ANIMAL HEALTH
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
Sheep do well on fodder beet. PAGE 37
Keeping hedges nice and tidy.
PAGE 40
AGRIBUSINESS New Zealand is slacking on climate change according to a UK peer. PAGE 26
TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS OCTOBER 24, 2017: ISSUE 640
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Growers take a hit PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
VEGETABLE GROWERS will be taking a hit from lost production this year because of the wet weather, says Horticulture NZ’s chief executive Mike Chapman. “It is catch-up mode and in terms of the normal supply that would be around this time of year, growers will be losing a lot of money; they just can’t supply the quantities going forward,” he told Rural News. Rain is not the whole problem, he says. Warmer weather is also needed so the plants can grow. “Since March we’ve basically had rain, and across the regions, with a few minor exceptions, it has just made working in vegetable gardens very difficult. “The soil is heavy and it is very hard to get tractors in and out; it’s cold and wet and plants don’t grow in that cold and wet. “About a month ago hailstorms came through Auckland, shredding leafy greens. “So [some] plants haven’t been growing, and those that have been growing have been affected by constant downpours of rain and hail,” Chapman says. “The things we are not seeing a lot of are, obviously, potatoes and also cauliflowers, lettuce, spinach, etc.” The current weather difficulties have been across the board, although Southland has had a better spring.
Chapman says among the hardest hit areas is Pukekohe, which traditionally leads vegetable production at this time of the year and then the rest of the country follows. “But in Horowhenua, for example, they can’t even turn the soil to plant. I was up there
about a week ago and it was souldestroying seeing crops shredded and destroyed by continual wet weather.” While it is early days for fruit crops, they could also be put behind “depending on what nature delivers in the next few weeks”.
“Plants are struggling to grow – too cold, too wet,” he says. “Who knows whether it is climate change or not, but we seem to be noticing the weather is a bit more unpredictable… El Nino or whatever pattern, I am just not sure.”
TALK ABOUT WET, TREV
Canterbury market gardener Cam Booker pictured in the field of asparagus he was able to navigate on a paddleboard just a few days earlier. See story and paddleboard photo on page 17. – PHOTO NIGEL MALTHUS
SOME UP, SOME DOWN, SOME FIRM NIGEL MALTHUS
LAMB, SHEEP and deer prices are likely to remain firm, but cow and bull prices could soften, according to the Alliance Group’s projections for the new season. Heather Stacy, Alliance’s general manager livestock and shareholder services, told a recent meeting of shareholder farmers at Little River, Banks Peninsula, that prime beef prices should remain similar to last year at $5.00 - $5.40/kg early season and $4.80 - $5.20/kg post-Christmas. However, she says bull and cow prices are under pressure and softening compared with last season. These are projected to be about $4.00 - $5.00/kg early season and $4.70 - $5.00/ kg post-Christmas. Stacy was outlining the farmer-owned coop’s forecasts during its annual roadshow in which senior executives travel the country, updating shareholders on the co-op’s business. Stacy says cattle give the co-op the most cause for caution. “The influence of global supply out of Brazil, the US and Australia is having a downward draw on prices,” she told shareholders “There is a misalignment between what we are capturing out of the market and an overheated livestock market in New Zealand; so that is where we are counselling caution.” Forecasts for lamb were $5.70 - $7.00/kg early season and $5.50 - $6.00/kg post-Christmas. For sheep, Alliance is predicting $4.05 $4.20/kg and $3.50 - $3.75/kg. Stacy says demand for venison is very strong, but a risk exists that its high price on restaurant menus will prompting diners to substitute other meats. Venison forecasts were $9.85 - $10.20/kg and $9.00 - $9.30/kg. • More on Alliance Group meetings page xx
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 3 ISSUE 640 www.ruralnews.co.nz
Spuds rot in wet PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
NEWS ������������������������������������� 1-23 MARKETS ������������������������� 24-25 AGRIBUSINESS ���������������26-27 HOUND, EDNA ���������������������� 28 CONTACTS ����������������������������� 28 OPINION ���������������������������� 28-31 MANAGEMENT ���������������32-36 ANIMAL HEALTH ������������37-39 MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS ����������������������40-46 RURAL TRADER ������������� 46-47
HEAD OFFICE Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone: 09-307 0399 Fax: 09-307 0122 POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Published by: Rural News Group Printed by: PMP Print CONTACTS Editorial: editor@ruralnews.co.nz Advertising material: davef@ruralnews.co.nz Rural News online: www.ruralnews.co.nz Subscriptions: subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz ABC audited circulation 80,580 as at 31.03.2017
SOME PUKEKOHE potato growers are reporting up to 30% losses due to rot, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge. “We don’t have as many potatoes as we normally do and that is driving up prices,” he told Rural News. Some processors and some brands are experiencing difficulties with supplies for chips, he says. He does not have the exact detail of the supply chain management behind the scenes. “We know processors in the North Island must have been affected by the wet weather,” he says. “It has been raining since March in the north. We have been getting these wet nor’easterlies, which are relatively unusual and there hasn’t been the corresponding dry weather to dry out the fields to harvest or plant. “So we are behind in the planting.” Reports are coming from Pukekohe that crops planted in July are rotting because of ongoing rain. “Some growers are reporting up to 30% losses in Pukekohe due to rot.” The industry appears to be about one to two weeks behind in planting; most of the processing, i.e. chipping, potatoes get planted this month.
PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
However it depends where the crops are and Claridge says South Island crops are not so affected. “There has been a fair amount of rain in Canterbury, but not nearly as much as in the North Island. About 50% of the potato crop is grown between Timaru and Rakaia. They are not experiencing the same losses as Pukekohe and seem to be in reasonably good shape. “The North Island is a different story though. In Pukekohe it still keeps raining,” he says. “Table-top potatoes grown in Pukekohe will also be affected and some
North Island chip processors get their potatoes from Pukekohe, Matamata, Hawkes Bay and Horowhenua. They have all been impacted to a degree. “There is a general processing potato shortage. Normally those potatoes are grown under contract.” But he says people shouldn’t worry about potato shortages for Christmas. “November is new potatoes month -- when new season potatoes become available in supermarkets.” Claridge says the wet is affecting all vegetable suppliers and overall vegetable prices are 6.5% higher than this time last year.
Kiwifruit’s bright outlook THERE’S GOLD for New Zealand growers in Zespri’s SunGold kiwifruit. Overseas demand is high for the new Psa-free variety and prices continue to rise. As a result, Zespri chairman Peter McBride is forecasting a net profit after tax of $96 million to $101m for
‘ARROGANT’ SCIENTISTS CHIDED
the year ended March 31, 2018. Profit last year was $73.7m. This upsurge in demand and price is reflected in Zespri’s updated market forecast for October, which again shows prices for all classes of kiwifruit are up on the August forecast. SunGold is fetching $9.73/ tray versus $9.28 in August, while
Green14 is $5.39/tray vs $5.25 in August. Other classes of kiwifruit are also up in value. Zespri publishes two-monthly ‘indicative’ price updates (these do not reflect prices payable to individual growers. – Peter Burke @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
THE GOVERNMENT’S chief science advisor warns that some scientists in New Zealand use their scientific standing to make claims well beyond available evidence and their own expertise. Sir Peter Gluckman based his comments, Sir Peter Gluckman to the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Brussels, on his eight years of experience as chief science advisor to the NZ government; he also holds international positions. His keynote address paper addressed the role of science in society and, in particular, its role in policy making. Gluckman says some scientists display excessive pride and self-confidence – even arrogance -- in their comments on government policy. “Scientists need to appreciate that politicians make their decisions based on values as well as scientific evidence. [Scientists’] arrogance can become the biggest enemy [hindering] science in effectively engaging with policy; the policy decisions inevitably involve dimensions beyond science.” He says scientists need to appreciate that political ideology and financial, diplomatic and even electoral constraints must also be heeded by politicians. Gluckman says he has avoided using the somewhat arrogant term ‘evidence-based policy’, preferring the more appropriate ‘evidenceinformed policy’.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
4 NEWS
Imported semen fingered for M.bovis outbreak NIGEL MALTHUS
DAIRYNZ BIOSECURITY, readiness and response manager Chris Morley would bet on imported semen as the most likely source of the Mycoplasma bovis incursion. Speaking at the recent Lincoln University Dairy Farm spring focus day, Morley said the source of infection remains the “million dollar question”. He said M bovis typically moves in live animals, semen and embryos, or “theoretically” on something like unwashed milking equipment being smuggled in. Morley, who sits on the governance board for the Mycoplasma bovis response team, says it was unlikely to have come in from live cows because nothing had come in for three years, and gene sequencing now being done discounted that route. That left semen and embryos. “If you look at it, just on likelihood, we’re bringing in quite a lot of semen from overseas compared with embryos, so my bet would be semen,” Morley explained. “What’s interesting is that internationally semen has never been shown to spread disease to a farm, but we know if you test semen you will find M.bovis bits periodically. If you test enough semen you’ll find it eventually. Whether that’s enough to cause disease has always been argued.” LUDF veterinarian Chris Norton pointed out a “hole in the fence”, in that it is possible to buy semen from around the world without declaring it as having been taken from a bull found free of Mycoplasma.
“What’s interesting is that internationally semen has never been shown to spread disease to a farm, but we know if you test semen you will find M.bovis bits periodically. If you test enough semen you’ll find it eventually. Whether that’s enough to cause disease has always been argued.”
However, Morley says trying to force suppliers to test every bull becomes a trade issue because they do not think it is a valid concern. He says MPI had “been there a number of times”. “I wouldn’t be rushing to say MPI’s dropped the ball on this,” Morley added. Semen can only be imported from countries free of foot and mouth and with a high health status, chiefly from North America and Europe. “They do not have to test every single bull. All it says on the certificate – there’s a whole bunch of clauses on there about diseases – is ‘there’s no known evidence of
WILSON
Mycoplasma bovis in the bull’.” Morley admits that “no known evidence” is actually quite a weak statement from a disease point of view. “The reason it’s not been changed or tightened up is because when you try to negotiate with other countries, all of those breeding compa-
nies say there’s no scientific evidence to show it’s ever spread in semen. There’s a cost to doing this, no-one else is asking for it, so we’re not doing it.” Morley says that because every other country has got M.bovis, they cannot tell if it is being spread through semen, or animals touching noses over the
JUST AWFUL!
MEANWHILE, CHRIS Morley says the outbreak had been “bloody awful” for those caught up in it. “They are some of the best farmers we know and they’re going through hell.” In countries where the disease is established it has a big impact, causing a nasty untreatable mastitis. Cows are culled and the disease goes quiet for a year or two then flares up again. “It doesn’t go away; it survives in biofilms -- all those crevices in milking sheds and milking machines,” Morley explained. “It survives in the animal. And if they’re not stressed, sometimes it has no effect.” Morley says that of the seven NZ farms with positive detections, two of the Van Leeuwen properties were having “real problems,” with serious mastitis and arthritis in calves that had drunk milk from infected cows. But there were no clinical signs on the other positive properties, including the Rangiora lifestyle block and the calf rearer south of Oamaru. “There was no sign of sickness. Those calves were really nice calves. There was nothing going on.” Morley says the response team had done a lot of work assessing what it would cost dairy in the long term if not eradicated. “Over 10 years we are talking hundreds of millions [of dollars] in impact to the industry. It’s a big number.” It would also impact the meat industry, where there was increasing talk of the rising value of ‘fifth quarter’ products. Mycoplasma is very hard to take out of those products, he said. However, confidence is building that eradication is possible. “Unlike foot and mouth disease this doesn’t jump over the fence on the wind,” Morley adds. “We can contain it. I’m really optimistic DairyNZ biosecurity manager Chris Morley believes that this imported semen is the most likely source of the might M.bovis incursion. be one of those fence. That put New Zealand in purity incursions that NZ can stop and will stop, unlike the unique situation to be able to myrtle rust and velvetleaf and other things we struggle test the hypothesis that it could with.” spread through semen. However, Meanwhile, Norton attacked the attitudes of those he does not think it will ever be who believed the battle is already lost, saying the possible to say it came from any defeatists “need to be lined up in front of a firing squad”. particular straw. There has not been a single ounce of evidence of a • Cattle cull backed – page 38 spread. “We will get eradication,” he said. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 5
Fonterra’s board in for a pay rise SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
FONTERRA DIRECTORS are in line for a pay increase after a three-year freeze. The directors’ remuneration committee is recommending a $25,000 rise in Fonterra chairman John Wilson’s annual fees to $430,000, and a $10,000 rise in directors’ fees to $175,000. Fonterra shareholders will vote next week on the recommendations at their annual meeting in Whareroa. In its shareholders’ notice of meeting the committee says it reviewed market trends for director fees in New Zealand and Australia and the workload expectations for Fonterra directors. In 2014, 2015 and 2016 the com-
mittee recommended that fees remain unchanged, “given the very challenging economic conditions experienced by shareholders”. Last year the committee signalled that it was likely that increases in remuneration would be required in the coming years. “The committee believes it is important to set realistic fee levels, having particular regard to the broader market and the workload requirements, to ensure highly skilled directors are attracted and retained on the board.” The committee also sets the fees for members of Fonterra shareholders council, which will be reduced to 25 wards from next month. “The committee considers the councillors’ representative role to be an important one for the cooper-
ative, and that the level of the honoraria needs to be sufficient to attract and recognise shareholders of a high calibre serving in that capacity.” Councillors’ fees have also remained unchanged since 2013. The committee recommends the council chairman gets $100,000 (now $90,900), deputy chair $60,000 ($55,550) and councillors $35,000 ($30,000). The annual meeting will also vote on the shareholders council annual budget and on ratifying the appointment of director Bruce Hassall. A chartered accountant, Hassall has worked 35 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, becoming chief executive of the NZ firm in 2009; he retired in 2016.
DIRECTORS ELECTIONS FONTERRA SHAREHOLDERS will also vote for three farmer-elected directors. Sitting director John Monaghan retires by rotation and was recommended for re-election by an independent selection panel. The two new candidates are chartered accountant Brent Goldsack and agribusiness leader Andy MacFarlane. Goldsack has been active in three dairy operations in Waikato over the last eight years; each operation has 460-560 cows.
He has been a partner at PwC for at least 12 years, since 2013 managing the Waikato office. MacFarlane and his wife began farming in 1989, buying their first dairy cooperative shares in 1990; he holds several equity partnerships. He served as chairman of Deer Industry NZ for seven years and is now a councillor of Lincoln University and a director of AgResearch, Ngai Tahu Farming and ANZCO.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
6 NEWS
Farmer criticises MPI communication NIGEL MALTHUS
ROLLESTON FARMER Ivan Robertson describes being caught up in the Mycoplasma bovis containment effort as a “pain in the butt”. Robertson has 19 twoyear-old beef steers – bought as store cattle – which are under the MPI testing regime after it tracked them down through the NAIT system. He now understands they were born on a farm adjacent to one directly affected by the North Otago outbreak. As calves they went to a rearer, who sold them to another farmer before Robertson bought them on June 6 for finishing. Robertson was contacted by MPI on August 31 and an Asure Quality vet took blood samples and nasal swabs on Sep-
tember 12. That result came back negative about the time MPI announced, on October 12, its decision to go for complete eradication of the disease by culling. However, the standard regime required another two tests before the steers can be finally cleared, and a second set of samples was taken last week. Robertson says it’s a “pain in the butt” keeping the steers separate from other stock. It was only luck that they had not been in contact with any other cattle before he was contacted by MPI. An adjacent paddock growing shaggy was unable to be grazed and he reluctantly faced having to mow it for silage. Describing himself as “not quite a lifestyler, but semi-retired,” the former dairy farmer has
three small blocks in the Rolleston area. He had moved the steers from one block to another, but observed biosecurity rules including disinfecting his yard and truck. But Robertson is critical of MPI in not keeping him informed and says he had not been put under restrictions “as such”. He says MPI’s communication had been very poor. “While they’re not telling me anything I’ve quarantined myself, to be fair.” Robertson says he bought the animals at 400kg for about $1100 each and was hoping they’d now fetch $1500 to $1600. He’s still unsure what he will be allowed to do with them, but is hoping to get them to the works very soon. “Normally they’d be going to the works very
Rolleston farmer Ivan Robertson is in limbo as he waits for MPI’s Mycoplasma bovis testing regime on his small herd of twoyear-old steers. RURAL NEWS GROUP
shortly, the best of them, and the rest of them by Christmas.” The Alliance meat company shareholder
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had attended one of Alliance’s roadshow meetings, where he called on the co-operative to push for eradication of Myco-
plasma bovis. He has welcomed the MPI decision to opt for culling. “I think it’s the right thing to do. While they’ve
got it contained down there I think they should clean it out.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 7
Are EU and UK doing the dirty of NZ? PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
THE NEW Zealand meat industry could be hit by fallout from the tense and divisive Brexit negotiations. It seems that the UK and the EU, in a desperate attempt to reach agreement, are poised to breach World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules over a long-standing agreement NZ has for sheepmeat access to the EU which includes – at this stage – the UK. The NZ meat industry had become aware that the UK and EU have reached a deal to arbitrarily split the 228,000 quota to the EU, with 45% going to the UK and the rest to Europe. However, the original agreement has been ratified by the WTO and needs the approval of all parties to the agreement and the WTO to make changes. What has annoyed the the Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb NZ is that the UK and EU have seemingly done this deal without consulting NZ, which is illegal under WTO rules.
