The future is here
Everything farmers do has apotential impact on futuregenerations of land,people,and the viabilityofthe food and fibre sector.Thisedition of Wairarapa RuralOutlook focuses on whatfarming is expectedtolook like in the futureand whatour farmers aredoing to get there.
TheMinistryfor Primary Industries’2023 update on its Fitfor aBetter World Roadmap, identifies somekey megatrends potentially impacting farming in thefuture:
In the next fewyears to 2030,global productivity islikely to grow at its slowest rate since 2000 (World Economic Forum, 2023)
China’s population is expected to shrink by 109 million people by 2050 (United Nations,2022)
In Asia,morethan 1 billion people will join the middle class by 2030 (Bloomberg, 2021)
GDP per capita forSouthEast Asia and India are expectedtomatch China’s current level by 2050 (Euromonitor,2022)
Thenumberofpeople aged 65+ living in New Zealand is likely to hit 1million by 2028
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NZ food and beverage is highly associatedwith sustainability, ethical and environmentalpractices by our target consumer audienceinthe UK,USA, Japan, China &Australia. Expanding taste and trust attributes is an opportunity. (Made with Care,NZTE,2023)
TheEU’s Green Claims Directive proposes that anyenvironmental claims on products sold in the EU must be substantiated using set criteria (MFAT,2023)
Theapplication of new technologies and precision agriculturehas been estimatedtoincrease crop yields by 70%
(HDI Global,2021)
Among 60of the world’slargest meat, dairy, and seafood companies, half areinvesting in alternative proteins (Good Food Institute, 2023)
Seeing data like this,our farmers areincreasingly asking questions about environmental functionalityalongside production performance outcomes
This featurelooks to the future of farmingwith examples (drawnfromWairarapa and beyond) of building the workforceinthe food and fibre sector, adding value, innovating,and collaborating -all based on the principles of sustainabilityand caring forthe environment.
What we findisthatthe future mightalready be here.
Boosting our food&fibre sector
MPI’s Fitfor aBetter World Roadmap sets the course foraccelerating the economic potential of New Zealand’sfood and fibresector. It aims to consolidate and enhanceNew Zealand’s reputation forproducing safe, high-quality, sustainable food and fibre.
To be straightup, farmers want to be competitivein aglobal market -amarket thatdemands sustainablyproduced food and fibre.
Andthat’sinanoperating environmentrifewith concernabout water availability, regulatory requirements,food safety, andgreenhousegas emissions
Earlier this year,economic consultancy NZIER teamed up with the Helen Clark Foundation (a public policy think tank) to producethe report Pathways to Prosperity: Capturing moreofthe value of our food and fibresector exports forNew Zealand Thereportopensbynoting that thegoods andservices thatour countryexports contributeonly 27% to our GDP(as at 2021), compared
to the OECD small-country average of more than60%.
It then proposes some actions to help liftexportproductivity in our food and fibre sectors, to be moreinline withthe OECD average.None of the actions arelikely to be news to Wairarapa farmers,but making them happen in a scaled-up waymighttake a bit of innovation.
Getting the workforcerightis one of the actions discussed Others relate to adding value to primaryproduction through processing,the necessityofinnovation, and the importance(and challenge) of collaboration.
Getting the workforce right
Oneofthe big issues in the food &fibresectorisabout having the rightworkforce in the rightplaces
Attracting moreworkerstorural areas -and forthose employees to cometoworkalready trained in both technical and personal skills -isideal.But somefarmers in Wairarapa say they struggle to attractand retain the next generation of staffdespitethe factthat training opportunities exist
Employers and training providers arepulling out all the stops to attractyoung people into the primarysectorin Wairarapa. Andsome colleges and intermediatesaround the region have embedded model farms and agricultureintotheir curricula.
But farmers arehaving differentexperiences with the availabilityofstaff. Katie Wyeth, forexample,who owns a125-ha farmatKopuaranga, told Wairarapa Times-Age a couple of months ago thatit is “becoming moredifficult to recruit qualifiedstaffon-farm”
George Wiliams from Grassendale in Tinui, on the other hand,recently said “local colleges aredoing greatthings with their agribusiness and farming classes,and I’mseeing moreyoung guysthan ever beforeshowing an interest in farming.”
Turn the page to read about a perfect example of both howto build afuturerural workforce as well as howtofoster collaboration between farmers and students
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PHOTO BY COTTONBROSTUDIO WWW.PEXELS.COM
Buildingthe workforce from the ground up with FarmerTime for Schools
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Marie Burke is the national coordinatorofanonline educational programme thatistaking off all around NewZealand.It’scalled Farmer Time forSchools. Theprogramme connects farmers in one region with school students in another.
