfords stood out among a strong national field, taking home six merit awards in addition to the overall title. They took home in excess of $38,000 in prizes and also won the CowManager Experience Award, which is two years of free cow monitoring with a CowManager system.
The runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year competition are Canterbury/North Otago farmers Richard and Nikita Grabham who the judges describe as having brilliant systems on a large, split-calving farm. West Coast/top of the south couple Warric and Rachel Johnson placed third.
2025 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year
Taranaki farmer Martin Keegan was named the 2025 Dairy Manager of the Year for displaying excellence across all aspects of the farm with high-level knowledge and excellent practical farming skills.
Keegan grew up on a dairy farm and trained as a diesel mechanic and spent 10 years working in New Zealand and Canada as a field service technician specialising in tractors and harvesting equipment.
He is described as being on a “quick journey into the dairy industry and has committed to extensive learning and taking on every learning opportunity he can”.
The judges said Keegan is conscientious, with great attention-to-detail and a thirst
The winners of the 2025 National Dairy Industry Awards are, from left: Dairy Trainee of the Year, Pieter Van Beek, Share Farmers of the Year Thomas and Fiona Langford and Dairy Manager of the Year Martin Keegan.
for learning. “We think he loves his cows as much as his tractors!” head judge Janine Swansson, from DairyNZ, said.
Judges also noted that he has learnt a vast array of skills across all levels of farming in his first season dairy farming and were impressed with his financial acumen and his commitment to “doing the right thing to do for the environment”.
“We were impressed with his attention-to-detail across animal welfare and how highly he values them – he was so detailed on every aspect and learning about mastitis management, breeding and reproduction.
Runner-up is Thomas Lundman from Bay of Plenty and George Dodson from Canterbury/North Otago placed third.
2025 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year
The 2025 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year was awarded to Pieter Van Beek from Taranaki, who is described by the judges as an insightful young man who was able to clearly articulate his goals and ability to achieve them.
The 18-year-old is a third-generation New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards entrant, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents.
The Dairy Trainee judges say Van Beek has a good knowledge of the industry and looks to older farmers for career advice and mentorship.
“He soaks up their advice like a sponge,” judge Frank Portegys, from DairyNZ, says.
“He was able to communicate clearly around industry issues and the impact of some of those,” says head judge Johanna Wood, from Manawatū.
“He has a broad knowledge and he’s a hard worker.”
The Dairy Trainee Runner-up is Emma Blom, from Southland/Otago, and third place went to Waikato farmer Alex Diprose.
2025 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award
Waka Dairies, represented by Michael Phillips, Russell Phillips and Andrew ‘Bubbles’ Evans, in Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa, were named the 2025 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award recipients and received the John Wilson Memorial Trophy.
The prestigious award was created to recognise and celebrate dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are passionate about the four pillars of Responsible Dairying – people and community, finance, environment and animal welfare.
“Waka Dairies operate a highly progressive, future-focused business that achieves outstanding performance across all areas of the farm,” head judge Pete Morgan says.
“Their operation sets a benchmark for the sector – showcasing a broad, integrated approach to sustainability and excellence in dairying.”
2025 ASB Alumni of the Year Award
This new award is a collaboration between ASB and NZDIA to specifically encourage and reward NZDIA alumni who have made significant contributions to the programme and the industry and are no longer eligible to enter the Dairy Manager of the Year or Share Farmer of the Year categories.
Steve and Amy Gillies from Waikato were Waikato Share Farmers in 2018 and came third in the national finals. They are the inaugural winners of the ASB Alumni of the Year award and win up to $1 million of ASB Business term lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years.
2025 Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award
The Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award (FFA) is a collaboration between ASB, Fonterra and the NZDIA Trust, which aims to remove barriers to farm ownership by offering to help the best in the industry successfully transition into farm ownership, ensuring good succession to ownership and the future of the dairy industry.
Each winner receives up to $1m of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years, along with a Fonterra launch package that includes $20,000 of Farm Source account credit to drive productivity and sustainability, mentoring, and additional support to help them successfully transition into ownership.
The 2025 Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award winners are:
■ Braden and Brigitte Barnes – Canterbury/ North Otago
■ Cameron and Margaret Bierre – Waikato
■ Reece and Natasha Cox – Central Plateau
26 NZFarmer Sheepandbeef
They’re eating our meat
Record values were set for New Zealand red meat exports in March.
New Zealand red meat exports during March achieved record values for any month, with sales worth $1.26 billion, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Values were up by 34% compared with March 2024, with volumes for both sheepmeat and beef up by 10%.
Red meat exports for the first quarter of the year were also up, worth $3.28b, a 28% increase on the first quarter of 2024
The United States was the biggest customer for both the first quarter and for March, at $1.4b and $398.2 million respectively, followed by China at $832.5m and $286.2m.
“The results are very positive and March was an exceptional month,” said MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.
“We saw some increase in volumes, year on year, but a much larger increase in value As well as being a record month for value overall, March also set a new monthly record for the value of beef to the US.