“What they are proposing is that we wouldn’t have that flexibility and so it would be a backward step. We’d be worse off and according to the WTO principles no country should be worse off.” “Taken at face value this is not a positive sign,” says BLNZ chairman James Parsons. “We want to put our views on the table.” He says NZ is not trying to make any specific gains out of Brexit, but NZ cannot stand by and allow the UK and the EU to breach a longstanding legal agreement. He says as a last resort the NZ Government may have to seek redress from the WTO itself. Parsons says he realises that the whole Brexit issue is complex and the negotiations for both parties are difficult. But he says NZ is prepared to try to find quick and creative ways of sorting out this matter. Parsons says he’s deeply disap-
pointed that NZ, along with other third parties to the UK/EU agreement, have not been consulted before word leaked out about the proposed quota split. Under the present arrangement, there is flexibility for the 228,000 tonnes of sheep and goat meat NZ exports there to be moved around the EU, which avoids individual markets being flooded with product when times are bad. Parsons says this works to everyone’s advantage and to remove that flexibility could hurt producers in the UK, Europe and NZ if there was an oversupply of lamb or a price slump at any time. “What they are proposing is that we
Beef + Lamb chair James Parsons.
wouldn’t have that flexibility and so it would be a backward step. We’d be worse off and according to the WTO principles no country should be worse off. The quota is enshrined in the WTO and it’s a legal right – not something the EU and the UK can just change.” Parsons says normally any change in an agreement has to go before all 164 WTO members for approval. But
he says there are ways around this and NZ would be happy to strike a deal provided it was not detrimental to our meat industry. Parsons says NZ is following developments in Europe closely. Our special trade envoy (and former BLNZ chairman) Mike Petersen is now in Europe and Parsons says he may go there himself in the new year.
10/10/17 2:59 PM
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
8 NEWS
EU hardline blamed for Brexit PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
AN IRISH politician is blaming the inflexibility and hardline tactics of the European Union (EU) on the UK voting to leave the bloc. Eamon O’Cuiv, the Fianna Fail MP for
Galway West, is seen as a maverick even by his own party which is in opposition. He is the grandson the great Irish leader Eamon de Valera. O’Cuiv says if the EU had been a bit more flexible in dealing with Britain’s concerns about it,
the UK would probably have remained in the union. New Zealand is also now caught up in the outcome of the Brexit negotiations with potential threats to our sheepmeat exports. “Whether you like it or not the decision by
Britain to leave the EU was a democratic one and the EU’s determination to punish the UK is having flow-on for others. Ireland for one has become the ham in the sandwich and we have to tell them that this is totally unacceptable,” he told Rural News.
One of the major issues O’Cuiv and other Irish political and farming leaders have been expressing concern about is the possibility of a ‘hard’ border being reinstated between the north and south of Ireland. “Within the island of Ireland we cannot toler-
Eamon O’Cuiv
“Whether you like it or not the decision by Britain to leave the EU was a democratic one and the EU’s determination to punish the UK is having flow-on for others.”
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ate a border,” he says. O’Cuiv and others are concerned about the power Brussels has assumed over the years: it was originally an economic union known for years as the European Economic Community, but this has changed and he accuses Brussels of usurping roles once held by individual countries. O’Cuiv says in many policy areas Ireland is constrained by EU law and there is resentment about this. He says locally they can’t just borrow money to build houses because of EU regulations. He blames what he calls the ‘federalists’ in the EU who are bitterly opposed to any concessions being made to Britain for fear that other countries will try to do the same and leave the EU. O’Cuiv says, at present, Ireland is committed to the EU, despite now paying more money to the EU coffers than it’s getting back. For many years Ireland did well out of the EU. Farmers got subsi-
dies and a lot of money was poured into improving infrastructure. Irish motorways are as good as any in the world. But for O’Cuiv, whose whole extended family over three generations has helped shape Ireland, there is a hint that the power base of Brussels is being shaken. He says Britain’s exit from the EU has caused other nations in the union to rethink their relationship. “Free trade, all agree, is a must, but the depth and breadth of EU rules have got many worried.” What worries O’Cuiv is that the hardline stance of today may be harder to sustain in the future. “A union held together by threat – to the point where you will be cut off and frozen out – has no future,” he says. “We know that [a union] between countries held together not by the wishes of everybody but by threat hasn’t got a proper future because there is no buy-in from the people who are under threat.”
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 9
Lower carbs and calories spuds SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
THREE YEARS ago fruit and vegetable trader T&G told Pukekohe growers about a potato with lower carbs and fewer calories, called Lotatoes. Two family-owned businesses, Balle Brothers and Masters Produce, were chosen to trial the new variety. This month, Lotatoes fended off four other food innovators to be crowned overall winner of the Ministry for Primary Industries Primary Sector Products Award at the 2017 New Zealand Food Awards. The top-notch potato, with 40% less carbs and fewer calories than other potato varieties, was developed by cross-breeding different varieties of potato seeds. Those seeds have a shorter, more sustainable, growth cycle and use less water than other spuds, making them better for the environment. Balle Brothers’ production manager Eamon
Balle says his company has been excited to be involved in growing Lotatoes. “It took three years to grow the variety and there’s been a lot of learning along the way,” he told Rural News. Balle and other growers also travelled to Europe to meet growers growing a similar variety. Balle Brothers is a family-owned business growing potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbages and cauliflowers for local and overseas markets. The firm has farms in the Far North, Pukekohe, Matamata, Ohakune, Central Hawkes Bay and MidCanterbury. Balle says Lotatoes were trialled on its farms at Ohakune, central North Island. Judges at the NZ Food Awards were impressed with the process used to naturally breed and sustainably grow Lotatoes. Andrew Keaney, executive general manager T&G, says Lotatoes are high quality and taste good.
FRAUD THREATENED NZ DAIRY INDUSTRY A FORMER dairy industry scientist charged with fraud and sentenced last week risked the reputation of the NZ dairy industry, says the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director Julie Read. Trevor James Lock was sentenced last Wednesday in the Auckland District Court to six years imprisonment following a SFO prosecution. The former owner of Nubiotics Ltd (Nubiotics) and Nu-Brands Ltd (Nu-Brands) was found guilty of 18 Crimes Act charges and two SFO Act charges in September. Through both Nubiotics and Nu-brands, the SFO says, Lock contracted to supply dairy and honey products. He used customer deposits to fund personal or other business expenses and then failed to deliver on the contracts. “With callous disregard for the consequences of his actions, Lock deceived his customers and their agents. He caused significant financial and reputational loss to his victims and in many cases personal suffering,” SFO director, Julie Read says. “By his deception, Lock risked the reputation of an important New Zealand industry. His sentence also includes six months’ imprisonment for providing false information to the Serious Fraud Office, itself a serious offence.”
“They are sustainably grown here in NZ by passionate farmers loved by kiwi consumers,” he says. “Having judges recognise Lotatoes confirms we’re on the right track with innovation, which
‘Lotatoes’ are expected to be on the supermarket shelves from late November.
in the produce industry takes a long time, so hats off to the dedicated teams from T&G and our growing partners Balle Brother and Masters Produce for getting Lotatoes from the soil to
the supermarket shelves.” New-season Lotatoes are expected in selected
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
10 NEWS
Bonus for Alliance shareholders NIGEL MALTHUS
FARMER SHAREHOLDEROWNED meat company the Alliance Group has announced a bonus share issue following its positive report card. The group’s senior executives have been travelling the country on their annual roadshow, updating farmer meetings on Alliance’s current position, plans for the coming year and pricing forecasts. Chief executive David Surveyor announced a plan to spend $54 million capital in the coming year, saying the group has an “incredibly strong” balance sheet, with core debt down from $41m to $20m. He also said a bonus share issue would reward farmers with extra shares, allocated according to their supply of stock during the 2017-18 season.
The annual roadshow pro- after our people is the right thing gramme began in Dannevirke on to do. We have made good progOctober 2 and finished in For- ress, but there is still some way to go. We were unfortrose, Southland, tunately reminded on October 19. The of that by a serious co-op expected to accident at our reach about half of Smithfield plant its 5000 shareholdin March.” ing farmers. Surveyor said Speaking at an example of one of the smaller how safety makes meetings, at the money is a $2m Banks Peninsula project to take Rugby Club, Little down and rebuild River, Surveyor the Pukeuri (near began by emphaAlliance chief executive Oamaru) beef sising the group’s David Surveyor. chain during the strong focus on off-season. plant safety. This is to address a “signifiIn the financial year 2014, one in eight employees suffered cant” safety concern, albeit one an injury, but now that ratio has that had not actually resulted in an accident. improved to 1:36. The chain has been rebuilt so “We’ve got to get this business to zero harm,” he said. “Looking as to increase safety and yield, he
LAMB FIRM, BEEF FLAT
said. He also emphasised investments in new technology to improve processing productivity and efficiency. A feature of the presentation was a video of carcases on a chain at the Dannevirke plant being x-rayed to identify exactly where the meat and bones were located, so robotic cutters could then change their angle and position to maximise the yield from each one. Surveyor said Alliance is shifting to phase two of its turnaround. “You’ll see us investing more... to accelerate the whole issue of value-creation and capture in domestic and overseas markets, and you’ll see us building capacity and the capability of the company,” he told shareholders. @rural_news
LAMB IS fetching firm prices in the North American market and nothing on the horizon suggests this will not continue, Surveyor said. However, beef is more challenged because of increasing kill – especially in Brazil – so price pressure is downward. Venison is in “a really good space,” Surveyor says. “People now recognise the quality of the New Zealand product so we’re starting to get a premium for that in the North American market.” He says China is returning high prices on consistent volumes of lamb and beef. NZ processors now have the opportunity to trial chilled product in the China market and that is expected to open up substantial opportunities over time. Surveyor believe this is “really significant for all of New Zealand”. Alliance has two plants -- Lorneville (lamb) and Pukeuri (beef) -- ready to trial chilled product into China. The co-operative also expects to make further gains as a result of its recent acquisition of Singapore-based marketing and sales company Goldkiwi Asia, which will be known as Alliance Asia. “Alliance is now a much fitter co-operative as a result of our focus on lifting efficiency and improving sales and marketing,” Surveyor adds. “We are making good progress against our key measures with a stronger balance sheet, improved profitability and better livestock pricing for farmers.. “We’re working hard to ensure our improvements are sustainable through further investment, growing our value-add and building our organisational capability.”
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
12 NEWS
Less milk fails to rattle global dairy market SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
FONTERRA HAS lowered its forecast milk collection for the 2017-18 season. The co-op now expects to collect 1.540 billion kgMS from its suppliers; earlier it was expecting 1.575b kgMS. In its October Global Dairy Update, Fonterra says milk collection will be only 1% higher than last season, which was hit by a poor spring. The co-op says weather in August and September this year have impacted milk production across most of the country. “The full season forecast is dependent on improved conditions through the rest of the season,” it says. Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins says the drop in NZ milk production has not rattled the markets; global milk prices have fallen in recent Global Dairy Trade (GDT)
events. She says whole milk powder prices have fallen in recent weeks despite Fonterra revising production forecasts. “Milk collections are expected to increase just 1% compared to last season, down from 3% growth expectations set earlier this year,” says Higgins. “Fonterra’s milk production forecast at 1% would see national production bounce 2 - 3% on last
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season. This is in line with Rabobank production growth expectations of 2.5 - 3.5% for the full season and anticipation for an extended, flatter peak of the season.” Higgins says the global markets may react if NZ milk production forecasts fall further. “We may need to see NZ milk production numbers drag lower before we see a price reaction emerge on the GDT platform,” she says. Fonterra’s milk collection across
NZ reached 171 million kgMS in September, 2% lower than September last season; for the four months to 30 September, milk collection was down 1% at 294m kgMS. North Island milk collection in September reached 108m kgMS, 2% behind September last season; South Island milk was 63m kgMS, 2% behind last season. Outside NZ, milk production data continues to show supply growth. US milk production for the 12 months to July 2017 continues an upwards march of 2%, driven by higher yields and cheap feed. Irish milk production is leading the charge for growth out of Europe and although the supply engines of France and Germany are still behind last year’s production, Poland and Italy are also in positive territory for July 2017 year-on-year. Australia milk collections were up 1.6% in the first two months of the new season.
AUCTION FLAT DEMAND FOR dairy fats remains strong despite butter prices easing last week from a record high. While butter dropped 2.5% to US$5736/t, it remains at elevated levels; anhydrous milk fat (AMF) price rose 5.2% to US$6841/t. Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins says the AMF price was back near a record. Contracts for delivery in the remaining months of 2017 were at a significant premium to later delivery periods in 2018. She says butter’s price dip was in line with weaker butter prices offshore but keep in mind that even with a lower result overnight, butter prices are still high. “This highlights that fats are still in demand, though very price sensitive and buyers are looking for short term coverage as a result,” she says. Whole milk powder prices dropped 0.5% on the previous auction. Higgins says the result confirmed the market is still comfortable that NZ production will not be too adversely affected by the poor weather conditions. Another reason for the decline was the step up in WMP volumes on offer for last week’s GDT event. Skim milk powder prices dropped 5.6% to US$1797/t.
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 13 Malloy to head rural health group
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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESSWOMAN Janette Osborne has been appointed to Primary Wool Cooperative’s (PWC) board. Chairman Bay de Lautour says special skills and understanding are required with PWC being the only New Zealand wool cooperative, and with its unique cooperative / corporate joint venture with Carrfields in CP Wool. Osborne has these skills. She has at least 20 years experience as a management accountant in corporate and government roles in Wellington and Christchurch. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in management and accounting and is a member of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. She has been a member of the Institute of Directors since 2008. Osborne is actively involved in her family sheep and beef farm, has set up her own wool related small business and has held industry good positions including board member of Textile Industry of NZ Inc, secretary for the Campaign for Wool NZ and secretary for the National Council of NZ Wool Interests. She is a regional councillor on the Beef + Lamb MidNorthern North Island farmers council and has recently completed the BLNZ professional development programme. Osborne believes in continuing professional development and spends a lot of time to expanding her knowledge. PWC says Osborne’s strengths lie in her wide-ranging experience and being able to unravel and analyse the detail in a strategic context. She has a particular interest in strategy, organisational culture and leadership.
short-changed and that there were a number of short-comings. We hoped that eventually we would overcome that and we hoped the funding envelope would grow over time as would training and equipment. “So this is an opportunity to bring my knowledge to this and make some progress. Malloy says due to rural geography there is never going to be a paramedic on every street corner and rural practitioners need to be equipped to do this. “This opportunity to chair a committee and to make improvements is a unique opportunity. We are the PRIME providers and we have to govern it. I am looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to do so.”
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Primary Wool appoints new director
“While the issue of funding was not part of the initial review, it has been accepted by the Ministry of Health and ACC that there will be a formal PRIME funding review. This was proposed by the review steering group to address sector concerns that funding is not sustainable. Driving the funding review will be one of the national committee’s key priorities,” Kelly says. Malloy says he applauds the PRIME review process and the establishment of the national committee because it has provided the opportunity to reflect on why it was established, where it’s going and what has and has not been achieved. “I was there when we first negotiated the PRIME contract. We knew we were being
MA DE
Jeanette Osborne
RURAL GP and Royal New Zealand College of GPs president Dr Tim Malloy has been appointed chair of the newly created PRIME (primary response in medical emergency) national committee. This committee results from a year-long review of the service. The New Zealand Rural General Practice Network was tasked with finding an experienced clinician to chair that committee, said chief executive Dalton Kelly. “I cannot think of a more capable and experienced person than Tim Malloy to be the PRIME chair. I acknowledge that he is very busy, but his knowledge, experience and clinical expertise make him perfect for the role.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
14 NEWS
Massey to sponsor Ahuwhenua trophy MASSEY UNIVERSITY has signed as a sponsor of the Ahuwhenua Trophy, awarded annually to the country’s premier Maori farmer. Now in its 86th year, the competition alternates annually between dairy and sheep and beef; the 2018 competition will be for dairy. Massey vice-chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says it symbolises the emphasis her university is placing on Māori. Massey now has a strategy of being a Treaty of Waitangi-led organisation, in the interests of the university and of Aotearoa New Zealand, Thomas says. “We want to lead in that future and contribute to New Zealand as best as we can as a university. “So in everything we do, in every rock we lift up, in every policy we examine, in every strategy we have, we will be looking at it through a Māori lens.” Thomas says the deal with Ahuwhenua is a sweet spot for Massey that aligns with its strategy. Ahuwhenua Trophy management committee chairman Kingi Smiler says it is a privilege to be associated with Massey University. He says Sir
Red meat group looks for farm PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
Pro vice-chancellor Professor Ray Geor, vice-chancellor Professor Jan Thomas and Ahuwhenua Trophy management committee chairman Kingi Smiler sign the sponsorship agreement.
Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe, who inaugurated the trophy in 1932, were men with strong and successful interests in agriculture. “The vision for Massey University as articulated by Professor Thomas fits absolutely with the vision and values of Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord
Bledisloe,” he says. The finalists in the 2018 competition will be announced in February and the final awards function will be held in Christchurch on May 25. Entries will close on November 24. Entry forms and other details are at www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz.
