Rural News 19 July 2022

MANAGEMENT

ANIMAL HEALTH

NEWS

Spray duo provides top protection in high-stakes cereal crops. PAGE 21

Aussies look to new approach to flystrike control. PAGE 23

SFF says it’s back and better than before.

PAGE 9

TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS JULY 19, 2022: ISSUE 755

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Kiwisaver for farms?

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THOUSANDS OF farm employees and sharemilkers could soon access their Kiwisaver savings to buy a first farm or home.

Federated Farmers is in talks with the Government to extend the Kiwisaver first-home withdrawal scheme.

The farmer lobby hopes that the Government will change withdrawal rules so that 85,000 farm employees listed in the 2021 census, sharemilkers and various other industries that operate with service tenancies, such as rural teachers, police officers, in-home caregivers and armed forces personnel will become eligible.

Federated Farmers national share farmer section chair Aaron Passey told

Rural News that some people are content to be career share farmers.

For these people, the step to farm ownership is too onerous, he says.

“This is another way for share farmers to plan for their retirement and have somewhere to live after they

finish farming,” says Passey.

“This is particularly important for variable order sharemilkers and contract milkers who don’t have an asset built up in a herd of cows.

“It is a lot easier to buy a house while you are younger and pay it off

A meaty tale!

Jeff Grant and Sir Graeme Harrison were among more than 100 people, representing past and present staff from the meat industry, who gathered in Wellington recently for the launch of a book commemorating the past 25 years of the industry.

Meeting Change was designed to coincide with the centenary of the NZ Meat Board and was written

by Ali Spencer and Mick Calder, who both have had a long association with the red meat sector.

Beef+Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison described the book as a masterly piece of research, documenting the momentous upheaval the industry has gone through during the past 25 years. – See review page 8

THE RISKS ARE LESS RISKY WHEN WE’RE PART OF THE PICTURE. Whether you’re a grower, a farmer or a commercial business, moving ahead means making changes. And that usually comes with a few risks along the way. But with us as your partner, you can progress with more confidence. That’s because FMG offers the kind of specialised advice and knowledge that only comes from working alongside rural New Zealand for generations. To find out more, ask around about us. Better still, give us a call on 0800 366 466 or go to fmg.co.nz. FMG, your partners in progress.

We’re here for the good of the country.

FMG1362AFPSRN

rather than try to do it all when you retire.”

Passey says they are not seeking any changes to the current rules around Kiwisaver withdrawals – leaving $1,000 in your Kiwisaver account and being involved in the scheme for three years.

“We’re asking for the availability of withdrawals to be expanded to allow for it to be used for the purchase of a first farm, where you will be living in the farm house or purchasing a house while you are living on farm under a TO PAGE 3

Calving 2022

Support lifetime traceability • • •

Ensure all Calves are fitted with a NAIT tag before they reach 180 days of age.

Register any fitted NAIT tags within 7 days of tagging.

All calves must be tagged and registered before their

•

first movement. So, if you are sending them off your location, make sure you meet your NAIT obligations.

Calves must be NAIT tagged correctly.

For more information go to OSPRI.co.nz or 0800

842 463 NAIT is an OSPRI programme

Failure to comply with NAIT obligations may result in fines or prosecution issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

For more information about your obligations as a PICA, please visit our website ospri.co.nz.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

NEWS 3 ISSUE 755

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Adopt HWEN in full JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

NEWS ��������������������������������������1-14 MARKETS ��������������������������� 16-17 HOUND, EDNA ����������������������� 18 CONTACTS ������������������������������ 18 OPINION ���������������������������� 18-20 MANAGEMENT ���������������������� 21 ANIMAL HEALTH ������������22-23 MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS ���������������������� 24-26 RURAL TRADER ��������������26-27

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: Inkwise NZ Ltd CONTACTS Editorial: editor@ruralnews.co.nz Advertising material: davef@ruralnews.co.nz Rural News online: www.ruralnews.co.nz Subscriptions: subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz

QUESTIONS HAVE been raised by Beef + Lamb New Zealand regarding the Climate Change Commission’s recent emissions trading recommendations.

In a report, released earlier this month, the Commission recommended a basic farm-level emissions pricing system using elements of the He Waka Eke Noa proposal.

However, there are two major sticking points with its recommendations for industry good organisations: fertiliser emissions pricing and sequestration.

The Commission is advising for synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to be priced at the manufacturer and importer level.

It states that pricing synthetic nitrogen fertiliser at this level, as opposed to the farm-level pricing He Waka Eke Noa recommends, would achieve “a more broad and equitable coverage for emissions from synthetic nitrogen fertiliser across the country”.

However, Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s general manager, policy and advocacy Dave Harrison disagrees with that analysis.

“Every farm is unique, so it is important that an individualised approach is taken,” Dave Harrison.

He told Rural News the He Waka Eke Noa system is designed to help farmers manage emissions through their whole farm system, combining

Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr.

recommending this be priced through the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

“Recognising non-NZ ETS sequestration through on-farm vegetation as suggested by the He Waka Eke Noa proposal should be progressed in a separate system, which could recognised and reward a wide range of benefits, such as biodiversity and water quality,” the Commission’s report states.

That won’t do, says Harrison.

“A lot of the vegetation on sheep and beef farms does not qualify for inclusion in the ETS because it does

key information from a range of areas.

“If individual components such as fertiliser emissions are taken out from farmer’s calculations, their ability to manage and reduce their own farm emissions will be affected,” Harrison says.

“Because funds raised through the emissions pricing system will be reinvested back into research and development, taking components out of that system will also reduce the amount of funding for R&D.” Another major sticking point is that of sequestration, with the Commission

not meet the definition of a forest, and farmers have had difficulties registering exotic forests in the ETS,” he says.

“If farmers are to face a price for agricultural emissions, it’s only fair they get credit for their sequestration.”

Harrison says He Waka Eke Noa recognises what farmers are doing to reduce emissions on their individual farms.

“It would give farmers ability to control their own farm emissions, which will incentivise behaviour change as part of an integrated farm management approach.”

Kiwisaver for farms?

FROM PAGE 1

service tenancy.”

Passey says Feds have been in touch with Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs, David Clark.

“Minister Clark was positive about the issues we raised and reiter-

• High Flow • Compact/Robust • New Pilot Flow Filter • Side/Bottom Mount • Detach to Clean

ated that there are better retirement outcomes for people that own their own homes,” he says. “Minister Clark advised us to contact his officials to discuss it further and we have started liaising with them, hoping to get our suggestions included in future

changes to the withdrawal rules.”

According to Federated Farmers, it first raised the issue with the Government in December last year.

The Feds annual meeting in Auckland this month heard that Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s

• For Water Storage Tanks • Adjustable levels from 50mm-2.5m • Minimises pump operation •Available in 20/25/32/50mm

0800 JOBE VALVES jobevalves.com

office took five months to respond to its letter and referred the matter to Clark’s office.

“This was disappointing considering O’Connor had invited us to write to him and we needed an advocate in Government,” Feds says.

• Stainless steel bracket and Shaft • Fits plastic and concrete tanks • Rugged and long lasting

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

4 NEWS

Our best offer – EU claims PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE EUROPEAN Union’s ambassador to NZ says it has gone the extra mile to open up its market by signing a free trade agreement with NZ. In an exclusive interview with Rural News, Nina Obermaier says the offer put to NZ in the negotiations was the best the EU could make.

She says the deal creates $600 million in additional quota access for NZ and claims the agreement is “modern and ambitious”.

“We heard that NZ might have wanted even more market access but what we have done is a significant marketing opening from our side. It was clear right from the start that these issues around agriculture were a very sensitive issue to the EU economy as well.”

Obermaier was with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Trade Minister Damien O’Connor as the talks were being finalised in Brussels. She says the signing of the deal was like a ray of light in some very dark times.

According to Obermaier, the negotiations went down to the wire – true to form – the NZ negotiating team put up a decent fight right to the end. She says it was the right time to conclude the negotiations and is not sure delaying the talks would have produced a better result.

“Rather the contrary, I think,” she told Rural News.

Obermaier says the deal opens up lots of new trading opportunities for companies and farmers on both sides.

“91% of all NZ exports will be duty free as of day one and we are expecting a 30% increase in our trade, but we have done more than that,” she adds.

“We have got the first chapter on sustainable food systems which means we will be working together for example on animal welfare and on the reduction of use of pesticides. Of special significance is that we have got the first ever agreement where we have enforceable provisions on the Paris climate agreement.”

Obermaier says also

DETAILS OF THE FTA ON THE face of it, the big winners of the EU FTA are kiwifruit, wine, onions and seafood.

Vangelis Vitalis, who headed the NZ negotiating team, told the recent Primary Industry Summit that we got the best possible deal and if we’d not signed now, NZ would have gone to the back of the queue.

He shares the frustrations of both the dairy and meat sectors but pointed out NZ was dealing with the most protectionist agricultural trading block in the world and says they operate on a different paradigm to NZ. The EU’s desire to protect its agricul-

The EU’s ambassador to NZ Nina Obermaier says the offer put to NZ in the negotiations was the best it could make.

of special significance is an agreement to create opportunities for a burgeoning Maori economy.

She says the agreement goes beyond just trade and gives a clear signal at a geopolitical level that two democracies can deliver such a quality agreement when values are being challenged by such events as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

She says the FTA will also open up new opportunities for partnerships

and activities between the two jurisdictions.

She points to agricultural research and climate change as two examples.

Now that the negotiations have been concluded, the process of ratifying the deal will now begin in both the EU and in NZ. After the original texts have been ‘legally scrubbed’ it will eventually go to the European parliament for final signoff. This could take at least a year.

tural sector dates back to the end of WWII when there were massive food shortages in Europe and thousands of ordinary people died of starvation – 45,000 in the Netherlands alone.

To that end the concept of food sovereignty became embedded in the Treaty of Rome, the founding document of the original EEC back in 1956, and still exists today.

The farming lobbies in the EU countries are extremely powerful and are highly influential in determining which political party wins an election.

While there is understandable concern in the dairy and beef sector, it’s worth stating a few facts.

BEEF Before: FTA 1,102 tonnes – 20% tariff.

Now: 10,000 tonnes 7.5% tariff.

SHEEPMEAT Before: 125,000 tonnes.

Now: 163,000 tonnes (NZ is the only country apart from Australia, which has a sheepmeat quota to the EU and Australia’s is 20,000 tonnes).

BUTTER Before: 47,177 tonnes and a tariff rate of 700 Euros per tonne (this made butter exports to the EU virtually impossible because of the high tariff rate).

Now: 21,000 tonnes at 95 Euros per tonne – an 86% cut in the tariff and an additional 15,000 new tonnes of access, also at 95 Euros a tonne and a further 14,000 tonnes where the tariff is cut to 569 Euros a tonne.

CHEESE Before: 6031 tonnes with a tariff rate of 170.60 Euros per tonne (this has made it prohibitive to sell any cheese to the EU in the last five years).

Now: 31,000 tonnes with a zero tariff from day one of the agreement (NZ is the only country with cheese access to the EU).

BIG AGRICULTURAL CENSUS COMING TO AN END SOON PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

FARMERS, FORESTERS and orchardist have just a few days left to complete the official agricultural production census, run by Statistics NZ in partnership with MPI. This large-scale census is done every four years with the purpose of providing vital insights and the most

up-to-date data about agriculture’s contribution to New Zealand. It is compulsory for all large scale farming, forestry and horticultural businesses and is not a random survey.

The manager of the survey, Ana Krpo, says Stats NZ has a system that identifies all agricultural businesses in the above categories that meet the requirement for registering for GST, which is $60,000 turnover. Excluded

from the survey are the likes of lifestyle farmers, beekeepers, worm farmers and others in minor agri-related operations.

Krpo says the agricultural statistics from the census benefit NZ by supporting evidence-based discussions and decision-making. She told Rural News this data is used by industry organisations, government, researchers, and the wider farming

2023’s Nuffield Scholarship applications are open.

The future of food and fibre is in the hands of our bold, grounded people - those who give back to their communities and industries. Sound like you?

Register your interest at Ruralleaders.co.nz/application-nuffield

and growing community for industry forecasting, policy advice, planning and investment decisions, trade negotiations and national and international reporting.

All those required to participate in the census were posted out information packs in June. At that stage, they were given the option of doing the survey online or requesting a paper form.

The official deadline for completing the survey is July 19, although Stats NZ says it will accept some latecomers.

As the data is received by Stats NZ, it is collated and validated. The hope is that a provisional result focusing on major national issues will be released in December.

The final census results should be out in May 2023.

Andy Elliot

Aquaculturalist Nutrition Champion Nuffielder

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

NEWS 5

Threat to Zespri’s single-seller status PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

CLAIMS THAT NZ should have walked away from the EU FTA talks because the deal on beef and dairy was not up to expectations has been dismissed by government ministers, officials and some commentators.

When there was talk that NZ might walk away, the response from the EU was to say something like, ‘feel free, but when you return to the negotiating table it won’t be business as usual and we’ll be expecting you to offer us something’.