“The full impact of the US tariffs are still unclear for exports to the US, as well as for what they may mean for our exports to other countries.
“While there was only a small increase in the volume of sheepmeat exported during the first three months of the year compared to 2024, and beef volumes were much the same, the value for both increased significantly
“This growth was largely driven by the same factors we have seen in the first two months of the year – good demand for sheepmeat in the European Union, recovery in sheepmeat prices in China and
high demand for beef in North America.
“With the new US tariffs introduced in early April, we are yet to see what impact these are having on exports to the US.
“The one area where exports continued to be weak was beef to China, which was down 35% byvolume and value compared to last March.
“This was largely due to China continuing to import large volumes of beef from South America.”
March exports
Volumes of sheepmeat and beef exported during March increased by 10%, compared with March 2024, to 47,286 tonnes and 49,247 tonnes respectively.
The value of sheepmeat exports
increased by 34% to $523m and beef was up 41% to $534m.
The volume of sheepmeat exports to China increased 9% to 21,213 tonnes, but the value increased 38% to $140m. This meant the average value of exports was $6.62/kg, compared with $5.26/kg last March.
The volume of sheepmeat exports to the EU rose 31% to 8750 tonnes and the value increased 54% to $151m, slightly above the $150m worth of exports in February – which had been the highest monthlyvalue of exports to the EU since 2009.
Beef exports to the US rose by 55% by volume to 23,795 tonnes and the value was up 105% to $285m.
There was also a further increase in beef exports to Canada, up 121% byvolume to 3246 tonnes and 192% byvalue to $36m. March was also a good month for fifth-quarter exports. Compared with last March, there was an increase on exports of most categories, and overall fifth-quarter exports were up 19% to $203m.
First-quarter exports
Sheepmeat exports increased by 5% for the quarter, to 123,665 tonnes, but value rose 30% to $1.35b
The value of sheepmeat exports to China was up 41% to $408m, by 45% to the EU to $380m, and by 36% to the United Kingdom to $137m.
The only exception was the US, with a 5% drop in value to $165m.
Beef export volumes were largely unchanged from the first quarter of 2024 at 130,205 tonnes but value increased by 30% to $140b Exports to China were down, but there was strong growth in beef to North America, with the US up 74% to $715m and Canada up 125% to $86m.
Fifth-quarter exports for January to March were also positive, with the value of all categories, except petfood, increasing, and the overall value up 15% to $530m.
US hamburger boom a boon for SI economy
Trade
Blayne Slabbert
Americans’ craving for hamburgers is fuelling a red-meat export boom and lifting the South Island economy.
New Zealand’s red meat exports reached a record-high monthly value of $1.26 billion in March, according to Meat Industry Association (MIA) figures. This marked a 34% increase compared to a year ago.
The figures show the industry – which includes the production, processing and export of beef, lamb, mutton and venison – is experiencing a strong surge in both value and volume of exports.
This holds particular significance for the South Island, where sheep and beef farming and meatworks are a key economic pillar, particularly across Canterbury, Otago and Southland Westpac industry economist Paul Clark said increased demand was driving up prices, which benefited meat-processing plants and farmers receiving higher payments for livestock.
There was also a flow-on effect to businesses supplying and servicing meatworks companies and farmers, as well as to the wider regional economy, he said. “Right now, processors are scrambling for supply and competing heavily. That’s why you see slaughter prices go up.”
MIA’s strategy and advocacy manager, Leigh Coleman-Shaw, said strong export values created ripple effects across the country.
“[This] is positive for rural and regional communities, including the South Island, where the meat processing sector has a significant footprint and is a major employer,” she said.
The key question now is whether these high prices and the broader economic benefits can be sustained. Clark said that was looking likely.
“We’re forecasting meat prices in general to rise further, and that will be good for farmers and processors over the coming year,” he said.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury co-chairperson Sara Black said farmers were seeing a glimmer of hope after a tough year. “Last year was a horrendous year for sheep and beef farmers the high costs, the low returns and the continuing drought.”
But this year, the improved returns were a “lifesaver”.
Tariffs from the United States Government have not dampened demand for New Zealand beef
Still, challenges remained. For one, New Zealand’s national herd was smaller than it used to be. With some farmland being used for forestry or housing, there were fewer animals to process. That limited how much meat could be exported, even when demand was high.
“It’s brightened the prospect of farming so, so much. [It’s] a real, huge boost to the district,” Black said.
For many farmers, it was more about catching up than surging ahead.
Sara Black, Federated Farmers North Canterbury co-chairperson, says increased export demand is helping farmers catch up after a tough year.
“It might not be buying new tractors but just putting fertiliser on and catching up on that deferred maintenance.”
In North Canterbury, where farming was both a way of life and a backbone of the local economy, the improved outlook was offering much-needed momentum.
“It’s one of those ‘make hay while the sun shines’ years,” she said.
Dry weather could also throw things off. If farms got too dry, farmers might sell animals early, which pushed prices up, but that could reduce how much meat was available later on, she said.