SHEEP AND beef producers will soon be able to see how the latest technology and management systems work on a commercial farm. Beef + Lamb New Zealand is planning to set up a ‘future farm’ to showcase excellence in farming and to prove to farmers that new ideas stack up commercially. BLNZ’s general manager innovation Richard Wakelin says the organisation is looking to lease a typical, medium hill country property that can run about 6000 stock units. BLNZ has yet to decide exactly where the farm will be located but Wakelin expects it to be where farmers can easily visit. Its technology will be such that information can be captured and rapidly disseminated to the industry. “The objective is to get the right farm and the right people around it, rather than a specific location. The aim
is to have a fully commercial livestock farming operation with state-of-the-art monitoring, measuring and communication technologies.” One possibility would be to lease a property or go into a partnership with a farmer now at an age or stage where he would like to be involved in such an initiative. Onfarm leadership is critical to the project, Wakelin adds. “The objective of the ‘future farm’ is to focus on the people, getting the right management team around the farm, the right type of governance and making sure the farm has good business plans and can to demonstrate the commercial viability of its operation,” he says. The main difference between this farm and others run by research organisations such as Massey University is that it will be fully commercial and no research will be done there. The farm will show how research farms such as those at Massey and Lincoln can be applied and make a profit.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER THE FUTURE farm venture will have a big focus on knowledge transfer, Richard Wakelin says. The idea came as feedback from farmers wanting to see how effective new technologies and systems work in a commercial environment. “Listening to that feedback we asked ‘how can we do this and demonstrate this in an environment that is authentic and relatable to farmers?’ “Farmers generally speak about the need to see things working before they apply it on their farms and that is what this farm will do.”
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 15
Vegetable shortage highlights food security PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
NEW ZEALAND’S food security needs to be addressed by the incoming government, says Horticulture NZ’s chief executive Mike Chapman. He says since 2001 NZ has lost 6000ha of vegetable growing land. “That means there are fewer places from which to feed New Zealand,” Chapman told Rural News. “A really important statistic on vegetables is that only 4% are exported; most of it is for domestic supply. “It is simple maths: if you don’t have a lot of vegetables they go up in price and then it comes to a point where you might have to supplement them with imports.” Auckland’s urban sprawl into the fertile Pukekohe region is a major concern, he says. Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge agrees, saying the area has special soils which have been feeding Auckland for at least 100 years. If you grow houses, you can’t grow food, he adds. Chapman says Pukekohe’s stock of 20,000 houses could increase to 50,000. “Pukekohe in spring is one of the main growing areas for feeding NZ -spring potatoes, carrots, cauliflowers, lettuce, etc,” he explains. “If we lose more and more land in Pukekohe and more and more land where we are growing vegetables, the opportunity for NZ to feed itself gets less and less.
“And adverse weather may become the norm so that is the real problem.” Chapman says horticulture’s big conversation with the Government – outlined in its election manifesto – was on the need for a food security policy with a nationwide vision for how we feed ourselves, “because we don’t want to and shouldn’t rely on imports”. A bad season for vegetable growers like the present one, and similarly a couple of years ago, shows we need to take food security seriously, Chapman says. “We’ve been talking, talking and talking. I think we are getting a bit of traction now.” Chapman says there’s a misconception that we export most of our horticulture produce. “Yes we export a lot of our fruit produce but we don’t export much of the vegetable produce,” Chapman says. “Our vegetable produce is focused on our market – New Zealand. There are some good export opportunities where they do fantastic stuff. But we’ve got to focus on how we feed ourselves... That’s what the incoming government should be worried about.” Claridge told Rural News it is important for Kiwis to understand that vegetable production is impacted by weather events and that climate change is real. “This weather may not directly be the result of climate change, but it indicates that we must be
LAND MUST LIE FALLOW FOOD SECURITY also depends to some extent on land having fallow seasons, Claridge says. “It is really simple. We grow 10,000ha of potato. Once you’ve grown potatoes in a field you shouldn’t really return to that field for about five years. So we need access to 50,000ha in order to grow 10,000ha of crop.” Unless you rotate, your yields drop dramatically. “That’s what I mean about land availability being an issue. People don’t think of that; they think you just keep growing potatoes on the same paddock. You have to rotate land so that some land can lie fallow. You have to have land that supports other crops.”
sensible about food security issues. “We always assume we can feed ourselves,” he says. “But if we continue to chew up land for urbanisation, locking up land so we can’t
grow crops on it to eat, it makes it very difficult to feed the country.” Claridge says there is a cost to Auckland sprawling into Pukekohe because the soils there are very valuable; in fact
Pressure is going on vegetable growing land from an expanding Auckland.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
16 NEWS
Fencing works, but more needed PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
FENCING WATERWAYS is proven as effective in combating the risk of contamination in waterways. However, AgResearch professor Rich McDowell says other mitigation strategies need to be looked at because it’s impractical to fence all waterways. McDowell recently had a paper on a model he developed published in the American Journal of Environmental Quality. He told Rural News his model is designed to calculate the loads of various contaminants, e.g. nitrogen, sediment and E.coli in rivers and streams, and produce scenarios to help mitigate problems in waterways. An important conclusion is the scientific proof about the value of fencing off waterways. “Fencing counts,” he says. “We know fencing knocks off 10 - 90% of contaminant transfer from land into waterways.
“It just depends which contaminant you are talking about. For instance, at the upper end you have surface-runoff derived contaminants such as sediment, phosphorous and potentially E.coli; and at the lower end it’s probably nitrogen because it goes lower into the subsurface.” McDowell says fencing works especially well for E.coli and phosphorous contamination that can result from animal waste or stream destabilisation. But he points out that New Zealand’s topography makes it impossible to fence all streams. He says the cost of fencing streams high up in a catchment is effectively prohibitive and therein lies the problem. “We see most contaminants coming from shallow narrow streams in catchments steeper than 15 degrees,” McDowell explains. “Beyond that, there is a component that is natural and a component derived from farming activity. The bit that is natural is
Fencing waterways is proven as effective in combatting contamination, says AgResearch’s Rich McDowell.
between 25 and 75%, depending on the contaminant and local context.” According to McDowell, the alternative to fencing streams in steeper country is other mitigation strategies -- having an optimal Olsen P concentration, not grazing gullies until later in the season and providing deer with wallow areas away from streams. Such
mitigation options are very cost effective. McDowell notes that in the last ten years an awareness of the issues and good management practices have begun to reverse the degrading of waterways by phosphorus and sediment. He says fencing in the right situa-
tion is obviously a good idea because it’s simple, visual and the concept resonates with the public. But mitigation requires a horses-for-courses approach. Winter forage crops work in some regions but will not work in others and farmers need an open mind on what is best for their particular circumstances. McDowell points out that this is not just a dairy problem. “There are loads of various contaminants coming in from a variety of land uses – dairy, drystock and even the arable and horticultural sectors. They have their own ‘signatures’ in terms of contaminants. “Equally, they have their own mitigation strategies.” McDowell says in some seasons very wet or very dry ground causes runoff into streams. His advice to farmers is to mix and match strategies and possibly get a second opinion to ensure action lines up with regional council rules.
RURAL ART KIWI MADE
A comfy living room in a paddock on Shands Road, south of Christchurch, is a strange and wonderful promotion for nearby Broadfield School’s 150th anniversary event next March. Scarecrows Trev and Betsy are part of the ever-changing installation, says principal Mike Molloy. The 148-pupil, sixroom school serves the farming area between Prebbleton and Rolleston and honours its heritage with a plough as the school emblem. RURAL NEWS GROUP
Don’t waste any grass this spring Help manage your pasture with a Maxam Mower The pressure to conserve the maximum amount of feed after a wet winter is a reality farmers are facing right now. Often the window of opportunity to harvest grass during spring is quite short, due to rain interruptions. A fast wilt time is essential to retaining the most Metabolisable energy in your silage or baleage. The MAXAM mower with the Wilter spreader wilts the grass faster than any other method, so these popular machines should be considered as part of your pasture management plans this year.
Act quickly - phone 06 356 8516 or visit www.farmgear.co.nz
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 17
Grower finds funny side NIGEL MALTHUS
NORTH CANTERBURY market gardener Cam Booker is not the type to get despondent, despite the trials of one of his wettest years ever. When his asparagus field was underwater after a recent downpour, Booker got out his paddleboard and wetsuit to try harvesting a few spears. A photo of what he called the “s***s and giggles” escapade, posted on Facebook, showed the water level after it had already partially drained away. At its height it overtopped some of the raised rows. Booker owns Grown, based on his 6ha block near Sefton, North Canterbury. He sells almost exclusively through six regular farmers’ markets
in and around Christchurch. However, after the asparagus flood he had to pull out of one weekend market because of a lack of produce. Booker says the continuing wet was making the season one of the toughest of his 15 years in business. “We need to be flat out planting. Every other year I’ve got sweetcorn and pumpkins in by now but it’s just been too wet.” He is predicting shortages and higher prices for everyone. “Every grower in the country’s in the same boat. It’s going to result in a few gaps.” Although Booker had since been able to harvest asparagus, the worry now is a possible root rot caused by a fungus-like organism known as Phy-
MORE DAIRY FARMS COME ON THE MARKET THE NUMBER of dairy farms coming on the market is seen as a sign of confidence returning to the industry. The head of agribusiness for Westpac, Mark Steed, says his staff have seen a lot more dairy farms come up for sale, marking a turnaround from the past few years of low payouts. The prospect of a $6.75 payout this season has dairy farmers relieved and buoyed up about the future. Steed says the only uncertainty that hangs over the sector is what will happen on the political front – the composition of the new government. The other imponderable is the weather and what effect this may have on production for the season. Many regions are reporting production is down, and Steed says what happens with the weather over the next three months will be important. Meanwhile the Real Estate Institute’s spokesperson on rural issues, Brian Peacock, says quite a number of farms are coming on the market, especially in Waikato. “There is mix of reasons for this including a combination of [farmers’] age and stage, coupled with the climatic conditions and labour issues. Also, people tend to move up and down in size and scale when they deem that the market is pointing upwards as it is now and this is probably seen as quite a good time to be selling,” he says. Peacock says this season’s $6.75 payout has lifted confidence in the dairy sector, influencing the decisions people make. While the trend is for dairy farms to be larger there is a still a market for smaller farms. “These small farms are picked up by the first farm purchasers and others who want to step back from a larger unit,” he says. Smaller farms tend to be in traditional dairy areas in the North Island such as Taranaki, Waikato and Northland whereas the larger ones are in the South Island and are often conversions from sheep and beef to dairying. – Peter Burke
tophthora. “We won’t know for a while if we’ve got it,” he told Rural News. “We generally do a lot of carrots, but our carrots -- the ones we planted midwinter -- drowned. They rotted in the ground and hardly any came up.” His carrot planting has been held up, and when
he does sow them he will have to grow them under covers to warm and speed them up. “It’s getting tight because I need a lot of carrots for Christmas, so I’m hoping to try to get them in.” Booker recently started a vege box service, delivering assorted
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seasonable vegetables to subscribers in North Canterbury. Last week’s box included a kilo of asparagus plus lettuce, fennel, spring onions and apples from a family orchard at Motueka. “It’s a bit limited at the moment,” says Booker.
The weather’s been no laughing matter for North Canterbury market gardener Cam Booker, but that didn’t stop him having a giggle as he tried to harvest his waterlogged asparagus on a paddleboard. SUPPLIED
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
18 NEWS SPRAY AND FLY AWAY
PHOTO MARK DANIEL
With above-average rainfall during the past two months, especially in the central North Island, helicopters are more often seen applying early-season fertiliser. Just south of Reporoa early this month Rural News spotted a Rotor Work team top-dressing dairying land that looked pretty wet. Trent Dellow, of Rotor Work, a 35-year veteran of the industry, said they were busy with regular clients and were getting extra work over waterlogged ground, particularly in Manawatu. Many operators favour helicopters over fixed-wing aircraft because the slower speeds give greater spread accuracy.
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Supermarket plans $54 million meat plant PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
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SUPERMARKET CHAIN Countdown is partnering with global meat processor Hilton Food Group to build a $54 million plant at Otahuhu, South Auckland. The plant will open in 2020, replacing the supermarket chain’s existing meat processing facility next door. The 300 staff now there will shift into the new plant when it opens. Hilton Food Group, set up in England in 1994, specialises in meat product manufacturing. The new bespoke plant will supply Countdown exclusively. Countdown managing director Dave Chambers says the chain last year sourced all its chicken, pork and lamb, and 97% of its beef, from local New Zealand farmers. The partnership with Hilton will “future-proof” the company’s meat business, he says. It will enable Countdown to best respond to increasing customer demand for more innovation and new product development. “We have a history of innovation with initiatives like our recycled meat trays, and this partnership puts Countdown at the forefront of the meat industry by harnessing the latest technology in meat processing. “The new plant will increase our capacity, particularly to meet seasonal demands like Christmas.” It will also give more flexibility in packaging and portion size options. “Importantly this is an investment in the long term future of meat processing in Otahuhu. Meat processing in this area is part of Auckland’s history; we have a large local team and maintaining that employment and connection to the community is important to us.” Robert Watson, chief executive of Hilton Food Group, says production is expected to start in 2020, supplying Countdown stores with high quality NZ beef, lamb, pork, chicken and added-value products. Countdown’s existing meat plant team will move into the new plant in 2020.
Check out our websites www.ruralnews.co.nz www.dairynews.co.nz
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 21
Big plans for cutting bio emissions – Fonterra PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
FONTERRA ASPIRES to play a global leadership role in reducing biological emissions in dairy, says Francesca Eagleton, the co-op’s group environment manager. New Zealand is among the most emissions-efficient producers of milk, Eagleton told ‘Facing Disruption’, the recent Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference in Auckland. She says we can share knowledge and innovation while helping reduce domestic emissions. Dairy produces 25% of NZ’s greenhouse gas emissions. Innovation will play a key role in addressing the problem. “We clearly have a role to play in meeting the Paris agreement. Fonterra
is NZ’s second-largest user of coal so again, we clearly have a role to play,” Eagleton says. Fonterra’s vision for 2050 is to get its fossil fuel emissions down to net zero. “We need to nail soil carbon storage and methane storage as well. We need to nail precision farming and keep working with our farmers to help them lower their environmental footprint.” Eagleton says along with Fonterra’s 2050 targets it also has shorter-term targets. More information on those will be coming out shortly. Last year, with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, Fonterra signed the dairy declaration setting out the key role dairy has to play in the UN sustainable development goals -- including climate action and livelihoods.
Dairy is a huge provider of livelihoods – and food security – in rural communities, Eagleton points out. “We would like to say ‘nutritional security’ because it is not the calories that matter, it is how much nutrition you are getting and dairy is extremely nutritious.” Collaboration is the key and Fonterra has partnered with DairyNZ on the Dairy for Climate Change Action Plan which sets out a framework for how the dairy industry will contribute to the Paris agreement. “It is a phased approach and the first phase is very much focused on getting the foundations right. It is about making sure we’ve got the right education and awareness, demonstration farms, pilot measurement and then continuing to work on what that looks like.”
BETTER DO IT SOON LANDCORP BOSS Steven Carden told the conference the ‘how’ part of taking action on climate change was his challenge as the company’s chief executive. Carden said the 2050 deadline is too far away for him because it gives rise to a lot of reluctance to do much in the short term; the farming sector needs to move much more quickly. “My biggest concern is that as an organisation we have a 130 year Steve Carden history of being very good at intensifying and driving production to high levels. It is hard to shift an entire farming system nationally to an entirely new model. “We need to do that very, very quickly, but if we set ourselves targets for 2050 most people are just going to hope some solution will arise down the track.” He says Landcorp’s Pamu Farms brand means the company is thinking hard about how it can dramatically
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change its farming footprint, but there are constraints. “We need fewer animals and more trees and somehow we have to find a way to make more money off our farms.” Carden says Landcorp has hundreds of millions of dollars of assets in dairy sheds designed and built for intensive animal production. These are fit-for-purpose and have one use – to produce as much milk from cows as possible. “So we will have all these stranded assets when we start to reduce our animal numbers significantly below a certain threshold.” Carden says another challenge is to find customers around the world prepared to pay for different products. “These are expensive, they are hard to produce and these consumers are hard to find; it’s not easy to do that.” He says a completely different set of skills and knowledge is required to shift to different farming systems.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
NEWS 23
Young Kiwis get priority in new dairy training scheme PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
THE DAIRY industry has launched an ambitious scheme to encourage young New Zealanders to make careers on farms. Spearheaded by Federated Farmers and the Primary ITO, with support from DairyNZ, iwi entities, dairy companies and others, the scheme will provide for dairy farming apprenticeships open only to New Zealanders. The scheme is designed to achieve better working conditions than many young trainees have
lunch and dinner with them.” Lewis says a key to the success of the scheme will be a series of documents, including a charter, produced by Federated Farmers with DairyNZ which set out obligations for both employees and employers. “It’s about getting better employment conditions onfarm and so the farm charter is recognising that the employer has a big part to play in the future success of the employee,” he says. The guarantees in the charter and appren-
alds or Burger King outlet in the middle of rural NZ, they do want to keep in touch with their
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ticeship documents are intended to assure parents of youngsters considering the scheme that they will be well cared for and treated properly. He says in his own case the guarantees in the cadet scheme 25 years ago helped him get his parents’ support for his start in the industry. The scheme is in response to calls to get more ‘Kiwi kids’ into farming and hire fewer migrant workers, Lewis says. “The minister of immigration has said to us many times that you can’t keep relying on immigrants to fill the roles and so this is aimed at a local pool of Kiwi talent and making sure they are looked after and well trained and then, if need be, filling the gaps with migrants,” he says. Lewis says the scheme will show the public that farmers are serious about treating staff well and will help them retain their social licence to farm. And he says while young people today don’t expect to find a McDon-
friends via social media, hence the importance of fast rural broadband for recruiting youngsters.
