Rural News 12 September 2023

Oh, Canada!

NEW ZEALAND scored a landmark victory over Canada, stopping it from protecting its dairy industry and effectively blocking our dairy exports to that country.

It’s estimated that would have cost the NZ dairy sector $120 million over three years.

Both countries are members of the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnerships) – the free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Under its rules all countries are obliged to allow access to each other’s markets. But Canada has been illegally manipulating what is known as TRQs or Tariff Rate Quotas to protect their own domestic dairy industry and block imports.

Since the inception of CPTPP, NZ has strongly opposed the Canadian interpretation of the TRQs but efforts by officials and politicians have failed to get Canada to budge from its protectionist actions. In the end, NZ through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade laid a formal complaint against Canada under CPTPP rules and that hearing took place in Ottawa in June. Also supporting the NZ case was DCANZ – which represents most of NZ’s dairy companies – and three Canadian importers of dairy products. Australia also supported the case. A panel of three people were

appointed to hear the case and, late last week, released their verdict in favour of NZ. This is the first case

taken against a member of the CPTPP and the first case NZ has taken against a country with whom it has an FTA.

CANADA’S DAIRY SECTOR

DAIRY FARMING is said to be one of the largest agricultural sectors in Canada.

The industry has a significant presence in seven of the country’s ten provinces. Dairy farmers make up about 8% of all farmers in Canada.

Compared to NZ, the Canadian dairy industry is small. There are just 1.3 million cows – NZ has nearly 5 million. There are 9739 dairy farms in Canada and the average herd size is 89. NZ has 11,000 dairy cows with an average herd size of 440 cows.

On average two thirds of the milk produced in Canada is liquid milk and rest processed into butter and cheese. In 2022, Canadian dairy exports were worth $600 million; in the same year NZ dairy exports were close to $22 billion and this year are expected to be around $25 billion.

MFAT’s deputy secretary trade and economic Vangelis Vitalis says NZ dairy exporters have not been able to benefit fully from the market access that was agreed under the CTPP. He says Canadian importers interested in buying NZ product have been unable to access quota. He says the CTPP rules exist to address situations exactly like this.

“Putting it frankly, Canada’s approach to administering its dairy quotas is protectionist and undermines the market access agreed between CPTPP Parties,” Vitalis told Rural News

“The panel made it clear that all importers must have the opportunity to utilise Canada’s TRQs fully and that Canada is not allowed to use administrative complexity to prevent importers accessing quota.”

He says Canada must comply with the outcome and must not simply ‘recraft’ its approach.

It’s understood that Canada will comply with the decision of the panel, but exactly when this will happen is unknown. Canada has, at most, 15 months to comply with the decision but might string this out as long as it can to appease local dairy farmers.

Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor welcomed the CPTPP Panel’s ruling saying it’s a significant win for NZ primary sector exporters.

He says Canada was not living up to its commitments under CPTPP, by effectively blocking access for our dairy industry to upscale its exports.

“That will now have to change,” he says.

METHANE PUSHBACK

RUMOURS ARE circulating about a new farmer-led campaign aimed at challenging the current drive for taxing biogenic methane.

Rural News understands that this new farmer movement is set to launch very soon and will be pushing for a different approach to tackling on farm emissions – especially in relation to methane.

It is understood the group will be promoting a ‘methane accord’, which it says will be a set of ‘not negotiables’ when it comes to analysing methane.

The group says its target audience is everyone – urban, rural, politicians (both outgoing and incoming). It also wants to ensure that the pressure goes on agri companies and co-operatives – such as Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms –to show their ‘true colours’ when it comes to pricing biogenic emissions.

“We have had enough of the Government and others in our midst –BLNZ, DairyNZ, Feds, Silver Fern Farms, Fonterra, ANZCO and Food and Fibre ‘Leaders’ Group – pretending to say all the right things but actually still fundamentally supporting the pricing of biogenic methane emissions,” the group says.

It describes the current government and industry proposals to price agricultural emissions via the He Waka Eke Noa accord as a plan to “self-sabotage” NZ’s primary industry sectors.

DAVID ANDERSON

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

Vangelis Vitalis says Canada’s approach to administering its dairy quotas is protectionist and undermines the market access agreed between CPTPP members.

ISSUE 784

Tighten your belt!

DAIRY FARMERS want the incoming government to keep a tight control of its own spending and avoid contributing to inflationary pressures.

That’s one of the key messages of View from the Cowshed – results from a survey carried out by DairyNZ to give politicians a snapshot of farmer concerns.

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel told Rural News that he wasn’t surprised by concerns raised by farmers.

He points out that like all Kiwis and small business owners, dairy farmers have been feeling the effects of rising costs. Coupled with the recent forecast cuts in milk price, many will now be thinking about their business viability.

The survey shows farmers being very concerned about the impact of inflation and regulations for some time now. Van der Poel says the recent fall in the farmgate milk price will have only added to their concerns.

In the View from the Cowshed survey, almost 75% of dairy farmers report experiencing cost increases of over 20% in the past year alone. Van der Poel says many farmers will be

struggling to make ends meet and are focused on minimising losses this year.

“Therefore, it is important for the incoming government to keep tight control of its own spending and avoid contributing to inflationary pressures.

“It’s vital we support farmers to succeed, given their significant contribution to local communities and economies, with dairy projected to generate over $25 billion in export revenue this year alone.”

Another key concern for farmers is changing regulations: 65% of dairy farmers say changing regulations are a key challenge. They’re concerned about unpractical regulations (72%), too much change at once (69%) and the speed of change (64%).

Van der Poel says excessive and impracticable regulatory requirements are negatively impacting farmers’ wellbeing and their farming businesses.

“They are creating real frustrations.”

DairyNZ is calling on all political parties to commit to an independent regulatory review panel, made up of experienced farmers from across the primary sector.

It wants them to review proposed regulations that impact farmers and ensure they are necessary, practical, cost effective and will achieve desired outcomes.

The survey also highlights the pressing need to resolve workforce challenges, including staff shortages and retention. A total of 26% of farmers say they don’t have enough staff to meet their needs, while 29% are never or rarely able to find staff with the skills and experience they need.

DairyNZ wants policymakers to continue collaborating with sector organisations as it works to improve recruitment and retention of farm staff. This includes supporting flexible immigration policies and the sector’s Great Futures in Dairying Plan (designed to improve workplaces and workforce).

“In many ways, we want the same things as other Kiwis – a solution to the crippling rates of inflation and workers to fill vacancies,” says van der Poel.

Have prices bottomed out?

HAVE GLOBAL dairy prices found a floor?

The latest Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction saw WMP prices jump 5.3%. Last week’s surprise price rise in the key dairy product – whole milk powder (WMP) – is positive but overall, prices remain in the doldrums.

Westpac senior agricultural economist Nathan Penny points out that in annual terms, WMP and overall prices are still down by 25% and 26%, respectively.

“Recall also that WMP prices fell 18% over August, so the result only partially reverses some of those

losses,” he says. “With that in mind, we maintain our 2023/24 milk price forecast at $6.75/kgMS.”

Penny notes that this level is likely to be below the breakeven point for many farmers.

ASB is also sticking to its forecast milk price of $6.60/kgMS. The bank’s Nat Keall notes that the lift in WMP was stronger than the more modest increase anticipated by the futures market but comes after a 15% fall in prices over the season thus far.

“It pleasing to see prices recover a bit of ground, but we are still cautious on the outlook,” he says. “Gains

in WMP prices look to have been concentrated in the front end of the contract curve where prices were at their lowest ebb after the sharp falls of last auction.”

Contracts with shipment dates further into the future are still trading at, or even slightly below, the prices they commanded in mid-August.

Keall says interestingly, the bulk of WMP was once again bought by the Middle East and South-East Asia/Oceania, with China’s share of purchases declining after its uptick over the last couple of auctions.

“As by far the dominant player in

the market for NZ dairy exports, we still believe a more sustained recovery in Chinese demand is a necessary precursor to a substantial recovery in prices. That still doesn’t look imminent in our view.”

He adds that Chinese economic data remains underwhelming. Consumer confidence remains weak and stimulus measures announced by Beijing thus far look unlikely to be sufficient to turn the tide.