MIA figures also show recent tariffs from the United States have not dampened demand in North America. The US and Canada increased import volumes substantially, with beef exports to the US up 105% in value.
That’s because New Zealand’s beef does not replace American beef – it complements it. The US imports lean beef trimmings from New Zealand to blend with its fattier local meat – the perfect mix for burger patties.
The figures show lamb and mutton are doing well, too. Exports in March were worth $523 million, up 34% on March 2024, and Europe and China are paying more per kilo for lamb than last year. However, beef exports to China were down 35% in March from a year ago. Clark said Chinese consumers were spending less on premium food, partly due to a slowing economy and falling house prices.
“They’re still eating meat, just not the premium cuts we usually send. They’re trading down to cheaper options.”
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the one area in March where exports continued to be weak was beef to China.
The red meat sector had total sales worth $1.26 billion in March this year, and the value of beef to the United States was a monthly record
Building a shared vision for agriculture
Opinion
Kate Acland
Ihave recently returned from a market visit to the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
The visit was not only timely but vital. It marked a shift in tone and purpose from previous trips, notably moving beyond the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations that once defined our engagements with our global counterparts.
Accompanied by our British-based Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) policy representative, I met with farmer organisations, industry leaders and government representatives What became clear is that the nature of our international relationships is maturing –and constructively so.
Where once we might have been perceived as a competitive threat in global markets, there is now a broader recognition that we face shared challenges.
Collaboration, not confrontation, is the new direction. Whether it’s climate policy, livestock emissions, animal welfare or the increasing burden of regulation, farmers on both sides of the hemisphere are navigating similar challenges.
In Ireland, the conversation focused on climate policy and emissions reduction. With a 24% all emissions reduction target by 2030, Ireland is tackling these challenges with a focus on optimising farm systems, better genetics into its dairy herds and improved finishing times for beef on dairy progeny.
There’s a science-backed understanding that while reducing emissions is important, it can’t be at the expense of maintaining food production and rural communities.
The UK remains a critical partner. Our discussions with the National Farmers’ Union President and key board members in England were especially productive.
A major point of convergence was the treatment of methane in climate accounting – a longstanding frustration on both sides.
Methane, a short-lived gas compared to long-lived carbon dioxide is often
misrepresented in international climate models
Leading climate change scientists agree this has significant implications for livestock farmers, who risk being unfairly penalised under current accounting frameworks.
We are pleased to be developing a joint workstream with our UK counterparts to establish a shared position on methane.
Our goal is to build momentum toward a more scientifically accurate understanding of greenhouse gases in domestic and international processes globally – one that recognises the unique warming profile of biogenic methane
By aligning our efforts and collaborating with other agricultural nations, we aim to amplify this narrative and push for a global shift in policy that better reflects agricultural and scientific realities.
Beyond climate, I spent considerable time in the UK and Europe discussing
animal welfare standards and the need for mutual recognition of equivalent outcomes.
Farming systems differ – across geographies, climates and traditions.
But outcomes, such as the welfare of animals and environmental performance, can be equivalent, even if the methods differ This nuanced understanding is critical if international trade is to be fair and effective.
European farmer groups echoed these concerns. Their worries about the impending European Union Deforestation Regulation mirrored our own. While we all support sustainable supply chains, the complexity, compliance burden and costs that come with these regulations threaten to disproportionately impact farmers.
For producers already committed to high environmental standards, new regulations should support and recognise existing efforts, not duplicate or over-complicate them
The US is understandably in a state of flux currently, but conversations with our counterparts recognised the important role New Zealand plays in trade with the US, particularly for lean beef trim and the value that adds to the US industry, where the domestic herd is at record lows.
Although environmental and climate regulation is down the radar from a government perspective, the focus at a corporate level in the US remains and they share our view about the important role livestock play in the environment.
What stood out across all meetings was a shared sense of purpose. Farmers globally are navigating a complex transition – balancing production, sustainability and economic viability.
The good news is that we’re not alone. The opportunity lies in strengthening relationships, aligning narratives and driving a collaborative agenda on the world stage.
This visit was not just about market access – though that remains important. It was about laying the groundwork for deeper, long-term partnerships. Although the agenda was gruelling at times, I’ve returned home to the farm encouraged and energised, knowing that a global consensus is not only possible but necessary.
By working together, farmers from across continents can shape the narrative, advocate for fair and informed policy, and ensure that agriculture remains both productive and sustainable.
As farmers, we are the custodians of land, animals and food production. But increasingly, we must also be diplomats and advocates – ensuring the world understands the realities of what we do and why it matters.
I was fortunate enough to spend several days on farms across the UK, it’s always a privilege to visit someone else’s patch and understand what drives them, because ultimately as farmers we’re all alike, even though our farms may be very different.
Kate Acland is the chairperson of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and a mid-Canterbury sheep, beef and dairy farmer.
CLARE TOIA
Having a voice is important
Opinion
The chief executive of Horticulture New Zealand, Kate Scott, says hort needs to continue to speak up.