PHOTO BY PAUL SUTHERLAND.PHOTOGRAPHYFOR NEWZEALAND STORY
Apilot programme,established in 2022, nowhas morethan 1,000 school students and their teachers learning from afarmer each year,with classes virtually visiting farms on aregular basis.Marie says the aim is for students “tolearnhow food and fibreisproduced,toask questions,and generally learn about the role of afarmer.”
“Farmer Time forSchools reconnects urban and rural communities and fosters a greaterunderstanding of the rural sector,”Marie says.“It also inspires students to think about apotential careerinthe food and fibresector-anywhere from farmtofork.”
Sally Dryland is aVolunteer Wairarapa farmer involved with Farmer Time forSchools
Sally Dryland farms a240ha hill countryfarmnear Mangatainokawith her husband Chris.She says “their goal is to producesteaks that everyone wantstoeat,and to enjoywhatthey do.”
Sally is an award-winning advocate forfarmersand became involved with Farmer Time forSchools as she stepped aside from her role as Tararua Federated Farmers President. In aprevious life, she wasa schoolteacher and principal including aTeWharau school,east of Masterton. She recalls “watching the communitychange as farms were convertedintopine forests”and so is keen to promotethe benefits of farming farand wide,including to futuregenerations
Sally wasmatched with an intermediate school class in Hawera,because the programme aims to show students different climates, topography, environments andfarming practices around the country. She loves the opportunitytohavea conversation with students about the value of farmingas well as thespecificsofhow farming is done
“Engagementbetween farmers and young people is so important. We cansharewhat we aredoing,for example,to reducethe impactofclimate change,” she says.“It is great to be able to sharehow we have planted16,000 trees (50% natives) and built more than 10kms of fencelines along creeksand streams.”
Thequestions from students can be fascinating,Sally says. “They’renot scared to ask a farmerwhatishappening and why. Andthereare awhole bunch of basic things they want to understand too, like the differencebetween asteer, abull,aheifer,and acow.”
Sally took photos and made videos about things happening on the farmand in herrural community, and then sent them to the school.Therewas adiscussion withthe teacher first about whatmightalign withwhatthe students were studying under the curriculum. Some of hervideos were of the Feilding weanerfair,astock
auctioneer talking 19 to the dozen, an interview with astock truck driver about the design of his truck,aninterview with BevanBissett in the motorbike shop about the safetyfeatures of the ATVs used on the farm, and wintergrazing
“I connectedwith the students about onceafortnightfor 15 to 30 minutes,sothey could ask questions afterthey’d viewed the videos.Manyofthe students at the Hawera school had parents working at the local meatprocessingworks, so they startedtoconnect the production of the food to the end productonthe plate and to jobopportunities.They began to recognise our local stock trucks rolling through their town, too.”
I’dencourage farmers across Wairarapa to get involved withFarmer Time forSchools,” Sally says.“It’s agreat way to increase young people’s understanding and interest in the farming sector.”
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Thediscussions withour clientsall beginwith theend goal,followedbysomeprobing discussion.Whatisthe asset?Who isthe best possible buyer?How should the propertybe packaged? Howwill we reach and attract the perfectbuyer? What is the timeframeweshould work to?These steps culminateina plantogoto marketand ensurethe greatest chance of success and apremium outcome forour vendors.
Involveusinthe processearly —whether you’re consideringsellingnow,tomorrow,orinthe future— we want to be apart of theplanning early,todevelop therightstrategy foryouruniquesituation and ensure the right decisions and the greatest possible outcome for you, your businessand your family
At Bayleys, ourlocalteamisjustone part of amuch larger networkofspecialists across NewZealand,all drivenbythe same values. With 102rural specialist agentsworking together,wehavethe extensivereach to connectbuyersand sellers in every corner of the country,achievingAltogether Better results for ourclients.
With Bayleys, it’s Altogether Better.