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“The minister of immigration has said to us many times that you can’t keep relying on immigrants to fill the roles so this is aimed at a local pool of Kiwi talent.” endured in the past, and to provide structured training and mentoring leading to a good qualification and excellent prospects. A pilot programme launched online last week had within hours attracted expressions of interest from dozens of young people. According to the head of Federated Farmers dairy section, Chris Lewis, the Dairy Apprenticeship Scheme is similar in many ways to the dairy farm cadet scheme that launched his dairy farming career 25 years ago. He and others recalled similar experience and began discussions with the Primary ITO; so the new dairy apprenticeship scheme was conceived, Lewis says. “When I went farming 25 years ago I lived in an outside room beside the boss’s house and I was very lucky that my boss’s wife was an ex chef so I was fed well and got other help. I was living with a family and being mentored by the farmer and eating breakfast,
Feds dairy chair Chris Lewis and Primary ITO chief executive Linda Sissons at the launch of the Dairy Apprenticeship Scheme earlier this month.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
24 MARKETS & TRENDS L amb - PM 17.0kg
BEEF PRICES
LAMB PRICES n/c
Last Week 5.80
M 2 B ull - 300kg
n/c
5.50
5.50
5.10
Change
c/kgCWT NI
P 2 Steer - 300kg
2 Wks A go 5.80
Last Year 5.40
S te e r - P2 300kg
n/c
5 .8 0
n/c
5 .4 5
P 2 Co w - 230kg
n/c
4.30
4.30
4.00
B u ll - M2 300kg
n/c
5 .5 0
n/c
5 .1 0
M Co w - 200kg
n/c
4.30
4.30
4.00
Lo cal Trade - 230kg
-5
5.80
5.85
5.55
n/c
5.45
5.45
5.50
M 2 B ull - 300kg
n/c
5.10
5.10
4.90
P 2 Co w - 230kg
n/c
4.25
4.25
4.00
M Co w - 200kg
n/c
4.25
4.25
4.00
Lo cal Trade - 230kg
n/c
5.70
5.70
5.50
Ve n is o n - AP 60kg
9 .7 0
+10
1 0 .0 5
North Island 17kg M lamb price
6.5
14-Jan
5.5 4.5 14-Jul
14-S ep
14-Nov
14-Jan
Last Ye ar
This Ye ar
$/kg
20
5yr Ave
10-Sep 10-Oct 3-Aug
14-Nov
14-Jan
South Island 300kg steer price
5yr Ave
Last Ye ar
14-Jan This Ye ar
14-Jan
South Island 60kg stag price
$/kg $/kg
8.0
7.0 14-S ep 5yr Ave
14-Nov Last Ye ar
This Ye ar
14-Jan
200
k 10 0Aug
10 Sep
5yr Ave
10 Oct
3 Aug
3 Oct Last Ye ar
UK Leg p/kg
n/c
Last Week 5.80
NZc/kg
- 0 .1
9.48
Change
5yr A ve 220 690
10 Nov
3 Dec This Ye ar
550
2 Wks A go 5.80
Last Year 5.40
9.57
8.28
5yr A ve 5.37 8.71
Export demand indicator - UK CKT leg
450
350 26 Aug
150 $1.50 26-Jun 26-A ug 26-O ct 26-Dec 5-Jun 12-Jun 19-Jun 26-Jun 3-Jul 10-Jul 17-Jul 24-Jul 31-Jul 7-Aug 14-Aug 21-Aug 28-Aug 4-Sep 11-Sep 18-Sep 25-Sep 9-Oct 16-Oct 23-Oct 30-Oct 6-Nov 13-Nov 20-Nov 5yr ave Last Ye ar This Ye ar
Procurement Indicator 1.6 1.5
2Wks A go 79.4 73.6
% Returned NI
+0 .5
2Wks A go 73.8
% Returned SI
+1.0
72.8
Change
This Year
3 Wks A go 77.8 72.1
Last Year 86.1 81.2
5yr A ve 78.1 72.8
95 90% 85% 80% 75 75% Last Year 70% This Year 65% 60% 55 0… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 3… 3… 3… 2… 3… 3… 14-Jul 14-S ep 14-Nov 14-Jan
Procurement Indicator - South Island
9.0
6.0 14-Jul
Last Year 206 620
P rocu rement Indicator Procurement Indicator -- North North I.Island
14-Nov
200k 300
26 Oct
26 Dec
Procurement Indicator
% Returned NI % Returned SI
14-S ep
S outh Island Weekly Lamb Kill
250 26 Jun
Change
7.0
10.0
3 Wks A go 217 662
Export indicator - US 95CL D edemand mand Indicator - US 95CL Beefbeef
North Island 60kg stag price
8.0
10 Nov 3 Dec
Export Market Demand
This Year
USc/lb 14-Nov
9.0
6.0 14-Jul
+3 +0
2 Wks A go 220 662
Last Year
14-S ep 5yr Ave
This Year
10 Oct3 Oct
South Island w eekly lamb kill
400 250k
10-Oct 3-Oct 10-Nov 3-Dec Last Ye ar This Ye ar
% of export returns
$/kg
10.0
Last Year
3-Aug 10-Sep 5yr Ave
$2.00
4.5
Last Year
10 Sep 3 Aug
3 Ju n
$2.50 200
5.0
5yr Ave
k 0 10 Aug 3 Ju n
100 50k
95CL USc/lb NZc/kg 250 $3.00
200
100k
Change
14-S ep
300
150k
Export Market Demand
5.5
4.0 14-Jul
10-Dec 3-Dec
90 P rocu rement Indicator - South I. 85% 80% 75% 70 70% 65% Last Year 60% This Year 50 14-S ep 14-Nov 14-Jan 55%14-Jul 19-Jun 26-Jun 3-Jul 10-Jul 17-Jul 24-Jul 31-Jul 7-Aug 14-Aug 21-Aug 28-Aug 4-Sep 11-Sep 18-Sep 25-Sep 16-Oct 23-Oct 30-Oct 6-Nov 13-Nov 20-Nov 0-Jan 5yr ave Last Ye ar 9-Oct This Ye ar
% of export returns
6.0
10-Nov 3-Oct
South Island Weekly Cattle Kill
4.5 4.0 14-Jul
This Year
S outh Island Weekly Cattle Kill
k 03-Jun 10-Aug
5.0
Last Year
10k40 30
5.5
North eekly lamb N ort hIsland Islandw Weekly Lambkill Kill
100 50k
5k20 10
North Island 300kg bull price
Last Year 5.86 5.88 5.90 5.91 2.85 5.73 5.73 5.73 5.73 2.75
100k
15k60 50
5yr Ave 6.0
50
10 k 0 10-Aug 3-Jun
6.5
2 Wks A go 7.06 7.08 7.10 7.11 4.25 7.08 7.08 7.08 7.08 4.30
150k
40 20k30
South Island 17kg M lamb price
n/c n/c n/c n/c +5 n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c
Last Week 7.06 7.08 7.10 7.11 4.30 7.08 7.08 7.08 7.08 4.30
200k
Thousand head
7.5
14-Nov
Change
Slaughter 250k 400
North N ort hIsland IslandWeekly Weekly Cattle Cattle Kill Kill
40k60
14-S ep
Thousand head
4.5 14-Jul
P 2 Steer - 300kg
Slaughter
5.5
$/kg
SI
Thousand head
$/kg
7.5
n/c
c/kgCWT NI Lamb YM - 13.5kg P M - 17.0kg P X - 19.0kg P H - 22.0kg M utto n M X1 - 21kg SI Lamb YM - 13.5kg P M - 16.0kg P X - 19.0kg P H - 22.0kg M utto n M X1- 21kg
Thousand head
c /kgCWT
S o u th Is lan d C h an g e L as t c /kg We e k n/c 7 .0 8
UKp/kg
No rth Is lan d C h an g e L as t c /kg We e k n/c 7 .0 8
85 80%
3 Wks A go 73.3
Last Year 70.2
71.8
66.7
5yr A ve 70.4 68.1
Procurement P rocu rementindicator Indicator-- North North Island I.
% of export returns
Me at
LAMB MARKET TRENDS
BEEF MARKET TRENDS
75 70% 65 60%
Last Year
This Year
50% 55 11-Aug 14-Jul 11-Sep 11-Oct 14-S ep11-Nov 11-Dec 14-Nov11-Jan 11-Feb 14-Jan 75 80%
% of export returns
MARKET SNAPSHOT
Procurement indicator - South Island P rocu rement Indicator - South I.
70% 65 60% Last Y ear
This Year
50% 55 11-Aug 14-Jul 11-Sep 11-Oct 14-S ep11-Nov 11-Dec 14-Nov11-Jan 11-Feb 14-Jan 5yr ave Last Ye ar This Ye ar
Venison Prices NI Stag - 60kg
n/c
Last Week 9.70
SI Stag - 60kg
+10
10.05
Change
Beef & venison prices are reported as gross (before normal levies & charges are deducted). Lamb & mutton prices are reported nett (after levies & charges are deducted).
We know your weekends are workdays too.
2 Wks A go 9.70
Last Year 8.70
9.95
8.90
5yr A ve 7.88 8.25
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
MARKETS & TRENDS 25 PRICE WATCH
BEEF:
The recent price rally in the US imported beef market looks like it has run its course. Prices have eased as the market anticipates the start of NZ's bull production season. NZ bull production typically begins to lift following Labour weekend. This process happens every year at this time, and subsequently the price decline will not catch NZ exporters
WOOL PRICE WATCH
lamb slaughter market. Most processors continue to see sufficient numbers of old seasons lambs coming forward, mainly on contracts, which continues to keep spot-market prices steady. How the beginning of the new season kill will pan out is still uncertain. Processors expect more lambs to be available for processing this year, however more ewes are expected to have multiples, and these often battle to hit weights suitable for early season slaughter. Ewes with lambs-at-foot have sold very well in the past fortnight. Those with good size and condition have been rewarded with strong prices. The first new seasons lambs hit the market at Feilding, making around 80c/kg more than last year. Late-born Merino lambs are selling quite well in the South Island too. Overseas lambs markets are still showing good strength.
Change
12-Oct
05-Oct
12-Oct
05-Oct
Last Year
301
298
454
Coarse Xbred
-3
219
222
327
-
310
-
555
Ewe - 35 micron
-
226
-
400
Ewe - 37 micron
-5
295
300
555
Ewe - 37 micron
-8
215
223
400
2nd Shear 37M
+20
265
245
475
2nd Shear 37M
+11
193
182
342
850 600
Wool indicator trends Wool Indicator Trends
Second shear - 37 micron
600 CXI
750 500
500
FXI
LI
650 400
400
550 300
300
450 200 13-Oct 13-Jan 13-Apr 13-Jul WeekNo 42110 42124 42138 42152 42166 42180 42194 42208 42222 42236 42250 42264 42278 42292 42306 42320 42334 42348 42376 42390 42404 42418 42432 42446 42459 CXI FXI LI
200 13-Jul
650700
600
600
- 37 micron Coarse Ewe Xbred Indicator Last Year
This Year
550
400
500300
13-Jan
Ewe - 35 micron
500 400
300
450200 13-Jul Dec 13-Sep Oct Feb Apr 13-Nov Jun 5yr ave Last Year
100%
13-Nov This Year
600
500
The Rabobank difference
13-Sep Last Year
700
Aug 13-Jan
This Year
AgriHQ is the leading source of independent agri market analysis and advice that farmers can bank on. For the latest market reports visit agrihq.co.nz/farmer or call 0800 85 25 80.
200 13-Jul 5yr ave
13-Sep 13-Nov 13-Jan Last Year This Year
agriHQ.co.nz
The average time our Rural Managers have worked with us
94%
of our customers believe we are committed to their business for the long-term Kantar TNS New Zealand independent research, August 2016
of deposits fund New Zealand agribusiness
global agribusiness research analysts sharing market outlooks
12630
Change
+3
OUR INSIGHT. YOUR EDGE.
years of global agricultural history
Indicators in USc/kg
Ewe - 35 micron
Coarse Xbred
c/kg
SHEEP: It is a steady scene for the
Indicators in NZc/kg
Overseas Wool Price Indicators Last Year
c/kg
INTERNATIONAL
unawares. The US domestic cull cow season commences towards the end of October. The number of cows that come forward during this period will be a determining factor in how the imported market holds up through November.
c/kg
BEEF: It is difficult to get a good understanding of where the market is at as the export slaughter market remains variable. Market conditions for manufacturing beef have improved with a lower dollar and firmer US market. However, processors are not optimistic that the US imported beef market will remain positive, so would still like to see manufacturing prices back on current levels. The first of the 100kg calves are on the move. Early demand has been particularly strong in the North Island, and subsequently there has been a greater uptake of contracts. The limited numbers of traditional store cattle available is resulting in a very firm market in the North Island. The growing number of dairy-cross store cattle becoming available have a less consistent price trend.
c/kg
NEWS
100,000
farmers to connect with worldwide
Rabobank supports clients from farm to fork in
40
COUNTRIES
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
26 AGRIBUSINESS
NZ slacking on climate change – UK peer PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
A BRITISH conservative politician and head of its climate change committee has rebuked New Zealand for not showing enough leadership on climate change issues for agriculture. Speaking at a climate change conference in Auckland, Gummer said NZ does not need to start its climate change action with agriculture because it has “remarkable” advantages in other areas. However, we should be a world leader on agricultural issues and the UK would back it, says John Gummer, a former
MP who is now in the House of Lords as Lord Deben. “After all you are the convenor of the international group dealing with agriculture. And yet I have to say NZ has not been as active in that as it should be.” Gummer says the National Party should be leading the charge because that would provide more certainty for business. It needs to realise that in the UK the centreright has pushed the agenda all the way along to give business certainty. The UK Committee on Climate Change advises the Government and produces recommendations
Lord Deben – John Gummer.
to Parliament, backed by cross-party support, he
says. And NZ also needs to make sure everyone
realises it is not a party political issue, Gummer told the conference. An issue for NZ is “whenever you talk about climate change everyone rushes to talk about the problems of agriculture”. “I want you to start with the things you can do and the advantages you have. “There is absolutely no point in going for the most difficult things first when you have some remarkable advantages.” He says NZ has “almost carbon-free [electricity] generation” without trying. The UK has a terrible problem in getting to a low-carbon economy, has already spent 7.6 billion
pounds getting there and won’t reach it until the 2030s. But while agriculture does not have to come first, he believes NZ should be a leader in this area of climate change. “We in Britain will be as supportive as is humanly possible to help you in those discussions of agriculture because we’ve got to do it too. “Agriculture is not as important to us and livestock in particular isn’t as important to us as it is to you, but it is crucial to the economies of Wales and Scotland,” Gummer says. “So we’ve got to solve these problems as well. We’ve got to find a way of
feeding animals [that prevents] the belching that produces so much methane. “We have to find ways of solving the real problems of land use, and putting new heart into the soil, not only because it can be in a real sense a carbon sink but also because we are going to have to produce more food for a world in which by 2030 there will be 1.5 billion more middleclass people who have the opportunity to choose more food and choose their diets.” Gummer was recently reappointed chairman of the UK climate change committee for five more years.
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A FAMILIAR face at the Fieldays Economic Impact Event was that of soon-to-be-departed ANZ Bank chief economist Cameron Bagrie. Bagrie, who suggested that impact studies were of limited value due to many assumptions being made, thought that the positive result from Fieldays was likely because global signs were still positive -- particularly in the US and Europe -- and that commodity prices continued to hold up. On the flip-side, he warned about what might be described Cameron Bagrie as the four potentials for an apocalypse, which would give financial commentators something to ponder. Bagrie says global debt is now running at 200% of international GDP, which compares to a level of 180% prior to the global financial crisis. Meanwhile, he says, demographics suggest the population is getting older, resulting in a lower tax-take and higher superannuation costs; steering the ship demands a firm hand at the tiller. Coupled with these points, Bagrie adds that global productivity is now at less than half the level prior to the GFC and – as he put it – ammunition in the chamber, by way of reserves, means the chamber is empty -- not helped by consistently low interest rates. Bagrie also called on politicians to instigate change, as the New Zealand economy was at a tipping-point. He
warns that NZ is at ‘peak construction’ because of a lack of manpower, ‘peak migration with numbers reducing, and ‘peak tourism’ resulting from high occupancy rates and constrained infrastructure to deal with any more visitors. Suggesting that the political landscape was delicately balanced around the globe, Bagrie drew attention to the Euro which had stalled since the German election and the return of Angela Merkel, with a reduced majority. He also noted the volatility created by Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, with both leaders engaged in ‘mine is bigger than yours’ posturing. Said Bagrie, “The social contract between electors and politicians has been ripped up; society is looking for something else.” Bagrie also suggested that voters had taken a push-back position in the recent NZ election – caused by those still living with the legacy of GFC, ongoing asset inflation and the slow progress being made on lifting wages in NZ. He called for a change in thinking within the boardrooms of NZ. He suggested that if we are doing business with China, Indonesia and the Middle East, then it follows that we should be ensuring that bright, young professionals with ties to these regions should be finding their way onto the boards of NZ businesses. – Mark Daniel
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
AGRIBUSINESS 27
Doing things differently PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz
FONTERRA HAS been asking its staff how it could do things differently and how it could disrupt itself, says Mark Piper, the co-op’s director of group R&D. While Fonterra is a young company, New Zealand has been dairy farming for 100 years, he says. “It is quite hard for us to get our heads around how we may choose to
then a panel narrows them down and picks the best ones. They have seen about 15 teams come to a disrupt ‘hackathon’ session. They give them coaches to work with, refine their ideas and get market input. They pitch to another panel which narrows the field down to about four ideas. They spend three months, again working with coaches. After three months they pitch again and say ‘here’s what it looks like, here’s the cus-
“We are saying ‘we will give you some time, a little bit of startup capital, then you come back and give us a value proposition and you pitch it to us as you would pitch it to a venture capital board’.” disrupt ourselves, how we may choose to completely change the way we do things,” Piper told an Export NZ conference. “We are asking our own staff internally ‘what do you think we could do differently; how do you think it would work?’ ” he says. “Rather than run it through the usual process they are taking the questions out and incubating them. “We are saying ‘we will give you some time, a little bit of start-up capital, then you come back and give us a value proposition and you pitch it to us as you would pitch it to a venture capital board’. “That is helping us engage and develop our own staff. It has been running for 15 months with about 189 ideas submitted into it.” A couple of those ideas are already in train and have had a positive return within three months. Describing the process, Piper says they first get all the ideas in and
tomer base, please back our idea’. Piper says they are at the stage of a second pitch battle held recently, from which some ideas will go to the Business as Usual areas and some will continue to be incubated. Some will say they need more work, and staff are free to keep working on it as part of their day job and can bring the idea back once it has been further developed. “Some of the ideas we don’t have to incubate at all; we have said “that’s a good idea; put it in tomorrow’. To some we say ‘they are great ideas but we can’t invest in all of them’, so we narrow it down to ‘what do we think will have the biggest impact fiscally and also for our customer?’ “It has been a fun process to be involved in.” Though the R&D people are typically introvert and reflective thinkers, they are expected to be the brains of innovation; so Piper told his team he wanted them to
“It has been good for encouraging the diversity we have.” Piper’s advice to business is that you need to know who or what is going to disrupt you and you should look at disrupting yourself. “That is one of the hardest things, especially if you’ve got you own
submit the most ideas and they did. The big joy of being a global company is the diversity of the people, he says. People aged 21-60 have taken part in this programme, with eight languages spoken, 27 nationalities and almost an equal gender mix.
business and you’ve built it up and you are super proud of it; how do you disrupt yourself? How do you take the ego and pride out of it a bit, take a step across and say ‘that was a fantastic product and I’m glad I did it?’ “But this is where the world is moving to, how do we move with it?”