Keall believes that tightening in dairy production may help support prices, but only slightly.

– Sudesh Kissun

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

Dairy NZ chair Jim van der Poel says it’s important for the incoming government to keep tight control of its spending.

Trade barriers stunt NZ dairy’s economic potential

NZ’S DAIRY sector remains a star performer of our economy but still faces significant trade barriers and costs, according to a new report.

The report was commissioned by DairyNZ

and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) and prepared by Sense Partners. It highlights the dairy sector’s contribution to the New Zealand economy and its role as ‘shock absorber’ for regional communities in times of volatility.

The report also out-

lines the importance of ongoing investment in trade liberalisation and resilient infrastructure.

The numbers are impressive: dairy generated nearly $26 billion in export revenues for the year to April 2023. For the year to March 2023, dairy accounted for $11.3 billion or about 3.2% of GDP. Of this, dairy farming contributes $8 billion (2.2% of GDP) and dairy processing contributes $3.4b (0.9%).

The dairy sector also employs almost 55,000 people. Māori also play a key role with Māori businesses owning around $4.9b in assets in the sector.

DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther says the report shows the long-term picture for the dairy sector is solid and shows it will continue to contribute significantly to the New Zealand economy.

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TRADE BARRIERS

KIMBERLY CREWTHER says the dairy industry continues to face significant trade barriers and costs.

She says reducing these will support exporters to continue growing the export value of New Zealand dairy products.

“Sense Partners estimate that New Zealand dairy exports continue to incur more than $1.5 billion of tariffs and $7.8 billion of non-tariff measures costs; 86.7% of global dairy consumption continues to sit behind trade tariffs of 10% or more,” Crewther says.

“The value of dairy exports grew by 45% over the past five years, which helped support the national economy through the pandemic.”

DairyNZ head of economics Mark Storey says the spread of farms across the country allows dairy to support regional economies, maintaining some local spending even when milk prices drop.

“Dairy’s export earnings translate into wellpaying jobs in the sector and enable the purchase of goods and services from other sectors,”

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“This underscores the importance of New Zealand continuing to invest in efforts to remove trade barriers, including those that remain for dairy in some free trade agreement partner markets. Fewer trade barriers would mean a greater diversity of export opportunities for New Zealand dairy companies and greater ability to navigate market volatility.”

explains Storey.

“There will inevitably be an impact from the recent fall in milk price, with farmers limiting non-essential expenditure and limiting their purchases short-term where possible. However, this analysis shows that the sector itself absorbs some of the impacts in dairy farmers’ profits.”

He says despite lower milk prices, dairy farmers will continue to hire

staff and purchase essential supplies to run their farms.

In the year to March 2023, dairy processors spent around $19.6 billion of goods and services from both farms (purchasing milk) and other industries. Dairy farmers in turn spent $7.9 billion on goods and services in the same period.

“At a community level, dairy is a significant employer. For instance,

in Waimate, one in three jobs are in the dairy sector and wages make up 52% of total wages paid there,” he explains.

“Dairy also employs more than 20% of workers in both South Taranaki and Westland districts and pays over 40% of both districts’ total wages.”

Dairy accounts for more than 1 in 10 jobs in a further eight districts, while paying more

HAZCHEM HEALTH & SAFETY BOX

than comparable sectors, which amplifies the value of dairy employment to communities.

Dairy processing and farming remain New Zealand’s most internationally connected industries. Individual dairy products including whole milk powder, skim milk powder, butter and dairy spreads, protein products and cheese are all multibillion-dollar exports.

“The analysis highlights that New Zealand dairy exporters continue to change their market offerings in response to demand, with the proportion of whole milk powder reducing from 36.9% in 2019 to 31.6% in the year to April 2023, while dairy protein products having increased to 13.2% of the product mix, up from 8.6% in 2019,” says Crewther.

Dairy generated nearly $26 billion in export revenues for NZ in the year to April 2023.

High stress in rural NZ

RURAL SUPPORT Trusts around the country are having to significantly increase their staff to deal with growing stress in rural areas in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle and other adverse weather events.

Chair of the national council of Rural Support Trusts (RST), Neil Bateup, says in the Waikato where he farms, they have had to increase support-people numbers by 25%. He believes other regions are doing the same.

Bateup told Rural News the focus has been on getting advisors out to people to sit down with them and work out the best way to overcome the problems they are facing.

He says Gabrielle is

the biggest event that RSTs have had to deal with since their inception in the early 2000’s and there are lot of people stressed for a variety of reasons.

“There are issues around feeding stock, containing stock, financial pressures caused by low returns and compounded by the cost of repairing farm infrastructure.

“As well, many are in a state of flux, knowing that it will take years for things to be returned to normal on their properties.”

Bateup says farmers who were planning to exit the industry, mainly because of their age, whose farms are severely damaged, are in a difficult situation.

“The timing for them is pretty horrific.”

He says another big issue is the difficulty rural people have in accessing medical care. Bate-

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up’s heard instances of people having to wait up to six weeks to get an appointment with a GP

and that there are equally long waits to get appointments with counsellors and mental health pro-

viders.

“That’s tough. It’s crazy – especially if you have a child that is

unwell and having to get to a doctor,” he told Rural News. “The problems are compounded by road closures and roads that are under repair – with a journey that normally would take an hour now taking double that time.”

Bateup adds it’s a wellknown fact that people suffering from stress or mental health issues are prone to making bad decisions – both at home and in their workplace. He says RSTs have been organising events to get people off the farm to mix and talk with others in similar situations.

He says it can be very lonely on a farm struggling to overcome a multitude of problems.

“If people can get away from the farm and mix with others, that will help them cope and lift morale.”

PETER BURKE

Rural Support Trusts national chair Neil Bateup says Cyclone Gabrielle is the biggest event that RSTs have had to deal with since their inception and there are lot of rural people stressed.

No shortage of spuds in NZ says Potato NZ chair

there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.

and there is unlikely to be a shortage this year.

potato growing areas, Pukekohe.

could well make up for any losses in the north.

THE NEWLY elected chair of Potatoes NZ has dismissed claims that

Paul Olsen says assertions about a shortage of potatoes are wrong. He says there is no shortage

He admits it’s been a challenging year with supply – given the crop losses in one of the major

But Olsen says, on average, it’s been a great year for potato growers in Canterbury and the yields

“The one thing that has happened is the challenges faced by the distribution network,

especially with the Cook Strait ferries being out of service for significant periods of time,” he told Rural News

“Because of this and other factors, people may not get the exact choice of potato they like – but there is no shortage.”

Olsen concedes that potatoes are becoming more expensive. However, that simply reflects the additional costs of growing and distributing them.

He adds that everything – from labour, fuel, fertiliser and road user charges – has gone up and these costs are being

reflected in the price to consumers.

Another issue has been that with roads blocked or damaged in many areas, trucks carrying potatoes have had to resort to using less direct and lengthy routes, which has added to the cost. Producers of other primary products have also been hit in this way.

However, according to Olsen – who grows potatoes in the Horowhenua –the good news is that the early spuds are now in the ground and new potatoes will be on the menu for Christmas dinner.

BETTER ROADS, LOWER COSTS

work.

Leaderbrand is the biggest fresh vegetable grower in the region and a major employer. Its chief executive Richard Burke says a roading network that keeps getting damaged and causing delays is making companies like his think twice about expanding in the region. He says trucks having to take long diversions around blocked roads adds to the cost of products it sends to consumers around the country.

Burke says his company has already done a lot to mitigate the severe weather events such as building a huge glass house.

“But the ability to guarantee – in Leaderband’s case – a daily supply of fresh produce makes you think about where you base your operation or look closely at plans for expansion,” he told Rural News

Burke says Leaderbrand is very committed to the Tairawhiti community, but it has now established commercial growing operations in other regions to mitigate the risk of being isolated by road closures in the East Coast region.

“Infrastructure is a national issue and not something that we can invest in,” he adds.

“At some point, we may have no choice but to leave because we can’t run a daily business that’s requiring truck access in and out of Gisborne every day if we don’t have a road that is open every day.”

Burke says the company is well aware of the challenges that Tairawhiti faces around infrastructure. However, he says there needs to be a plan now to look at the big picture, set the direction and implement this and build long-term resilience into the roading network.