Rural News understands that there was a risk that the EU would

There were fears that the EU may try to bring up Zespri’s single seller status again if NZ walked away from trade talks.

have demanded that Zespri’s single-desk seller status be dismantled, at

huge expense and disruption to NZ. This had apparently been raised

early on in the talks, but strongly rejected by NZ, however, there were fears

that the EU may try to bring it up again.

There were also con-

cerns about the EU wanting to impose what is known as ‘patent term extensions’ for agricultural chemicals, meaning we would have been forced to use European patented chemicals instead of being able to use generic brands.

They were also targeting generic medicines, all of which could have cost NZ millions of dollars.

The apparent rush to get a deal was based on the fast-moving political situation in Europe, with the rise of right wing and green groups who are anti-free trade. This is especially obviously in France where President Macron has already had to bow to such pressure

when naming a new agriculture minister. The title is the Minister for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty – the latter word code for protectionism.

As it stands, the European farmer organisation COPA has made clear its opposition to the FTA saying for them the deal is painful and compromises their ‘sensitive’ sectors.

It is understood NZ’s trade negotiators would have liked to get a better deal, but that it was a case of take what’s on the table now or face the risk of a much more meagre offering at the end of the year. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

EU deal cheeses off dairy sector THE CHAIR of the organisation which represents all the New Zealand dairy companies has hit out at government politicians for failing to deliver a quality FTA with the EU for the dairy sector.

Malcolm Bailey, Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ), says the parameters the politicians finally set for the negotiations made it virtually impossible for our highly skilled trade negotiators to pull off a good deal for what he calls one of the big engine rooms of the NZ economy – the dairy industry.

“This is a lousy deal, a significantly missed opportunity and sets an awful precedent for any future trade negotiations,” he says.

Bailey, who was in Brussels when the final touches were

being put on the deal, says he had a sleepless night when he heard that the message from the Government to the negotiators was ‘anything better than the status quo’.

He says DCANZ had urged them to keep on negotiating to get a better deal for dairy and says they were surprised at the approach they took.

He says the change in the language and the fact that NZ had signalled that it wanted a deal by June 30 was something of a cue to the EU negotiators, who knowing NZ’s bottom line, appeared to adopt a tactic of stalling the negotiations and counting down the clock to the end of June.

“This appears to have made it extremely difficult for our negotiators to deliver something meaning-

ful for the dairy and beef sectors.

“We don’t use this phrase ‘walk away’ – for us it is just continue the negotiation rather than settle a deal at this time if it wasn’t going to be good enough and, as we have seen, it is not good enough for dairy.

In the end it was a decisions made by the Government and I have already said how disappointed we are,” he says.

Bailey says he’s not at all critical of the MFAT trade negotiators, describing them as “top shelf people”.

He says while DCANZ was not at the actual negotiating table, they worked alongside the MFAT people and provided analysis and information to assist them where necessary. – Peter Burke

Malcolm Bailey, DCANZ, says it’s a lousy deal, a significantly missed opportunity and sets an awful precedent for any future trade negotiations.

YOUR LOCAL POLARIS EXPERT WILL STEER YOU RIGHT

Across New Zealand the Polaris Dealer Network is made up of over 30 Independent local businesses. Most are privately owned and many have been in operation for generations.

Your Polaris dealer is your Local expert on all things Off Road vehicles helping you with the right advice to choose the correct vehicle for your needs and ensuring you have the best possible service and support.

Their commitment and Investment to provide their customers with the very highest quality Customer Service is a big reason why

POLARIS IS THE #1 SELLING SxS BRAND IN NEW ZEALAND

Alton Rodgers

Action Equipment Hamilton

Dan Benjamin

Jacks Machinery

Geoff Gray

Temuka Motorcycles

SEE YOUR LOCAL POLARIS DEALER TODAY!

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

6 NEWS

Government moves to give greater public access to High Country stations – via the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill – have been questioned by an eminent legal expert. Minaret Station - credit: Kieren Scott.

Legality of controversial new highcountry regulations questioned DAVID ANDERSON

CONTROVERSIAL MOVES by the Gov-

ernment to give greater public access to High Country stations – via the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill – have been

questioned by an eminent legal expert.

Professor Philip Joseph, a barrister and law professor, was asked

by the High Country Accord, which represents high country leaseholders, to advise it on the constitutional and public

Best of breed 4-year warranty.

NZ Built, by New Zealanders, for New Zealand farmers.

landquip.co.nz

0800 269 776

law implications of proposed clause 21A of the bill.

The Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill was passed into law by the Government in May and sets out new rules governing high country pastoral leases.

“Crown Pastoral leases confer on leaseholders the right of exclusive possession. This right is not a self-interested assertion of privacy; the right is fundamental to the effective operation of a farming business,” Joseph’s legal opinion says. “There is no requirement under pastoral leases that lessees grant public access.”

He explains that the practical legal effect of the proposed subclause (2A) is to impose a duty on the Commissioner (of lands) to require leaseholders to enhance public access to pastoral leases.

“This duty is in clear conflict with leaseholders’ right of exclusive possession,” Joseph adds. “The Explanatory Note to the Bill lists six statutory purposes, none of which identifies promoting public access to Crown pastoral land.”

He claims that Subclause (2A) is an outlier that was not contained in the Bill as introduced.

“The Bill should not now be used as a vehicle to promote public access to Crown pastoral land at the expense of leaseholders’ property rights recognised at law.”

In his opinion, Joseph says Subclause (2A) of the Bill is constitution-

“The provision inherently deprives pastoral leaseholders’ of their rights of exclusive possession and quiet enjoyment,” ally objectionable on two counts. “It constitutes a regulatory ‘taking’ of the right of exclusive possession without compensation and it will be enacted into law in breach of proper parliamentary process.” He argues that Subclause (2A) amounts to a regulatory taking of property without compensation. “The provision inherently deprives pastoral leaseholders’ of their rights of exclusive possession and quiet enjoyment,” Joseph adds. “The provision also fundamentally alters leaseholders’ right to transfer pastoral leases for valuable consideration.”

In a three page executive summary of his legal opinion, Joseph argues that the position under English law governing the confiscation of private property is the same as under New Zealand law. “[It] is contrary to a principle enshrined in our law, at least since the date of Magna Carta, to suggest that an executive body… can claim, under the prerogative, to confiscate, for the benefit of the Crown, the private property of subjects.”

Joseph points out that crown pastoral leaseholders have a legally-recognised bundle of property rights and interests under

their pastoral leases.

“The right of exclusive possession underpins the farming enterprise and is the most fundamental right under Crown pastoral leases,” he says.

“The common law right to security and protection of property is an ancient right that can be traced to the Magna Carta (1215). The deprivation of the right is a constitutional privation that is fundamentally in breach of the rule of law.

The constitutional affront is no less objectionable because the taking is effected by legislation (a ‘regulatory taking’).”

Joseph also criticises how Subclause (2A) was introduced at select committee stage, without prior notice to or consultation with Crown pastoral leaseholders.

“It is inappropriate parliamentary process to introduce legislation that would undermine existing property rights recognised at law, without (at the very least) engaging in prior consultation with affected stakeholders and negotiating just compensation.”

Joseph’s opinion concludes that Subclause (2A) will fundamentally compromise the existing rights of Crown pastoral leaseholders.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

NEWS 7

Feds elect new vice president SUDESH KISSUN

A CHAMPION

sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

GOLDEN BAY dairy farmer Wayne Langford says he’s looking forward to serving farmers in his new role as Federated Farmers vice president.

The former Feds dairy section chair was elected at the farmer lobby’s annual meeting in Auckland this month. He defeated former Otago provincial president Simon Davies, who was nominated from the floor at the AGM. Langford told Rural News that the election process was a humbling experience and shows democracy is alive and well in the organsiation.

“Thanks to all of the wise words, experienced counsel and tough conversations, I’m really

OUTGOING FEDERATED Farmers national board member Chris Lewis was named Primary Industry Champion at the NZ Primary Industries Conference awards.

Lewis has been an elected leader for Feds at regional and national level for 17 years. In recent years, he has stepped up that voluntary contribution to fellow farmers and the wider industry by highlighting workforce shortages, successfully advocating to government for agricultural worker border exceptions during Covid, encouraging more New Zealanders into the industry and championing the ‘Good Boss’ campaign.

Wayne Langford says he’s looking forward to his new role as Federated Farmers vice president.

looking forward to the new role.”

Langford replaces Wairarapa farmer Karen Williams, who stepped down after four years on the board.

Feds chief executive Terry Copeland points out that the role of vice-

president is seen as a stepping stone to the Feds’ president role, arguably one of the most influential in agriculture, but also one that is demanding and time-consuming.

“It’s positive that highly able and experi-

enced candidates sought the vice president’s post.”

Langford told the AGM there was no shortage of challenges facing agriculture.

“But I believe we have more opportunities in front of us than we do headwinds.”

FARMLANDS, ONE STOP FOR A HEALTHIER EWE We’ve got everything you need for Pre-Lamb and the rest of the season.

With local body elections this year, and a general election next year, Federated Farmers’ advocacy efforts were vital, he says.

Langford’s former role of dairy section chair was picked up by Manawatū farmer Richard McIntyre.

He also joins the Feder-

ated Farmers board.

Two new “at large” board members were also elected: Sandra Faulkner and Mark Hooper. They replace Chris Allen and Chris Lewis.

The election for board members attracted six candidates.

Copeland says the fact a number of people had put their hands up for board positions was a

BE IN TO WIN AN AIR NEW ZEALAND

MYSTERY BREAK™

sign the organisation is in good health.

Colin Hurst was reelected arable industry chair and William Beetham meat & wool industry chair. They also join the national board.

Feds president Andrew Hoggard, who had Covid and couldn’t attend the meeting in person, was also re-elected unopposed for 12 months.

Discover a healthier you, with a trip for 2 to be won, when you spend $750 or more on Pre-Lamb products.*

A005979

A011766

A009926

A011772

GET A FREE Icebreaker T-Shirt+ with qualifying Pre-Lamb products.*

ICEBREAKER T-SHIRT RRP

$

99.95

A005979

Head in-store or talk to your TFO today.

A009926

*Full terms and conditions apply. While stocks last.

Visit shop.farmlands.co.nz/prelamb for more details. +Offer available in-store only.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

8 NEWS

A must read for the meat sector!

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

MEETING CHANGE is a book is rich in detail that covers the hugely complex saga of the revolution and evolution

of the meat industry during the last 25 years.

What is special about this book is, while there is serious detail for those who have been part of the meat industry in this period, the writing style

and layout make it easily readable for those with limited knowledge of the sector. I especially like the profiles of key individuals scattered throughout the book, which give the reader

Meeting Change authors Ali Spencer and Mick Calder.

time to catch their breath before embarking on the next chapter.

One clearly gets the impression of the complexity, nuances and divisions in farmer politics, which make the intrigues in national politics pale into insignificance. A picture of the shakers and movers emerge – the likes of Mike Petersen, Jeff Grant, Owen Poole, Keith Cooper – to name but a few.

People who have served the sector in senior roles – such as Neil Taylor, Rob Davison, Andrew Burtt, Gerry Thompson, Ben O’Brien, Allan Frazer, Sir Graeme Harrison, Sam McIvor and from the MIA, Brian Lynch and the late Tim Ritchie.

Of course, we can’t forget the politicians – the likes of John Luxton, Sir Lockwood Smith, Jim Sutton, Sir David Carter and Damien O’Connor.

Then we have the various chairmen such as James Parson and now Andrew Morrison and Bill Falconer and John Loughlin from MIA. Special mention must

I N V I TAT I O N - C O M P L I M E N TA R Y S E M I N A R

Opportunities beyond the farm

Extreme weather…uncertain commodity prices… exchange rate fluctuations... cup of tea?

Farming in New Zealand is rewarding, but your assets and income can be open to change at any time from extreme weather conditions, commodity prices and all the other challenges of being in business.

To protect against these events, you may wish to consider diversifying your assets and investing off-farm. A diversified investment portfolio can help to minimise your risk and can provide you with a regular income from your investments if needed.

Federated Farmers and Forsyth Barr invite you to join Martin Hawes who will provide an interesting and informative presentation on diversification, succession planning, and why investing off-farm could provide you with superior returns against the backdrop of international events.

About Martin Hawes: Martin Hawes is a well-known New Zealand author, conference speaker, and TV & radio commentator. Martin is the author of 23 books on personal finance. The best known of these are: “20 Good Summers – work less, live more and make the most of your money” (New Zealand best-seller), “Family Trusts – A New Zealand Guide”, and “Cracking Open the Nest Egg”. Attendees at the seminar will go in the draw to win one of 5 copies of Martin’s latest bestseller, “Cracking Open the Nest Egg”, helping people get ready for their retirement.

DANNEVIRKE

6.00pm — 7.30pm, Wednesday, 20 July 2022 Mangatera Hotel, 391 High St

be made of John Acland for his role in helping to resurrect the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition.

The list of the names of people is seemingly endless.