DOCKINGAND CASTRATING
Docking is coming up. At itsbest afun time for the whole family to work together, at its worst the frustration of the wind blowing out your docking iron and getting kicked in the facebya stroppy lamb! With the increase in shedding sheep and somefarmers breeding for short tails, less dags, and abarebreech, docking might one day be athing of the past. For now it is still anecessity on most farms If your lambs aredeficientinselenium or in vitamin B12 then supplementing them at docking will improve their growth rate, health, and immunity to disease. If they arenot deficient, supplementing will nothelp. Youcan’ttell whether they are deficient without blood or liver testing. We recommend blood testing thefirst mob of lambs at docking, or acouple of days beforedocking starts, so that you know whether it is worthgiving B12 and/ or selenium. Taking bloodfromlambs is quick and easy in the dockingcradle, and the test us about ou thisyear
tingisnot expensive. Talk to urspecial promotion
people say that once you start vaccinating youhave to keep going, but this is completely not true! If you don’thave the disease on your farm then you shouldn’t start vaccinating. The disease also causes an increase in udder problems in ewes, whichleads to lower milk production and ahigher culling rate. Vaccination will help reducethese issues. Talk to us if you would like to know more.
isease by atare in u ct se th en ally est an lamb ers arenow giving stridial in1”
Clostridial d arecaused bacteria tha everywhere the soil, you can’tprotec against thes diseases wit biosecurity These diseases cause sudd death, usua of your fatte best grown Many farme the first clostridial vaccination (5 in1 vaccine) at docking and the booster at weaning. Sheep requiretwo shots to be protected and they aren’t fully covered until after the second shot. Giving the clostridial vaccination early means that lambsare fullyprotected soon after you give the second shot. Thereare clostridial vaccines available that protect against 5, 6, 8, or 10 different strains. Talk to us about the best one to use in your situation.
If lambs areafflicted with“scabby mouth” thenavaccine prevents this diseasefrom causing reduced growth rate. Youhear
drench beforeweaning puts mo pressure on afailing s ur vet anage w your f evera farme dren res hav imp the by their mana ter ou ed th nplace
How old should lambs be beforethey requireaworm drench? While lambs arestill on mum, they aregetting such high protein and energy from the milk that even if they have worms those will not be affecting them. So in most cases drenching lambs at docking isunnecessary.Ifyou have drench resistance, then giving an ineffective ore system. about how worms farm. al Wairarapa ers with nch istance ve proved eir status changing rfarm agement, ur vets hem get a e. king and red. Some
Painrelieffor dock castration is notyet requir
farmers arepart of Quality Assurance schemes such as ZQ Merino which require theuse of pain relief. Anecdotally some of these farmers have said they would continue using painrelief even if it wasn’t required, because of the improvement in mothering up. Not all options are equally effective, and some areharderto administer than others. Talk to us if you areinterested in knowing more. Docking is morethan just putting rings on and counting tails. An animal health planwill help you make surethat you are puttingthe right things into your animals to get the best out of them.
PHOTOSSUPPLIED
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Mike O’Farrell is ateacher at MastertonIntermediate School involved with Farmer Time forSchools
Teacher Mike O’Farrell also manages the farmatMasterton Intermediate,which the students help to run. Mike was broughtuponafarminthe Hawke’sBay and alreadyknows quiteabit about drystock (sheep and beef), so waskeen to connecthis students with former dairyfarmer Neil Parker, fromTauranga.
Neil has significantexperience on acommercial dairyfarmbut, these days,he’salifestyle beef farmer and apolytech tutor, with an interest in lowinput farming methods
“Neil is so knowledgeable,” Mike says.“It’s like having a farmconsultantontap.Hetalks with the studentsabout raising calves,how to feed calves,how oftenthey should be fed, what to look out forinsteers,how to address arangeofmedical issues,health and safety standards,and alot more. It’s fantastic to be able to connect our farmmonitors with afarmer who has expertadvice,and to watch their knowledge grow.”
Students ask questions in an online folder and then
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Supply and installwater pumps, sewerage pumps andwater filters
Emptyseptic tanksand grease traps Wairarapa agentfor Devantanks (600 to 30,000 litres)
Deliver14,000 litresofdrinkingwater
Facetime with Neil during class to talk through the answers Each year,thereare between about 20 to 25 farmmonitors who take partinthe Farmer Time forSchools programme. Mike says thatstudents apply to become afarmmonitor and arechosen based on their attitude and skills.“Only about half come from afarm,”hesays, “and all come to the role with genuine enthusiasm.”
Farm monitors are“on call”to fix afenceline or feed acalf Working bees areheld on the weekends to do jobs like dock the sheep.All the farm-related work supports the curriculum, “and the priceless input from Neil Parker through Farmer Time forSchools is all free.It’sa brilliantprogramme,”Mike says Melanie MacGregor is a CartertonSchool teacher involved in Farmer Time for Schools
Melanie MacGregor teaches at CartertonSchool.Her class wasmatched with Gore farmer Sharon Paterson who farms WaikakaStation with her husband Laurie.The station specialises in qualitygenetics with its renowned Hereford cattle and Texeland Rombreed sheep studs
Wairarapa agent forDevan tanks
Watertruck Septic truck
“Sharon is awonderful ambassador forfarming,” Melanie says.“She has grandchildren the same age as the students she’s matched with, so understands what interests our students.Along with our fortnightly Google Meet sessions,Sharon sent us videos of lambs being born, lambs in the shed,a bull sale,collecting eggs from the chickens,dogs herding sheep,food being growninher garden and then cooked for functions she holds…and then we could ask her questions
Thechildren hadsomany questions!”