Irecently met with Plant & Food Research It was a great opportunity to discuss the science and innovation underpinning our sector’s resilience and growth
With the transition under way to establish the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science, it’s a timely reminder of how important it is that horticulture continues to have a strong voice in the evolving science system We’ll continue to advocate for research that’s fit-for-purpose and supports growers’ real-world needs.
I’ve also been doing media interviews following the release of our Māori in Horticulture Report
a landmark piece of work that highlights the
No lip service, just action in future
Opinion
Fenton Hazelwood has spent three decades working across the seed, agrichemical, and food and fibre production sectors, from large-scale multinationals to locally focused ventures.
Iwas born into the land. Our farm was a patchwork of pipfruit and stonefruit, process peas and beans, sheep, cattle, and a few other short-term crops that changed with the seasons. It wasn’t just the soil that shaped me – it was the conversations, the lessons, the everyday decisions made with dirt on our boots and worry on our brows.
I’m not getting nostalgic. In fact, two things ring loud and clear from those early years. My grandpa Wilson once told me, “It costs more for Wattie’s to put a label on a can of peas than what Wattie’s paid us for the peas in the can.” That stayed with me
And my dad – wise Malcolm – one year stood firm and said, “Fent, if we don’t apply a third Sumisclex spray on the Golden Queens, we will not get a crop. We must save the crop.”
I didn’t realise it at the time, but those words etched something into me.
They became part of my DNA – a deep understanding that food production isn’t romantic; it’s relentless. It’s science, strategy, sacrifice. It has been a privilege to work with, alongside some fantastic growing organisations not just in New Zealand, but across the world. For this, I am eternally grateful.
Fast-forward to July 2024 After 12 years deep in the grind of a global agchem company, I was given a gift – though it didn’t initially feel like one. That gift was time. Time to slow down, recalibrate, and –without sounding too cliched – recharge the soul. With space to breathe came clarity. I started leaning into what matters most. I found myself back at the grassroots –talking to local high school students about my journey in Food and Fibre. Sharing with them why we desperately need sharp, curious,values-driven young people to keep this country’s agricultural heart beating.
I buried myself in research, looking at where our industry sits globally – trends, challenges, innovation pathways. I had
huge potential for ongoing growth, collaboration, and leadership in Māoriled horticulture
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a look at the report and help us spread the word. The media interest has been really positive, with strong recognition of the opportunities ahead. In 2026 it is horticulture’s turn to host the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. This is a great opportunity to celebrate growth in Māori horticulture.
I spoke at the Chartered Accountants Primary Sector conference in Rotorua recently. It was another great chance to tell horticulture’s story – our innovation, our challenges, and our critical contribution to New Zealand’s economy and regional communities. I also touched on the matter of succession in horticultural businesses. I spoke of the many challenges and opportunities reflected by growers on this issue. Also, best of luck to all the fantastic young growers competing in the Young
Fenton Hazelwood, who has spent three decades working in the hort sector, says producer returns and the regulatory strangleholds must be priorities for our Government
deep, honest conversations with forwardthinking growers from all over the country. And perhaps most surprisingly – I found myself knee-deep in online courses on AI Mind-blowing stuff. Stretching my brain in new directions. A whole new world of tools, risks, and possibilities that could genuinely reshape how we grow, produce, and tell the story of our food. Oh, and started writing a book.
But I also had time to reflect. To take in what 15 years of shifting regulation has really done for our sector. The answer?
Far from enough. Innovation has stalled greatly. We used to have active ingredients and biologicals coming into New Zealand regularly. Now? Imagine six or seven global players, each bringing one new product to market per segment per decade. Add a fiveyear-plus regulatory process, and you’ve got a system that doesn’t support progress – it smothers it.
And then there’s sustainability. That word gets thrown around so much it’s starting to lose meaning. But true sustainability –measured, enduring, real – is costly. And right now, too much of that cost is landing on the farmer’s shoulders. Protocols and audits are tick-boxes when a buyer turns around and purchases off someone who doesn’t meet the standard That stings. If we’re going to hold people to account, let’s reward those who meet the mark. Otherwise, what’s the point?
We’re overusing the few tools we have left – biologicals, agchem products, you name it. That’s not sustainable. It’s risky. And it’s not just about chemical resistance; it’s about New Zealand’s ability to keep producing safe, nutritious food for the world at the standard we’re known for.
There’s always been a quiet gap between the value of food and the value of those who grow it. That gap pulses through my veins. It frustrates me deeply that people have stopped thanking farmers for their meals. We’ve lost our connection to real
Grower of the Year regional finals. We’re proud to support the next generation of leaders in horticulture.
A reminder that applications are now open for the 2025 HortNZ Leadership Programme, run in partnership with Rural Leaders.
Growers are encouraged to think about the candidates who will best reflect the diversity of the sector – from different crops and regions to varied backgrounds and perspectives.
We’re looking for strong, skilled leaders who understand the pressures growers face and are passionate about shaping a positive future.