There are some nice touches on the people side, for example, special mention is made of Mary Malone a very dedicated, loyal and efficient administrator who was behind the scenes in the industry.

This book is one that I believe people will keep coming back to – a reference book if you like. It will provide for all those who follow in the footsteps of the people of the last two decades and a give a perspective of the past and where they come from.

It is also likely the book will jog the memories of others who’ve been involved in the sector and perhaps prompt them to document their stories as well. Meeting Change is a must read and special congratulations to Ali Spencer and Mick Calder for what they have done. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

H A W K E ’ S B AY

5.30pm — 7.00pm, Thursday, 21 July 2022 Havelock North Function Centre (Lantern Gallery)

Read us until the cows come home!

WHANGAREI

12.00pm — 1.30pm, Tuesday, 2 August 2022

READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

Semenoff Stadium

For more details and to register, visit forsythbarr.co.nz/ffseminars or email seminars@forsythbarr.co.nz

0800 367 227 | seminars@forsythbarr.co.nz

FOR6776-01 - July 2022

Martin Hawes is not a Financial Adviser or a Financial Advice Provider. For information relating to Martin Hawes, visit martinhawes.com

❱❱ Breaking news ❱❱ Management ❱❱ Animal health ❱❱ Agribusiness ❱❱ Machinery & Products reviews ❱❱ Competitions... and much more

All the latest stories and more at www.ruralnews.co.nz HEADER

Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 15

HEADER

Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 23

RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

HEADER

Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imo quamet atur soleni quiatibu.

PAGE 24

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

NEWS 9

Back and better!

DAVID ANDERSON

MEAT COMPANY Silver Fern Farms (SFF) says it is back in the international market in a big way and aiming for bigger and better returns for its farmers.

Chief executive Simon Limmer told more than a 1,000 farmers attending the company’s farmer forum in Christchurch earlier this month that the last two months has seen its people back travelling to the 60 global markets SFF exports to, after about two years absence due to Covid restrictions.

“The partnerships we have had for many decades have served us very well and the relationships we have developed have allowed us to sell and sell really well into these markets.”

Limmer says SFF’s China team now numbers around 25 people, up from just two about three years ago.

“This demonstrates where we are heading with our engagement by capturing customers and being closer to our markets and consumers,” he explained. “Thank God we put this in place before Covid hit as I know our colleagues in the sector have had a much tougher time.”

Limmer told farmers that he’d been on three trips to the US in the past two months himself.

“That was an eye opener for me in terms

“That was an eye opener for me in terms of getting back up and connecting with customers and hearing what is going on. It is a dynamic world that we are a long, long way from. It is imperative that we get back up into our markets and continue those relationships.” of getting back up and connecting with customers and hearing what is going on. It is a dynamic world that we are a long, long way from,” he added. “It is imperative that we get back up into our markets and continue those relationships.”

Limmer said SFF had continued on its journey of keeping its brand prominent and launching new products into the market. He described its net carbon zero beef as an example of this.

“That was one of the promises we made last year and we followed on with launching it in the market.”

Limmer added that operationally the world could not have been more complicated for the company. “In 202122 we were faced with challenges of Covid, supply chain disruption and labour constraints.

It just kept on coming at us but the teams kept on finding solutions.”

Limmer told the conference that SFF was in the middle of one of

the toughest years ever but also acknowledged that farmers were experiencing this as well.

He said, despite these challenges, SFF had continued to invest in the business.

“We have invested around $200 million of capital back into the business over the last four years and that is way above what we were able to do over the past 10 years.”

Limmer said this investment stretched across infrastructure, plants, people and digital capability.

He added that SFF was trading about 20% above its five-year averages.

“The company performance speaks for itself,” he added.

“Our direction of travel is good and we delivered our five year plan in about three.

“That is really

For Higher Productivity + Lower Servicing Costs TORNADO RANGE

• UDOR ceramic plunger pump & gear-box • Genuine Honda petrol engine • 10 models from 1800 to 5000 psi

satisfying that we have managed to make such good progress.”

Limmer said there was more to do to ensure it paid its best farmers the best prices – as farmers needed to be thriving for the company to thrive.

He said the company’s new future statement – creating goodness

CHALLENGES AHEAD SIMON LIMMER described the future ahead as “choppy”.

“The markets are in recession and inflation is impacting on consumers around the world,” he said.

“We are seeing Covid still lingering nearly three years on, the supply chain is disrupted and what happens next is anyone’s guess.”

Limmer said the company had a lot of hard work to keep navigating on what is happening in the market.

“At home, land use change is impacting on livestock numbers and proving to be a real challenge.”

Limmer said the labour situation in NZ is no longer seasonal but institutional. “This is something we have to think about in a different way than what we have done in the past.”

However, despite these choppy waters, Limmer believes SFF is now a solid vessel that can help navigate these waters.

“We have zero long-term debts, the financial capability and direction of travel in the business is all very clear,” he added. “There is only one destination and we will only SFF chief executive Simon Limmer told the company’s ever win in the farmer forum in Christchurch earlier this month that its people are back travelling to global markets, after about two market.” years absence due to Covid restrictions.

from the farms the world needs – captured the direction it was heading in.

Limmer added that SFF was embarking on sometimes “confronting” nature-positive and landbased solutions. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

STO LIM ITE CK THE AVAIL D OLD ABLE PRI A CE T

ALBERTI HOT CLEANERS • UDOR ceramic plunger pump • Heavy duty 1440 RPM motor • 230 & 400 Volt • User friendly

DRAINAGE AND SOIL AERATION PAY BIG DIVIDENDS Don’t put good fertiliser on compacted soil which can’t absorb it. If your soil can’t support 15cm root growth and good worm population check for compaction.

You could need aeration. In dollar terms, what would 20% production increase mean to your yearly turnover?

AERATORS

HEAVY DUTY AUTO RESET

NOW AVAILABLE, 5, 6 OR 7 LEG MODELS

MOLEPLOUGH

YOUR GREATEST ASSET IS THE SOIL YOU FARM. DON’T DESTROY IT!

FREEPHONE 0508 78 78 78

www.aesblasters.co.nz

Sales & Service dealers throughout New Zealand

ELECTROBLAST RANGE • 230 or 400 Volt 1440 RPM electric motors • 8 models from 1600 to 5000 psi

• SOIL AERATION SPECIALISTS •

PRE RIPPERS

MAITLAND RD5, GORE. PH/FAX 03-207 1837 OR 027-628 5695 www.james-engineering.co.nz

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

10 NEWS

It is what it is!

NEW DEER CHAIR ELECTED

DAVID ANDERSON

FORMER TRADE Minister and trade negotiator Tim Groser says the outcome of the recent FTA with the EU is an obvious disappointment for NZ’s red meat and dairy sectors.

However, he believes it’s an excellent outcome for others – especially kiwifruit.

Speaking at the recent Silver Fern Farms farmer forum in Christchurch earlier this month, Groser told the 1,000 farmers in attendance that the EU deal – along with the earlier FTA agreed with the UK – provided an insurance policy for NZ exports should anything go wrong with China.

“It would have been a complete fantasy for us to think we were going to negotiate a FTA with the EU comparable with FTAs that we or the Australians have secured with UK,” he told the conference.

“I am not going to make any judgement on whether we should have pulled away from the negotiations or not. As someone who has often been in the middle of many negotiations, it can look vastly different from inside from what it does on the outside.”

Groser said NZ negotiators would have wanted more for our dairy and meat, but he would not break the long-standing bi-partisan tradition

Former trade minister and negotiator Tim Groser says the EU deal – along with the earlier FTA agreed with the UK – provided an insurance policy for NZ exports should anything go wrong with China.

DON’T PANIC MEANWHILE, TIM Groser told attendees at the Silver Fern Farm that he was not overly exercised about world geopolitical issues or the country’s export reliance on the Chinese market as it related to NZ farming.

“New Zealand’s agriculture sector is first class and has faced tougher times in the past,” he said. “We are not as exposed to China now as we were to the UK when it entered the EEC.” Groser said at the time the UK entered the EEC (EU) in 1973, NZ’s exports to the UK accounted for more than 50% of our total exports and today China accounts

on trade to criticise the current Government for making the deal.

“It is what it is – to use John Key’s favourite phrase,” he added.

Groser said New Zealand’s number one priority now should be to ensure that the NZ

for around 22% of our total exports (37% of agri exports). “That means our exports to other countries – other than China – account for 78% of our total exports.”

Groser said NZ’s first-class agri sector has demonstrated repeatedly its resilience and ability to adapt and adjust to challenges and changes in international markets.

“I am not selling the argument that we live in the best of times,” he added. “But we have demonstrated resilience and faced new challenges before and if I can sum it up in a few words, it is this: ‘We will be alright’.”

and Australian FTAs go through both the House of Commons and House of Lords.

“These are two truly world-class FTAs, which will give us a lot of insurance should China go south in the years ahead – especially if the UK

comes into the CPTPP.” Grosser, who was NZ’s US ambassador after leaving politics, also told the audience that the chances of NZ securing a free trade deal with the US are almost zero.

“The CPTPP was the only chance of NZ

ever getting a FTA with the US and that was destroyed when Trump made the absurd decision to withdraw from the CPTPP.” He added that the US stance on free trade deals had gone “further south” since then and therefore there was no chance of NZ securing a FTA with the US any time soon.

Meanwhile, Groser highlighted the importance of the WTO system for the benefit of international trade and small players like NZ. “The WTO is capable of making some steps forward, but they are baby steps and they are glacial,” he added.

“However, it is of vital importance that the WTO system does not break down, no matter how glacial its progress.”

CENTRAL OTAGO deer farmer and veterinarian Amanda (Mandy) Bell has been elected chair of the Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) board.

Managing director of First Light Foods, Gerard Hickey, has been elected deputy chair.

At a meeting in Wellington earlier this month, two new producer appointees, Hamish Fraser, South Canterbury, and Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Waikato, were also welcomed to the board – replacing Mark Harris and former chair Ian Walker who have retired.

Bell says there is a large untapped potential for profitable venison production New Deer Industry NZ chair on drystock Mandy Bell. farms.

“The industry’s response to the Covid pandemic has been focused on building market opportunities. We now have a much greater spread of markets and market segments than ever before and with those, we can offer much greater income security to venison producers.”

She added that the board also recognises the value that velvet adds to the industry.

“This is true, even on venison operations, where velvet from spikers and sire stags adds significantly to the economics of farming deer.”

Bell says DINZ will be continuing to support producers with policy advocacy where needed.

Bell is co-owner of Criffel Station, Wanaka and has commercial interests in animal health product importing and trading companies. She has also been involved in the development of several major deer industry initiatives. These include the Passion2Profit programme that has been instrumental in the development of new venison markets; the deer progeny test that has greatly strengthened Deer Select, the industry’s genetic database; and DeerPRO, that detects and manages Johne’s disease in deer.

Bell and husband Jerry (who has previously served as a DINZ board member) farm 6,000 deer at Criffel Station. Their other business interests include tourism and property development.

GOT RABBITS?

GET MULTI STRAND

Hex Wire Netting 38mm Multi Strand ®

0800 330 320 bayonet.co.nz

Bayonet’s patented, Maxline 38mm Hex Netting Multi Strand is the ultimate level of assistance to obstruct feral animal movement with a Hex Netting fence. With an additional 20 x horizontal line wires through the bottom section of the netting, the Hex aperture closes down to just 19mm.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

NEWS 11

Johne’s test could be a major saver LEO ARGENT

AUCKLAND-BASED BIOTECHNOLOGY company Pictor Limited says it has been developing an accurate and affordable multiplexed diagnostic test for Johne’s disease.

It claims this could save New Zealand’s dairy industry $40-90 million a year in lost production.

Johne’s disease is a bacterial infection caused

by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP).

When MAP gets to the small intestine it finds an ideal breeding ground, and although white blood cells attempt to fight off the invader – for reasons unknown to science – it overpowers the white blood cells and spreads to infect other cells.

As the infection progresses the intestinal walls thicken up preventing nutrient absorption, leading to diarrhoea, muscle wasting, which can eventually lead to death. Some cattle can have Johne’s disease and spread it but are asymptomatic (show no symptoms).

Pictor’s director of research and development Dr Natasha Gordon, who recently presented at a Johne’s disease conference in Dublin, says the test would be a positive addition to national control programmes and help in the eradication of Johne’s disease from the

NZ dairy industry.

“Our PictArray MAP assay (test) could facilitate improved biosecurity and support trade because tests can be performed quickly and accurately when importing, exporting or moving livestock and associated products between local locations without the risk of spreading infection,” she told Rural News.

The new PictArray multiplex enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology allows up to nine biomarkers (disease indicators) to be tested in a single well of the testing plate. This feature increases the information gained by the clinical testing laboratory, enabling improved disease management on the farm.

Pictor says conventional ELISA take a snapshot of a disease at one moment in time, while the PictArray multiplex allows complex diseases to be monitored through different stages of infection. It does this by using biomarkers that present at different time points during the infection cycle – including asymptomatic stages.