Fonterra’s Mark Piper.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
28 OPINION EDITORIAL
EDNA
Necessary evil NEWS THAT MPI has decided to cull the 4000 cows infected with the Mycoplasma bovis (M.bovis) has been accepted by the farming sector as a necessary evil. Removing the infected cows is prudent and the best way to manage the disease and will keep open the opportunity to eradicate M.bovis from New Zealand. Farmers around the country will be reassured by this most difficult decision. Fed Farmers, Dairy NZ and Beef + Lamb NZ have all backed the call by MPI. As Feds’ president Katie Milne points out, destroying stock in contact with affected animals is the only way to ensure peace of mind for the rest of NZ’s dairy and beef farmers. The 4000 animals on the farms at the centre of the outbreak will be culled over the coming weeks. However, while it is the right decision – as Dairy NZ’s Chris Morley says in our story on page four – the outbreak has been “bloody awful” for those caught up in it. The cull will come at a significant emotional and financial cost to the affected farming families: losing their entire herds will be very stressful for them. It will obviously hit hard all the farm businesses and rural communities affected by the outbreak and we wish to see all available support and compensation given to those affected. No doubt the extended rural community will rally around the affected farmers and ensure they get all the necessary support and assistance. Meanwhile, kudos must go to MPI. The work and effort its large team has put in monitoring, testing and deciding how to manage its response to the disease has been impressive. Nothing is ever done perfectly, but we can be confident in how this country manages major animal health incursions. Since the discovery of M.bovis in July, MPI has carried out tens of thousands of tests on the infected, neighbouring and trace properties – as well as district-wide testing in the Waimate and Waitaki districts and nationwide testing of bulk milk. The only positive results it found were on the seven infected properties. Now it has decided to minimise the risk of further spread of the disease by moving ahead with culling the affected herds, which will allow these farms to get back to normal business as soon as it is safe to do so. Meantime, the NZ farming sector’s thoughts and thanks go out to all the affected owners, sharemilkers and farm workers, and to the vets, truckers and MPI staff involved during this very difficult time. We owe them a large debt of gratitude.
RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS
HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 PUBLISHER: Brian Hight ......................................... Ph 09 307 0399 GENERAL MANAGER: Adam Fricker ....................................... Ph 09 913 9632 CONSULTING EDITOR: David Anderson .................................. Ph 09 307 0399 davida@ruralnews.co.nz
“AH – About those paddocks you’ve just planted, to cash in on the chip-potato shortage!”
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
THE HOUND Transparency?
Crybaby
Bugger off!
Short notice
YOUR OLD mate has to chuckle at the sheer hypocrisy of some of our politicians and commentators (especially those on the left of the divide). Does anyone else remember how upset Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First – and many left-wing commentators – were about the TPP being negotiated in secret? Yet these same parties were more than happy to allow the recent coalition negotiations to go on in private and secret without any kind of transparency. It seems that these people think it necessary that TPP negotiations be held in public, but MMP talks are totally ok to remain nebulous and behind closed doors. What a bunch of dropkicks.
SPEAKING OF dropkicks, the Hound reckons the biggest crybaby and bad loser in this year’s general election would have to be the failed, NZ First candidate for the Waikato seat Stu ‘Cry Me a River’ Husband. After getting his large posterior soundly kicked in Waikato, Husband whined like a baby to an Australianowned and controlled rag about how “mean” farmers had been to him and NZ First at the protest rally held in Morrinsville during the election campaign. Your old mate notes that Husband failed to mention in his little cry-fest how he, Winston Peters and his fellow NZ First losers tried to hijack the rally for their own political ends and this was not appreciated by the audience – hence the heckling. Now Husband claims he will rethink his support for farmers in his other role as a Waikato regional councillor.
YOUR CANINE crusader notes that American singer Pink is due to play concerts next year in Dunedin and Auckland. This same Pink is one of the ‘celebrities’ used by nutty, animal extremist group SAFE to campaign against NZ wool and the ‘cruel practice’ of shearing sheep. Here’s what Pink says about wool: “No amount of fluff can hide the fact that anyone who buys wool supports a cruel and bloody industry. Save a sheep: don’t buy wool.” Your old mate is starting his own ‘Sheer Cheek’ campaign and asking that all New Zealanders join his campaign to stop wannabe celebrities commenting on issues they know nothing about. The Hound says, “No amount of fluff can hide the fact that someone who supports Peta’s anti-wool campaign is an idiot. Save NZ’s sheep industry: don’t buy a ticket to Pink’s concerts.”
YOUR OLD mate understands that National’s big agricultural announcement during the election campaign – about helping more young families onto their first farms by allowing them a lease-to-buy deal on Landcorp land – was a rush for all concerned. Apparently Nathan Guy gave Landcorp Farming’s chairwoman Traci Houpapa bugger-all notice that his party was planning to unveil the policy to sell goodly numbers of the state-owned farmer’s properties. It seems Guy told Houpapa only four hours before the news broke. In response to written questions from business publication NBR, Houpapa confirmed that Landcorp had “no prior notice of the policy announcement”. She also conceded that Landcorp had not analysed what the policy “means for our business”. It sounds like policy on the hoof to this old mutt.
PRODUCTION: Dave Ferguson ........................Ph 09 913 9633 davef@ruralnews.co.nz Becky Williams ........................Ph 09 913 9634 beckyw@ruralnews.co.nz REPORTERS: Sudesh Kissun ....................... Ph 09 913 9627 Pamela Tipa ............................. Ph 09 620 7811 Peter Burke .............................Ph 06 362 6319 Nigel Malthus ...................... Ph 021 164 4258 MACHINERY EDITOR: Mark Daniel ............................. Ph 021 906 723 or 07 824 1190 SUB-EDITOR: Neil Keating ............................Ph 09 913 9628
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Rural News is published by Rural News Group Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of staff, management or directors of Rural News Group Ltd.
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
OPINION 29
Political divide over farming The background of MPs is critical because our decisions and attitudes are influenced by our life experience. People with similar backgrounds tend to develop similar political views. MPs with rural experience will have more sympathy and appreciation for rural people and their issues.
MARK BLACKHAM
THE IMPACT of agriculture on our environment has been a hot topic in Parliament, leading to a sense among rural people that they are under siege from urban New Zealand. Is there a chance that the new Parliament will end the urban-rural divide depicted in politics and media? To assess this, BlacklandPR surveyed the careers of all MPs and the public comments made by MPs in Parliament for the first time. The background of MPs is critical because our decisions and attitudes are influenced by our life experience. People with similar backgrounds tend to develop similar political views. MPs with rural experience will have more sympathy and appreciation for rural people and their issues. Our assessment found that agriculture’s advocates in Parliament are now almost entirely in the National Party, and this is likely to fiercely polarise attitudes rather than curb hostilities. Agricultural work makes up about 5% of the collective employment experience of MPs. That’s less that the gen-
Mark Blackham
eral workforce, where about 6.5% are employed in agriculture. By contrast,
23% of MP work experience has been in business and commerce, and 19% in central government.
Agriculture is the only major economic sector where experience differs between political parties: nine National MPs have worked in agriculture, one Labour MP and one NZ First MP. No Green MPs have worked in the rural sector. On the basis of backgrounds, it’s arguable that advocacy for rural interests are most likely to arise in Parliament from National, and barely at all from the centre-left parties. This is almost exactly what we found when we assessed public comments about all the MPs new to Parliament. We searched online, in media reports and their own social media posts, to capture comments from which we interpreted their general attitude to farming. Among the 24 new MPs, only 40% said positive things about the agricultural sector; all were the National MPs. We couldn’t find positive comments about the rural sector from most of the new Labour and Green MPs. In stark contrast to their silence on the value of farming, the centre left MPs all expressed grave concern about
the quality of New Zealand’s water – from freshwater ways to bottled water. Most of them sheeted home blame to agriculture. This all makes agriculture the polarising factor in Parliament. National MPs readily -- without prompting -acknowledge the role of agriculture in our economy and society. MPs from other parties do not. This polarisation is likely to make agriculture a more partisan subject than it has been for many years. There is an antidote to the polarisation: the public. Society at large does not hold the same antagonism toward agriculture as media and politicians. For example, a 2015 DairyNZ survey showed that two-thirds of the public had a very positive or somewhat positive impression of dairying. Most politicians want to reflect the attitudes of their voters. So it is voters who should be the target of the agriculture sector’s efforts to improve and substantiate their reputation. • Mark Blacham is a public relations strategist for the Wellington company BlacklandPR.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
30 OPINION
Improving water quality in Waimakariri Farming’s impact on water quality is a hot topic, especially in Canterbury. Waimakariri zone committee chairman and farmer David Ashby talks about progress on the Waimakariri sub-regional plan and action to improve local waterways. I RECENTLY met a friend, the owner of a small block, who is concerned about the impact of irrigation and dairy farming on the environment. Specifically he wants to see the Ashley River flowing year-round and in better condition for kayaking and fishing. He asked me what the zone committee and farmers are doing to improve Waimakariri’s water quality. The Ashley River has no large irrigation schemes and only a few farmers with relatively small irrigation takes linked to surface water flows. We’ll be working with farmers in the lower Ashley River with hydraulically linked wells as part of the solutions package. Recent dry years and a build-up of shingle and woody weeds have decreased the flow of the Ashley River. There’s no easy fix: storage is possible but this involves environmental considerations and increased cost.
The Eyre management area which feeds into Silverstream has serious issues and will likely require large cuts in nitrate levels. Nine test wells have been drilled alongside the Waimakariri River and we’ve taken samples from 180 wells to investigate water quality and groundwater flows. We’ll have this data in early 2018. While we’re waiting for this information, we’re concentrating on farm environment plans (FEPs) for farmers who belong to Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) and those outside the scheme who require resource consent to farm. All farmers within WIL have completed farm environment plans and audits. Their resource consent requires shareholders to maintain at least an audit grade B. Farm environment plans identify waterways and biodiversity, riparian
David Ashby is a dairy farmer, farm environmental consultant and chair of the Waimakariri zone committee.
setback, critical point source areas and cultural values. The audit process helps farmers make required changes to improve water quality. On farms with heavy soils, nitrates aren’t the problem; instead sediment, phosphorous, E coli and pathogens are causing issues. Plan Change 4 has tools to fix these problems, including stock exclusion, which is a statutory requirement for everyone. Good management practice will fix 90% of Waimakariri’s issues on all
properties regardless of their size. This includes irrigation management, such as the justified irrigation project initiated by the Cust main drain water user group. This project focuses on soil moisture monitoring, pasture growth, fertiliser, effluent use and profitability. We’re also investigating other solutions including targeted stream augmentation, managed aquifer recharge and an ESR-led denitrification wall trial. Our ‘First 500’ project will protect the first 500m around spring-
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heads. Waimakariri’s blooming urban and peri-urban growth is also impacting our water. We’ve started a programme for small block owners to discuss land use, lifestyle block management plans and Environment Canterbury’s farm portal. Water quality is everybody’s problem and we’re all part of the solution. Instead of playing the blame game, we need to live above the line and work together to achieve positive change.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
OPINION 31 FRUIT, VEGETABLES WILL BE PRICEY IN WAIKATO VEGETABLE PRICES have risen a record 31% in the past year, according to Statistics New Zealand. Unusually wet weather this year has damaged crops and is responsible for
most of the price hike. In fact, we are now told potatoes will be in short supply due to the recent wet weather and its effect on their cropping, and this is predicted to greatly affect
NOT SUCH A WOOLLY IDEA
IF THE government of the day were to build all the houses they’ve said they would build -- I’ve heard figures of 60,00070,000 homes needed – why not put wool carpets in them and wool insulation in ceilings and walls? This would kill two birds with one stone: give healthy homes to live in and help the sheep farmers out; not to say the carpet manufacturers as well. Dave Adam Manawatu
the supply of potato chips until at least December. But we should be even more worried about the requirements for land uses proposed in the Regional Plan Change (PC1) by Waikato Regional Council. If a wet season can cause prices to rise and supply to be restricted then what will happen as the commercial growers in Waikato are forced out of
the region by these land use restrictions? The plan change would forbid any new horticulture plots anywhere in Waikato under the land use restrictions. And this would forbid the re-establishment of horticulture on such land taken out of production. With vast areas of horticultural land in the region under threat from urban
development, this means the region would not be able to supply the produce now grown. Up will go the prices of fruit and vegetables. Many people already struggle to buy good nutritious food. The proposed restrictions would make this much worse, in supply, availability of types and price of fruit and vegetables. The restrictions on
commercial growing contained in the proposed plan change are there because of supposed effects on the environment from commercial horticulture. So with the land use restrictions already imposed in the proposed plan change, the Waikato Regional Council now wants to export the supposed environmental problems to
areas outside its region. It’s a classic case of nimby (not in my backyard) syndrome. If Waikato has this problem, wouldn’t such rules apply nationwide? Then where would we get our fruit and vegetables from? Oh yes, we could import them. Andy Loader Co-chairman PLUG (Primary land Users Group)
A good start goes a long way.
MANY WORRIES ELECTION DAY has come and gone and we don’t think even God can help us! Years ago we discussed how water would become a number one priority in the world; finally it has been acknowledged. Solution: water tax – we don’t think so. Use it better. We dryland farm in Central Otago with no irrigation scheme and bugger all rain. Don’t overstock. Why bring in more immigrants when we can’t house, feed and educate our own people? Where would they find employment when so many of our own are unemployed? Our health system beggars belief. One waits so long for consultations in the system; it’s quicker to pay for a cemetery plot. Private health care is out of reach for many. We reckon we have enough dairy farms now. I’d like to see a balance of land use – mutton, grains and vegetables to keep us healthy and lean. All our good, productive land is being built on; huge houses with only two or three people to rattle around in when the need is for sensible, affordable housing for families. We could go on… thanks for the opportunity to put pen to paper. Jeanette and Bob McKay RD1 Alexandra. PS. We love ‘Edna’. Malcolm Evans hits the spot for rural folk in his cartoons and we would love a copy of his calendar.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
32 MANAGEMENT
Massey’s valuable link to Ireland Irish grasslands researcher Dr Phil Creighton is leading a project looking at new grass species to improve ewe performance and speed the growth rate of lambs. This has led to a collaboration with Massey University. Some of the research on grassland management in Ireland is taking place at Teagasc’s research station at Athenry, Country Galway. Peter Burke was recently there to look at developments.
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Irish grasslands researcher Dr Phil Creighton.
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RURALNEWS
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utilisation of grass; also the layout of the farms, races, water and fencing and keeping the system simple,” Creighton told Rural News. “As well as working on the dairy farm I had the opportunity to look at other sectors including arable and sheep and, again, I was impressed by the scale. One farm I visited had 10,000 sheep and for me, coming from a country where the average sheep farm has about 100 animals, it was a sight in itself.” Creighton says he was impressed by the good grassland management of NZ farms and the effort put on fencing and good paddock size. As a result of what he saw in NZ, when he finished his ag science degree he went on to do a PhD in grassland management, which has led to his current role and a collaboration with Massey University. Creighton says while there is a difference in the scale of sheep farming between Ireland and NZ, there are many similar issues, mainly because both countries run grassbased systems, which are much cheaper for farmers than using feed grown off-farm.