In addition to its core business of farming and genetics, Waikakareceives tours of tourists,has ashop selling produceand crafts,and caters forweddings andfunctions
“The children learned about thebusiness of farming as well as farming itself,” Melanie says.“We were doing ‘Prep’ at school at thetime,including making our ownproducts and sellingthem. Allthe things Sharon talked about were very
relatable to the students and the curriculum.”
Only four out of Melanie’s 22 students liveona farm, so their daily lives aremostly very different to farmer Sharon’s.And even forthose whodocome from afarming background,the Waikaka Station is different from their experiences in Wairarapa. “The students got to see rolling hills and snow, forexample,and learned thatthe grass stops growing during winterinGore.”
No matter the age of her
students,Melanie’s keen to keep CartertonSchool involved in the Farmer Time forSchools programme
SupportFarmerTime for Schools and takeittothe next level
National coordinatorofFarmer Time forSchools,Marie Burke, says it adds an extradimension to the student’slearning if the class is matched to a farmerfromadifferentregion, “although, if ateacher requests alocal farmer,wecan usually organise that.”She adds,“we have people from awide range of food and fibre businesses involved,includingbeekeepers, members of farmers markets, and lifestyle farmers.”
Go to the Farmer Time for Schoolswebsite www.farmertime.co.nz to findout moreabout the programme and to connect withMarie.The programme is supportedbythe Ministry for PrimaryIndustries,Beef +Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers,Rural Women NZ, the Horticulture &AgricultureTeachers Association, United Fresh and the 5+ aDay programme
Adding value with sustainable farming systems
Many Wairarapa farmers arecompletely invested in the extent to which adding value in the food and fibresectorcan help businesses compete internationally and export successfully. This is akey issue noted in theNZIERHelen ClarkFoundation report.
Coastal Spring Lamb is one example of whereNew Zealand shines in adding value.It wasestablished by Turakina farmers,Richardand Suze Redmayne.They recognised the demand from customers at home and abroad forfood produced within sustainable farmingsystems
TheCoastal Care label is only awarded wherefarms meet biodiversitycriteriarelating to fresh water,fertile soils,and healthyhabitat.Richardsays it is nowpossibletobuy the premium Coastal Spring lamb brands in Asia, the Pacific, Europe,USA and Mauritius as well as some supermarkets in New Zealand
Four Wairarapa farmingfamilies arepartofthe Coastal Spring Lamb business: the McIlraiths
College
INSPIRINGFUTURE FARMERS
at Washpool Farms, the Kights atAkitio Station, Wharekauhau CountryEstate,and the Kellys at Wharepapa Station.
WashpoolFarms. Washpool Farms, trading as Kaiwaru Trust, is one of the Southernmost farms in the North Island.The land stretches from the rugged coastal shoreline rightuptothe Aorangiranges
Theowners,the McIlraith family,saysthat“with about 5,000ewesonthe properties, and with the earliest ewes lambing in July on the 900 acreKaiwaru farm, Kaiwaru has its first draftoflambs offthe mother in November.”
Thelambs bornonthe 2,000 acreHill Farm aremoved to Kaiwaru to be finished.The farms areproud to produce some of the earliest and tastiest lambs on the Wairarapa Coast Akitio Station. Edwynand JennyKightonAkitio Station, 50 minutes from Dannevirke, farm on along coastal ridge that experiences long drysummers
Thebusiness involves sheep farming forprime lamb,cattle breeding and finishing,forestry, carbon and some tourism.
Theproperty has recently increased to 3,600 ha with an effectivepastoral farming platformof2,100 ha. TheKights
havesaidthat“apurchase of an additional1,000 ha (Huiarau Station) in 2019 has significantly added to our supply of lambstoCoastal Spring Lamb.”
Lookingto the futureEdwyn isreportedassaying,“we’re alwaysevolving and striving forabetter result.Weintend to keep farming as Ibelievewe have asustainable operation with agood mixoflivestock andpines providing us with multiple revenue streams.”