Earlier detection of Johne’s disease would allow infected animals to be removed from herds sooner, minimising transmission.

The research project is led by Pictor in a collabo-

ration with Massey University senior lecturer Dr Rao Dukkipati and builds on long-term research at Massey University by Associate Professor Alan Murray. Pictor received

Are you hitting your target market?

Auckland

Stephen Pollard ....... Ph 021-963 166

Waikato

Lisa Wise ............... Ph 027-369 9218

Wellington

Ron Mackay ............ Ph 021-453 914

HEADER Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 15

■ MACHINERY REVIEWS

■ MANAGEMENT STORIES HEADER

■ AND MUCH MORE...

Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 23

RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

With refinements across the board, introducing the newgeneration CFORCE 400, 400 EPS and 520 EPS.

Key refinements

Stronger than ever with a 612kg towing capacity

25% tighter turning radius

50% more front and rear rack capacity 30% stronger 10% lighter

26% more suspension travel 21% more fuel capacity 25% less heat emission Reduced vibration

7,490

$

8,490

$

EX GST RIDE AWAY

CFMOTO NORTH ISLAND

Christchurch Kaye Sutherland .... Ph 021-221 1994

Pictor has been developing an accurate and affordable diagnostic test for Johne’s disease.

LIGHTER, STRONGER, SMARTER!

30 hp, 400cc EFI engine CVTech transmission Engine braking 2WD/4WD with locking front diff Hydraulic disc brakes Dual A-arm suspension Steel wheels 24 inch 6ply tyres 612kg tow capacity 30kg / 60kg rack capacity

For advice, contact your local sales consultant

■ BREAKING NEWS

a $404,040 grant from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund to develop the test and Pictor has filed a patent application for it.

Andys Moto Services, Waiuku (027) 944 5442 Brown Brothers Bikes, Whanganui (027) 572 7696 Country Engineering, Tauranga (07) 552 0071 Country Machinery, Sanson (06) 825 6400 Dr Moto, Tauranga (07) 578 9902 DP Williams, Gisborne (06) 863 2612 Gatmans Mowers, Silverdale (09) 426 5612 Hamilton Motorcycle Centre, Hamilton (07) 849 1919 JC Motorcycles, Waitara (06) 754 6420 Maungaturoto Motorcycles, Maungaturoto (09) 431 8555

EX GST RIDE AWAY

30 hp, 400cc EFI engine Power steer CVTech transmission Engine braking 2WD/4WD with locking front diff Hydraulic disc brakes Dual A-arm suspension 2500lb winch Alloy wheels 24 inch 6ply tyres 612kg tow capacity 30kg / 60kg rack capacity

Motorcycle HQ, Pahiatua (06) 376 7163 Northland Powersports, Whangarei (09) 437 5451 Outdoor Power, Hastings (06) 878 2369 Peninsula Motorcycles, Thames (07) 868 6104 Powerhead Motorcycles, Manurewa (09) 297 7145 RevTech Powersports, Stratford (06) 765 7712 Rob Titter Farm Services, Kaikohe (09) 401 1774 Rouse Motorcycles, Hikurangi (09) 4338 471 Tahuna Motorcycles & Atvs, Tahuna (07) 887 5790

HEADER

9,490

$

EX GST RIDE AWAY

34 hp, 495cc EFI engine Power steer CVTech transmission Engine braking 2WD/4WD with locking front diff Hydraulic disc brakes Dual A-arm suspension Alloy wheels 25 inch 6ply tyres 5-inch LCD display LED headlights 2500lb winch Handguards 612kg tow capacity 30kg / 60kg rack capacity

CFMOTO SOUTH ISLAND Action Sports Direct, Wanaka (07) 928 8045 Ag & Auto Direct, Balclutha (03) 418 0555 Colin Clyne Motorcycles, Oamaru (03) 437 0559 Dan’s Motor Centre, Geraldine (03) 693 8536 Diesel Tech Machinery, Methven (03) 302 8946 Franks Motorcycles. Mataura (03) 203 7309 Ian Day Lifestyles, Alexandra (03) 448 9007 Marlborough Motorcycles, Blenheim (03) 579 2500 Nelson Motorcycles, Nelson (03) 548 3786 Remarkable Motorcycles, Queenstown (03) 441 4653 Vallance Machinery, Fernside (03) 313 6465

Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu.

PAGE 24

*Ride away prices quoted exclude GST. See www.cfmoto.co.nz for more information.

www.cfmoto.co.nz

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

12 NEWS

Snowflakes love wool!

JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

PERCEPTIONS OF wool are changing, according to a recent study by carpet manufacturer Bremworth.

The nationwide study, the results of which were released earlier this month, showed that Millennials (age 26 to 41), in particular, are changing their views on wool carpets.

Greg Smith, chief executive of Bremworth, says wool carpet was once a regular fixture in Kiwi homes but over the past two decades synthetic flooring has become dominant in the market.

However, Smith says the local industry is now seeing building awareness of wool carpet across mil-

lennial homeowners, who did not grow up with it in their house. He says the research suggests that half of those renovating or refurbishing their homes are now in that millennial age bracket.

“This is a market segment who is looking to wool for a range of reasons that weren’t priorities for the generations that preceded them,” Smith says.

He adds that millennials are also likely to spend time researching products prior to purchasing and are more likely to choose brands that align with their ethical beliefs and values.

“The length of life of a product, sustainability and environmental impact are also factors they take into consideration before making a

Greg Smith says the local industry is now seeing a growing awareness of wool carpet across millennial homeowners.

Bremworth is embarking on a nationwide campaign to do exactly that, across digital, print and out of home platforms.

“A key objective of the campaign is to educate consumers that all synthetics are essentially

purchase,” he says.

Smith believes it is important to educate domestic consumers on the benefits of wool otherwise there will be little chance of growing the industry’s overseas markets. He told Rural News

plastic. This helps present wool as a premium, value added product,” Smith adds. “Bremworth has had experience manufacturing many different natural and manmade fibres and have found wool is a far superior

RURAL NEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Delivering to your mailbox for over 30 years

product.”

Smith says imagery is important to positioning wool carpeting as a premium offering on the domestic market.

“With all of our campaign executions the imagery is designed to

portray an aspirational, premium offering,” he explains. “Wool is not a cheap product to manufacture and requires artisan experts to work with – it naturally lends itself to be positioned at the premium end of the market.”

Smith says this helps Bremworth pay its farmers and suppliers at a fair rate.

“We are investing to elevate wool as a versatile and premium fibre that has qualities which can’t be replicated in a synthetic product. All of the inputs including the carpet backing are designed to be premium, which shows we don’t cut any corners, and this provides overall consistency with our positioning.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

Every farm is unique, even if they’re neighbours.

That’s why you need a vaccination programme that fits your farm’s unique requirements.

Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz. NZ-NLV-220400001 NZ/NLX/0518/0003e © 2022 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved. 1. Baron Audit Data. March 2022.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

14 NEWS

Right time and right Place(ment) LEO ARGENT

WITH LABOUR shortages a grim reality for many farmers across the country – and no end in sight – recruitment agencies have seen demand increase drastically.

With offices in Timaru and Ashburton, overseeing areas ranging from Darfield to Invercargill, Wendy Robertson has run Personnel Placements (PPL) for 22 years. Gaye Scott oversees PPL’s agricultural team, which is involved in jobs ranging from dairy to meat to horticulture.

As a recruitment agency, PPL puts candidates on a database who can then be sent out to clients for work. Along with part-time and fulltime jobs, agencies also cover permanent and temporary employment placement, saving clients the time and cost involved in interviewing prospective employees.

Robertson told Rural News that agriculture is an important part of her business’ success and that a large part of the agri-

Gaye Scott and Wendy Robertson from recruitment company Personal Placements have seen a rise in demand for agricultural labour from farmers.

culture team’s work is in seasonal jobs.

“We have teams of regulars that have worked for us – some of them for 6 or 7 years – and they shift around the different seasons,” she says.

“Because of the screening and work we put into the people before we send them out to our clients, they’re great people that want to work and they take pride in what they do.”

Like all businesses, PPL has been hit hard by the pandemic, with the closed borders reducing the number of backpack-

ers and RSE workers that help fill many temporary and seasonal roles.

“Even though we’re saying we’re opening the borders, we haven’t really opened them to capacity,” Robertson says.

“They’ve [immigration] changed the visa scheme making it harder to bring in long term recruits. Now people must have their visas organised before they get in the country, whereas before they could have come in and you could have met them.

“If we can’t supply staff, people can’t run

their businesses.”

DairyNZ alone is looking at around 4,000 job vacancies this year, and a recent Kiwibank report expects that emigrants will outnumber immigrants by 20,000 this year, putting further pressure on businesses struggling to find talented workers.

“We average about 70 to 120 out each day on seasonal crews and many more in individual temp roles. Many farmers and growers depend on us to ensure they produce a top-quality yield by rogueing the crop to

remove any off types or weeds, get crops out of the ground and graded for factory or export,” Scott told Rural News.

She adds that one of the biggest challenges is that many roles are not recognised by job seekers to be specialist roles – thinking that tractor driving is just like a car.

“This is why we use very robust skill-androle specific interviewing techniques that are tailored to each individual client.”

Despite the challenges the last few years have posed, Robertson is optimistic for the future.

“We have managed because we’ve got our reputation and because of the types of businesses that we deal with we’ve managed to fill in and complete those roles for our clients,” she says.

“This year would be the hardest that I’ve ever seen in the 22 years that I’ve been in business, but we still managed to fill all of our potato harvester needs.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

With the best gear you can fence anywhere The rig in the photo is the FENCEPRO Ultra G4 on the RB800 180 Degree Rotating Base. The hydraulic legs and swinging counterweight ensure the rammer is always balanced, and the Ultraglide slides operate super smoothly for fast and accurate post placement in all conditions.

The combination of the rock spike extractor and rock drill tackle any substrate so you get more posts in every day.

Give Tobi a call for more information.

CALL US TODAY ON 06 777 5366 www.fencepro.co.nz

FENCEPRO Tough • User-Friendly • Versatile

NZ AGRITECH’S BRIGHT FUTURE WE’VE BECOME accustomed to hearing how food and fibre is the backbone of the country’s economy, with export revenues hitting $52.2 billion in the year ended June 2022.

However, New Zealand’s agritech community seems to be making a worthwhile contribution to the country’s economy as well.

A recently released NZ Agritech Insights Report 2022 showed that of the country’s Top 200 technology exporters – around 10% or 22 companies – were responsible for $1.6 billion worth of business.

“Agritech is critical to the country’s efforts to produce high quality, high value food and fibre products with a lighter touch on the environment,” says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “It not only contributes to economic growth but is also vital to the prosperity and wellbeing of our regions – through high value employment and the products and services they provide to our primary industries.”

Encouragingly, the report delivers a snapshot showing that NZ’s agritech sector delivers about 11.4% of the country’s Technology Investment Network’ 200 revenue, with its $1.6b contribution – up $118 million on the previous year.

The sector is employing around 5,400 people, paid on average $95,000, with average earnings generated per employee of $296,000. Categories in agritech include data solutions (29.9%), post-harvest (29.4%), animal and crop health (26%), growing and harvesting (9.1%) and environmental management (5.6%).

Key companies in the NZ Agritech sector include the likes of Gallagher Group, LIC and Datamars, which have revenues in excess of $100m. In the $20m to $100m sector, Waikato Milking Systems reported a result of $73m and Trimax returned $40m.

At the other end of the spectrum, Robotics Plus, Levno and Rezare Systems delivered revenue of $10m, $6.1m and $4.17m, respectively.

Encouragingly, the report also listed more than 100 companies operating in the NZ’s Agritech sector, with many new names starting to emerge – such as Cropsy, Halter, Milktech NZ and UBCO. – Mark Daniel

NILVAX and MULTINE. Two tried and proven vaccine options for pre-lamb and beyond. ®

®

The only specialised 5-in-1 pre-lamb vaccine that provides up to 4 months protection for lambs.

New Zealand’s leading 5-in-1 vaccine range with multiple options for supplementation1.

Every sheep farm is unique, so when it comes to vaccination, you need a programme that fits your way of getting things done.

NILVAX is the only pre-lamb vaccine that provides up to 4 months protection for lambs. This gives you the flexibility to vaccinate your ewes earlier to avoid sleepy sickness*, or vaccinate your lambs later due to the longer duration of protection provided via their mother’s colostrum.

MULTINE gives you multiple options for supplementation of Vitamin B12 or selenium in combination with New Zealand farmers favourite 5-in-1. This means you can get everything you need and nothing you don’t.

NILVAX and MULTINE. Two tried and proven pre-lamb vaccine options made right here in New Zealand, that give you flexibility and effectiveness for your farm.