PHIL CREIGHTON is no stranger to New Zealand: he’s worked on a farm here and has recently visited the country as scientist. Like many young Irish students, Creighton spent six months in NZ doing work experience as part of his agricultural science degree through the University College of Dublin (UCD), the main agricultural university in Ireland. UCD students are encouraged to spend time in NZ ahead of all other countries because it is seen as a leading agricultural country with similar issues to Ireland. Creighton comes from a sheep farm in the Wicklow area, in the east of Ireland. It is good sheep country by anyone’s standards. But when he arrived in NZ for his work experience, he was taken out of his comfort zone and ended up on a large dairy farm at Methven. He reckons there is no better place in the world to visit to find out about dairy farming. The scale of dairying and other farming operations in NZ were a sight to behold, he says. “The big thing I took from it was the grassland management and the emphasis that is put on
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
MANAGEMENT 33
Knowledge transfer a key issue for researchers IRELAND, UNLIKE NZ has a much more Irish farmers, while interested in what integrated research and farm advisory ser- researchers are doing, want to see if such vice through the government-owned Tea- ideas are commercially viable. To that end, Teagasc have set up what they call gasc organisation. It looks surprisingly like the old MAF their ‘better farm programme’. Creighton we had in NZ until the politicians got says this is where the real impact of the their hands on the system in the 1980s research is on show. “This is where we select up to 12 comand spilt up the system – effectively disrupting the smooth flow of research to mercial sheep farmers from all over Ireland – including farmers. In Ireland, lowland and hill agricultural scien- Every three years they, farmers – and get tists and farm advitogether with other them to apply the sors work closely knowledge that we together – unlike in industry partners, are gaining. FarmNZ which is largely organise a special ers come to these uncoordinated. farms and see the To that end, Tea- conference for sheep research side and gasc makes a point farmers which attracts see the results we of outreaching to up to 10,000 farmers are getting and farmers. how they are workEvery three years from all over Ireland. ing on a commerthey, together with other industry partners, organise a spe- cial farm,” he explains. “I have noticed that – especially in the cial conference for sheep farmers which attracts up to 10,000 farmers from all last couple of years – we have put a lot of over Ireland. They also run other events effort into the grassland side with better in the intervening years which attract up pastures and even temporary electric to 2,000 farmers. fencing on the better farms. What I am “This is so that farmers can see the seeing is that other farmers are starting to results of our research in a whole range take notice and staring to try and impleof areas such as grassland management, ment things on their own farms which is genetics and animal health and have a very encouraging.” one on one conversation with our people. Creighton says the goal of all his These events are relatively easy for farm- research work is to make sheep farming ers to get to given the size of Ireland. operations in Ireland more profitable. The most they may have to travel He says with Brexit coming there is a lot would up three hours,” Creighton told of uncertainty around, but farmers can Rural News. future-proof their operations by keeping But like their counterparts in NZ, up with new developments.
IS THE GRASS GREENER? AT THE Teagasc Research Station at Athenry, a region where sheep predominate, Creighton has been looking at the same issues that professors Paul Kenyon and Peter Kemp and their teams at Massey have been working on. The challenge is making sheep farming more profitable by improving ewe and lamb performance using a grass-based system. Creighton notes that the numbers they have done show that a grassbased system is four times cheaper than one that requires inputs of silage and grain. Traditionally, Ireland has used perennial ryegrass and some white
clover. But when he was in NZ in 2014, Creighton had a chance to see what Massey was doing -- experimenting with other forages such as chicory, plantain and red clover. Creighton says as a result of what he saw at Massey, a new research programme was begun at Athenry and UCD using the same forage mixes that Massey has developed and seeing how these perform in the climatic conditions in Ireland. “We will monitor the effects of new pasture species on ewe lactation and also the lamb post-weaning growth rate. We have improved our grassland management but getting an increase in animal performance
is what we are looking for with those new forages,” he says. One challenge Creighton has already identified is whether chicory will perform well in the wetter regions of the west of Ireland where many sheep are reared. He believes chicory may work in eastern areas which are traditionally drier. Massey professors Paul Kenyon and Rene Corner-Thomas have been to Athenry and offered help to Creighton and his team. He says both NZ and Irish scientists have the same goal of improving the profitability of their country’s sheep farmers. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
34 MANAGEMENT
Blanket topdressing nearing an end SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
THE DAYS of trekking across hill country farms to get samples of soil fertility, then blanket spreading fertiliser, are nearing their end, says Ravensdown. The company is trialling precision aerial spreading on eight hill country farms including the Limestone Downs property at Port Waikato. Its aircraft use computer-controlled doors that automatically open and close according to a pre-loaded map and GPS co-ordinates. Trials are also underway using Ravensdown’s AirScan sensing technol-
ogy that maps research farms’ soil fertility to a much higher resolution than is currently achieved. Ravensdown is backed by the Government’s primary growth partnership (PGP) funding and Massey University scientists. The co-op says IntelliSpread and AirScan will help hill country farms lift productivity, waste less fertiliser and reduce environmental impact. AirScan technology, which still needs validating, involves topdressing aircraft with wireless technology conducting the equivalent of up to 10,000 soil tests per hectare to work out a soil fer-
tility map of the farm. Last week, about 100 people from the 2017 Precision Agriculture Conference visited Limestone Downs to see the new technology. An Aerowork (Ravensdown subsidiary) aircraft landed on the farm for delegates to see. Ravensdown technical development manager Mike White says moving from largely blanket fertiliser spreading to more precisely targeted aerial application has the potential to transform New Zealand hill country farming. Nearly a tenth of all the land on those farms turned out to be ineffective or sensitive. Blanket fertiliser applied on these
Ravensdown’s Mike White believes more targeted aerial fertiliser application will potentially transform hill country.
Aerowork topdressing pilot Mike Harding put on a display for attendees at Limestone Downs.
parts would have been wasted or cause environmental stress. “We can now be more targeted in our application; areas with high potential deserve more fertiliser than those areas that are ineffective,” he says. White says soil fertility is highly variable across a hill country farm, but trekking across that terrain to get the number of soil samples required would be impractical. He says AirScan’s hyperspectral imaging has now put the solution in the skies for hill country farms. Experts at Massey University are training the sensors on hill country farms as part of the PGP programme, looking at areas of deficiencies and surpluses of nitro-
INTELLIGENT FERTILISER RAVENSDOWN’S INTELLISPREAD varies the rate of fertiliser applied through computer-controlled hopper doors on the plane. Automated doors remain closed over areas where aerial spreading would be wasteful or environmentally unacceptable. AirScan provides a unique soil fertility map of the farm. This will be wirelessly uploaded to the plane for fertiliser application. Placement will take into account wind speed and direction, plane speed and product size and density.
gen, potassium, phosphorous and superphosphate. Limestone Downs is a sheep, beef and dairy farm spread over 3219ha; about 700ha is covered in bush. Owned by the C. Alma Baker Trust, the farm runs 770 milking cows, 6800 ewes, 2500 hoggets and 100 beef cattle. White says AirScan has been trialled on Limestone Downs to col-
lect pasture nutrient information in the soil. The plane carrying hyperspectral cameras flies at 600m altitude, allowing sensors “to sweep the ground”. “A 2000ha farm would take about two hours to survey,” he says. “The big thing is that it is giving us information to a single pixel or to about one square meter; for a hectare that is
giving us 10,000 estimations of pasture nutrients across that area. “Compared to what we are doing with soil testing this is way better.” With the soil fertility report, fertiliser plans can be made for the farm, he adds. The intelligence behind AirScan resembles the way a trained nutrient management adviser can use Overseer and other decision support tools to generate a map that is wirelessly sent to the fertiliser plane. That is what automatically operates the plane doors to modify fertiliser rates for targeted placement. It is early days for the prototype IntelliSpread system, but the potential for these technologies to transform hill country farming is significant, says White.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
36 MANAGEMENT
Networking charges firsttime entrants MEETING OTHER entrants and finding out about the work everyone else was doing were highlights of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for Waikato finalists Peter and Karen
“We also got good feedback about what we’re doing and ways we can improve ourselves.” The Wests, who won the region’s LIC Dairy Award, milk 409 cows on 144ha (effective) on
West. “It was interesting to see what everyone else had been doing off their own bat, most of it common sense stuff for the future of their farms,” Peter West says.
the edge of the Hauraki Plains west of Ngatea. The couple started 50:50 sharemilking in 1985 and three years later bought the first 35ha of what is now the 109ha farm they own. The bal-
ance of the farm is leased. As first-time Ballance Farm Environment Awards entrants, he says they wanted to be proactive and better prepared. “There’s a big truck
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Peter and Karen West.
coming and we can sit in the middle of the road and wait for it to run us over or we can be proactive and put something in place to protect ourselves from it,” West adds. “It’s not a scary truck; we just like to stay ahead of things. We don’t want to get caught by regulations and end up on the back foot. “The message is to be aware of what’s happening and how things can affect you, your farm and your area. “That’s where the
awards were good. We met some cool people and gathered some good ideas.” He says their farm is at the ‘what’s next?’ stage of development and the networking and personal growth as a result of the awards has come at the right time. “There’s all this environment stuff coming up and we have an interest in how we can do things better, how we can be more sustainable on our block of land and how we can make a difference.”
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DAIRY WOMEN’S Network is planning a more practical spin for next year’s conference – which is open to everyone. “We want everyone to come away with solutions and plans to put in place once they get home, and we’re offering more workshops and learning options than we have before,” says conference committee chair Jodie Goudswaard. “We want to continue to offer a conference that is up to date, with workshops that are relevant and timely to what’s happening in the industry,” she says. Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) will mark its 20th year in 2018. Registrations are now open for DWN18 – ‘Our Land, Our People’ – on March 22-23 at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua. DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers says the conference will focus on the two key elements at the heart of the dairy industry -- land and people -- and celebrate the network’s grassroots community and ability to bring people together. “It’s clear to us why our members are drawn to farming: they’re proud to be part of a close-knit, supportive community, it’s a great lifestyle for their families and they enjoy working in the outdoors and with animals.” The event will have three motivational speakers including TEDx speaker Cam Calkoen, at least 30 exhibition stands, and nine practical workshops including finance, animal health, sustainability and wellness. Anyone working in the dairy industry is encouraged to attend – women, men, rural professionals, all farm workers and organisations that support the industry. A pre-conference farm tour – a new event -- will enable attendees to visit farms in the region to see new farming technology in action. To register for DWN18, visit: www.dwn.co.nz/ dwn18-conference. – Pam Tipa
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
ANIMAL HEALTH 37
Sheep do well on fodder beet HIGH YIELDING and palatable, fodder beet allows the wintering of large numbers of sheep in a small area and frees pasture elsewhere on a farm. Norwood farmers Peter and Tom Chamberlain began feeding fodder beet to ewes last year when they had surplus of the crop and their traditional rape crops had not yielded as well as expected. While the sheep had to learn to eat it, once they got a taste for it they were away. Meadow and ryegrass straw was fed as a supplement initially and
later they fed protein-rich lucerne baleage to offset fodder beet’s low protein content. The ewes did so well on it that fodder beet is now part of the Chamberlains’ wintering system. Dr Jim Gibbs from Lincoln University says unlike cattle, sheep do not need to be carefully transitioned onto the crop as it does not cause acidosis in ovine rumens. It is more case of running them onto the crop for a couple of hours over a few days so the sheep get used to eating it. “They just need to get
their head around it,” says Gibbs. However, he adds, sheep must be vaccinated against clostridial diseases before going onto fodder beet because the crop’s high sugar content will feed the clostridialcausing bacteria. Sheep also need more protein than cattle and while there is usually sufficient protein in the leaf, in crops with damaged leaves a high protein supplement will be necessary. This need for protein is also the reason Gibbs recommends daily breaks, as this ensures
the sheep are eating the leaf and the bulb. Longer breaks will see the sheep only eat the leaf on day one and then spend subsequent days just eating the bulb. “You can have big problems with sleepy sickness when the sheep are just eating bulbs.” James White from Seed Force says sheep farmers should be selecting varieties of fodder beet with low dry matter and a high proportion of good quality leaf. He says these varieties (such as Brigadier) sit higher out of the ground, making them more accessible to sheep (and young cattle), but most importantly they produce a lot more leaf and will hang onto that leaf into winter when managed correctly.
Dr Jim Gibbs
Key points
Fodder beet – high yielding and palatable.
Like Gibbs, White cautions against multiday breaks. He says for sheep systems, if breaks are too long they will consume all the leaf first, leaving a bulb-only diet and insufficient protein for the remainder of the break. While there is a growing awareness of the place of fodder beet in sheep systems, White says sheep farmers have been feeding beet to sheep for a long time, although because the crops can be so high yielding and stocking rates high, the areas grown are not huge. “As long as you get the yield you don’t require a lot of land for
❱❱ Ability to carry a high stocking rate ❱❱ Leaf a critical component as a protein source ❱❱ Sheep must be vaccinated for clostridial diseases ❱❱ Breaks should be shifted daily – three days at most ❱❱ Lambs will not finish on fodder beet due to their higher protein requirements (they will be maintained) ❱❱ Paddock preparation is a key driver of crop yield ❱❱ Sub-soil pans or compaction will impact yield and crop performance ❱❱ Sow when conditions are suitable, soil temperatures are rising ❱❱ Seek advice from people with experience in growing and feeding the crop.
sheep systems.” He says farmers can run 150-200 ewes/ha and it’s the crop’s ability to hold many animals for about three months over winter that is its greatest appeal. This allows farmers to build pastures over winter or run other classes of stock on the freed-up area.
White says lambs generally won’t finish on fodder beet, but the crop will hold these animals so they can be finished on spring pasture. He urges anyone thinking about growing beet for sheep to get good advice from people with experience and expertise in growing and feeding the crop.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
38 ANIMAL HEALTH
Farming groups back infected cattle cull NIGEL MALTHUS
, THERE OW
’S
N
INDUSTRY BODIES are backing the Ministry for Primary Industries’ decision to tackle cow disease Mycoplasma bovis by culling all cattle from the infected farms. Some 4000 animals on the farms at the centre of the outbreak, near Oamaru, will be culled over the coming weeks. Saying it is increasingly but cautiously confident the outbreak is contained, MPI is not yet committed to trying to eradicate the disease, but says the cull will keep the possibility available. MPI says in testing 30,000 samples from surrounding properties – and from regional and national surveys – it has had positive results only from MPI’s Geoff Gwyn animals on the seven infected properties. It will decide whether to eradicate or contain the disease when it has finished tracing and testing; then the likely impacts of the disease in New Zealand will be confirmed. Removing the infected herds is seen as prudent to manage the disease and keep open the option to eradicate. MPI said it has started working with the affected owners and sharemilkers to plan and carry out the cull. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said all dairy farmers would
be reassured by the decision. “Since M. Bovis was first identified in July farmers have been on high alert and worried about the impact of this disease,” says Mackle. “DairyNZ supports MPI’s decision to step up control measures by culling these animals. “However, we also know that the decision will create heartache for the affected farmers, and our sympathies are with those involved.” Destroying stock in contact with affected animals is the only way to ensure peace of mind for the rest of NZ’s dairy and beef farmers, says Federated Farmers president Katie Milne. “We also support the continuation of strict movement controls on the remaining 13 properties under restricted place notices. These restrictions have significant implications for the people concerned and all other farmers, so this action is essential to keep the option of eradication on the table,” she explained. “We recognise the disease has come at a significant emotional cost to the affected farming families and their animals. The process of culling whole herds will be very stressful for the people concerned.” She says as the disease does not respond to treatment and cannot be vaccinated against, culling is the only
1.
logical option to prevent ongoing suf- nationwide testing of bulk milk. He “The coming weeks will present fering of the animals. says the only positive results for the new challenges and will be tough for Milne believes that NZ’s size, rela- disease had been on the seven infected these affected farmers. MPI will work tively low population and geographic properties. with those affected to make the proisolation gave the “To prevent fur- cess as straightforward as possiability to manage ther spread of the ble. I’d like to particularly thank the and attempt to disease, around 4000 owners, sharemilkers and farm workeradicate biosecattle on five of the ers involved for their ongoing support, curity incursions, seven infected prop- recognising this is a very difficult time when other counerties will need to for them,” Gwyn says. tries could not. “I want to be very clear that this be culled and a proM. bovis is found gramme put in place isn’t something that’s going to start in most countries, to decontaminate tomorrow. This is a big logistical exerincluding Australia. the properties and cise, it needs to be thoroughly planned “This is a disease then repopulate the and co-ordinated and we will be doing we definitely don’t farms.The two other it with the farmers who know their want and we should properties have had a businesses best.” seek to eradicate it, Most of the cattle will be sent for small number of aniif feasible,” she said. Fed Farmers’ Kate Milne mals culled already slaughter in accordance with standard “We’ve remained free of many pest and no cattle remain,” Gwyn says. practice. Animals too sick or otherwise animals and pest plants and diseases “This whole operation is to manage unfit to transport will be humanely that have decimated other country’s the disease while killed onfarm. All livestock industries. For the sake of keeping our future premises, vehiour livestock industries and the econ- options open. We cles and equipment omy, it’s crucial we act now to ensure want to minimise involved in culling this remains so,” said Milne. will be cleaned and the risk of further Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James spread of the disdisinfected along Parsons says the cull is necessary. with the farms ease. Moving ahead “The decision will obviously have with depopulation themselves. significant implications for the farm of the affected farms There will then businesses and the rural communities will allow them to get be at least a 60 day affected by this disease outbreak and back to normal busistand-down period we wish to see all available support ness as soon as it is before restocking and compensation provided to those safe to do so.” will be allowed. Surveillance, Gywn said there affected.” monitoring and testMPI’s director of response, Geoff was no need to DairyNZ’s Tim Mackle Gwyn, says that since the discovery remove animals from other farms in ing will remain in place for a period as of the disease in July, MPI had carried the Van Leeuwen group that were a further safeguard. The affected farmers can apply for out tens of thousands of tests of the under restrictions. Testing of animals infected, neighbouring and trace on those farms continued and they compensation for verifiable losses properties as well as district-wide would be subject to the same measures relating to MPI exercising legal powers under the Biosecurity Act. testing in Waimate and Waitaki, and if infections were found.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
ANIMAL HEALTH 39
UK vets issue warning on Brexit BRITISH VETS are urging the UK government to act on promises to safeguard the jobs of EU vets working in the country, and so safeguard animal welfare. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) describes as “promising” a Government response to a House of Lords EU energy and environment July report ‘Brexit: Farm Animal Welfare’. “It’s promising, but those promises now need to be made in Brexit negotiations,” said BVA president John Fishwick to a meeting of peers and MPs at BVA’s annual lobbying event in the House of Commons in early October. Recognising the vital role of EU vets, as outlined in the report, the
Government confirmed its support for EU vets working in Britain. “Many vets working in the UK are EU nationals… and the Prime Minister has made clear that securing the status of the veterinary workforce is a top priority. Ongoing negotiations as part of the Article 50 negotiations will help firm our commitment to do this. “We are continuing to work [with officials] and the veterinary profession to help develop a flexible and skilled workforce which meets the UK’s needs.” The statement also outlined an intention to retain the UK’s high welfare standards and to curb the risk of them being undermined by
cheap imports made under low animal welfare standards. Commenting on the UK Government’s response to the Brexit report, BVA’s president Fishwick said it is pleased the Government acknowledges the veterinary workforce as a top priority in the face of
Brexit. “The impact of losing even a small percentage of the workforce could have serious repercussions on the practices, communities, specialist areas and industries we serve. “Priorities need to become promises. We will continue urging the
Government to guarantee the existing rights of all non-UK EU vets and vet nurses living and working in the UK to provide reassurance to the colleagues who have been living in uncertainty for the past 18 months. “The Government should demonstrate its intention, outlined in its
response, to retain the UK’s high animal welfare standards by taking action now to enshrine Article 13 on animal sentience in UK law through the EU Withdrawal Bill,” Fishwick added. “The response suggests a number of possible measures to prevent high UK animal wel-
fare standards being undermined by cheaper imports produced to lower animal welfare standards. Consumers must continue to have confidence in the food they eat when we leave the EU, so it is important that this commitment is embedded in future UK trade policy.”