Wharekauhau CountryEstate. Currently aluxurylodge on the south coast of the Wairarapa, whereCoastal Spring Lamb regularly features on the menu, Wharekauhaubegan as land thatwas broken in to receive sheep thatwerewalked around the coast from Wellington.
TheWharekauhau farm runs 2,000 Romney breeding ewes and 550 hoggets.Itlambs anywherefrom130% to 150% depending on the weather and tries to finish all lambs each year
Wharepapa Station. Mitchand Megan Kelly both grew up in town, with Mitchtransitioning into shepherding in 2009. Today, they lease Wharepapa Station, a580ha sheep and cattle finishingoperation in the South Wairarapa bounded by the rugged Cook Strait.
In between, the Kelly’s grew through various sheep and beef roles throughout the Wairarapa. TheKelly’s saythey “take huge pride in the lifewe areluckytolivebythe sea and the stock we raise”.
PHOTO BY JONATHANBORBA WWW.PEXELS.COM
Adding value through regenerative agriculture
Only afew weeks ago,Fonterra wasinthe newsfor allthe wrongreasonshaving been challenged about its use of the term ‘regenerativeagriculture’ to describe to international audienceswhatall New Zealanddairyfarmers do.
Although adefinition of regenerativeagricultureis not necessarily agreed-upon internationally,wecan all agreethatitmeans more than simply ‘grazing cattle outdoors’, whichiswhatFonterraseemed to be suggesting in arecent presentation.Clearly,the term relatestoanapproach to farming wherethe land regenerates itself,doing away with the need to bring in “stuff” from outside the farm.
Aparticular focus of regenerativeagricultureis the health of the soilthrough growing awider range of plants in pastures,having stock graze pastures rather than being fed in feedlots,and making sure thereisalwaysacover crop on fields rather than leaving them bare aftertilling
Atkins Ranch, founded by Wairarapa farmers John Atkins andPhilGuscott,isalocal example of New Zealand producerswho support
DR TANUSHREE GUPTA
DISCUSSING TOXIC SPORES IN PASTURE WITH A FARMER.PHOTO SUPPLIED
regenerativeagriculture methods and,asanadded bonus,goontoadd value to high qualitylambproducts, attracting discerning North American customers and earning premium prices.
TheAtkins Ranch brandstates thatit“workswith, and changes theland”itcares for, to sequester carbon, improve water quality and biodiversity,enrich soils and leave natural systems stronger, healthier and moreresilientthan we found them.
Atkins Ranch is afamily of ranchers madeupofover100 ranching families locatedacross the North and South Islands of New Zealand.All its ranchers
WhyNZAglime?
We are100%New Zealandowned andoperated. Allofour products areproducedfromall-natural limestone,quarried righthereinWairarapa. We don’tuse unnecessaryadditives or chemicals andofferbothorganic and non-organic options.
arededicatedtodelivering quality, healthylamb thatis 100% grass fedand pasture raised,with no antibiotics or added hormones.Much of the success of New Zealand ranch land is based on rotational grazing management,where lambs aremoved regularly to fresh pastures
“Webelievethatfarmingcan, and should,bebetter forthe land thatweare guardians of, and forgenerations to come. We shareour knowledge openly,hoping others will follow-and over the years we’vetaken everyopportunity to set new standards,and be judged against them.”
Atkins Ranch is the first lamb producer in the world to achieveGlobal Animal Partnership (GAP) Step-4 accreditation as well as the first to be Non-GMO Project verified. This accreditation recognises ranchers that raise their animals in animal welfare-friendly environments It is away forconsumers to be reassured thatthe meatthey buy in stores has been raised in high welfarestandards
“Our ranchers carefor their animals and land with the utmost compassionand consideration. They work with the natural ecosystems of theirland and aim to keep the environmentaspristineas possible.Manyofthem have set aside areas on their ranches forconservation purposes, focusing on regenerating the land and water.Weensurethat our lamb can be traced from the shelf back to the ranch it wasraised on.”
So when youchoose Atkins Ranch “you can shareina flavor, and afuture, youcan love”.
Piopio man to lead farmingsolution through genetic excellence
Chairman of directorsofthe recently created‘LivestockGeneticsNew ZealandLtd’(LGNZ)
Mr. JasonHillofAongatete,Katikati, announcedthe initiative statingthatthe immediateneedfor aviable solutionfor agricultureisimperative.
Therevenue creators of ourfarming businesses,the livestock,are in aprecariousposition. Agenetic solution isrequiredtobeswiftand financially robust
Thenetwork of 22 regionaldirectors areactively farming in most regionsofNew Zealandand hold ‘skin in thegame’ andtherefore aresensitive to thevagaries oftheir agriculturebusinesses.