We need a board that brings a mix of experience and insight to the table –including skills in finance, biosecurity and risk management, science and innovation, Te Ao Māori, education, and governance.
If you know someone ready to take the next step in their leadership journey, please encourage them to apply.
food – food that nourishes, food that builds us. Ultra-processed food may be convenient, but it’s not the future. Food with a story, a place, our heritage – that’s the future. And that future includes honouring the grower, not forgetting them.
I’m now doing some work with a global tech company to help bring the grower’s story to the end consumer. It’s early days, but it feels right. The food chain must connect people – not just through supply but through trust, understanding, and appreciation.
My 30-year career in Food and Fibre has taken me from the paddock to Plant & Food Research, to early digital ag tools, to global seed companies, to leading in the reseller world, and into agchem. I’ve worked with incredible growers and walked both the R&D and corporate lines. I’ve seen greenwashing up close. And yes, I’ve wrestled with being “the corporate guy”. But I’ve always stayed true to one thing –authenticity. No lip service, just action Returning to the front lines has been jarring. Ourvegetable producers are hurting. The last 18 to 20 months have been
brutal – returns have been abysmal, yet supermarket margins haven’t blinked. And the regulatory machinery? Still crawling. Whether you’re farming organically, regeneratively, or conventionally – it’s a hard road. And sustainable innovation is being throttled back across the board.
These two issues – producer returns and the regulatory stranglehold – must be priorities for our Government. This isn’t about nostalgia. Like my grandparents and my parents, generations of New Zealand growers have always had to fight for the profitability and innovation they need. But today it’s about survival. It’s about enabling the next generation of food and fibre champions to have a future. Because without them and without change, the foundation we all stand on is under threat. I’ll keep pushing. I’ll keep telling our authentic food production story. And I’ll keep fighting for the growers – because I’ve lived their world, and I know just how bloody important it is. If we don’t stand up for the value of those who grow our food, then nobody will So let’s at least start there
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Kate Scott.
US tariffs having ripple effect throughout New Zealand’s log export markets
Scott Downs Director of sales and marketing for PF Olsen
The recent escalation in the United States government tariffs is sending shockwaves through global trade, and New Zealand’s forestry sector is not immune.
While the tariffs are not directly aimed at our log exports, their indirect effects are being felt in our key international markets particularly China and India at a time when global economic headwinds already challenge our exporters.
China, which consistently absorbs over 90% of New Zealand’s log exports, was already experiencing a sustained slowdown in its construction sector the primary driver of log demand.
With property developers under pressure, credit conditions tightening, and a general downturn in real estate investment, log demand has been trending downward. New Zealand’s radiata pine, used extensively in concrete formwork and temporary construction structures, was particularly affected.
Some might expect Chinese exporters who were exporting to the US to pivot to Europe as a broader economic strategy, but this shift is constrained.
The European Union’s increasingly stringent ESG regulations under the EU Taxonomy framework act as a substantial non-tariff barrier. Many Chinese manufacturers, especially in labour-
intensive sectors, struggle to meet these high environmental and social standards. This limits their ability to diversify away from the U.S. market, prolonging the domestic slowdown and, in turn, suppressing demand for logs.
India, our second-largest log market, is also impacted by global trade disruptions. India’s export-dependent sectors are seeing reduced overseas demand. A large share of New Zealand logs entering India are used in
the manufacture of pallets and packaging for goods destined for global markets. As these exports decline, so too does log demand, particularly for lower-grade logs suited to these uses
Another critical factor impacting the returns that New Zealand forest owners receive known as At Wharf Gate (AWG) prices is the exchange rate. Logs are sold in US dollars and shipping costs are paid in US dollars, but forest owners are paid
in NZ dollars. Initially, during periods of global uncertainty, the US dollar typically strengthens. This happened briefly in the wake of the tariff announcements, helping to support AWG prices. However, as investor confidence in the U.S. economy began to waver, the US dollar quickly weakened, eroding this short-term advantage and putting additional pressure on AWG returns for New Zealand growers. More recently the US dollar has recovered which will help AWG prices.
A silver lining in this challenging market is the continued easing of global shipping costs. Ocean freight rates have dropped significantly, driven by declining global trade volumes and an oversupply of vessels. This reduction helps partially offset lower log prices and softening exchange rates, particularly for lower-value log grades.
PF Olsen produces a Log Price Index that tracks the average sale price of log grades produced from a virtual forest. This Log Price Index in May is $2 below the two-year average and $4 below the five-year average. The May 2025 value of $116 is still $3 higher than May last year.
It seems the AWG price pattern last year is repeating again this year. This is higher prices in Quarter 1, followed by lower prices in Quarters 2 and 3 then a recovery in Quarter 4. AWG prices in New Zealand are still higher this year than last year.
Most market commentators expect we are at the bottom of the cycle now in May and June and prices will then recover for the rest of 2025.
Olsen’s Log Price Index.
Show me the (arable) money
By Heather Chalmers
Profitability is an increasing concern for arable farmers, which is why the Foundation for Arable Research has chosen it as the theme of its 2025 conference.