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ACID CAN BOOST PASTURE LATE WINTER application of gibberellic acid (GA) is a useful means of increasing herbage yield to manage feed deficits, says an animal science specialist. Dr Racheal Bryant, a lecturer in animal science at Lincoln University, says in a paper presented to this year’s NZ Veterinary Association conference that studies show that applying GA – with nitrogen fertiliser -can improve herbage yield and minimise the risk of subsequent yield reductions. Further conclusions include: ■■ GA shouldn’t be used on pastures which have a low tiller (shoot) density as suppression of tillering by GA may result in long term yield reductions or persistence issues ■■ Multiple applications of GA will not increase annual herbage yield ■■ Where clover is present, application of GA will have a positive impact on clover content ■■ GA improves the nutritive value of the pasture by increasing legume content. Gibberellins are phyto-hormones which are produced naturally in plants and which are involved in many plant functions. This includes regulation of flowering, breaking dormancy and fruit development, Bryant says in the paper. These also play a role in cell expansion and elongation of plant tissue. Though more commonly used in horticulture, commercially manufactured gibberellic acid has been tested in pastoral systems since the 1950s. When applied to grasses, it has shown to increase tiller mass through elongation of leaf and stem and increase dry matter (DM) yield. For perennial ryegrass and white clover pastures the response to GA application appears to be greatest in winter or early spring, but good responses to autumn applications have also been reported. Generally, GA is applied within a day or two of defoliation as the hormone appears to work with the plant’s natural shift in mobilisation of substrates after a defoliation event. Perennial grasses also require vernalisation (cooling of seed during germination) in order to respond to GA application, so applying GA to new spring pasture will not result in an increase in growth. – Pam Tipa
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
40 MACHNERY & PRODUCTS
Keeping hedges nice and tidy MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
VINEYARDS AND orchards typically have vertical shelterbelts to ensure crops do not succumb to the effects of wind. Maintaining these belts, which can be 12m high, is the domain of specialised machines built as one-offs or mounted on heavily modified tractors or telescopic handlers. Cutting Edge Shelterbelt Trimming and Mulching has been operated by Dale Hunt for about 13 years, clock-
ing up 14,000 hours on a telehandler-based machine in an area from Pukeohe in the south to Omaha Beach to the north. When it came time to replace his machine, Hunt was drawn to the new JCB 4220 Fastrac, a high- speed mobility tractor built in the UK and known for its capabilities in carrying loads at the front and rear and a load platform behind the cab. The Fastrac ticked all the boxes required of a new machine: a larger cab for more operator comfort, more power to deliver greater hydrau-
400kg counterweight can be swung to either side of the centre-post when cutting laterally, particularly when reaching across drains. The cab is heavily modified using a 10mm thick bisalloy steel roof plate which in turn houses a viewing window manufactured from a sandwich of two pieces of 10mm toughened glass separated by a 3mm piece of laminate. Meanwhile, the hood and frontal areas
Having committed to take the first 4220 to arrive in NZ, Hunt gave the task of building the boom and cutter-head assembly to a specialised fabricator near his home in north-west Auckland. lic flow, a higher road speed to reduce travel time between jobs, larger tyre equipment for poor off-road conditions and a good four-wheel system for increased manoeuvrability. Having committed to take the first 4220 to
arrive in NZ, Hunt gave the task of building the boom and cutter-head assembly to a specialised fabricator near his home in north-west Auckland; he created the machine we see today. The seven months taken to fabricate and attach the machine
Maintaining shelterbelts and hedges is the domain of the JCB cutter.
With a vertical reach of 18m, the 3.2m cutter head can deal with the highest shelter belts.
is testament to clever engineering solutions learnt from the previous machine, but also using specialised materials to achieve the desired effect.
TR AILED PL ANTER 8-ROW NX WINGFOLD • A folding, pull-type frame – The advantage of the pull-type frame is that it can be used with lower powered tractors. • Four wheel units – This pull-type frame is equipped with 4 hydraulic wheel lifts. • High capacity fertiliser attachment with FertiDriveVM – for easy and rapid adjustment. • Easy adjustments and operating – All planter functions operate from the tractor cab using a function selector.
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The three-stage boom weighs about 2.5 tonnes, has a two-stage lift system and mounts to a central slew-post that in turn attaches to a substantial box-section subframe that runs under the rear axle to an area under the bell housing. To help improve balance and stability, the box section is filled with metal punchings to add weight and to keep the centre of gravity low. With a vertical reach of nearly 18m, the 3.2m cutter-head, carrying three circular saw-like blades, can deal with the highest shelterbelts in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The blades rotate at 1300rpm while the cutter-head itself can operate in three planes on either side of the tractor. The ability to rotate 65 degrees about the centre-post and to be able to lean 15 degrees from vertical means that profiles of any shape can be cut with ease. The overall weight of the boom requires that both rear wheels of the tractor are ballasted with 300kg wheel weights, while a cleverly designed,
carry guards, bash-plates and belly pans made from 6mm steel plate. Power is delivered by a 6-cylinder, 220hp SisuPower engine that in turn runs a Fendt-derived CVT transmission which delivers stepless speeds in either direction up to 60km/h. Braking is by an external disc set-up on each corner of the machine. The key to the business end of the machine is hydraulic flow, so clever plumbing sees the tractor’s own hydraulic system being used to control all the boom functions, while a PTO-driven pump powers the cutterhead, using its own reservoir and cooling pack. To date, the machine has exceeded all expectations for comfort, with cab noise as low as 74dBa, improved visibility – the drivers sits higher than in the old machine – stability and ease of road travel. One stand-out feature is the TrueTrak steering system that allows tighter turns as the machine is entering or exiting work in the orchard.
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 41 FIELDAYS’ IMPACT
The radical look of the Toyota C-Hr will turn heads in town and country.
Bringing a slice of Gotham to Grey Lynn and Greymouth MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
WITH THE compact SUV sector making up 20% of the total SUV market, it’s not surprising to see Toyota launching a new model to claim its share. The Toyota C-HR (Compact High Rider) was originally designed for the European market, but has now gone global, so should be great for New Zealanders given our liking for this type of vehicle. Built around Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) chassis -- the same as the new Prius -the layout is said to offer a lower centre of gravity and better weight distribution; in the case of the C-HR this gives the feel of a hot hatch with the benefits of an SUV. First impressions are of a bangup-to-date look, with sharp lines
and smooth curves, which in the case of the Ink Black review car supplied by TNZ was reminiscent of Gotham City’s Batmobile. Power comes from a 1.2L turbocharged petrol delivering 84kW and 185Nm torque, mated to a CVT transmission that, besides the auto function, offers seven simulated speeds for those wanting to hit the wheel-mounted flappy paddles; the set-up is smooth, seamless and gets on with the job. A choice of eco, normal and sport modes alters how the engine/ transmission responds, while the AWD system functions to deliver 0 - 50% of available torque to the rear wheels. Handling on a fast trip from Hamilton to Pauanui, taking in the Kopu/Kikawai road, showed the car was torquey and flexible in the engine department, the suspen-
sion handled the twists, curves, dips and climbs with aplomb, and the sports style seats kept this reviewer’s ample rear held firmly in place. Safety is taken care of admirably, gaining the vehicle a 5-Star ANCAP rating achieved by the aptly named Toyota Safety Sense Suite that includes a pre-crash safety system, lane departure alert, auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert and of course the obligatory rear-view camera and parking sensors. The cabin is well laid out with a central touch screen monitor for all main functions, and dials angled toward the driver to give a cockpit-like feel and total control. Neat detailing sees 5-spoke, 18-inch diameter wheels, and
some further Gotham-inspired fun, with the underside of the rear-view mirrors hiding ‘puddle’ lamps which project the vehicle’s name onto the ground after dark. What’s not to like? Not much when you remember this is a compact SUV. Taller passengers will find headroom adequate in the front but partly compromised in the rear as the raked roof runs its course. Likewise, the view of the outside world from the rear seats is not great, given the relatively small, triangular shaped panes. With its radical looks, the C-HR will turn heads in town and country, with features like LED daytime running lamps, dynamic indicators and cleverly hidden, high-level rear door handles that the writer’s non-blonde otherhalf failed to find, making it one to watch.
GRASS MACHINERY DIVISION PFG Australia’s grass machinery division driven by growth and demand for our three premium grass machinery brands require 2 product managers one to specialise with McHale and one for Kverneland/Vicon Grass products. The position is based in the Melbourne region but extensive travel is involved throughout Australia. You must have: • A sound knowledge of the Agriculture and machinery preferably Grass products including balers • An understanding of the farm machinery business and farming • Be the specialist alongside the sales team to promote the specialist products • The ability to train dealers in sales features and product installation • Support the sales team with customer evenings, demonstration days and dealer demonstration programs • Be the link between sales, parts and service. • Assist the General Manager with product specifications and planning • Be hands on • An understanding of GPS and precision farming systems an advantage • Ambitious, hungry, keen to work with a well-established sales team. • Be prepared to travel extensively throughout Australia • Looking for a career in one of the most exciting industries of the future
We offer a good package based on experience. The positions offered would suit someone already in the industry or graduate with an Agricultural background
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A RECENTLY released Economic Impact Report on the 2017 Fieldays makes interesting reading, especially when the dairy industry is rising phoenix-like from the doldrums of the last few years. Held over four days in June, the 49th event saw 133,588 people push through the turnstiles to gain access to 968 businesses exhibiting on at least 1485 sites. Visitor numbers showed the greatest pull was from Waikato (48%), then Bay of Plenty (15%) and Auckland (10%), with the remainder made up of the lower North Island (10%), the South Island (4%) and overseas visitors (2%) Estimates by independent economist Dr Warren Hughes and by professor Frank Scrimgeour of Waikato University suggest that the event had financial impact of $538 million -- estimated visitor expenditure, equipment sales and organisational costs. Of the total, the impact for the Waikato region was $191.2m. Equipment sales were surveyed by an independent body, asking exhibitors to indicate sales concluded and to estimate sales that would eventuate in the future because of attending Fieldays. A total impact for equipment sales of $450m, of which $191m would be seen in Waikato and $336m elsewhere in New Zealand, painted a rosy picture given the dairy downturn of the previous two seasons.
Please email your application to: Graeme Leigh, General Manager PFG Australia Machinery Division
graeme@powerfarming.co.nz or call (NZ) 0064 21 975 265 or (AUS) 0061 439 452 619
CLAAS Harvest Centre
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
42 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
Seed drills offer many options MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
THE NEW Espro 6000 RC seed drill offers two separate metering and distribution systems on one universal seed drill package to provide a choice of field operations for arable work; for instance, being able to deliver fertiliser underroot while seeding, as well as dose and place a second type of seed. The fertiliser or second seed variety is delivered by disc coulters behind the working discs
and directly in front of the offset packer roller. The coulters, adjustable in depth, are located precisely between two seed rows each. In this way, the fertiliser can be positioned at an exact distance from the seeds. Thus, the seedlings are supported at the early growth stages without risk of burning. Moreover, two different seeds can be delivered at distinct depths, allowing the simultaneous establishment of a main crop with an undersown crop as well as for
seeding cover crop mixes. If required, the two vari-
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wheels (900 mm) have The range is also together in the seed row. an exclusive profile, offset expanded with the introThe seed/fertiliser and tyres with a deep duction of the Espro hopper is partitioned in tread pattern ideal for 4000 R models (working two parts. But a clever seed bed tilling. width 4m). Its foldable hatch system allows the The Crossflex seeddesign comprises two farmer to use the full ing bar is said to hopper capacity ensure homogeof 5500L to seed The Espro 6000 RC is neous emergence one single main claimed to need less and quality seedcrop. ing owing to the The Espro tractor power because hold of the poly6000 RC is of its specific packer urethane mounts claimed to need fitted on the less tractor power roller design, precise cross-shaped secbecause of its spe- seed placement at tional tube, for cific packer roller high speeds and even improved ground design, precise following. seed placement at emergence achieved by With a power high speeds and the Crossflex coulter bar. requirement of at even emergence least 140hp, this achieved by the fast, versatile seed Crossflex couldrill can place a large rows of discs followed ter bar. variety of seeds at high by a row of tyres and Simple adjustments, speeds and be used with the new Crossflex coulautomated headland turn any crop management ter bar; it is fitted with management and usermethods. the innovations of the friendly terminals (VT or It can also be fitted ESPRO 3000 and 6000R CCI 200) and ISOBUS with optional front press seed drills already on the compatibility make the wheels with in-cab presmarket. machine easy to set up sure adjustment. The large diameter and operate.
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RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 43 NOZZLE MINIMISE DRIFT UNDERSTANDING NOZZLES and how they work is a key step to improving efficacy of any spraying operation, particularly in difficult conditions where spraying cannot be postponed. Hardi MiniDrift duo nozzles are flat spray air-injector nozzles offering droplet spectrum from medium to very coarse. With 90% drift reduction, they are known to be safe for drift con-
Diesel UTV gets the job done MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
WITH UTVs offering a safe means of getting men and materials to difficult or remote locations, the Landboss Diesel, from Mojo Motorcycles, could be worth a closer look. Already popular in Australia, the machine is powered by an 800cc Japanese-made Perkins diesel – a familiar name to many people in farming and construction. The Perkins 400D, 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor is said to be ultra-compact, quiet and inexpensive to run thanks to a 500-hour service interval which mirrors that of most farm tractors. The engine is matched to a Canadian CV Tech transmission, offering selectable 2- or 4-wheel drive, front and rear differential locks. A Turf-Mode setting eliminates scuffing in sensitive areas. Electronic power steering points things in the right direction, and a good ride quality is ensured by a dual, A-arm set-up independently suspended in each corner. Passengers sit on a full-width bench seat with seat belts and head restraints, protected by a ROPS-certified roll frame with a roof and full windscreen. A gas-assisted, steel rear tip-tray carries 450kg, and the towing hitch is rated at 700kg – offering a combined capacity of at least one tonne. Adding a sense of security, the Landboss has a 3500lb winch which should extract it easily from difficult terrain. A comprehensive two-year warranty applies. Says a Mojo Motorcycles spokesman, “Besides the virtually unbreakable Perkins motor, the Landboss offers industry-leading carrying and towing capacities which we believe will allow us to mirror on New Zealand farms the success we have already achieved in Australia.” www.mojomotorcycles.com.au
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trol, yet they give a good coverage in the upper leaf area. Aiming to get the most out of every spray, Hardi has been putting its MiniDrift Duo nozzles through stringent tests including wind tunnel testing to minimise drift, followed by field testing to produce real-world data. Though wind tunnel tests can produce results which simulate driving at speed, field testing
introduces cross-winds that can have a significant bearing on the final results. The nozzles are tested at varying pressures, to help understand the correlation between pressure and spray attributes, and ultimately the best operating conditions suited to a nozzle set-up. In practise, drift tests are performed using a series of collectors placed at various angles and
distances from the nozzle. Field testing of the MiniDrift Duo nozzles showed that when the pressure was too high, droplet sizes were slightly smaller than single injector nozzles, which resulted in a higher drift potential. MiniDrift Duo nozzles are an available option for all Hardi sprayers sold and can be specified at the time of purchase or retro-fitted.