They rangethrough commercial farmerstoastute animalbreedersacrosstopographyand breeddifference tounderstandthe geneticrequirementsofmost producers
LGNZ is expandingthe focusonwealthcreationfrom animal genetics identifyingthe most optimalanimals within breedand species. Theresulting environmental andfinancialfitnessofthese defined animalsare thebase-stonefor farm operationalefficiency and profitability.LGNZisfully funded andoperational.The primefocus is about netic dfinancial valueto capital
stock, marketable animalsand subsequent product.
JasonHillstatedthatthe directorsare inclusivewithin an existing client base that practice geneticselection withthe proven FalkirkIndex NewZealand System (FINZ) that hasbeenoperational forsome38years
Thetimehas come forfarmers to take controloftheir industry anddeliver qualityproduct to market that backsclaimsofexcellence.
To market by specification.Itistimefor farmerstobe offereda choice betweena high-costsystemtoone of wealthcreation.
It is my pleasure to announce that IanWalsh the originator of FINZ andFalkirk ScientificFoundation (FSF)has been appointedasDirectorGeneral of LGNZ His65years of active farmingand geneticinnovation within animal breeding holdsfew peers.
His 96 internationalvisitations to SouthAfricaand Australia, servinganexpanded client base across the breed/specie barrierisuniqueand holdsnobiasinthe search forthe most optimalsheep andbeef animals.
Dr CliveDalton (researcher) testifies;
“Ianhas always been an innovatorinthe industry,he was oneofthe smallgroup of farmerswho were our researchmentors,astheywerealwaysyears aheadofus intheir thinking.There is no wayIan or Falkirkwilllose focusabout what is importanttohillcountry farmers”
StompieOlivier from ZA confirms;
“One day, oneman,I have learnt more about geneticsthanfromall theother advisors in my breeding career ”
DenysWells states;
“Selecting forexcellenceiskey.Experiencingthe benefitshavebeenpsychologically rewarding. The system is basedonpractical knowledgebackedby scientific facts.
Johanvan derNest explains;
“Ian wouldbethe foremost livestockappraiser/ selector in theTri-Nations,his 3-dimensionalviewofan animal is unique,coupled with Epi-geneticknowledge, pragmatism andcommercialreality,hehas no peer.”
RichardWarren confirms;
“Our associationwithIan Walshand FalkirkGenetics represents an integral part of asolutiontothe declining standardsofmeatand wool production in New Zealand”
Ian commented;
“Myimmersion within theindustryhas enabledme to definethe genetichealthand wealth of thenational flock andherd. By definitiononly20% of animalsand productare brandableand fit forpurpose.Thisfactor hasdeclinedrapidly since2011, when 50%ofanimals held this status.Itiscrucial that positive action is taken nowasthe latest generation of farmersare threatened by escalating operationcosts andregulatorydemands that destroyprofit margins.
Theunderstanding that abundleoftraitsinterfaced in synchronydeliver longevity, strong immune system, survivabilityand lifetime high productivity,iscrucial Thesefactors generate high qualityproduct that is proofedbyanestablished client base.Genetic prepotency is keyoutcome of this naturalselection process. This geneticinitiativeisthe antithesis of the mandated regime that commercial farmersand breeders arecurrently subjectedtoexperience.”
BenParsons, Rotoruastates;
In my opinionFalkirk hasthe capability of revolutionizingfarmbreedingsystems.New Zealand’s agricultural future dependsonleaders like IanWalsh of Falkirkenablingproducers to definemarketableproduce that is in demand world-wide
ThroughIan’s expertisewithhis livestockassessment system,ithas enabledustodrive ourbusinessforward to newlevelsofperformance andprofitability”
Editorialsupplied
Local innovation abounds
In 2020, New Zealand produced 27.16 tonnesofmethane fromagriculture, morethan anysingle European country (except Franceand Germany), but less than largecountries likeRussia, North America, China orevenAustralia.To view the data behind this,go to:https://ourworldindata.org/ grapher/methane-emissionsagriculture.
In June this year,the governmentannounced it would amend the Climate Change Response Act2002 by January2025, to ensure agriculturedoes notenter the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme -anannouncementwelcomed by DairyNZ.
But the governmentdoes intend to establish aPastoral Sector Group to address methane reductions on-farm.
In the meantime,Wairarapa farmersare just gettingon and doing their bit to reduce climatechange impacts RobertHickson has farmed at Waio Station, Castlepoint, for just over fiveyears and got to thinking about seaweed.He’s sincefounded the research organisation Blue Carbon Services which studies the role of seaweed in drawing down carbon-dioxide from the air.