– Peter Burke

THE GREATEST need in the Tairawhiti region is better and secure infrastructure, in particular the roading net-

Potatoes NZ chair Paul Olsen has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.

Getting it right crucial!

A LEADING Hawke’s Bay orchardist says getting the recovery of the apple industry right in Hawke’s Bay is critical to the whole economy of the region.

Paul Paynter, of the Yummy Fruit company, says the apple industry is the economic engine of the region. He told Rural News it’s vital the recovery is successful, because if it isn’t, there won’t be an ability to sustain the lifestyles in the region.

Paynter believes an indicator of this will be the uptake of the Kanoa loans, which he says will indicate just how many orchardists are prepared to rebuild their businesses.

Paynter believes the apple industry has a good

future. He says there is a desire in the markets overseas for our produce and says NZ has a great reputation for producing top quality, wonderful fruit.

However, he claims getting there means overcoming many problems which started with Covid and have continued. Paynter says while a smaller apple crop –in theory – should mean there are more people to harvest the crop, there is still low unemployment. He adds that getting key people such as engineers and others with the right skills is still difficult. Paynter says, some years ago, the industry was attracting large numbers of young people, but in recent years this has changed.

“I think the universities have lost their way.

We don’t need people with communications and other degrees,” he explains. “We need young people with degrees in the biological sciences because they have a lot to offer and their skills are transferable. We have lots of jobs for people who understand biological systems, how to make things grow and how to produce quality food.”

Shipping, while improving, still remains a challenge and is expensive. Paynter says shipping is still cheaper and more environmentally friendly than delivering goods by land.

He says sending apples to the east coast of the

USA is less expensive and more carbon efficient than landing them on the west coast of the USA and sending them by truck to the east coast.

Paynter says it’s no secret that the US-China relationship and the Ukraine war are causing problems.

“Poland normally ships its apples to Russia, but since they fell out, they shipped all their apples to Europe and collapsed the market there,” he told Rural News

“The result of this is lower prices for NZ growers.”

Paynter believes there are opportunities over the next 30 years to put high quality fruit into Asia, which will make an orchardist a lot of money.

“But people have to see that vision and somehow make it happen.”

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

Paul Paynter believes getting the recovery of the apple industry right in Hawke’s Bay is critical to the region’s economy.

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More support for wool carpets

THE BATTLE to get wool carpets into public buildings has taken another step with the launch of The Southern Series (TSS) elite shearing competition circuit.

TSS aims to build a global audience for competition shearing as well as raise the profile of wool.

It particularly aims to push strongwool, which comprises 85% of the New Zealand clip and is mostly used in the carpet and furnishings sector where it competes with synthetic carpets.

The 2023 series will start in Waimate in October, with back-to backevents on the 6th and 7th. It finishes with the NZ Corriedale Championships at the NZ Agricultural Show in Christchurch on November 17th.

FIERCE COMPETITION EXPECTED

LAST YEAR’S Corriedales Championship was won by Jack Fagan of Te Kuiti.

This was just the start for TSS, event manager Hugh de Lacy (snr) says.

“It was a successful proof of concept. Now we’re going one step further and expanding the series. We’re very much thinking long term,” he adds.

“We do have a long-term vision and that is to support all shearing events here in New Zealand and around the world and this is another step in that direction.”

Dwyer expects the Corriedales will be a highly entertaining event with top rated shearers from around New Zealand and the world.

“This year we’ve got a more rounded display of wool and we’re centralising everything wool into one area so people can see the sheep being shorn,” he adds.

The prize money this year has also been lifted with payouts down to 12th place, which Dwyer says gives the top competitors more certainty about making some money.

After being successfully trialled at last year’s NZ Corriedale Championships, this year’s three-

show TSS circuit is the next stage in the roll-out of a global shearing competition circuit, taking in

shows in Australia, the UK, Europe, Canada and the US, with the annual final in Christchurch.

TSS supports the calls for wool carpets to be used in public buildings and schools in New Zealand because they are a

natural fibre with a much lower carbon footprint, are fully bio-degradable and perform and last as well as or better than synthetics.

Synthetic fibres, by contrast, made from the world’s biggest global

pollutant, oil, exude a range of chemical toxins both while in use and also in landfills for years, potentially getting into the food chain.

James Dwyer, Banks Peninsula farmer and NZ Corriedale Champion-

ships organiser, says he supports TSS because he’s had enough of wool being ignored, most recently when the Ministry of Education gave the contract to supply carpet to 800 small and remote schools to the American synthetics manufacturer Milliken.

“We keep looking for support for this amazing natural product, and when even your own government won’t back you, you’ve got to start wondering why.”

Dwyer’s local primary school is one of those being offered the synthetic carpets by the Ministry, which he says the community is not happy about.

“How can they keep feeding us crap about carbon neutrality yet they will not back the product?”

Banks Peninsula farmer and NZ Corriedale Championships organiser James Dwyer says he supports TSS because he’s had enough of wool being ignored.

Wool petition hits Parliament

SOUTH CANTERBURY

farmer Angela Blair has delivered a petition to Parliament calling on the Government to reverse its decision to fit rural schools with synthetic carpet.

Blair’s petition called on the Government to choose NZ made wool carpets for all the buildings it owns or has responsibility for carpeting.

In late August, she delivered the petition – signed by over 8000 people – to the National Party’s agriculture spokesman Todd McClay in Wellington.

Blair thanked all those people who had signed her petition –describing the support as amazing.

“To every one of you,

each signature is a person standing up for our wonderful industry and our children’s future.”

Meanwhile, she also questioned why a similar petition in 2020, calling for all government and

KiwiBuild buildings to be carpeted and insulated with NZ wool, had been ignored.

However, the Government has claimed an ‘administrative error’ meant the petition had

not been presented to Parliament. A spokesperson promised it would be presented before the House rose for the upcoming election.

In July, the Ministry of Education announced,

as part of its Nga Iti Kahurangi programme, that some 800 small and remote schools will get a US-made nylon carpet instead of NZ wool carpet.

Blair says this is a just

another damaging example of the current Government not supporting NZ’s primary sector.

“Economically, it makes no sense to buy an internationally produced product and not support our own NZ businesses,” she explained.

“In this time of recession and high inflation, it would have been a great opportunity for the Government to put its money where its mouth is and support our own economy.”

Blair says her protest was not just about farming.

“It’s about everyone: The shearers, the wool scourers, the factory producing the carpet, and the sales people. It’s about showing our children that NZ-made is the way of the future.”

Blair added there is

also the safety aspect.

“In a fire, nylon carpet will burn like crude oil – fast and hot,” she explains.

“Wool is naturally fire resistant and can even self-extinguish.”

She says, environmentally, nylon is plastic.

“This is essentially importing tonnes and tonnes of single-use plastic into our country. Wool is a much more environmentally friendly option and when it is time to be replaced, wool carpet will biodegrade.”

Blair says wool is a natural insulator, naturally stain, odour and fire resistant.

“The Government should be modelling that wool as an environmental and safe choice can be better than the cheapest option. It’s about leading from the front.”

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DAVID ANDERSON

A petition calling on the Government to reverse its decision to fit rural schools with synthetic carpet was recently delivered to Parliament.

A number of challenges in beef markets

THE LATEST beef market report by Rabobank shows a trend that will be of concern to NZ cattle farmers.

Lead author of the report, senior animal protein analyst Angus Gidley-Baird, says Fonterra’s

siderably, NZ beef export volumes in the second quarter of 2023 increased 14% year-on-year. He says this increase has been underpinned by a 7% lift in beef production yearon-year.

While volumes are higher, weaker economic settings in China have negatively impacted

“Export volumes to Japan have also been impacted by softer demand, with volumes back 49 per cent year-on-year for quarter two.”

drop in the predicted farm gate milk price is likely to see an increase in dairy cow culling. He says the number of cows processed in the second quarter of 2023 is up 4.8% compared to last year. On top of this, Fonterra has mandated that all calves must enter a value stream from this season onwards.

“This could result in several hundred thousand additional calves being sent to processors within a six-week window that is already stretched.”

Gidley-Baird says although much of the heat has come off the global beef market and returns have eased con-

prices and export earnings were back 13% yearon-year for the quarter.