Under the banner “Show me the money” a range of international and local speakers as well as FAR staff will outline ways farmers can potentially reduce costs, improve productivity, diversify into additional income streams and adopt new tools and technologies.
FAR communications manager Anna Heslop says that when organising the conference, FAR considered the key concerns that are front-of-mind for farmers. Regular feedback from growers is that increasing input costs, flat crop contract prices, increased regulatory compliance and extreme weather events continue to challenge their profitability.
The conference keynote speaker is New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy and Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr.
Discussing how to make technology pay will be James Venning, a grain grower from the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
Farming over varying soil types, he uses a wide range of technologies to aid in decision making and micromanage areas in his cropping programme focusing on productivity, efficiency and
cost effectiveness. As well as the day-today running of Barunga Grains,Venning chairs his local grower group Northern Sustainable Soils, is a board member of the Hart Field Site Group and is a grower director of Grain Producers South Australia.
Another speaker, United Kingdom arable farmer, entrepreneur and popular YouTuber Olly ‘Blogs’ Harrison left school at 16 having struggled with dyslexia.
Since then, he has grown his farm from 70 to 600 hectares.
His farming business has 14 different income streams including dog walking fields, chipping wood for biomass, sunflower mazes, and office and holiday rentals. He’s always seeking new ways to
commercially exploit his land and assets.
Harrison will be outlining his farming journeyvia video link.
Professor Nicola Randall, the founding director of the Centre for Evidence Based Agriculture at Harper Adams University in England, will also appear via video link to discuss whether regenerative agricultural systems add value.
Farmer discussion panels will provide examples of the different approaches and technologies that growers are adopting to improve their farm business performance.
A conference dinner will double as a farewell to FAR chief executive Dr Alison Stewart, who steps down at the end of June after seven years in the role.
Announcing her resignation, Stewart says she has thoroughly enjoyed her time at FAR and will be sad to say goodbye to a sector that has impressed her immensely with its diversity, sustainability and resilience.
“Having led FAR through the implementation of a number of major initiatives including signing up to the GIA for Biosecurity Readiness and Response, introducing the new knowledge exchange platform Growers Leading Change and establishing Cultivate Ventures, an industry-led investment fund, it is now time to move on.”
Heslop says that, as always, prices for the event have been pared back to the absolute minimum, sitting at $320 for the two days.
The biennial event is being held at Lincoln University on Monday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 1.
To register for the conference,visit the FAR website, far.org.nz
Dr Alison Stewart
James Venning
Alert after loader bucket impact causes silo collapse
Amajor near-miss event where a feed silo collapsed on impact with a raised loader bucket is the subject of the latest safety alert from Safer Farms.
Safety alerts document real-life incidents, distilling key lessons from farmers into concise, one-page handouts for managers to use in safety discussions with their teams.
In this case, a farm worker had driven a tractor near a feed silo with the loader bucket raised high. The bucket struck the silo up high, causing an almost immediate collapse. The silo was destroyed, yard rails were damaged and there was a loss of feed for stock.
Full feed silos can weigh more than 18 tonnes and could cause significant injury or death if they collapse This could be from a collision with a vehicle, from an earthquake, or from a lack of regular maintenance.
Farmers should ensure all staff are aware of the risks around feed silos and make clear to staff, visitors and contractors that feed silos are in a restricted area.
All tractor operators need to be trained and competent in the safe use of tractors on farm – including silo areas.
This alert can be used to discuss with staff:
■ How silos may collapse if their
structural integrity is compromised;
■ The rules on your farm for working safely around silos;
■ Taking extreme care when operating machinery around silos;
■ Never parking closer than 12 metres to a silo at any time;
■ Ensuring all people are at least 12m from a silo during filling;
■ If using a tractor, making sure the loader/bucket is lowered;
■ Not climbing feed silos without first checking the structural integrity of the silo and the silo ladder, and wearing the correct PPE (twin tailed lanyard and harness);
■ The correct emergency response to silo collapse, including following an earthquake;
■ During an earthquake, it’s important to stay away from silos and other structures that could potentially collapse or cause injury – silos are tall, vertical structures that can buckle or collapse during strong shaking, potentially endangering those nearby.
Who are we?
Safer Farms is a membership organisation that recognises the whole sector benefits from improved health and safety. It brings together farmers and senior leaders from agribusiness, agricultural
industry groups and government. This article is part of the safety alert series, providing lessons from real incidents that have happened on farm.
The series is a feature of Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm strategy and action plan, developed by the agriculture sector, for the agriculture sector.
To view the safety alerts, visit farmwithoutharm.org.nz/safety-alerts. Alerts can be printed out for use in training and discussions, and there is an option to be emailed when new safety alerts are added.
For more information on working safely with silos, see worksafe.govt.nz.
Farm staff should all be trained in how to operate machinery around silos, following a case where a raised tractor bucket hit a silo, destroying it
As the sun rises over rows of crops, livestock stir in the paddock, and crowing roosters let everyone know the farm day has begun. But what happens when a team member is missing? Again.