ACVM No’s A3977, A934, A935, A11311, A11766. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-NLV-220400001 © 2022 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved. 1.Baron Audit Data. March 2022. *Vaccinating ewes earlier at pre-lamb helps avoid stress associated with yarding which has been identified as a predisposing factor for sleepy sickness. Beef + Lamb NZ. Metabolic Diseases in Ewes Fact Sheet July 2019.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

global agribusiness research analysts sharing market outlooks

16 MARKETS & TRENDS

Rabobank supports clients from farm to fork in

40

COUNTRIES

100 000

12630

farmers to connect Content supplied by Rabobank - Growing New Zealand Together with worldwide , a Better

No winter chill – yet!

Dairy

NEW ZEALAND’S milk collections fell by 6.5% for May 2022, the last month of the 2021/22 season.

This brings final tallies for 2021/22 to a drop of 4.1% YOY. Commodity prices improved over June 2022.

RaboResearch expects

dairy commodity prices to remain volatile over the coming months, with weak global milk supply drivers, with weak global milk supply drivers supporting prices to remain at elevated levels.

Higher corn and soybean prices and weather disruptions in certain regions have put a hand-

brake on milk supply growth.

Overall inflation pressures in energy, fuel, and wages are also impacting profitability across the Big-7, despite higher milk prices. We expect the milk supply to grow again from second half of 2022.

Beef

EXPORT VOLUMES in May were consistent with volumes exported in May 2021.

There were some changes in buying demand in May though – exports to China lifted (+27% YOY) while

exports to the US continued to drop (-30% YOY).

Beef export volumes lifted in May after dropping in April due to shipping difficulties and port access in Shanghai.

The current liquidation of the US cow herd is positive for demand for

New Zealand lean trimmings over the next few years. Once the US herd stabilises in numbers, there will be a shortage of available 90CL as cows and heifers are retained to build numbers once climatic and economic factors improve. This is

likely to provide demand and price support for NZ 95CL. The North Island bull price lifted to NZD 6.05/ kg cwt in the last week of June, which is NZc 0.59/ kg cwt higher than the five-year average for the same week.

Never compromise.

Choose Heiniger capital equipment, trusted by New Zealand farmers, contractors and shearers to get the job done and ensure you never have to compromise on safety, performance or reliability. ment

Watch our equip in action!

“Designed by a Farmer for Farmers”

TPW Xpress Woolpress With industry leading safety features, the #1 selling and most trusted woolpress helps to keep you and your workers safe in the shed. The TPW Xpress now comes with the new FX1+ indicator with audible and visible alarms that let you know when you’re approaching the target weight.

New Mobile Feeder

TPW Backease Hoist Industry professionals trust the versatile, compact and cost effective TPW Backease Hoist to safely lift loads of up to 600kg with extendable 1.2 - 1.8m boom. At only 78kg, it’s easy to install with no loss of load space and features hydraulic lift and pressure regulated downwards movement.

Evo Shearing Plant The world’s leading shearers trust the #1 selling shearing plant in the world, winner of multiple WorkSafe awards. The

Nothing beats a Flexirigger PHONE

Evo delivers industry leading safety features, impressive performance and superb reliability.

0800 4 AGBITS | 0800 4 242 487 WEBSITE www.agbits.co.nz

Heiniger New Zealand | (03) 349 8282 | heiniger.co.nz

usiness ysts et outlooks

Rabobank supports clients from farm to fork in

40

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

MARKETS & TRENDS 17

COUNTRIES

Content supplied by Rabobank - Growing a Better New Zealand Together

in USD terms.

Despite a substantial decline, urea prices remain more than 100% above their 2019/20 fiveyear average, and N fertilisers have already seen a lift from June lows and might soon face more upward price support.

This would likely be driven by energy prices and a seasonal uptick in demand as Northern Hemisphere regions start to stock up toward the end of their summer.

RaboResearch expects the farmgate beef price to remain elevated through the spring months, supported by a tight global supply situation.

Sheepmeat

SCHEDULE PRICING continues to heat up as processors seek stock.

After months of backlogs, processors are actively searching for stock.

The South Island lamb price climbed to NZD 8.96/kg cwt in the last week of May. The

impacts of lockdowns in China are evident in the May export data. Export volumes to China were down 11% on the previous month, and down 27% compared to May 2021.

Although lockdowns eased in Shanghai at the start of June, China’s zero-Covid policy means we can expect lockdowns to be a regular occurrence for the remainder of the year.

The May sheepmeat export data includes some bright spots –

exports to the UK lifted 16% in May compared with May 2021.

May exports also increased to some of our smaller markets: Saudi Arabia (+54% YOY) and Malaysia (+97% YOY).

The weaker NZD/USD has supported strong returns for exporters.

Fertiliser

GLOBAL FERTILISER prices edged higher in June but are still 41% (urea) and 3% (MOP) lower than H1 2022 highs

Three Waters matters

Phosphorous prices are also off highs but more falls could be expected if China resumes its full export capacity.

Exchange rate

A 50 basis point cash rate hike –to 2.5% –is expected in July by the RBNZ. The NZD has been volatile and fell again to USc 0.62 after, but we expect a move toward USc 0.68 within 12

months.

All eyes remain on the RNBZ meeting on July 13 and the likely cash rate hike of 50 basis points, to 2.5%, which will likely be followed by another two hikes of 50 basis points each in 2022.

These would already bring the cash rate into the 3.5% to 4% range many analysts expected for 2023. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

Have Your Say

We all depend on having safe, affordable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.

There’s reform underway to ensure New Zealand’s three waters system meets the needs of today, and the growing challenges of population growth and climate change, and potential natural disasters.

A key focus is on creating the scale and structural changes that will enable the significant investment required to upgrade water pipes and build new treatment plants across the country.

This will come at a high cost, beyond what councils and ratepayers can afford.

The Water Services Entities Bill will shift water services from 67 councils to four new water service entities owned by each region’s councils on behalf of their local communities. While councils will own the entities on behalf of their communities, the entities will operate independently, enabling strategic long-term investment without being subject to competing demands.

It’s important to get this right so that all New Zealanders can continue to have confidence in our three waters system into the future, so we encourage you to contribute to this process.

You can find out more about the Water Services Entities Bill at www.dia.govt.nz/Three-Waters-Reform-Programme and have your say at https://bit.ly/3W-WSEB.

Submissions open until Friday, 22 July 2022.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

18 OPINION EDITORIAL

EDNA

Face the facts!

SINCE THE announcement of the trade agreement between NZ and the EU there has considerable outcry.

Some farming leaders in the dairy and sheep & beef sectors argue that NZ should not have signed the deal, but soldiered on to get a better one. Fair comment perhaps, but remember there are other primary sector people – notably those in the horticulture sector – who are smiling at the outcome.

To the critics, maybe it’s time take a look at the history books and understand why the EU, or EEC as it was originally known, was created.

Put simply, it was to provide food sovereignty or food security in the economic union.

This was based on the problems that surfaced at the end of WWII when ordinary people – not those in concentration camps – starved to death. The figure of 45,000 in the Netherlands is one that comes to mind.

There was also an element in the EEC charter of creating political stability in Europe and using trade as a conduit for this.

So, as we have learned, sport and politics are inseparable and so is trade and politics – to suppose otherwise is naïve. Hence in the end, it was the politicians who made the final call to accept the EU’s offer.

This NZ/EU FTA is a reflection of history.

What we saw in the negotiations was a position taken by the EU that differed little in theory from when we first began negotiating with it back in 1973. While NZ is seen as a friend, it is not a blood relation and, as they say, ‘charity begins at home’.

The EU has always prioritised its own electorally important farmers over countries like ours, who would like the largest possible slice of their affluent market.

Sure, the deal is not perfect and no one thought it would be as good as the UK FTA. But we do have a deal and an enshrined political relationship with one of the powerhouse economic regions in the world.

When Britain joined the EU, we had to find alternative markets and were very successful in doing so. It is arguably much harder today with Covid and a very uncertain and somewhat frightening geopolitical situation. But people have to eat and we produce some of best food in the world in a sustainable way, so there is hope.

The time has come to accept what we have got and move on as we have always done.

RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Phone 09-307 0399 PUBLISHER: Brian Hight ......................................... Ph 09 307 0399 GENERAL MANAGER: Adam Fricker ....................................... Ph 021-842 226 CONSULTING EDITOR: David Anderson .................................. Ph 09 307 0399 davida@ruralnews.co.nz

“HA! – I’ll just get the old neighbour to order ours!”

Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound?

Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz

THE HOUND Sold out?

Your old mate wonders how both Beef+Lamb NZ and DairyNZ are feeling about their ‘wonderful relationship’ with the Government, following the announcement of a FTA deal with the EU. The trade deal saw our major primary sectors – red meat and dairy – get bugger-all nothing. However, according to both Beef+Lamb and DairyNZ, one of the key reasons they sold out (sorry) ‘negotiated’ with the Government to put farmers, via He Waka Eke Noa, into an emissions scheme and having to pay carbon taxes, was because our trade partners – especially in Europe – are demanding it. So now NZ dairy and red meat farmers are stuck with carbon taxes but still have no real access to EU markets.

Just imagine if the geniuses at Beef+Lamb and DairyNZ were hostage negotiators? They’d end up paying the ransom and letting the terrorists shoot the hostages and still call it a win!

Money talks!

The Hound notes that marketing/ promotion couple and Lake Hawea Station owners Geoff and Justine Ross came in for a fair bit of criticism about their ‘woke’ farming practices after recently featuring on Country Calendar.

The couple claim – among other things – to run Australasia’s first ‘certified carbon zero’ farm. The Country Calendar piece featured shearing at Lake Hawea, where the shearing board was painted white, mattresses are placed at the bottom of the chute the sheep are put down, shearers must play classical music in the shed and each sheep is monitored on ‘experience’ rather than by a shearer’s tally. The episode recorded the most feedback the TV show has got this season – the vast majority less than positive. To be fair, it is their money and their farm, so they should be able to do what they want, but could just ease up on lecturing others.

PRODUCTION: Dave Ferguson ...................... Ph 027 272 5372 davef@ruralnews.co.nz Becky Williams .......................Ph 021 100 4381 beckyw@ruralnews.co.nz REPORTERS: Sudesh Kissun ........................ Ph 021 963 177 sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz Peter Burke ........................... Ph 021 224 2184 peterb@ruralnews.co.nz MACHINERY EDITOR: Mark Daniel ............................. Ph 021 906 723 markd@ruralnews.co.nz

Carbon sink?

Up a creek?

It has been a bad couple of weeks publicity-wise for the Ross family, not great news for the supposed marketing experts. It seems that their son Finn’s Carbonz website was forced to pause sales of carbon credits issued by new company CarbonCrop just one day after it was publicly launched. A media probe found that the ‘carbon credits’ issued

by CarbonCrop didn’t require landowners to do anything differently, such as planting seedlings or introducing pest control. However, government guidance states that carbon offsets must fund additional emissions action. According to the media report, Carbonz is an online carbon credit marketplace and was founded by Finn Ross, who had worked in partnership with CarbonCrop to develop the new ‘credits’. More than $140,000 of these ‘credits’ were sold via the Carbonz platform.

Your canine crusader wonders if the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, under the guise He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), is now up a creek without a paddle?

This follows the recent advice, provided to the Government by the Climate Change Commission, which suggested the ag sector could go down the route as proposed by HWEN, but that a levy should be instantly put on nitrogen fertiliser when farmers buy it and no credits should be given for on-farm sequestration.

Wasn’t on-farm sequestration one of the key selling points pushed by proponents of HWEN, such as Feds, DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb and MIA, to convince farmers to support the model? Your old mate reckons the HWEN canoe is already starting to spring a few too many leaks. The question is: Will ag sector leaders push back on the Climate Commission’s recommendations?

AUCKLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Stephen Pollard .......................... Ph 021 963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz

WELLINGTON SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ron Mackay ................................. Ph 021 453 914 ronm@ruralnews.co.nz

WAIKATO SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Lisa Wise .................................. Ph 027 369 9218 lisaw@ruralnews.co.nz

SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland ....................... Ph 021 221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz

ABC audited circulation 79,553 as at 31/03/2019

DIGITAL STRATEGIST: Jessica Marshall ................ Ph 021 0232 6446

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 // JULY 19, 2022

OPINION 19

Look on the bright side!

A monthly take on some of the happenings in and around the rural sector…

Not so free

A few questions However, the ‘disappointing’ outcome for NZ’s red meat and dairy sectors does leave those sector’s leadership some questions to answer.

Both DairyNZ and Beef+LambNZ have been big drivers of the He Waka Eke Noa proposal, which is seen as an appeasement to Government demands that the sector price on-farm emissions. A key part of their argument for HWEN has been that overseas consumers – particularly those in Europe – are demanding NZ cuts its on-farm emissions to ensure we have access to their markets for our meat and dairy products.

Both DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ will

the farming sector think, Country Calendar is not a show focused on a rural audience, but one that appeals to mainstream viewers.

It is, in reality, a lifestyle TV show that

regenerative and other ‘interesting’ operations far outnumbers any ordinary, run-of-the-mill farming operations.

If you are looking for real, informative, business-like farming news, Country Calendar is not it. But if you are looking for nice pictures, light viewing and some

interesting people living in rural NZ, then it is must-see TV.