“Export volumes to Japan have also been impacted by softer demand, with volumes back 49 per cent year-onyear for quarter two,” he adds.

The report also points out that increasing volumes of Australian beef exports are creating competition for NZ beef in the global market, which has led to North Island bull prices dropping 4% in July. However, it adds the slowing of the US cow kill is expected to lead to a reduction in USproduced lean trimmings,

GLOBAL ISSUES

IN TERMS of the global market, Gidley-Baird says beef markets around the world, other than the USA, are seeing a softening of consumer demand.

He says declining supply and strong consumer demand in the US is driving cattle prices higher, while lower domestic beef supply has also held up beef prices in Canada and Europe. But Angus Gidley-Baird says in most other regions the opposite applies, with increased supply and lower demand that is making prices softer.

US cattle prices have increased almost 30% over the last 12 months, whereas Australian cattle prices have dropped by more than 30%.

“This price split is the largest we have seen in the past 10 years,” he says. “Such a separation in prices will have consequences for beef exporters’ competitiveness and we expect to see some shift in trade volumes as a result.”

Gidley-Baird adds that – other than the US – there is softer consumer demand and full supply chains. In a number of regions, particularly in Asian countries, beef purchases made through 2022 and into 2023 in anticipation of recovery from Covid have not been consumed.

“These are now part of growing stock levels that also include other proteins,” he explains. “Softer consumer demand is making it harder to move these volumes through the system.”

which in turn is expected to provide price support for the global lean trimmings market.

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

Much of the heat has come off the global beef market and returns have eased considerably.

Gabrielle’s impact still hitting

Hawke’s Bay Vegetable Growers

Association

chair

Scott Lawson says stress and anxiety levels are up among rural communities in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle. The cyclone, which devastated the region’s rural economy in February, saw Lawson update its aftermath in a presentation to the recent Horticulture Conference in Christchurch. Nigel Malthus reports.

HE SAYS while mental health and wellbeing is at the forefront for many agencies, massive pressures remain for the rural community.

“If anything, it’s worsening, with added pressures around seasonal finance, increased RSE labour costs and wet conditions making farm infrastructure repair diffi-

cult,” Lawson explained.

He praised the work the of Rural Support Trust and other organisations in supporting both the mental and financial health of affected farmers.

Lawson says the photos of the devastation, which he showed in his conference presentation, “do not do it justice”.

“If you haven’t visited Hawke’s Bay, I encourage you to do so. There are still tractors and cars in the fields. Thousands of cars damaged. There’s still a lot of stuff to tidy up,” he told conference goers.

“When you’re standing on a road looking up at the height of the slash that’s come down the rivers, or the roads that have been impacted, what

people have been going through is unbelievable.”

Lawson added that he’d recently driven down from the East Cape –right down the coast back to Hawke’s Bay – and

couldn’t believe the extra damage that he hadn’t seen before.

“We’re all impacted in a major way and there’s billions and billions of dollars of losses out

there. It’s going to take decades to recover from this.”

Lawson acknowledged the efforts of everyone from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and industry bodies through to the many volunteers – like the bloke he met from Tauranga who had just turned up with his digger and spent a month helping clear silt and debris.

“You know that these diggers are running at $150 an hour and people are just burning diesel 24/7, trying to get crops saved, machinery out etc.”

Sited just inland from Hastings, Lawson’s own True Earth orchard, where he grows organic blueberries, wasn’t flooded despite being on old riverbed.

However, stop banks

Scott Lawson talks about the province’s continuing struggle to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle, speaking at the recent Horticulture Conference in Christchurch.

burst further downstream.

Illustrating the scale of the disaster, Lawson said the flow in the Ngaruroro, the main river that provides water to the Hastings and Napier area, reached 7.5 million litres a second.

Normally, the flow would be between a low

of 2400 and a high of only 100 thousand.

He emphasised that Gabrielle was just the biggest of a number of cyclones that had hit the east coast. It came on top of a wet spring and summer, with high rainfall continuing since then.

“Our onion growers, which is a large crop for

us here in the Hawke’s Bay, only managed to get half of their crop planted last winter and spring,” he added.

“They’re very sensitive to day lengths and you can’t be planting onions, just like many other crops, all year round. So, you have a narrow window of opportunity

INFRASTRUCTURE IN A MESS

LAWSON TOLD the conference that damage to the roading network severely cut people off for a period of many days.

Ten bridges, including two main bridges, were lost in the Hastings district alone.

He says infrastructure is still “really, really damaged” and load restrictions make it difficult to move heavy machinery – such as 16-tonne axle load sweet corn harvesters – to where they are needed.

“So, there are some issues in moving and growing our food,” Lawson explained, “It cost us about an extra 30% to get our produce to Auckland. So, extra days, extra time, extra cost – and you can’t get that back out of the marketplace.”

Lawson says no major large vegetable pack houses were lost, but many small ones were and it will take a long time to rebuild.

of two months here, and that window closed.”

With yields already down, Gabrielle hit at harvest time, when onions had been lifted and were drying in the fields.

Lawson says 35% of Hawke’s Bay’s crops were impacted, with some individuals losing up to 70%.

“One apple packhouse that was lost, that was $30 million for the machinery in just one packhouse. That’s just not replaced easily.”

He added that water damage had written off a lot of machinery, but even when a farmer may have gotten machinery running again, it will give trouble for years to come.

“We always knew it was going to be a marathon recovery, not a sprint recovery, although sometimes it’s really hard to

see those positive incremental steps happening quickly enough.”

Lawson says there has been urgent repairs to stopbanks, but river channels and drainage networks have dramatically filled with silt, so the volumetric capacity is reduced, making the region vulnerable to further events.

He added that while farmers understood that the region was prone to flooding, because the fertility came from being on floodplain, they need floodbanks and other infrastructure to protect the land.

“The big thing is, the stopbank system failed us, the infrastructure failed us,” he explained. “It’s a cyclone, sure, but we’re paying rates, we’re putting a lot of money into it. We expect our infrastructure to work.”

Lawson believes they were “very much let down” by infrastructural deficiencies.

“That’s what’s caused the breach here and we need to get to the bottom of it. Thankfully, there’s a review panel underway.”

Note: The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has initiated an independent review into the performance of HBRCowned and operated flood protection, control and drainage schemes and recommend future improvements.

Rural resilience programme expands beyond Lincoln to Massey

MENTAL HEALTH and resilience programme WellMates is available at Massey University for a second year after research found that it has significantly benefitted participants.

Developed by Lincoln University after the suicides of former alumni, WellMates promotes mental health and wellbeing to first year ag students. Studies show farmers are prone to experiencing burnout and especially young adults in the rural community, with this group making up a quarter of farm suicides.

Massey’s School of Social Work senior lecturer Dr Nicky Stanley-

Clarke says WellMates is having a positive effect in increasing awareness and building knowledge of mental health.

Conducting surveys on 19 participating and 58 non-participating students, those who participated in the programme showed greater mental health and wellbeing knowledge for those who participated than those who didn’t.

“WellMates helped them build their skills and improve their confidence in advocating for themselves and others,” Stanley-Clarke adds.

An interesting trend that appeared in the pre-programme survey was the number of students who presented with optimism bias. This is

underestimation of the possibility of experiencing stressful situations and severity of these.

Research found that peerto-peer connection is very important in combating this thinking.

A second round of funding from Massey Lin-

coln Agriculture Industry Fund (MLAIF) has also provided the opportunity for WellMates to be offered online this year – with learning designers at Massey translating the content from in-person courses and recording videos and voiceovers.

This will be incorporated into a module embedded within learning platforms such as Stream, with additional available resources for wellbeing and counselling services like TalkCampus.

The Massey pilot is being led by Lincoln stu-

dents trained in the programme, who flew up to Palmerston North to deliver and facilitate the programme.

This was run as a ‘conversation’ rather than a lecture, to further the point of it being about mental wellness, rather than a purely academic exercise.

“Students will get to hear from people like them about how important it is to manage your wellbeing and to know how to access support which helps break down stigma, particularly around the ‘tough farmer’ ideal,” explains StanleyClarke. “When you see others like you having that conversation, you’re more likely to join in and be engaged.”