Absenteeism – the unscheduled and unexpected absence of employees from work – casts a significant shadow over numerous industries, and farming is far from immune. Absenteeism can become a severe issue when an employee is frequently absent without a justifiable reason.
While often perceived as a challenge for urban businesses, absenteeism presents a unique set of hurdles for farmers, impacting production, productivity and the sustainability of daily operations.
Unlike businesses with larger workforces where tasks can be more easily redistributed, farms operate with lean teams The absence of even one employee can create a ripple effect, impacting carefully planned schedules, especially if that team member is a specialist machinery operator.
During peak seasons, such as planting or harvesting, when time is of the essence and every hand is needed, absenteeism can be particularly disruptive. A delay of even a day or two due to a missing tractor, harvester, or truck driver, or a stockperson can lead to significant daily losses in yield, quality and ultimately, profitability.
Scheduled equipment maintenance may need to be postponed, potentially leading to costly breakdowns and further downtime.
Regular absenteeism places other employees under additional workload
pressures and often forces them to take on extra responsibilities. This can result in fatigue, stress, decreased efficiency and even more instances of absenteeism
The pace of work may slow down, and tasks that require multiple individuals might become impossible to complete in a designated timeframe. This can create a backlog of work, further increasing the pressure on employees and potentially leading to errors, oversights or, more importantly, accidents and injuries.
The farm’s overall output suffers, impacting its ability to meet market demands and maintain profitability.
Beyond the immediate impacts on production and productivity, absenteeism can also cause friction with remaining
workers who feel overworked and under pressure. Communication can suffer, and the overall team morale can decline. This can create a negative work environment, potentially leading to further absenteeism or high staff turnover in an industry already feeling the strains of worker shortages
Some of the main causes of regular absenteeism include:
■ High workload and stress;
■ Harassment and bullying;
■ Alcohol and drugs;
■ Financial problems;
■ Organisational culture and change;
■ Employee disengagement. So how can farmers navigate this challenging issue and build a more reliable workforce? The solutions often require a proactive approach:
1. Cultivating a positive work environment: Creating a workplace where employees feel valued, respected and are fairly compensated is paramount. This includes offering competitive wages, additional benefits where possible and opportunities for training and development. Recognising and rewarding hard work can significantly boost morale and a sense of appreciation.
2. Open communication: Encouraging regular communication, where employees feel comfortable raising concerns and providing feedback, can help identify and address potential issues before they escalate into absenteeism.
3. Flexible work arrangements (where feasible): While the nature of farming often demands specific hours, exploring flexible arrangements where possible, such as staggered start times or task-
based flexibility, can accommodate individual needs and improve work-life balance.
4. Clear policies and expectations: Establishing clear and consistently enforced policies regarding attendance and leave is crucial. This provides transparency and ensures all employees understand their responsibilities.
5. Cross-training and skills development: Investing in cross-training employees so that multiple individuals can perform key tasks can mitigate the impact of a single person’s absence. This creates a more resilient and adaptable workforce.
6. Utilising technology and automation: Where viable, adopting technology and automation can reduce the reliance on manual labour for certain tasks, potentially lessening the impact of staff shortages or unexpected absences.
7. Addressing the causes: When absenteeism does occur, it’s important to understand the underlying reasons Understanding, acknowledging and addressing the underlying reason for regular absenteeism with empathy can lead to more sustainable solutions. Often proactive measures are not sufficient to reduce absenteeism, and employers may need to engage in formal employment processes. These will be dependent on the cause and length of absenteeism and may include a welfare process, return to work interviews and a disciplinary process in cases of an unauthorised absence.
Absenteeism in agriculture is not merely an inconvenience; it’s a real threat to production and productivity, and can negatively affect the entire farm operation.
Absenteeism
Ashea Maley
Above: Unwanted extra pressure on teams to get their work done on schedule is a common result of absenteeism on New Zealand farms.
Right: Ashlea Maley is Peninsula New Zealand’s associate director of operations.
What’s on
● May 30-June 11 B+LNZ Webinar Series: Grow Your Own People, Grow your Farm
This four-part series aims to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills to train others confidently and effectively on their farms, leading to improved competence, confidence and productivity.
Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● June 5 B+LNZ
Dairy Beef Workshop: Unlocking the Synergies, Carterton
Join dairy and beef farmers from across the Wairarapa and Tararua for a practical, forward-thinking workshop focused on turning non-replacement dairy calves into a win-win opportunity for both sectors.
Info at beeflambnz.com/events
● June 10 Dairy Women’s Network
Yaps in the yard, Canterbury
Join us for the first of our Yaps in the Yard events, where we will be hosted on the Megaws’ farm to hear from Eldon and Rose Megaw about their pathway through the dairy industry. We will then hear from Rabobank around equity options and ways to farm ownership.
Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
● June 12 DairyNZ and Fonterra Powering up Dairy, Taranaki DairyNZ and Fonterra are partnering together to deliver a series of community toolbox events to help ensure your farm stays future-fit, with a chance to share with other farmers.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● June 16 Dairy Women’s Network YourFarm,YourFinances: Askusanything,livewebinar
Have you got a burning question about tax, accounting, or financial planning?