Bright future A highlight of the farming year is always the final of the Young Farmer of the Year competition.

This year was no exception, with the 54th event held in Whangarei

earlier this month.

Congratulations to Muriwai (west of Auckland) beef farmer Tim Dangen for taking out the title. The seven Young Farmer finalists showed just why NZ’s farming sector has a bright future – it’s just a pity the final is no longer broadcast live on TV!

RURAL MUSINGS comment by David Anderson

now have some serious questions to answer to their levypayers. As Federated Farmers’ president Andrew Hoggard said about the announcement of the FTA deal, “All the talk of better market access and premiums from New Zealand’s already worldleading low emissions footprint for meat and dairy, and planned world-first agricultural emissions pricing, have proven to be hot air in these negotiations.”

Hoggard also rightly asks why “the heavyhanded environmental pain New Zealand farmers are going through is not acknowledged, or even allowed for in the future by this deal?”

Good questions.

Step up DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb!

SUMMER

OFFICIALLY STARTS IN DECEMBER. FOR $17,500, YOURS CAN START IN JULY.

Country Calendar A recent Country Calendar episode featuring Lake Hawea Station owners Geoff and Justine Ross garnered the most feedback the TV show has got this season – with the vast majority being negative.

Much of this criticism appeared to centre around the Ross’ ‘woke’ farming practices.

However, why this got so many people exercised is a somewhat bemusing.

Surely they can farm and do what they like on their own property? It may not be everyone’s cup-of-tea and if it is not, switch channels or go for a walk.

Despite what many in

LATEST STORIES EVERY DAY Get up-to-date news at www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz

Upgrade now to the powerful, quiet and reliable 4-stroke Suzuki DF100B for just $17,500 Fully Fitted, with no deposit and 4.99% p.a. interest and the summer feels will start immediately. Call into your nearest participating Suzuki dealer today or visit marine.suzuki.co.nz

T&Cs Fully Fitted disclaimer: Offer is available on new Suzuki DF100BTL/X between 01/06/22 to 30/09/22. Price includes side mount control, analogue gauge, propeller, and boat fitting. Price excludes removal of previous outboard motor and controls, repairs to electrical systems, fuel system/dash repairs, or steering systems, and transom repairs. Finance disclaimer: An interest rate of 4.99% p.a. is available to approved applicants of UDC Finance. Offer is available between 01/06/22 to 30/09/22 on a loan term of 36 months, no deposit, and weekly payments of $123. Normal UDC lending and credit criteria apply and includes a $305 documentation fee and $10.35 PPSR. Excludes demo units and all other promotion. Available through participating Suzuki dealers, while stocks last.

TRACTA_SUZ65076_DF100FB_RN

The recent announcement of a free trade deal agreed with the EU, has proven, once again, that ‘free’ trade is an misnomer.

Perhaps we should rename such deals ‘better than before’ trade access agreements.

A bit like political intelligence, proper ‘free trade’ does not really exist.

Every FTA has fishhooks, imperfect parts and trade-offs – that is all part of making a ‘deal’.

While NZ’s dairy and red meat sectors can justifiably be disappointed in the final outcome of the EU FTA, our horticulture and other sectors can be pleased.

There are always winners and losers in any such negotiation.

National’s trade spokesman Todd McClay probably summed it up the best when he said: “It is a good agreement. It is a step forward. There are many parts of the economy that will benefit from this. It does allow us to take steps forward with the European Union.”

covers rural NZ. It is not a hands-on, management programme that is aimed at informing farmers, but light entertainment that opens up rural New Zealand to a wider – mainly urban – audience. The percentage of Country Calendar episodes that feature organic,

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

20 OPINION

An eye on the big picture I TRUST all is good at your place and this finds you keeping well.

We are mowing through the firewood here at home; quite a few below zeros overnight might have something to do with that I reckon!

For my column this month I thought I would give you a couple of my

favourite quotes. One is much more light-hearted than the other, so I’ll do that one for you first. It still puts a smile on my face, so here’s hoping it will do the same for you today! Here we go: “Crocodiles are easy.

They try to kill and eat you. People are harder.

Sometimes they pretend

FARMER’S CHAPLAIN

Colin Miller

Hmmm… I think I’ll leave it there!

I’ll spend more time with this second one: “It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.” Thomas Sowell.

to be your friend first.”

Crocodile Hunter, the late Steve Irwin.

Amusing for sure, but also a whole lot of truth is packed into those few words. My best guess would be that most of our readers will have had the opportunity to be upclose-and-personal with at least one such “friend”.

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS

YAMAHA RELIABILITY

MORE TIME ON FARM

4.95% P.A. FIXED RATE

3 YEAR GENUINE

150 HOURS

24-36 MONTH LOAN TERM

FACTORY WARRANTY

SERVICE INTERVALS

24 / 36 MONTH LOAN TERM NON ASSET - BACKED COMMERCIAL APPLICANTS VARIOUS REPAYMENT REQUENCIES AVAILABLE

ON ATV + ROV

ON ATV + ROV

“Wow, I would never do that”, you say,“yep, for me, I make all my own decisions!”

Well, when I first bumped into that quote, I didn’t think of me personally, I thought immediately of the world of politics. Don’t we do exactly this, every three years?

If you have never heard this quote before, you won’t have had any time yet to use your “imagine”, offering up something more stupid or more dangerous! For me, I have had the time to use my “imagine”, and I did manage to come up with a couple of additions, or worthy extras I thought, to put in the mix here.

What about when those making decisions have serious personal financial ‘conflicts of interest’ in the decisions made? If it goes their way, they personally stand to make some serious coin.

Too often the truth is they really have no interest in getting it right for the rest of us.

They may play ‘pretend they do’, and fool some folks, often with the media’s help of course!

I would say entrusting them to make good decisions for the rest of us is both stupid and dangerous.

Or secondly, when those making the deci-

sions not only ‘pay no price for being wrong’, but they also have zero experience in the areas they are making those decisions for.

And when some clueless media lapdog who poses as being a journalist then refers to them as “experts”, all the folks with the real experience groan in utter disbelief.

Stupidity on steroids, I would say!

Like I said above, politics is what came to my mind first with what this quote might refer to. And without a doubt, we in the rural sector – all the wonderful men, women and families that keep our primary industries humming along – have had to swallow way more than our share of this stupid and dangerous stuff!

Actually, I don’t think the possibility of being wrong even gets a thought; as long as the ideology is being shoved forward, all is well!

Having an effective faith helps me, and many others I know too, live above this stuff. Yep, there is always a bigger picture.

And the One we acknowledge is certainly no novice, He lived, walked, and worked among us. Stay warm and keep well. God bless.

• To contact Colin email: farmerschaplain@ ruralnews.co.nz

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Easy solution AG125

$4,086

WOLVERINE X2 UTILITY EXC GST

$22,521

KODIAK 450

$11,825

EXC GST

EXC GST

FIND YOUR LOCAL DEALER AT:

www.yamaha-motor.co.nz

*Finance promotion available between 1/04/22 to 31/10/22 on new farm vehicles (AG125, AG200, TTR230/A, YFM350FA, YFM450FB, YFM450FB/P, YFM700FA, YFM700FB/P, YXC700P, YXE850P, YXF850, YXM700, YXM700S SE,

YXE1000PSEM, YXF1000PSEM), through participating authorised Yamaha dealers while stocks last. Offer available for specified models, and warranty registered on or before 31/10/22. 3 year warranty available on ATV and ROV models (Excludes AG125, AG200, TT-R230) *FINANCE DISCLAIMER: Zero deposit; annual repayments only with first repayment due after 12 months and 4.95% p.a. fixed interest rate on a 24 or 36 month loan term. Asset backed commercial

applicants only with NZBN registered for minimum of 1 year. Maximum amount financed is $35,000 and applies to AG125, AG200, TTR230/A, YFM350FA, YFM450FB, YFM450FB/P, YFM700FA, YFM700FB/P, YXC700P, YXE850P, YXF850, YXM700, YXE1000PSEM, YXF1000PSEM. Offer available from April 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022 with final settlement date of November 30, 2022. Credit criteria, fees, charges and conditions apply including an application fee of $325, $10 PPSR fee and a dealer administration fee. Finance to approved applicants by Yamaha Motor Finance New Zealand Ltd. (YMF) NZBN 9429036270798 FSP 9622.

I THANK Dannevirke farmer Stuart Brown (Dr) for his recent feedback under the heading ‘Selective Facts’ regarding my May 10 article, “Years of methane chicanery”.

That article was an account of two most salient points I deduced after 25 years of observing what has been a brainwashing blancmange about temperature change or methane. I cited a paper researched and authored by Dr W. A. van Wijngaarden and Prof W. Happer that exposed an irrelevant effect of methane and nitrous oxide on global temperatures.

Brown is correct. It and some other research papers by the two eminent physicists are unpublished in science journals. Strangely, papers of similar substance, but different authors have been published. Surely one has to ask why the reluctance of some over others.

If the eminent physicists and others of their ilk are correct, then why would a country where the primary sector is so critical even consider imposing a special gas tax on production for what they say is a non-problem?

Some would call it cynical, cowardly politics.

Don Nicolson abridged (via email)

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

MANAGEMENT 21

Spray duo provides top protection in high-stakes cereal crops AS THE seed cereal manager at Carrfields, in Ashburton, Phil Smith carries a fair weight of responsibility.

The varieties he and his team supply to growers need to perform well to make their customers’ large investment in crop inputs pay off.

After a challenging summer, one of Smith’s customers described the recent harvest as “one of the worst Canterbury’s had for years”.

There are many contributing factors to producing a healthy cereal yield, the main one obviously being the cultivar selected.

However, an important consideration is the choice of treatment applied to the seed.

Kerrin, Carrfields’ current star wheat variety and holder of the world record for yield, was bred in the UK and is sold exclusively in NZ by the company. It has proven a good choice for use in various growing conditions around NZ. The seed treatment being applied to Kerrin is the relatively new Kinto Duo as a fungicide and the well-established Poncho for insect pest control. BASF makes both products.

Kinto Duo is currently Carrfields’ preferred fungicidal treatment for cereal seed crops. It’s not

There are many contributing factors to producing a healthy cereal yield, including the right fungicide and insect pest control.

as well-known as some of the alternatives, but the company now uses it on all its wheat and barley.

Phil Smith’s confidence in the product is firmly based on firsthand experience. Several years ago, Carrfields subjected Kinto Duo to its own trials in Canterbury.

“We were really, really happy with the emergence. With such a quick turnaround the early vigour is always crucial, and in the

autumn it’s a lot colder here early in the season.

We like to get the crops up and away before winter hits.”

The differences were also noticed in the health of seed that was stored after treatment.

“Some of the older products are quite aggressive on the seed. If the seeds are damaged – with cracked casings and so on – germination is affected,” Smith explains.

“Kinto is a lot softer on the seed. When we

store the treated seed for 6 months or more, there’s no obvious sign of the seed degrading and we haven’t seen any impact on germination.”

Although it is important to protect the seed’s emergence, Kinto Duo’s primary role is disease control.

“We mainly use it in wheat for fusarium and seedling rusts,” Smith says. “Kinto seems to control them well.”

The fungicide deals with the early threat of

fusarium and then they follow it up with three to four foliar sprays.

“Most of our foliar fungicide regime is geared towards Septoria tritici,” he adds.

As it happens, Kinto Duo is no more expensive than the older industry standards.

Smith reckons that the added dimension of protecting high germination rates and promoting early vigour suggests an excellent return on investment.

While this trial work convinced the Carrfields team to switch to a newer product for disease control, they haven’t seen any reason yet to stop relying on Poncho to manage early insect pressure.

“Although there are alternatives to Poncho available, we prefer to stay with something we can rely on,” Smith says. “Currently, all our autumn wheat and barley are treated with Poncho.”

The biggest pest

targets are grass grubs and aphids, with the biggest concern being the danger of aphids spreading barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).

“BYDV can cause a huge yield loss. Poncho gives that early window of protection,” he explains.

Recent history suggests that Carrfields have found a reliable formula for success in growing grains in Canterbury, where the stakes are so high.

Eliminate human error by tracking your livestock digitally.

Accurately keep count and save time with our

Livestock identification and tracking features.

FREE

to download and use

www.farmdeck.com

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

22 ANIMAL HEALTH

Metabolic disease in ewes Metabolic diseases primarily affect ewes in late pregnancy and sometimes early lactation. These can have a huge economic impact on a farming operation – especially if there are large losses of capital stock.

In the second of two articles, we take a look at hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia.

HYPOCALCAEMIA Sometimes referred to as milk fever. This disorder is caused by insufficient intake and absorption of calcium into the blood.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS Due to the demands of the developing foetal skeleton, a heavily pregnant ewe will need to mobilise some of her own skeletal calcium in order to meet her calcium requirement. Additional calcium goes into the milk.

Hypocalcaemia is most commonly seen in late pregnancy and early lactation, although it can occasionally occur in dry sheep.