Stanley-Clarke hopes younger people moving into rural communities can take back what they’ve learnt and pass it along. She also hopes to expand the programme into other spaces adjacent to – and outside of –agriculture.

“Any lives lost to suicide is too many. Whatever we can do to build and strengthen knowledge around mental health wellbeing, as well as share how to reach out to access support and support others, has to be good.”

WellMates will be hosted in Massey’s agriculture environment course as part of its Animal Science paper.

The WellMates programme is having a positive effect in increasing awareness and building knowledge of rural mental health.

BEST DEFENCE IS A GOOD OFFENCE. WHICH IS WHY CLEANCROPTM TOTO TURNIP IS MORE THAN JUST A CROP. IT’S PART OF A GAMEPLAN THAT PROACTIVELY ELIMINATES COMPETITION FROM WEEDS EARLY TO GIVE YOUR CROP THE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE.

Spuds losing ground to housing

POTATO GROWERS

are losing prime land to urban sprawl, with over 3000ha lost since 2016.

In 2016, 11,680ha of land was used for growing potatoes; this has dropped to 8424ha, according to Potatoes New Zealand.

New PNZ chief executive Kate Trufitt says land use is one of the major challenges facing the sector.

“We are seeing highly productive land being gobbled up by housing,”

Trufitt told Rural News

“This is a concern not only for NZ but worldwide where we are seeing the demand for potatoes outstripping the supply.”

According to Truffit, other challenges facing potato growers are compliance and regulatory

changes, rising costs, global markets and change in diets.

Trufitt says the current Government is very focused on putting a lot of regulatory compliance out, to the point of freshwater farm plans coming growers’ way.

“But we’ve got councils saying, ‘how are we going to implement this?’

So, you got government deciding things, but when things go down to the

councils, they are struggling,” she told Rural News

“How are they going to make that work for a grower?”

Trufitt points to the sustainable vegetables system (SVS) programme, which looks at nitrogen management among growers.

She says there are systems under the farm environmental plans (FEPs) where they can put in tools to help growers.

“Because it is just what they do: they need to show the evidence that that’s what they do.”

Trufitt says FEPs are being implemented by growers and some are being helped by fertiliser co-operatives like Ballance.

But there are other growers who are waiting and watching.

“They are waiting to see what things are going to look like. They don’t want to do a whole lot of work and then the Government or council

comes along and says, ‘no you can’t do it this way’.

“So, there’s been a lot of confusion around the messages coming down.”

Trufitt believes over next the two years, FEPs will become a useful tool for growers.

The potato sector remains important to the economy; farmgate value of potatoes is $174 million with $118m earned in exports.

The country’s 174 growers produce 419,000 tonnes of potatoes and about 234,000 tonnes of that are processed. Exports are made up of frozen fries and fresh potatoes.

Trufitt says the domestic market is very important to growers.

“Thanks to all the New Zealanders who enjoy their potatoes.”

@rural_news facebook

SUDESH KISSUN

sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

“This is a concern not only for NZ but worldwide where we are seeing the demand for potatoes outstripping the supply.”

Potatoes NZ chief executive Kate Trufitt says land use is one of the major challenges facing the sector.

“ A kilo liveweight gain makes a big difference in the long run. It’s a single dose, a one shot wonder.”

Andy McLachlan Tararua District

Dairy company returns churn!

REVENUE PERFOR-

MANCES of the world’s leading dairy companies has shown a major reshuffling over the last year, with Fonterra falling from sixth to ninth place amidst other companies shifting positions.

According to the 2023 Rabobank Global Dairy Top 20 report, only five of the Top 20 companies retained the same positions as last year, with French company Lactalis maintaining the top spot — while Dairy Farmers of America (US) moved up to second place, pushing Nestlé (Switzerland) into third.

A stronger US dollar and unfavourable reporting of the NZ dollar influenced position changes in the ranking – with the combined turnover of the Top 20 compa-

nies jumping 7.4% in US dollar terms. Fuelled by a second round of warinduced inflation, EU dairy product prices rallied to new annual average highs. This followed the prior year’s gain of 9.3%.

Rabobank dairy analyst Richard Scheper said overall, year-on-year average price gains in butter, cheese, milk powders and other dairy products set the stage for double-digit turnover growth in local currencies in 2022. However, he added most turnover gains were absorbed by exploding costs, leaving little on the companies’ bottom lines.

“Many dairy companies paid record-high average farmgate milk prices to offset large farm input costs. At the factory gate, rising energy costs and the availability of natural gas – espe-

cially in Europe – were the largest concerns for energy-intensive dairy

processing. Costs for other components, such as logistics, packaging

materials, and labour, also escalated in 2022.”

The report says that

in Oceania and the US, milk powder prices were also elevated, but failed

to exceed 2013’s record levels. At the same time, lower-than-anticipated milk production growth in the main exporting regions and decent domestic demand contributed to an overall tight dairy market with limited exportable surpluses during most of 2022.

Fonterra’s slip is partly explained by the continuing disposal of non-core assets while adjusting to pressure on milk volume growth, as well as the unfavourable NZ dollar.

The co-operative sold its Chilean subsidiary Soprole in early 2023, resulting in an estimated drop in revenue of about US $800m. Fonterra’s planned sale to Lactalis of DPA Brazil, a joint venture with Nestlé, is still pending.

Fonterra fell from sixth to ninth place last year in the revenue ranking of the world’s top dairy companies.

Meat exports crash as China stalls

NEW ZEALAND’S largest red meat export market has hit the wall, with China taking much less of our sheepmeat and beef.

Latest figures from the Meat Industry Association (MIA) show that China is still our largest red meat export market. However, during the month of July, the industry saw the largest drop in exports for both beef and sheepmeat to that market.

The MIA says in July sheepmeat exports to China were down 31% by volume to 12,148 tonnes and 45% by value to $74 million. At the same time, beef exports to China also declined, 29% by volume to 16,241 tonnes

AG THE KEY

and 48% by value to $124 million compared to July 2022.

“While this drop can be partly attributed to the high level of exports last July, these were still lower than other recent July figures for China,”

MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says.

She says NZ’s sheepmeat markets are under “significant pressure” due

MEANWHILE, NEW Zealand’s red meat sector is calling on any future Government to put agriculture, as well as the production and export of beef and lamb, at the heart of its economic strategy.

The sector’s “Putting Meat on the Bone” briefing to incoming Ministers document was recently released by the Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ). It sets out the strategic challenges that New Zealand must grapple with to improve the prosperity of the country and outlines five ways to do this. It includes:

• Putting the red meat sector at the centre of New Zealand’s economic strategy,

• Aligning the country’s science and innovation system to strategic outcomes,

• Partnering with industry to improve sustainability, ensuring greater coordination across government departments.

• Allowing streamlined and enabling

by value to $249 million.

The MIA believes the 24% drop in red meat exports during July this year – compared to the same month in 2022 –is down to a catch-up

in processing following Covid-related disruptions. It claims the latest July result is “in line” with previous July exports in 2016-2021.

“This big drop is a

short-term impact from the very high export volumes last July, which were largely a result of Covid-related disruptions in the first quarter,” Karapeeva explains.

“Productivity gains in the sheep sector has meant that the drop in sheepmeat exports has not been as significant as the increase in beef exports.”

to a declining sheep flock and an increase in beef and dairy cattle numbers.

NZ exported $807 million worth of red meat products during the month of July – $293 million less than the $1.1 billion exported in July 2022.

Year-on-year, sheepmeat exports are down 25% by volume to 24,677 tonnes and a further 34%

regulation underpinned by robust impact assessments.

“Agriculture is our only industry of scale and one area where New Zealand has a significant comparative advantage on the world stage,” said MIA chair Nathan Guy. “The red meat sector makes a massive contribution to our economy. With the right policy settings, we could grow this substantially, but it requires government to help facilitate growth – not hinder it.”

Guy says having political parties taking a long-term view will help to build political consensus to get things done.

“There is a strong precedent for a bipartisanship approach,” he adds.

“New Zealand’s trade strategy has established a network of Free Trade Agreements over the past 30 years that have contributed significantly to our economy and overall global competitiveness.”

DAVID ANDERSON

July saw the largest drop in exports for both NZ beef and sheepmeat to China.