“Askelp naturally sheds organic matter (containing carbon), apercentage of it drifts into the nearby deep ocean to remain locked away from the atmospherefor hundreds to thousands of years,”Robert says Blue Carbon Services is collaborating with the UniversityofOtago,
Auckland University, and the New Zealand National Institute of Waterand Atmospheric Research (NIWA) with funding from the NZ Endeavour Fund
Thereisstrong evidence thatseaweed represents one of the most promising natural opportunities for re-establishing the earth’s carbon balance.
Robertsaysthat“if humans aretoavoid mass species extinction associatedwith our current projection of an average temperatureincrease of 3°, large-scale marine carbon production and sequestration must representone of a multifaceted group of emission reduction and greenhouse gas sequestration technologies.”
Innovatingtoreducefacial eczemaoutbreaks
Facial eczema in livestock -caused by afungus found in decaying plant matter in warm and moist conditions -results in trauma foranimals.It occurs seasonally in the summer and autumn in most areas of the North Island and occasionally innorthernareas of the South Island.
Thedisease is caused by a fungus called pithomyces chartarum which produces toxic spores containing a mycotoxin called sporidesmin. When ingested by animals, the mycotoxin irreversibly damages the liver
Signs of facialeczema include restlessness,scratching of affectedareas,seeking shade, peeling off of the skin, loss of weight, jaundice, and death. Thespread of the diseasehas an economic impactfor NewZealand farmers of hundreds of millions of dollars
annually due to reduced fertilityand fecundity(ewes) or reduced growth rates(lambs). Affectedeweswill oftenlose condition inlatepregnancy andhavehigher death rates and poor lamb survivability. Facial eczema affects not only the financialbottom line for farmers but also their mental well-being
Global warming is exacerbating the spread and prolonged occurrenceofthe disease, especiallyinclimateslike we experienceinWairarapa- high summer temperatures,with the sporecountclimbing dramatically afteranightofrain.
Thereisno cure forfacial eczema,with zinc dosing one of only afew management tools currently available.This intervention,however,includes harmful substancesthatare toxicto the environment.
Senior Scientist with AgResearch,DrTanushreeB Gupta,wants us to be able to reducerelianceonzinc as a preventive measure, and deliver solutionstominimise theimpact of facial eczema.
She is currently focused on eradicating the fungus by reducing the germination of the fungal spores in pasture with thedevelopmentof an antifungal productwith biomolecules as active ingredients -these aresafeand eco-friendly.The bio-molecules arewater soluble which, once formulatedintoaregistered product, will facilitate easy application through spraying on pasture.
As well,the Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts (EFEI) programme, announced in March by AgricultureMinister Todd McClay,isbringing together manyofthe country’s topresearchers as partofa multi-million dollar partnership to address facial eczema. It is jointly fundedbyBeef+ Lamb NZ, the Governmentthrough the Ministry forPrimary Industries Sustainable Food and FibreFutures fund,and the primarysector.
Theteam includes AgResearch scientists, ManaakiWhenua LandcareResearch, universities, rural professionals,and farmers.
By enhancing farmer adoption of prevention measures and new treatmenttechnologies, EFEI is expectedtoreduce economic costs tied to the disease by $38 million. Longerterm benefits to New Zealand’s economyare expectedto
increase by an additional$20 million each year afterthe programme ends
“The aim is not only to reduce economic losses but also to improvethe resilience and sustainabilityofNew Zealand’s agriculturesector.”
Zimmatic pivotand lateral-move systemscombine high-quality componentswith exclusive structural designs andinnovative features fora long-lasting
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Thechallenges and successes of collaboration
One of theissues in the NZIER-Helen Clark Foundation reportrelates to theimportance of collaboration if we areto innovateand add value in the food and fibre sector
But collaboration can be achallenge to make happen. Food and fibre sectorleaders consulted during the research forthat reportsaid therewas alack of trust within thesector, oftenresulting in alack of collaboration.
Thepioneer mentalityof‘goingit alone’isthoughttobeatthe root of this,but thatmentalityisno longerhelpful forbusinesses
whether it’s access to alarger market and morecapital,or collaboration to test aproduct, taking innovation off-shorecan be agame-changer.Harriet Mellish, AgriFutures Australia’s general manager of global innovation networks, said that “scaling up is akey challenge,not just forNew Zealand innovators, but forthose in Australia too. We’reconscious thatwecan’t solvesome of the big challenges thatwe’re facing,unless we partner globally.”