The amount a ewe uses from her skeletal reserves depends on the diet she is consuming.

These reserves must be replaced following lambing. If they are not, the ewe may be more susceptible to hypocalcaemia in subsequent pregnancies.

Lush, actively grown pasture, dry mature summer pastures, wheat or concentrate feeds containing low calcium (less than 1g/kg DM) and high phosphorus may predispose the ewe to hypo-

calcaemia. The main predisposing factors for hypocalcaemia are: • Sudden changes in feed type or grazing regime • Sudden increases in green feed • Mustering and holding for crutching or shearing • Access to sorrel or other oxalate-containing plants.

CLINICAL SIGNS The diagnosis is usually based on a history of a sudden change of feed or method, clinical signs and a rapid response to treatment. Blood samples can also be taken to assess calcium levels (these should be taken from at least five ewes).

• Initially ewes will stagger and seem hyperactive.

• This rapidly progresses to the ewe becoming cast and then comatose. Their body position is usually one of sitting up with their head bent around to their flank.

• There may be no corneal reflex.

• You will often see bloating and regurgitation of stomach contents.

• Bearings (prolapse) can also occur in affected

ewes.

• Untreated animals will usually fall into a deep coma and die within 24 hours.

TREATMENT Treatment with calcium borogluconate under the skin will result in a rapid (within 15-30 minute) response to treatment. The ewe will get up, urinate, walk away and start feeding. Muscle tremors may also be evident.

Low blood magnesium and glucose is also common in ewes affected with hypocalcaemia, therefore treatment with magnesium sulphate and glucose may also be warranted.

If the ewe does not respond quickly to treatment it may be necessary to treat for pregnancy toxaemia as this is a common effect of hypocalcaemia.

PREVENTION Avoid stressful situations in late pregnancy and early lactation such as unnecessary mustering or yarding for long periods without feed. Introduce sheep gradually to any green feed crops.

Do not transport heavily pregnant ewes. Give calcium supplements to

Hypocalcaemia is most commonly seen in late pregnancy and early lactation.

grain fed animals, especially during drought conditions where pasture is not available.

HYPOMAGNESAEMIA This is also termed grass tetany or staggers (not to be confused with ryegrass staggers).

It is most commonly seen in mature lactating ewes, although it has also been seen occasionally in dry ewes.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS Magnesium absorption is influenced by many factors including decreased saliva production and/or increased potassium levels and decreased sodium in the rumen. Changing sheep from hay to lush pasture may bring on hypomagnesaemia, simply because the sheep may reduce the amount of chewing and salivating needed to digest the feed.

There are virtually no body reserves of magnesium readily available,

therefore animals are reliant on dietary intake of magnesium. The ewe’s highest demand for magnesium is during lactation.

Hypomagnesaemia may be caused by the use of high rates of potassic fertiliser. The most common cause is inadequate feeding relative to energy demand, either due to inclement weather or under nutrition over a period of time.

CLINICAL SIGNS Ewes affected with hypomagnesaemia are usually found dead in the paddock. Initially sheep will appear dull and stop eating. If disturbed these sheep may display muscle tremors and nervous signs (this is because magnesium is necessary for the central nervous system to function properly).

Other clinical signs include: • Ewe collapsed on side with her head

thrown back • Severe convulsions while paddling legs • Frothing at the mouth • Nystagmus (rapid rhythmic repetitive and involuntary eye movements, either horizontal, vertical or rotary) • Rapid heartbeat and breathing.

Death usually occurs in four to six hours.

TREATMENT As with all metabolic diseases, early detection and therapy greatly increase the success of treatment and recovery.

The usual treatment is to inject magnesium sulphate and calcium borogluconate under the skin.

Ewes that respond positively to this treatment may also be drenched with magnesium oxide to boost their magnesium intake.

Other sheep within in the flock may also be suffering sub-clinically from low magnesium levels.

It is therefore advisable to administer magnesium oxide at a rate of 10 grams per sheep per day.

Increasing the amount of hay the flock consumes may also help to treat the rest of the flock by increasing salivation (this increases the sodium and potassium ratio in the rumen).

PREVENTION To prevent further cases in subsequent seasons, pay attention to increasing the intake of dietary magnesium, especially in mature ewes that may be carrying multiples.

You should also: • Minimise stressful procedures such as yarding, trucking or mustering • Introduce sheep gradually to lush feed and incorporate hay into their ration • Provide adequate shelter www.beeflambnz.com @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

ANIMAL HEALTH 23

Aussies look at new approach to flystrike control TINY NANOPARTICLES less than a thousandth of a millimetre in size are providing a promising new method to protect sheep against flystrike, according to University of Queensland research.

Senior Research Fellow Dr Peter James from UQ’s Centre for Animal Science believes nanotechnology could be part of the solution to a

or off-target effects for the sheep.

“Nanocapsules offer new, labour-efficient options for managing flystrike and could also help counter the risk of blowflies developing resistance to treatment,” he adds.

“Historically, chemical pesticides have been delivered in relatively large doses to achieve extended protection, but

Dr Peter James believes nanotechnology could be part of the solution to a problem that costs the Australian sheep industry AU$173 million a year.

EDNA CALENDAR 2023

“New methods that can provide longer periods of protection are required to counter the development of resistance to flystrike, insecticides and to support the reduced reliance on mulesing, a surgical technique that has been relied upon over many years.” problem that costs the Australian sheep industry AU$173 million a year.

“New methods that can provide longer periods of protection are required to counter the development of resistance to flystrike, insecticides and to support the reduced reliance on mulesing, a surgical technique that has been relied upon over many years,” James says.

The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) funded project is designing and testing unique silica nanocapsule particles with surface spikes purpose-built to give prolonged periods of protection against flystrike and lice.

“We’ve had very promising results during testing with the slow-release formulations giving extended periods of protection in comparisons with more conventional formulations.”

James, who heads the project, says the results showed the careful choice of active ingredient can ensure minimal residues

in slow-release formulas, doses can be smaller.

James explains that by using nanocapsules, the chemical can either be delivered at steady levels over a prolonged period or designed to release only when needed.

Materials scientist Professor Michael Yu says UQ had patented the silica nanoparticles that feature a hollow cavity and a porous silica shell.

“We’ve tested a number of designs, but the most promising is a nanoparticle that has whisker-like spikes which cover the outer surface,” Yu explains. “These spikes help the capsules ‘stick’ to either the fleece fibres or to the blowflies.”

AWI general manager research Dr Jane Littlejohn has welcomed the research and says nanotechnology had the potential to increase the range of treatment options available to woolgrowers.

The next stage of the research will be to move the study out of the laboratory and test the technology in the field.

“You do realise Edna, if we start to float, you’ll be breaking the law banning live animal shipments!”

EDNA!!

2023 Edna Calendar

❱❱ $25 including post & packaging ❱❱ 12 of Edna’s best cartoons “Break my New

❱❱ 330mm x 240mm, spiral bound

ORDER NOW! T: 09-307 0399 then press 1 to be put through to reception

E: julieb@ruralnews.co.nz

Year resolutio

n? - no way

– it must be

the Aussie bus

hfires you can

RURAL NEWS TO ALL FARME

RS, FOR ALL

1

SUNDAY

NEW YEARS DAY

2

8

9

15

16

22 29

OBSERVED

TUESDAY

NEW YEARS DAY

10

WEDNESDAY

4

24

5

THURSDAY

6

31

7

SATURDAY

11

12

13

14

18

19

20

21

25

26

27

28

1

2

3

4

ANNIVERSARY

AUCKLAND ANNIVE RSARY NELSON ANNIVE RSARY

FRIDAY

OBSERVED

17

23 30

JANUARY

3

NEW YEARS DAY

WELLINGTON

HORTNEWS

FARMERS

MONDAY

smell!”

FEBRUARY

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

24 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Valtra Q Series arrives MARK DANIEL

Valtra’s fifth generation model range has been completed with the addition of an all-new Q Series.

markd@ruralnews.co.nz

VALTRA’S FIFTH generation model range has been completed with the addition of an allnew Q Series, which fits between the popular T and S Series and offers 230 to 305hp.

Equipped with a 7.4 litre “long stroke” engine – the biggest displacement in this market segment – maximum power is available at the low engine speed of 1,850rpm.

Meanwhile, maximum torque stays consistent between 1,000 to 1,500rpm.

Valtra’s EcoPower system has been applied to the entire Q Series range, further reducing fuel consumption, with maximum driving speed is achieved at only

STD​ hp​​ 230​​ 245​​ 265​​ 285​​ 305​​

Nm​​ 1000​ 1100​​ 1200​​ 1280​​ 1280​​

1,500rpm.

The Q Series’ AGCO CVT uses

BOOST​ hp​​ Nm​​ 250​​ 265​​ 290​​ 305​​ 305​​

1100​​ 1200​​ 1280​​ 1280​​ 1280​​

electronic transmission management that automatically selects

the lowest possible engine revs for the work to maintain the lowest fuel consumption. It also distributes the power accordingly to the hydraulics, PTO, or transmission.

Weighing in at a claimed ideal of 9.2 tonnes, the maximum gross weight is 16 tonnes. This allows a high payload and legal

FARM MACHINERY STRENGTH / QUALITY / PERFORMANCE

Bale Feeders

Forage Wagons

transporting on the highway. Configured with a longer wheelbase and low overall height, the centre of gravity is kept low, making the tractor very stable.

The Aires Suspension works in combination

with that long wheelbase to increase the pulling force of the tractor.

This reduces power hop – given that grip to the ground is increased because of the air suspension’s faster reaction times.

At road speeds, power is transmitted almost purely mechanically. This delivers fast and smooth acceleration, with​the cab and the front axle air-suspension systems ensuring a smooth ride in any environment.

Grimme has announced updates to the third generation of its Varitron 470 self-propelled harvester.

HARVESTERS UPDATED SPECIALISED ROOT crop harvester manufacturer Grimme has announced updates to the third generation of its Varitron 470 self-propelled harvester.

These include a more modern design, a new suspension system to simplify attachment and removal of the haulm topper, and more input power for the haulm topper.

Further new features include the Speedtronic-web system. This provides automatic speed adjustment, allowing the main webs to be controlled according to forward speed and crop load.

Additionally, the rotational direction of the extraction unit can now be reversed, allowing the rollers to operate in an extraction or transfer mode.

For the upcoming season, the Varitron 470 is also supplied standard with the CCI 1200 operator terminal.

The updates, included on wheeled and Terra Trac versions of the 470 also

include a 460hp Stage 5 engine, brighter LED work lights.

There are also a range of intake configurations for harvesting potatoes, onions and carrots.

Meanwhile, Grimme’s two-row Evo 280 self-propelled machine can now be optioned with a 6.0 tonne, NonstopBunker, or a larger 7.5t capacity version, which despite its larger dimensions, still sees the harvester’s overall width remaining below three metres for road transport.

The German company has also introduced a new, two-row trailed elevator harvester for the 2023 season, called Select 200.

The ISOBUS-operated machine, available with a wide range of different separators, is equipped with automatic steering and telescoping axle that also keeps the road width below three metres. – Mark Daniel

Manure Spreaders

Tip Trailers

STANDARD FEEDER (C6 Pinned) • 1 x 6 foot bale • 2m diameter • 15 feed positions • 15 - 30 animals

www.mcintosh.net.nz FREEPHONE: 0800 622 276

$

950 +

GST

OVAL FEEDER (S2 Pinned) • 3 x 4 foot bales • 2 x 6 foot bales • 24 feed positions • 24 - 48 animals • 4m long

$

1325 +

GST

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 25

Tractor distribution changes go live MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

JULY 1 saw the change in distribution of Case IH and New Holland tractors and machinery in New Zealand.

Parent company CNHI has taken distribution back in-house. Norwood has performed the role for the last 17 years.

CNHI says it recognises the benefits of overseeing the distribution of its products. These obvi-

To accommodate the changeover, CNHI says it has appointed 18 people, spread all over NZ, to oversee procurement, logistics, sales, parts and service support.

Pete McCann, general manager for CNHI, AU & NZ, reiterated Stannett’s comments, noting the team would be focusing on the end customers’ experience and ensuring they get the best from the products they purchase.

At the same time, 2022 is the 180th anniversary of Case IH, with well-known favourites like Axial Flow and Magnum also celebrating 45 and 35 years since launch.

While Norwood has

JEFF ROBINSON ...is happy to ‘talk up’ the benefits of his JCB SERIES III to his contracting business.

We challenged him to see the advantages of owning a second one.

Here’s what he said...

“This is an exciting new chapter for Norwood. As a business we are committed to changing in line with the large scale and rapid shifts in the agricultural sector.” relinquished the distribution element of its business, the company says it will retain an extensive retail footprint.

“The time had now come to add the most value to customers and the greater agricultural industry,” says chief executive Tim Myers. “This is an exciting new chapter for Norwood. As a business we are committed to changing in line with the large scale and rapid shifts in the agricultural sector.”

Myers says Norwood currently offers the largest retail footprint in New Zealand and it looks forward to continuing a strong relationship with CNHI. Stannett says it will be business as usual for the Case IH and New Holland dealerships and their customers.