On your bikes!

THE TIME it’s taking the various bureaucracies to ease the pain of farmers, orchardists and townspeople affected by storm damage is grossly unfair.

Six months on, in some places such as Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, it seems like Cyclone Gabrielle occurred just a few days ago. What recovery?

Apple trees in the Esk Valley are still covered in two or more metres of silt, vineyards are all but wiped out and fences on farms remain in tatters.

In the case of the latter, the best some farmers have been able to do is repair their boundary fences.

Restoring normal subdivision of paddocks and tracks could take years, and the problem in many cases is compounded by the fact that the land is still moving.

However, the biggest worry is the fragility of the roading network on the North Island’s East Coast.

The road from Napier to Wairoa is anything but secure. Its fragility is even greater considering it’s not just ordinary cars that traverse it on a daily basis, rather heavily laden logging trucks, stock trucks, fuel tankers and vehicles bringing produce in and out of the region.

The road around the East Coast is the lifeline for farmers, orchardists, commercial growers, businesses and local people.

What irks many people in rural areas is the councils who, supported by government policies, have poured millions of dollars into cycleways.

Cycleways are arguably a ‘nice to do’ thing – akin to planting a rose garden in front of the council offices.

The people on the East Coast have no alternative but to use the only road and yet millions of dollars is being spent around the country catering for a minority who think they are saving the planet but forget the exorbitant cost of their indulgent habit.

For East Coasters and others in remote rural NZ, secure infrastructure means life and death to them, their communities and to the economy of NZ.

The wasted money spent on cycleways could probably fix the problem on the East Coast, but there are probably no votes in this.

RURALNEWS

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CONSULTING EDITOR: David Anderson Ph 09 307 0399 davida@ruralnews.co.nz

THE HOUND

STFU!

The Hound reckons multi-national, tax-dodging, fundraising ‘charity’ Greenpeace is fast losing whatever little credibility it has with it latest anti-farming rant. According to is its ‘agriculture spokesperson’ Christine Rose – who in a previous life was a bike-riding Auckland regional councillor – the dairy industry is NZ’s ‘worst’ climate polluter. “Fonterra, and other dairy corporations like it, are polluting our climate with superheating methane and nitrous oxide gases,” Rose claims. “Worsening the climate crisis and contributing to the devastating extreme weather events we’re seeing around the world - from Cyclone Gabrielle here in Aotearoa to the fires in Maui, Hawai’i.” It is hard to take Rose and her screaming skull colleagues seriously when they make these kind of extremist and outlandish claims.

She’s dreamin’!

Your old mate suggests the demise of former Beef+Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison has done little to change that organisation’s poor understanding about how its farmers are really feeling. According to new B+LNZ chair Kate Acland, its recent round of farmer feedback sessions – which media were banned from attending – allowed it to outline the “benefits it’s delivering farmer levypayers”. She added that it was “disappointing” to hear that many farmers “question the value and purpose of B+LNZ”. Acland claimed the answer was “better communication” from the levy-funded organisation to farmers about what it does on behalf of farmers. The new B+LNZ chair will be hoping that farmer sentiment towards her organisation picks up soon or she and her fellow directors will find themselves in the same boat as the old Wool Board and voted out of existence at the next levy referendum.

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

What’s happening?

Your canine crusader, like many in the sector, is wondering just exactly what is happening with the so called ‘wool industry initiatives’. What is Rob ‘I don’t’ care where, as long as I’m chair’ Hewett and his handpicked bunch of acolytes actually up to on the heavily government- and industry-funded Wool Impact Group (WIG)? The sudden resignation last month of WIG chair Mike Allen poses further questions. It seems like a lot of money has been wasted on expensive consultants producing reports, but with bugger all else achieved. Meanwhile, as the consultants and various board members collect their fees, strong wool growers continue to lose money hand over fist and the sector continues to go down the gurgler, while Rob’s mob continue to twiddle their thumbs and spin yarns (pun intended) about all the wonderful things they are supposedly doing.

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

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

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Strange bedfellows

This old mutt understands that Federated Farmers has recently ceased the production of its monthly publication Fed News, as the economic realities of producing the paper have hit home. He understands that Feds have now done a deal with Farmers Weakly (sic), where it will run four pages of its spin each week. This will be a very strange collaboration, considering FW’s pro the current government stance on things like ag emissions – which has earnt it the moniker of Farmers Wokely (sic) throughout the sector – and the Feds very strong anti-ag emissions position. Your old mate gives it less than a year before this deal all ends in tears.

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

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

DIGITAL STRATEGIST: Jessica Marshall Ph 021 0232 6446

“The meeting called to oppose legislation has been postponed till some of us have read it!”

Just who is in charge?

IF YOU have visited a supermarket recently, you will have noticed that not only are eggs still in short supply, they are also expensive.

When one looks at the reason for this, it must send a message that things are becoming absurd in NZ today, when unscientific personal beliefs take precedence over the country’s laws and standards.

So, back to the eggs. In a move by our ever thoughtful (not) supermarkets, which almost overnight decided that over 35% of the country’s perfectly legal egg producers no longer met their personal animal welfare standards. This despite the fact they fully complied with MPI’s standards who are, in fact, our regulators in these matters.

How has this been allowed to happen? When a person or persons can, at their whim, decide that they can effectively starve us – due their own personal beliefs— be allowed to happen?

How long will it be before they decide the same fate for meat etc?

It was interesting to see only one farming group, Groundswell, had the fortitude to call for a boycott of a supermarket chain. This call was to highlight the situation where supermarkets are demanding more than any government agency requires. This will surely

lead to further shortages and price rises. It was also a missed opportunity for the rest of the farming leadership to unite the industry once again.

We have had investigations into supermarkets –with nothing done.

Surely we can no longer continue to allow these operations to behave in such a callous manner to society. Surely the supermarkets’ principal job is to ensure a stable supply of reasonably priced food, which is why they got a free reign over the Covid lockdown.

But the double standards supermarket chains hold, haven’t prevented

them from importing pork from countries that have virtually no animal welfare standards. To me, and I am sure most thinking people, this is absurd.

We now take this further and also find that the Green Party is the principal party of misinformation when it comes to these matters.

James Shaw is now claiming that our farm animals are responsible for 50% of NZ GHG emissions.

However, when we break this down, we find that once again it’s misinformation. At recent conferences in the UK, France, Germany and

the US on agricultural emissions, there was no agreement on the CO₂ equivalent for methane.

But it was agreed that it was somewhere between 12 and 20 CO₂ equivalents. Yet Shaw claims an equivalent figure of 86 CO₂ to 1 methane.

Once again, just complete misinformation, but reported in the media as facts. The fact that our stock numbers are also well below previous levels also seems to have escaped the media.

So, one asks just how can our journalists continue to keep publishing this misinformation?

It seems that Face-

book and other social media have fact checkers, but mainstream media doesn’t, as was shown recently with Radio NZ. It’s time, I think, that our

media took a good look at themselves and got back to actual facts and checking them and not publishing opinions based on poor or misinformation.

In a few weeks’ time, you all have a chance to stop this madness – vote carefully.

Need to lift your selenium levels?

• Jeremy Talbot is a South Canterbury arable farmer.

JEREMY TALBOT

Jeremy Talbot questions why supermarkets have such power in NZ that they can demand more regulation on what can be sold than any government agency requires.

Having money or it having you!

I HAVE heard or read this little story multiple times.

Someone asked a successful multimillionaire, “How much money will it take to make you happy?”

To which he quickly replied, “Just a little bit more!”

While I can’t vouch for the actual authenticity of this story itself, it surely does put its finger on some serious truth.

With money, when is enough, enough? And why does any happiness attached seem to be so fleeting; and at other times it can be so destructive?

Like many of you will have, I have seen families in turmoil over different versions of this. For one example, a parent – or both parents – are now deceased, so there is a will to be settled with

some serious coin to be disbursed. Families that enjoyed being together every Christmas and seemed happy enough doing the birthday thing as well, are now at each other’s throats and talking about getting lawyers involved.

Why? What’s with that? It’s all because of the assets and money involved! Now this same ‘happy’ family is being ripped apart. Sad indeed!