New Zealand startup Miruku is at the forefrontofmolecular farming, using the proteins and fats normally found in dairy products but producing them within the seeds of rowcrops like safflower. Mirukuisinvesting time in developing relationships, which the companyrecognises is crucial to taking innovation to another country. It plans to partner with Australian farmers forinitial crop cultivation.
ETipu: Boma Agri Summit Apanel discussion called ‘The Benefits of Collaboration: Trans-Tasman and Global’atthe E Tipu: BomaAgriSummit in New Zealand,hosted in July this year by AgriFutures growAG,shared tips about successfulcollaboration both with our neighbours across the Tasman and globally
Thepanel members agreed that
“Trans-Tasman collaboration can driveagritech innovation,” Dr Abby Thompson, chief operating officerfor Miruku, said.The advantages arescale of crop production, expertise in safflowertransformation research and afavourable regulatory environment.
Backhome in Wairarapa: innovation throughcollaboration
Angus Irvine,currently Beef + Lamb NZ’sextension manager forthe easternNorth Island,is about to step up to become a regional manager focused on stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Innovation and its associatedefficiencies are theprimaryobjectives
“Our Farmer Councilincludes four members from the Wairarapa region,”Angus says, “and is tasked with identifying the next big Beef +Lamb NZ projects in the area. We’re thinking about establishing ‘hub farms’toprove innovative concepts over the next six to 12 months.They’ll essentially actascase studies.”
This is all partofaBeef + Lamb NZ revised strategy, designed to focus on working collaboratively “behind the farmgate”.Angus mentions possible innovativeconcepts like strategic fertiliser placement, the use of drones, new grass genetics,and theuse of intelligent collars on stock.
“Collars areaformofvirtual fencing,and youcan move
your stockaround on your laptop,” Angus says.One websiteadvertises collars as being able to “monitor and move your mob”.
Thecostofcollars is coming down andthey’re certainly cheaper than fencing or the person powerrequired to move stockinhill country. The collars first give the cows a soundwarningifthey stray too closetoareas thatare out-ofbounds,followedbyvibrations of increasing intensityif
they ignorethe sound.Inan environmentthatregulates animals around freshwater,this seems like awin-win.Angus says the collars can also be used to move stock around for feed utilisation purposes to maintain pasturequality.
Beef +Lamb NZ’supcoming projects areareinvigoration of its previous $8.1 million Hill CountryFuture’sPartnership Programme which ranfor fiveyears and included collaboration withWairarapa
farmers Richardand Becks Tosswill,ontheir Gladstone farmTeAwa Awa.
Thegoal therewas to test the establishmentofsub-clover on uncultivable hill countryto see if the extraenergy from the cloverwould mean moremilk production from the ewes and increased lamb weightgain.
Theresults showedlifted performanceper hectarefor both ewes and lambs, and the timing of sub covergrowth was bang on with lactation. There wasalso extranitrogen in the soil,soless need to topdress
At the end of the trial,Richard wasreportedassaying “it’sworth the change in managementstyle which requires littleornoadditional work.”
TheHill CountryFuture’s programme supportedresilient farmers into the futurethrough futureproofing the profitability, sustainabilityand well-being of New Zealand’s hill country farmers,their farmsystems, the environmentand rural communities
We operateaturbine poweredairtractor with TracMap GPSand variable rate fertilisertechnology SMScertified
We also offerfirefighting services.
John &Penny Bargh (06) 308 8551 |jp.bargh@xtra.co.nz MemberofNew ZealandAgriculturalAviationAssociation(NZAAA)
Thepower of resilience
PHOTO BY MARK STEBNICKI WWW.PEXELS.COM
BakerAgisalocalcompany that is also focused on supporting farmers to innovate, thrive, and survive. The BakerAgteamiscomposed of passionate agricultural farm consultantsand rural valuers. Thecompanyaims to inspire agriculturebyempowering farmerstogrowand innovate through exceptionalservices, collaboration, and aforward thinking approach.
Thecompanybegan in 1986 when co-founders David Baker and Chris Garland envisioned abrighterfuture forfarmers.They’vesinceembarked on amission to challengeconventional farming practices,embracenovel thinking,and promotethe adoption of new technologies.Together,they’ve fostered acultureofcollaboration, whereknowledge and experienceare shared through field days,discussion groups,publications,and financial benchmarking analysis
If you’re wondering howtoinnovate and collaborate within the food and fibre sector, with the aim of adding value to your primaryproduction,
BakerAgcould be agood place to start www.bakerag.co.nz 06 370 6880 |team@bakerag.co.nz