“Existing agreements and procedures will remain in place,” he says.

“While we will also establish several strategic parts supply hubs in key locations, aimed to ensure readily available stockholdings based around seasonal and historic demand.”

“IT’S GREAT FOR DOING JOBS WE CAN’T GET A TRACTOR TO DO.”

Jeff Robinson of Three Rivers Contracting in Southland relies on his JCB SERIES III AGRI to speed up operations, both in the yard and out in the field. In fact Jeff loves his JCB so much, we thought we’d drop off a brand spanking new JCB SERIES III AGRI SUPER, leave it with him for a day and return the next day to see if he would consider the benefits of having two JCB’s in his fleet. Already familiar with the efficiency, manoeuvrablity and speed of his JCB LOADALL, Jeff was in no doubt how much his operation would benefit from having a second one.

WHAT COULD YOU DO IN A JCB SERIES III LOADALL? SEE THE FULL STORY & MORE INFO AT JCBAGRICULTURE.CO.NZ LAN 2394

ously centre around driving efficiencies in the supply chain, with both Norwood and it now able to focus on their respective roles in the distribution and retailing processes.

“The change will draw us nearer to the dealer network and, of course, our customers,” explains Brandon Stannett, managing director, agriculture AU and NZ for CNHI. “The change will allow us to participate more directly in this dynamic and growing market.”

To accommodate the changeover, CNHI has recruited heavily, appointing 18 people to oversee, procurement, logistics, sales, parts and service support. The team is spread over both the North and South Islands.

Stannett also spoke about the company’s aspirations to grow market share for both brands, although in the immediate short-term he says it was about ensuring that current orders were fulfilled in a timely manner and product was available – given the current constraints in the overall global supply chain.

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

26 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS / RURAL TRADER ®

HAIR SHIRE MATED EWES & RAMS FOR SALE HARDY, LOW INPUT EASY CARE

• NO DAGGING • NO SHEARING • NO DIP, DRENCH OR CHEMICALS SINCE 1989 ®

Also Tufty (polled Highland) bulls, cows and calves available

Ph 027-225 5283 • tim@organicstud.nz

www.organic-rams.co.nz • tim@organic-rams.co.nz

ESCORTED TOURS 2022

"Hassle-free travel for mature travellers’’ • PORT DOUGLAS & CAIRNS EXPLORER 10 days, depart 05 August. A winter holiday with a variety of sightseeing including a Great Barrier Outer Reef Cruise.

• RAROTONGA ‘RELAXER’ 7 days, depart 23 August. A leisurely South Pacific escape with great sightseeing, food & entertainment.

• PERTH WILDFLOWERS 11 days, depart 15 September. A spectacular tour of Perth’s wildflowers and the magical Margaret River region.

• FAR NORTH & BAY OF ISLANDS 7 days, depart 17 September. A leisurely coach tour of the Far North including the new Hundertwasser Art Centre and day trip to Cape Reinga.

• EAST COAST & NAPIER 8 days, depart 21 September. A unique and exciting tour around the East Cape and return via the Northern Explorer train.

• FORGOTTEN HIGHWAY & TARANAKI 6 days, depart 08 November. Travel by Rail Cart into the Forgotten World. Visit Hobbiton on route and Cruise on the Wanganui river.

• BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND 15 days, depart 22 November. A spectacular trip around the many highlights of the South Island taking in the wonders of Tekapo, Twizel, Stewart Island day excursion, the Milford Sound and Queenstown. Overnight cruise on the Milford Sound.

• CORAL PRINCESS 'CHRISTMAS CRUISE' 14 days, depart 15 December. Cruise from Auckland to Auckland via Brisbane and around NZ. A close to home ‘festive cruise’ experience.

• NORFOLK ISLAND 'ÇHRISTMAS SPECIAL' 8 days, depart 22 December. Join us for a hassle free Christmas holiday and experience the very best of Norfolk Island.

Rural contractors raising their game Having just ticked off his 12-month anniversary as chief executive of Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ), Andrew Olsen talks to Rural News machinery editor Mark Daniel about how the organisation’s members, a key part of the rural industry, are going.

ANDREW OLSEN acknowledges that he inherited a well-organised trade association, but thought it needed a few changes to the direction it was travelling.

“I’ve spent those last twelve months – Covid permitting – getting out and about around the regions, talking to our members to get a view of what they want from their organisation, understanding the problems they are facing and importantly, seeing how they interact with their customers and the wider agricultural community.”

Olsen notes that while rising costs have hit the industry more recently, recruiting, training and retaining staff is still an

area of urgent need for the sector.

“Just like most of the agricultural world, we need more highly skilled workers, but we also need to address the problems of attracting them in the first place, to what in many cases is a very seasonal industry.”

Olsen says the pressure for the upcoming spring/summer campaign has eased with the reopening of borders and the ability to bring in skilled staff from the northern hemisphere.

However, he reckons that most agricultural contractors have used the past two years to reflect a little and realise that they need to invest more in “growing their own” staff for the future.

CONTROL FLYSTRIKE & LICE INCLUDES:

• Jetter unit • Pump & Hose kit • Delivery to nearest main centre

7680

$

+GST

For full details

Phone 0800 11 60 60

www.travelwiseholidays.co.nz

SUPPLYING FARMERS SINCE 1962

ONE STOP WATER SHOP 300mm x 6 metre .......................... $410 400mm x 6 metre .......................... $515 500mm x 6 metre .......................... $735 600mm x 6 metre .......................... $989 800mm x 6 metre ........................ $1496 1000mm x 6 metre ...................... $2325 1200mm x 6 metre ...................... $3699 ALL PRICES INCLUDE G.S.T.

With this in mind, RCNZ had been working with rural organisations such as Federated Farmers, so its members were up to speed with issues such as rising fuel, fertiliser and labour costs – with the likelihood of rural contractors having to apply surcharges.

At the same time, it is also working on strategies to attract young people into the industry at a much earlier stage.

RCNZ is reaching out to schools to sow the idea of becoming a rural contracting operator, alongside attaining Level 3 Unit Standards while still at school during Years 11, 12 and 13.

Olsen says RCNZ is also suggesting to students who are worried about the perceived seasonal nature of the industry that there might be opportunities to travel and work in the Northern Hemispheres during the Australasian winter.

Likewise, the organisation recently announced The Trainee Contractor of the Year Awards. These recognise achievement among early-stage operators, who work and train at the same time, achiev-

CULVERT PIPES

New Zealand’s CHEAPEST Culvert Pipes!

FREE joiners supplied on request.

• Lightweight, easy to install • Made from polyethylene

Check out our NEW website www.mckeeplastics.co.nz

Andrew Olsen says RCNZ is encouraging its members to have early, face-to-face discussions with their customers and explain the challenges of rising costs.

ing pre-determined standards, which are assessed and authenticated by their employers.

“Alongside the Primary ITO, we want to be out there promoting better pathways into the contracting industry and the opportunities it can offer,” Olsen told Rural News.

Meanwhile he says RCNZ is encouraging its members to have early, face-to-face discussions with their customers and explain the challenges of rising costs.

“If we know our numbers, we can explain why it is necessary to raise our prices or implement surcharges in the case of fuel.”

Olsen adds that this area has also been addressed with members, with RCNZ producing workbooks to accurately cost jobs, price accordingly and remove the shock of “where’s the

profit?” at the end of the season.

With 650+ members, RCNZ is also taking strides in ensuring it provides value to its members.

“With the industry changing at such a rapid pace, we must remain relevant,” he says. “That old chestnut of ‘that’s the way we’ve done it for years’ just doesn’t wash anymore.”

Olsen also believes the sector must not become stale and probably needs to become more diverse: “Starting with realising that around 50% of our potential workers aren’t just male. At the same time, particularly after two years of Covid disruption, we probably need to start getting together again, something we will address with our regional roadshows commencing in August.” www.ruralcontractors. org.nz

Phone

06 323 4181

or

0800 625 826 for your nearest stockist

Joiners supplied FREE with culvert pipes

RURAL NEWS // JULY 19, 2022

RURAL TRADER 27

QUADBAR

FLY OR LICE PROBLEMS?

595

$

Proven beyo nd do ubt!

“I have no doubt that if I did not have a Quadbar fitted, my accident would have been fatal!” – Rozel Farms “The Quadbar saved our employee from significant injuries.” – Colin van der Geest

• 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

Recommended

by Worksafe.

ACC subsidy available

600 500 400 300 200 100 0

QUADBAR 5 YEAR SURVEY

LASER FF95

NUMBER OF QUADBARS 479

ROLLOVERS 61

NUMBER OF DEATHS 0

DIESEL HEATER

LATEST STORIES ON www.ruralnews.co.nz

e

T T T T T

SINGLE DOG BOX

ü Diesel is approx. 30-50% less than “on demand” Electricity or Gas. ü DIY Install or we can arrange. ü No wood to cut, cart or store. ü No mess, N O indoor diesel odours.

0800 379 247 www.avonheating.co.nz

www.morrifield.com

TOP DOG BOX • Accommodates up to 4 dogs

❖

A trusted name in Poultry Industry for over 50 years ❖

WITH

ü Huge 9.5kW output.

info@morrifield.com

QUALITY PRODUCTS MADE IN EUROPE OR BY PPP

MAKE SHEARING SAFE

BREAKING NEWS MARKETS & TRENDS COMPETITIONS MANAGEMENT STORIES MACHINERY REVIEWS AND MUCH MORE...

Due to Covid related delays, new stock will not be arriving until later in the year - order now to secure yours!

ü As easy to use as a light switch.

03 214 4262 |

• Nest boxes - manual or automated • Feed & Drinking • Plastic egg trays

07 573 8512 | dipping@electrodip.co.nz – www.electrodip.com

tunnel houses

t/f

SUPPLIERS OF:

Quality construction and options • Get the contractors choice Featuring...

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

Grow vegetables all year round Very affordable and easy to install New Zealand designed and made 40 years producing tunnel houses Range of models sized from 2m - 10m

Free Range & Barn Eggs

The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989

+GST delivered

Check out our websites www.ruralnews.co.nz www.dairynews.co.nz

• In-house drainage

• 6 individual air vents

• Tie down lugs on each side

• Removable centre board

• Fits all wellside & flatdeck utes (2 models)

• 2 lockable galvanised gates

• Raised floor for insulation

DOLOMITE

NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call...

0800 436 566

heiniger.co.nz/shed-safety

CRAIGCO SENSOR JET • Robust construction • Auto shut gate • Total 20 jets • Lambs only 5 jets • Side jets for lice • Adjustable V panels • Davey Twin Impellor Pump • 6.5 or 9.0hp motors

SHEEP JETTERS SINCE 1992

GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE QUICK TO SETUP – EASY TO USE – JOB DONE

PH 06-835 6863 • MOB 021-061 1800 JETTER VIDEO: www.craigcojetters.com

Single without tow ball mount ................... $625 Single with tow ball mount ........................ $699 Wellside .................................................... $985 Flatdeck ................................................... $985 ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST

Protect what matters most on Kiwi farms

Phone 0800 625 826 • www.mckeeplastics.co.nz

“The TRAX Lifeguard can save you from injury or even death. I am grateful that my employer made sure that my bike was fitted with a crush protection device.”

– Paige Hardwick, Oamaru

Fantastic for drying wet clothes of... ¥ Farmers ¥ Hunters ¥ Fishermen ¥ Housewives

If you operate a farm vehicle, consider installing a TRAX LifeGuard to protect what matters most – you and your family. ACC is offering a cashback offer so contact your local motorcycle dealer today to find out more.

❱❱ Used for 30 years with great success. ❱❱ 100% NZ made – steel and design. ❱❱ Hanger fits 150mm flue in conjunction with a full flue shield.

Email: info@highcountryhangers.co.nz Website: www.highcountryhangers.co.nz

199

$

(incl GST) Courier charges extra

0800 782 376 www.traxequipment.co.nz

BUFFALO BOOTS & RAINWEAR 175% more crack resistant

BIB OVERALLS

$99 JACKET

$109

valued at $230

100% Waterproof Fleece Collar Hood Visor Flexible PHONE

9am-5pm

0800 16 00 24

valued at $160

Acid Resistant Durable Seams

LEGGINGS

$88 valued at $140

earthwalk.co.nz

in stock now

ZIP STRIP quick lacing

$20

LACE UP

SLIP ON

$170

$165

valued at $320

valued at $280

STEEL TOE X (with Scuff Guard)

STEEL TOE X (with Scuff Guard)

PLAIN TOE (without Scuff Guard)

STEEL TOE (without Scuff Guard)

Colour = Dark Brown Buffalo Leather Stitched On Soles 175% more crack resistant than normal leather

free shipping

PLAIN TOE (without Scuff Guard)

SIZES SELLING OUT FAST New Zealand owned & operated

sizes: BOOTS 5 - 13 (NZ)

RAINWEAR XS - 4XL

WARM UP TO N AT U R A L bremworth.co.nz