A young UK woman

at just 17 won something like NZ$1.9 million. She said it changed her life for the worse. In her words, “I was scared to walk out my front door.” Quite apart from the blackmail, threats, and other yuck stuff she had to wade through, were multiple marriage proposals, pretty much on a weekly basis! Where were all these wannabe husbands before the lottery win? She soon realised it wasn’t her that was attracting their attention, it was the money.

In 2010, a 58-yearold UK man died penniless and alone, just five years after winning 9 million pounds in the lottery. His words: “My life was brilliant. But the lottery has ruined everything. What’s the point of having money when it sends you to bed crying?

If I could crawl back on broken glass to where I was, I would. The lottery has ruined our lives.”

Sadly, stories like these are too common.

Of course, money is very much a life essential in a culture like ours. We pay our way through life with it. Everyone has basic living expenses that have to be met. When-

ever I have been asked about this, or had the opportunity to speak about it, I have always acknowledged that. Yes, money is essential to live in a culture like ours. But there is a difference between you having money, and money having you. A huge difference!

I’d suggest here, that’s a life lesson we should be

quick to learn.

When it comes to major financial windfalls, like I have mentioned above, here’s my take: If the money is bigger than you are, then it will probably lead to your undoing, even to your ruin. However, if you are bigger on the inside than the money, then you will be okay. When the dust has

settled, it will come back to character… or the lack of it!

In support of my take on this, I quote the late Henry Ford: “Money doesn’t change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish or arrogant or greedy, the money brings that out, that’s all.” How true! I have seen both –from a distance and up close and personal. Money can easily become a very harsh taskmaster. Serving that taskmaster leaves all kinds of brokenness in its wake. Not for me. Too many other things matter more. Like family and friends. And yes, my faith too. God Bless. • To contact Colin: farmerschaplian@ ruralnews.co.nz

FARMER’S CHAPLAIN Colin Miller

PRICING EMISSIONS?

Our sheep and beef sector is amongst the most carbon efficient in the world and our sector has reduced its gross GHG emissions by 30% since 1990 while maintaining export volumes and tripling export value.

There is no justification for mandatory emissions pricing on sheep and beef production. We don’t support the Government’s arbitrary pricing deadline of 2025, particularly because it ignores the scale of the issues, and because agriculture is already reducing its methane emissions and will likely hit the government’s target.

We know the current methane targets are too high and are not based on the latest science about the warming impact of different gases.

Introducing a new tax - in the form of mandatory emissions pricing - will compromise, not advance, the efforts already being made by New Zealand farmers, taking money off the bottom line that could be used for on-farm environmental improvements.

It’s a tax seeking to drive a change that’s already happening due to freshwater policies, ETS settings and farmers driving greater efficiency. There is no need for an additional incentive.

Compromising NZ farming businesses will only lead to emissions leakage and less efficient offshore producers filling the gap - increasing global emissions.

If our international customers are looking for change, a farm-level measurement and reporting system is a way for farmers to demonstrate their progress so the market can have confidence in our world-leading products and reward us. That’s why we support focusing on measuring, reporting and benchmarking of farm emissions. It’s important that we get this foundation right. Farmers must also be fairly rewarded for the carbon sequestration occurring on-farm. What rural NZ needs to know is that our efforts and advocacy will continue – we won’t give up until we get the right outcome.

At the same time, we will continue to invest in world-class research, genetics and education to help our sector achieve further efficiency gains and to deliver the tools that farmers need.

All New Zealanders should be proud of the progress NZ farmers have made. While there is still work to be done, we are leading the world in reducing and mitigating on-farm emissions so let’s celebrate that fact.

A message from Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Martin Coup Farmer Director Northern North Island

Scott Gower Farmer Director Western North Island

Geoffrey Young Farmer Director Southern South Island

Patrick Crawshaw Farmer Director Eastern North Island

Nicky Hyslop Farmer Director Central South Island

Sam McIvor Chief Executive Officer

Kate Acland Chair and Farmer Director Northern South Island

Scentist’s lifetime spent down in the weeds

YOU MIGHT say Trevor James has been stuck in the weeds for almost half a century.

But that would not be a true reflection of the progress made in the costly ongoing war against weeds for NZ farmers and growers, with the long-serving AgResearch scientist at the forefront.

“It gives me energy knowing that somebody’s asked a question, and I’ve been able to answer it.

For me, that’s very fulfilling – to be able to help

people,” James says.

That willingness to share his extensive weed knowledge is part of the reason that James was recently awarded the prestigious New Zealand Plant Protection Medal.

It was instituted by the NZ Plant Protection Society to honour “those who have made exceptional contributions to plant protection in the widest sense”.

“The medal is awarded based on outstanding services to plant protection, whether through

research, education, implementation or leadership. Trevor James fits those criteria in every sense of the word,” society president Hayley Ridgway said in presenting the medal.

A book James has coauthored, An Illustrated Guide to Common Weeds of New Zealand, has become “a legacy for the next generation in its knowledge”, Ridgway says.

Around 2002, when yellow bristle grass – a weed that spreads rapidly through pasture

– emerged, James and colleagues worked on it for a long time to find some solutions.

“In the end, we published the Yellow Bristle Grass Ute Guide, which people are still asking me for copies of. It’s onto its fourth edition now, as we have got more knowledge.”

Similar “pocket guides” have been produced for grass and broadleaf weeds, to help guide farmers, growers, landowners and local authorities on how best to manage them. He’s lost count of how many field days and industry group gatherings he’s spoken at over the years.

Raised on a sheep and cattle farm in the Coromandel, James went off

to university to do a science degree. Soon after he gave it up for a job loading railway wagons after his studies weren’t going well. It took a year of this work to realise that what James really wanted was a career in farming or science.

So in 1974, James looked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (MAF) research division at Ruakura in Waikato, where two jobs were going: sorting offal in the abattoir; or working in the field with the weeds team.

“It was a no-brainer. I’d skinned sheep and worked with offal and gutted sheep before, and I did not want more of that,” he explained. “So, I started with the

weeds team and I fell in love with it, basically. We worked with the problems that farmers brought forward – Nodding thistle, ragwort, gorse. At that stage, agchemicals were a newish thing and not widely used or understood.”

As he continued studying and learning his craft over the years that followed, “we were coming into a period where chemical residues were a concern for people”. James got his master’s degree with a focus on chemical residues, and later his PhD.

More recently, James has been leading a government-funded programme tackling the large and looming issue of weed resistance to her-

bicide in New Zealand. The programme has won plaudits for its progress and outreach.

James and a colleague discovered a first case of resistance in New Zealand in 1979, and initially it was just anecdotes and “whispers”.

“Nobody really wanted to talk about it. And when we started this (government programme) it was the same thing. When we set out, we didn’t think there was that much resistance out there –we thought maybe 5% of farms are impacted by some kind of resistance,” he adds.

“By the time we had finished the programme, we learned through our surveys that it was actually 44% of farms impacted by it.”

Looking ahead, James sees change coming in how weeds are managed by farmers and growers.

“It could be market access, it could be people not wanting chemicals, or it could be the technology in other forms becoming competitive in terms of costs,” he says.

Retirement is not on the cards yet for James as the 50-year career milestone looms. “I keep on findings things I want to do. And people, from the farmers and growers up, are such wonderful people to work with.”

AgResearch plant scientist Trevor James inspecting herbicide resistant ryegrass.

Strategic plan for spud growers

NEW POTATOES New Zealand chief executive

Kate Trufitt wants a new strategic plan for the country’s 174 spud growers.

Trufitt, who started in her new role six weeks ago, says growers will help PNZ management and board draw up the new plan.

“To ensure our growers and members are part of this process I am spending time visiting them over the next six months,” Trufitt told Rural News

“The sector has its challenges and it is up to us at PNZ to listen to our stakeholders and develop an enduring plan to ensure longevity and growth for the sector.”

Trufitt, who has held many roles in the

horticulture sector, is keen to take PNZ back to the grower level.

“We have a grower base of around 174, so it’s not a large grower

base and should be fairly simple for my team, and the board, to get around to the growers and understand what they need from PNZ and

also envisage where the industry is going.”

Trufitt also points out that some growers are fourth generation farmers with a lot of experience

growing potatoes. She says she recently met one of the larger potato growing families and was impressed with their knowledge.