Join CMK Chartered Accountants for an interactive Q&A-style webinar with Sally Coombe and John Dazley. You’ll have the chance to ask your questions live or submit them in advance – whether it’s about accounting, tax, finances, or anything in between Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
● June 17 DairyNZ Farmers’Forum
With the theme of innovate, integrate and collaborate, this is DairyNZ’s signature event and your chance to not only look ahead, but to see what it will take to shape the future. Experts in trade, evolving economies, climate change, technology, and consumer demands will join forces with innovative farmers.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● June 17 Dairy Women’s Network PickleballandPals,Waipa Pickleball is the exciting new game everyone is talking about. No experience? No problem Whether you are a seasoned pro, or have never picked up a paddle, don’t worry. We will have friendly players ready to show us the ropes. Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
● June 17-18 and 24-25 DairyNZ RuralGovernanceDevelopment Programme,Invercargilland Christchurch
DairyNZ has partnered with Business Torque Systems Ltd to deliver the Rural Governance Development Programme
(RGDP). This multi-day programme is designed for decision-makers from all types of rural businesses, including dairy farms, who want to grow their governance knowledge and skills.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● June 19 Taranaki Catchment Communities PracticalSolutionsforHighRainfall DairyEffluentSystems,Opunake andStratford
Join us for a practical on-farm-focused workshop to hear key findings for Our Land & Water Contestable Funding Project. Info at taranakicc.nz
● June 18 Ballance Farm Environment Awards BallanceFarmEnvironmentAwards –NationalSustainabilityShowcase, Wellington
The event celebrates some of the nation’s food and fibre producers, showcasing this year’s 11 Ballance Farm Environment Awards regional supreme winners. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy recipients, who become the national ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing for 2025.
Info at nzfetrust.org.nz/
● June 19 SMASH FieldDay–CalfRearing: SetuptoSucceed,Waikato
Have you been raising youngstock for years? There is always something new to learn. Or maybe you are just starting out and want to know the tricks of the trade. Or you want to get your staff up to speed before the heat comes on during calving.
Info at smallerherds.co.nz
● June 24 Dairy Women’s Network CalfRearingExpo,Canterbury
Are you interested in raising happy and healthy calves? Join SealesWinslow and AgriVantage for an insightful and interactive calf rearing expo designed to equip farmers with the latest knowledge, best practices, and expert advice to maximise calf health, growth, and profitability.
Info at dwn.co.nz/events/
● June 25 DairyNZ DairyEvent,Taranaki
Join us at Taranaki Dairy Event to hear from thought leaders and gain tips, tools and strategies to support your farm system to be future-fit. This event is an interactive day designed to challenge and inspire, featuring a range of sector experts, a farmer panel and an opportunity to see and hear the latest research happening at Dairy Trust Taranaki.
Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/
● June 25 SIDDC SIDDCFocusDaywillbeheldatthe JamesStewartLectureTheatreat LincolnUniversity.
Topics being covered are:
■ Lowdown at LUDF: Peter Hancox (LUDF), Bernardita Saldias (Farm Right) and Antoinette Archer (SIDDC).
■ Hear about this season’s performance highlights and challenges, financial outcomes, and next season’s budget and farm plan.
Info at siddc.org.nz/
Registration is essential for many events. Check out the various websites for more events.
NEW RACEWELL SHEEPHANDLER
Introducingthe NEW Racewell Series 2 AutoSheep Handler
Thisnew Racewell modeloffers improved functionality, increasedefficiency,and anevenmoredurable build—ensuringitstandsthe test of time on your farm
TOPFEATURESOFTHE HANDLER:
Automaticcatch clampwithadjustablesensors to altercatch position
Side tilt with front& rear access flaps foreasycrutching &foot access.
Auto drafts up to 1000 sheep hour by weight or EIDtag criteria
Easy to usewithcontrol dashboard, foot pedaland remote controls
Made in NZ with ourreliableTechnical Support team heretohelp.
Hot-dipgalvanisedhighqualitysteel with a10yearwarranty.
Increaseddurability
Engineered to be stronger,more durableand easier to use. Biggertilt rams forsmootheroperation,turbo watertraptoextendthe lifeofthe pneumatics
Excellent Animal Access
Thesidetilt andaccess flaps provide unparalleledaccess to theanimal. The side tilt canbeadjustedfrom0-90 degrees to putthe animal in an ideal position fordagging/crutching
FREE LOAD BARS!
Free Te Pari 600mmLoadBar worth$1500+gst with anynew Racewell Auto SheepHandl
T&Cs apply, seeour websitefor more information
Whyupgrade your Racewell?
•Improvedcrutching access with front& rear flaps
•Quieter &smootheroperation
•Largerweighingarea& improved durability
•Upgradedsensors forfasteroperation
Checkout thevideo belowtolearn more aboutthe newRacewells!