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(03) 443 6781 (03) 314 6899 (09) 430 3066
CLAAS Harvest Centre
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
44 MACHNERY & PRODUCTS
Unleashing the potato beast MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
GRIMME WILL unveil the world’s first four-row self-propelled potato harvester at Agritechnica in Germany next month. Equipped with the proven SE lifting, separating and conveying technology, a 15-tonne bunker and 530hp engine, the Ventor 4150 boasts twice the productivity of a tworow harvester and is set to propel harvesting efficiency to new heights. Grime SE technology uses lifting, sieving and conveying webs to separate potatoes from vines, clods and stones; this was pioneered almost 30 years ago and is now considered standard equipment on most one-row and two-row potato harvesters. Until now it has not been possible to fit this technology into fourrow harvesters due to technological barriers, but the company says it has solved the problem by dividing the crop flow into two main lines throughout the whole machine. An innovative folding mechanism fitted to the two ‘hedgehog’ web separators -- which are mounted on both sides
-- helps reduce the width of the machine to meet transport regulations; and the integration of the SE principle saves fuel savings. With a layout that eliminates wheels in front of the intake unit, digging can be carried out straight away, even when opening a new field, which also helps reduce soil compaction and crop damage. TerraFloat ensures the lifted crop is evenly distributed on the first main web for optimal sieving and ensures a smooth and regular transition between the first and second main webs. Large flotation tyres -- 900/70 R32 front and 900/60 R38 to the rear – combine with an automatic levelling system to ensure smooth harvesting operations; crab steering helps optimise field performance and achieves a turning circle of 6.1m. Key operating functions are controlled via the ErgoDrive control system, with Speedtronic automatically adjusting the speed of the separating devices; the CCI1200 terminal, with a 300mm screen and easy-to-use interface, gives the oper-
Grimme’s four-row, self-propelled potato harvester is a world-first.
No grim story here! ❱❱ Founded in 1861 ❱❱ Fourth generation in charge ❱❱ 2200 employees worldwide in 120 countries ❱❱ Turnover €403million in 2016 ❱❱ Brands include Grimme, Spudnik and Asa-Lift ator an overview of the machine settings and performance. The maker’s Visual Protect camera system,
Coming Home function, Memory Control for viewing and saving harvest parameters and an autopilot-system are all
fitted as standard. The operator has an excellent view of the front of the machine from the comfortable cab,
Machinery Imports
NOW IN NEW ZEALAND
and the Proclaim video surveillance system uses two high quality wideangle cameras linked to a high resolution, split
screen monitor to provide the driver with an unobscured 360-degree view of the operating environment.
ROUND BALEAGE TIPPER Transports and stands wrapped round bales on end for storage
IT’S QUICK, IT’S CONVENIENT, IT’S EFFICIENT H NOW AVAILABLE AS A SINGLE OR DUAL UNIT H
KEY FEATURES
DESIGNED & DEVELOPED BY A WORKING MAN
• Easy to operate • Std rockspike • Rear and side mount • Huge driving power • Solid rugged durable & dependable
• Thick layers of plastic on bale ends provide superior protection against ground moisture and weather while stored. • No flat sided bales (simplifies feeding out). • Less storage area required. • Suitable for medium HP tractors. • 3PL mounted (no front axle stress). • Bale tipped in one easy movement. • No need to reposition bale before tipping. • Simply trip and flip.
CONTACT US FOR YOUR LOCAL DEALER
MACHINERY IMPORTS
I
Thames Street, Morrinsville
PRODUCT SUPPORT SALES - Kieran Steffert 021 945 817
I
www.machineryimports.co.nz
PRODUCT SUPPORT - Dave Lamb 021 703 326
Maitland - RD5 - Gore Phone/Fax 03-207 1837 or 027-628 5695 www.james-engineering.co.nz
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 45
A first in selfpropelled baling MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
NORTH AMERICAN hay and forage specialists Vermeer Industries has launched what is believed to be the world’s first self-propelled round baler. The prototype ZR5 has a patent-pending suspension system for a smooth ride over the paddock, and a centrally mounted, air-conditioned cabin mounted over the suspension units, giving the operator unrivalled comfort. Taking a lead from the lawn care industry, a zero-turn steering system is said to impart exceptional manoeuvrability compared to trailed machines, allowing operators to turn back down the adjacent row when they hit the headland, thereby increasing daily outputs. For transport between jobs, the steering system can be deactivated to allow the front axle to become the steering axle, inspiring confidence when operating at travel
speeds of up to 50km/h. While still at the prototype stage, development is focussed on automating the baling cycle, whilst allowing adjustments to be made based on field, crop or operator preference. A unique feature built into the automation process is the Quarter Turn Technology which sees the machine automatically swing left or right as the tying or netting function is carried out. This serves to discharge the completed bale at 90 degrees to the windrow, which allows easier pick-up with loaders or handlers and is said to increase clearing capacity by 35%. Power comes from a Cummins 175hp engine coupled to a hydrostatic transmission that powers the wheels. The operator sits in a centrally mounted, airconditioned cabin above the windrow. This position is said to give an unobstructed view of the windrow, while the crop passing over the pick-up is monitored by a camera.
BATTERIES ARE INCLUDED DESCRIBED AS the first practical, battery-powered tractor designed for most day-to-day yard operations without needing several daily recharge stops, the Fendt e100 Vario is set to wow the crowds at Agritechnica in November. Limited numbers will go on sale during 2018. The all-electric e100 delivers 50kW and its German manufacturer claims it will run continuously for five hours in ‘real’ farming conditions. Energy is stored in a 650V lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1000kWh. Charging options are 400V/22kW via a CEE outdoor socket, or the aptly named supercharging option which uses a CCS Type 2 plug for an 80% charge in about 40 minutes. Designed to be used with traditional or electrified implements as they become more available, the tractor is fitted with two AFF-compliant power interfaces, one of which can allow a shortterm boost of 150kW. Normal tractor items include PTO and rear hydraulic remotes, with the former offering maximum torque at start-up as is the norm with electrical motors and precise control of electrically powered implements from the integral drive system. An electric heat-pump warms the cab and takes care of battery and electronic component temperatures.
In use, a 1.82m diameter x 1.55m wide bale is formed by belt in a variable chamber. Once the target size is reached, the feed is stopped, tying commences and on completion the tailgate is
raised and the bale discharged. Once clear, the tailgate is lowered and a push on the ‘start baling’ button restarts the system. First production units will be on sale in 2019.
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
46 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS / RURAL TRADER DOLOMITE
DIESEL HEATER
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julieb@ruralnews.co.nz
POLY SILOS
Minimal Sweating Longer Lasting No Rust
Fast Easy Assembly No Blockages
Polyethylene
Full Range of Sizes:
Wide cut, easy transportability THE POTTINGER Novacat A9 mower combination joins its well-proven bigger brother – the A10 – to offer a working width of 8.92 - 9.18m. Offering the option of butterfly or reverse drive operation, the headstock can carry a 3 or 3.5m front mower unit, with the butterfly option offering two mounting positions to ensure a good front to rear overlap. This can be 52cm if a 3m unit is used, or as much as 60cm if the 3.5m set-up is preferred. The centre frame comprises the new Y-Drive
incorporates the patented hydraulic Nonstop lift collision system that sees a hydraulic pre-loaded gimbal mounting system that lifts the mowers rearward in a collision. The cutting element uses the well-proven Novacat cutter bar with tapered discs carrying quick change blades
drive line with bevel gears, slip clutches mounted close to the gearboxes, and longer PTO drive shafts to reduce operating angles and ensure quiet running. The mounting frame also
and generous overlaps to ensure clean cutting in all conditions. The machines can be specified with swath formers if no condi-
tioning is required: the ED tine type conditioner or for delicate crops the RCB roller-type conditioner. Operated from the maker’s select terminal, and with a double acting
allows pre-selection of the mower units, control of the side guards, hydraulic pressure on the cutter bar and a handy service reminder. Road transport is taken care of by folding the outer units vertically and locking with a hydraulically controlled mechanical lock to achieve an overall height of 4m, width of 2.95m and ground clearance of 31cm. Equipped with parking stands, the unit can be stored in the folded position for compactness.
The A9 mower offers a working width of 8.92-9.18 hectares.
From 1,600 L (1 tonne) to
40,000 L (30 tonne)
Call: 0800 668 534
hydraulic valve, the system
Rangiora
www.advantageplastics.co.nz
EXCAVATOR QUICKHITCHES
NOW FIT YOUR TRACTOR ATTACHMENT TO YOUR EXCAVATOR. MANUFACTURED TO FIT A VARIOUS RANGE OF EXCAVATORS
40 Basstian St, Invercargill. Ph 03-215 9116 email: briannicollengineering@xtra.co.nz www.advancedengineering.co.nz
REPLACING LOST OR DAMAGED KEYS NOW EASY THE GREY and the balding may remember that replacing a damaged or bent vehicle key was once a simple case of having a new one cut. But the key fobs that now include electronics and buttons to remotely open and lock doors have complicated this and added many dollars to the problem. “Anyone who has suffered damage to modern vehicle keys or have buttons that don’t work, will know how frustrating it can be trying to get it fixed or replaced,” says Tim Paterson, national sales manager of Griffiths Equipment. But now replacement parts for
worn or damaged items on electronic car keys are to become more widely available to motorists in New Zealand. Griffiths Equipment has teamed up with Mechatronics Auto Parts (MAP) to provide a comprehensive, nationwide supply of replacement parts such as keys, fobs, key rubbers and
Culvert Pipes New Zealand’s CHEAPEST Culvert Pipes! FREE joiners supplied on request. ONE STOP WATER SHOP 300mm x 6 metre ................................ $410 400mm x 6 metre ................................ $515 500mm x 6 metre ................................ $690 600mm x 6 metre ................................ $925 800mm x 6 metre .............................. $1399 1000mm x 6 metre ............................ $2175 1200mm x 6 metre ............................ $3475 ALL PRICES INCLUDE G.S.T.
• Lightweight, easy to install • Made from polyethylene
McKee Plastics Mahinui Street, Feilding Ph 06 323 4181 Fax 06 323 4183
sales@mckeeplastics.co.nz | www.mckeeplastics.co.nz
remotes, through leading automotive outlets and vehicle service and repair workshops. The most popular items include remote rubber buttons and shells that often become damaged and don’t stand up to the pressure of everyday wear and tear. Damaged buttons and broken cases allow dirt or water into the
key fob or remote itself, which can cause irreparable damage. In many cases, these buttons / key fobs cannot be obtained as a spare part, or if they can they are usually very costly. Repair is often just a case of opening the key shell, removing the worn part and inserting a new component in its place. Victoria-based IM Group, which owns the MAP brand, introduced the key repair service in Australia in 2012. It offers products tested and approved by the IM Group and quality-assured to international ISO9001 standards. – Mark Daniel
Phone
0800 625 826
for your nearest stockist
Joiners supplied FREE with culvert pipes
RURAL NEWS // OCTOBER 24, 2017
RURAL TRADER 47 CRAIGCO SENSOR JET
❱❱ Feeders available from 2 bales to 24m3 ❱❱ Universal stock feeders-feed all feed types
DEAL TO FLY AND LICE • Cost Effective • Complete Package • Unbeatable pricing • Performance Guaranteed
Phone 03-688 2900 sales@scarlett.co.nz
Rubber Safety Matting • ATV Carrier Mats • Exit/Entry Areas • Calf Trailers • Horse Floats & Trucks • Weigh Platforms • Bale Mats • Comfort Mats for Wet & Dry Areas • Utility Deck Matting
Phone: 0800 80 8570 www.burgessmatting.co.nz
P 06 835 6863 - www.craigcojetters.com
QUADBAR
595
$
+GST delivered
Proven beyo nd do ubt!
The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989
Quality construction and options • Get the contractors choice Featuring...
“I have no doubt that if I did not have a Quadbar fitted, my accident would have been fatal!” – Rozel Farms
4
• Incredible chemical economy • Amazing ease 1500+ per hour • Unique self adjusting sides • Environmentally and user friendly • Automatically activated • Proven effective on lice as well as fly • Compatible with all dip chemicals • Accurate, effective application
“The Quadbar saved our employee from significant injuries.” – Colin van der Geest
600 500 400 300 200 100 0
Fix it with Fuel Right.
QUADBAR 5 YEAR SURVEY
07 573 8512 | dipping@electrodip.co.nz – www.electrodip.com
NUMBER OF QUADBARS 479
ROLLOVERS 61
Fuel Right is the complete diesel system treatment that PO Box 73 Tuakau 1892 deals with diesel bug Automatic Super Jetter Innovative Agriculture Equipment Tel: (09) 236 8414and keeps your expensive Stainless Structure equipment running PO Box 73 Tuakau PO Box 1892 73 Tuakau 1892 construction Fax: (09) 236 9321 smoothly and efficiently. Tel: (09) 236 8414 Tel: (09) 236 8414 J000060_BDMA Revolution
For a Quadbar, call me, Stuart Davidson, owner of Quadbar NZ, on 021-182 8115. Email sales@quadbar.co.nz or for more info go to www.quadbar.co.nz
Got Diesel Bug in your Farm Tank?
FLY OR LICE PROBLEMS?
NUMBER OF DEATHS 0
Industries Ltd 1,000 + Email: sheep/hr PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Fax: (09) 236 Fax: 9321(09) 236 9321 PH: 0800 777 551 Wipe Out Fantastic Industries Industries Ltd LtdEmail: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Walco Can Help You to Wipe Out Your Weeds Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Penetration TM
$7,500 plus GST
Getting Stuck? Get Clic Duals
With Davey Pump & Honda Motor
PO Box 73 Tuakau 1892 Tel: (09) 236 8414 Fax: (09) 236 9321 Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz
PO Box 73 Tuakau 1892 Tel: (09) 236 8414 Dairy PO Box 73 Tuakau PO Box 1892 73 Tuakau 1892 Fax: (09) 236 9321 Free Range & Barn Eggs Feed Systems Tel: (09) 236 8414 Tel: (09) 236 8414 Dairy Dairy Dairy Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Feed Systems SUPPLIERS OF: (09) 236 Fax: Fax: 9321(09) 236 9321 Feed Systems Feed SystemsEmail: • Nest boxes - manual or PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz automated
Apply Chemical in the Breeze Only Apply Chemical to weeds Easy to Use Easy to set up Easy to Flush System after use Two rows of Wicks for double contact with weeds Bruise bar to scrape plant for better Chemical application Strong & Durable Frame
Industries Ltd
sales@pppindustries.co.nz
• Poultry Equipment
PO Box 73 Tuakau 1892
Tel: (09) 236 8414 Feed & Drinking Fax: (09) 236 9321 Email:trays PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz • Plastic egg
We’ll Look After You
TM
www.pppindustries.co.nz
PO Box 73 Tuakau 1892 Tel: (09) 236 8414 Fax: (09) 236 9321 Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz
2.4m or 4.8m wide 2 Year Warranty -
Ring Walco NOW for Your Nearest Stockist of these Robust Wipers
0800 901 902
QUALITY PRODUCTS MADE on Duals for more traction, stability, IN EUROPE OR BY PPPPO Box 73 Tuakau flotation,1892 towing power, versatility.
A trusted name in Poultry Industry Tel: (09) 236 8414 Poultry for over 50 years Clic Wheel Systems Ltd, PO Box 73 Tuakau PO Box 1892 73 Tuakau 1892 Fax: (09) 236 9321 ROTORUA Equipment Tel: (09) 236 8414 Tel: (09) Ph/Fax 236 841407 347 2292 Poultry Poultry Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Fax: (09) 236 Fax: 9321(09) 236 9321 www.clicdualwheels.co.nz Equipment Equipment Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz Email: PPP.LTD@xtra.co.nz
Ph 0800 853 002
info@walco.co.nz
❖
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Helping Farmers Boost Production
www.walco.co.nz
Quality Greenhouses
• Easy assembly • Strong and durable
• NZ made since 1980 • Grow all year round T/F 03 214 4262 E sales@morrifield.com
www.morrifield.com
Worl d’s m o spee st powe r d cli pper ful varia ble is he re!
handypiece
H FASTER H LIGHTER H VARIABLE SPEED
■ Ideal for shearing sheep, alpacas, goats and cow tails. ■ Variable speed from 2400-3500 rpm. ■ Latest brushless motor technology means minimal heat build up ■ 1400gms means 100-200gms lighter than standard handpiece. ■ At 2700 rpm the 12-volt lithium battery will catch up to 300400 sheep, 400-500 cow tails. ■ Tough alloy switch box with auto rest fuse for overload or lockup – clips to belt.
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PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE NEW SEASON View in action go to www.handypiece.co.nz
Freephone 0800 474 327
email: dave@handypiece.co.nz
Sharpen
®
Herbicide
Shave days off your burndown & regraze time.
Every farmer needs an edge when it comes to pasture burndown and resistance management. And Sharpen® really delivers. Mixed with glyphosate, Sharpen® is the only herbicide in New Zealand powered by Kixor®, a unique active ingredient specially created to increase broad-spectrum control of previously hard-to-control broadleaf weeds. Now with a label extension, Sharpen® delivers outstanding burndown results and an incredibly fast 2 day withholding period for grazing. It’s good news for maize growers too. Used with acetochler, Sharpen® works for pre-emergent weed control in maize. Visit agro.basf.co.nz for more details or visit your local distributor.
BASF545679