“They had all these generations around the table, I was impressed with their wide-ranging knowledge,” Trufitt adds. “They were very welcoming and also open about issues they face and how PNZ can assist them.”

Trufitt, who has over 20 years of experience working in the horticulture sector, believes attracting more people into the hort sector should be a priority.

“There are so many great jobs out there, not just around growing. We must showcase these roles so that the hort sector becomes attractive to young people.”

Trufitt worked in Gisborne for 15 years for a nursery, a processing company and postharvest. She also spent time working in markets

– both local and overseas and in compliance and food safety space. She believes her wideranging knowledge is a perfect balance of experience to take the helm of PNZ. “I love to work for a sector that is passionate about what it does and has a genuine valuebased story,” Trufitt told Rural News. “I am delighted to have been chosen to represent the growers and members of Potato NZ, it is a great opportunity to use my 20-plus years of experience in the horticultural industry.” She says potatoes are the backbone of our diets, and have fantastic nutrients that other carbohydrates don’t have. “They are also great value for money!”

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SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

PNZ chief executive Kate Trufitt wants a new strategic plan for the country’s 174 potato growers.

Cashing in on goat fibre

LAST MONTH’S inaugural New Zealand Cashmere Conference saw the opening of a new fibre processing facility.

The multimilliondollar investment by fibre spinning company Woolyarns Limited cleans and processes cashmere fibre in a process that takes raw cashmere fleece though to a spun yarn on one site.

Cashmere fibre currently returns growers between $110 and $150/ kg.

New Zealand Cashmere Limited director Andy May says the conference was an opportunity for growers to learn about the $4 billion global cashmere fibre market.

“It’s an exciting time for the growth of our sector with farmers taking on cashmere goats

as part of our Foundation Flock Programme,” May says. “We brought over 20 groups of farmers and industry people together to tour our facilities at New Zealand Cashmere and Woolyarns, so they could hear from speakers and share experiences with each other.”

He describes the Lower Hutt facilities as world-class. The modern scour predominantly uses air, steam and lim-

ited amounts of water with organic detergent for cleaning the fibre. The dehairing process then separates the fine cashmere fibres from coarse guard hair of a goat’s coat to produce fibre that can be spun into high value yarn.

“The engineering is special,” May adds. “There’s nothing quite like this that can process fibre of this high quality from a raw fleece all the

way through to a spun yarn on one location in New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, attendees at the conference heard from a range of speakers covering the global

fibre market, innovation, animal management support, market assurance processes, on-farm research and data management, and breeding services. New Zealand

Cashmere business development manager Olivia Sanders says the conference was a good opportunity to bring growers together.

“While some grow-

ers have had goats as part of their farm systems for many years and understand the benefits they can bring to pastures and other stock classes,” she explained. “Many who joined us were looking for diversification options in their farming business and are keen to learn from the experiences of other farmers.”

Sanders added that Woolyarns had relationships with leading European luxury fashion houses that has enabled New Zealand Cashmere to offer long-term fibre contracts to growers.

“We are excited to be building the Foundation Flock programme to meet the demands of our highend luxury brands with fibre that is traceable and has the sustainability credentials these brands are looking for.”

New Zealand Cashmere Limited director Andy May.

Farmers urged to have say on proposed M. bovis plan

FARMERS ARE being encouraged to have their say on a proposal to move the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) eradication programme into a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) as it moves to a new phase.

M. bovis governance group chair Kelvan Smith says eradication partners – DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb New Zealand, and the Ministry for Primary Industries – are seeking farmers’ views on the NPMP.

“With no active confirmed infection in New Zealand we have made good progress, but it hasn’t been easy getting here. The three partners recognise this and want to ensure that the ongoing activity causes minimal disruption to farmers.”

OSPRI has been nominated as the management agency for the NPMP proposal.

Smith claims that with natural synergies in running the M. bovis programme alongside NAIT and the TBFree plan, there is potential for up to $15m in savings across the three programmes.

“We all know how crucial the NAIT system is for the timely tracing of

cattle that may have been in contact with infected cattle. The programme can achieve efficiencies by aligning some aspects of M. bovis testing alongside TB testing,” he adds.

“By combining resources and capability, it will allow the programme to continue to adapt and help strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity system.”

Smith says the efforts and sacrifices of farmers cannot be overstated and the improvements

M. bovis programme numbers, August 2023

• Active Confirmed Properties – 0

• Cleared Confirmed Properties – 280

• Notices of direction (NOD) applied to properties – 2674

• Tests completed – 3,288,732

• Compensation - total paid – $256.2 million

• Compensation claims paid – 2901

required to ensure we are getting the best value for the taxpayer and farmer levy payers.”

While it is expected farmers and rural groups directly affected by M. bovis will notice very little difference under the proposed model, programme partners are seeking feedback on some key changes including:

• Establishment of a National Plan, with

OSPRI appointed as the agency to administer the programme and manage disease to achieve eradication.

• Formalising disease control activities through a set of 15 rules to support the eradication objective.

• New reduced National Plan levy to finance the remainder of the programme.

“The NPMP is open

for consultation and we want to ensure we end up with a model that works for everyone, especially farmers who are most impacted by M. bovis,” Smith says.

“While there is currently no known active infection, it is possible more will be identified before we can declare the job is done and the proposal includes contingency arrangements for OSPRI to eradicate any small numbers of cases of infection subsequently identified in future.”

Feedback on the draft proposal is being sought from those who play an important part in the eradication effort including farmers, meat and

dairy processors, testing labs, and vets. Public consultation runs from 14 August to 25 September.

“We believe our proposal will ensure the programme continues to adapt to the work that remains ahead and make the most of the significant gains made todate. We look forward to reviewing the feedback from the consultation.”

The full NPMP proposal and more information including how to make a submission can be found on the MPI website Administration of the Mycoplasma bovis Eradication Programme www. mpi.govt.nz . Submissions can be made online or through post.

in on-farm biosecurity is heartening. He adds that farmers have been significantly impacted by M. bovis but have also played a key role in the programme making the progress it has. “The current administrative model has worked well, providing the necessary support and resources to get us to where we are now,” he adds. “With the next few years focused on background surveillance, a different model, and some different capability, is

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JCB’s power (electric) loader

WHILE MUCH of the news coming from JCB is centred around its hydrogen combustion developments, it has also been looking at electric solutions as an alternative to its largely ICEbased machine ranges.

The latest electrical addition is the 403E compact electric loader, which is claimed to match the performance of its 403 diesel-powered stablemate. Favouring a lithium-ion battery, rather than the lead-acid connection used in its 30-19E Teletruk, the 20kW/h battery is claimed to last a normal eight-hour day or four to five hours continuous use on a mixed cycle.

Primarily designed for indoor work and portability, the 403E weighs in at 2671kg, but still offers a lift capacity of 972kg with pallet forks. It comes with a pivot height of 2.9m – or 3.1m if optional high lift arms are chosen.

Offered with a choice of three charging options, a 110V socket will fully charge the batteries in 12 hours. Meanwhile, a 230V industrial or domestic plug will offer an eighthour cycle time.

JCB’s own off-board rapid charger delivers a full charge from a threephase power supply in just two hours. This compares to a two-minute battery pack swap for the leadacid powered Teletruk, or a diesel top-up.

LIFTING PRODUCTION

FOLLOWING THE passing of company founder and president Amilcare Merlo late last year, the Turinbased telehandler manufacturer Merlo has recently announced the appointment of a new president and chief executive.

New boss Paulo Merlo says the goal for the next three years will be to produce 10,000 telehandlers a year, complemented by around 25,000 attachments. He says this will be achieved by significant investments – including new production lines at the company’s 330,000m² Italian site.

The Merlo Group has nine specialised in-house companies, including subsidiaries in France, Germany, UK, Spain, Poland, Australia, alongside a distribution network of over 80 importers and 600 dealers worldwide.

“There are still many applications and areas where we can grow, our business,” Merlo explains. “We aim to strengthen our historical markets, starting with Italy and the countries where we are present with subsidiaries and importers.”

He adds that, at the same time, the company also intends to expand into markets that are relatively new to it but there is still plenty of room for growth.

“In the USA we have just established our new subsidiary Merlo America and we are also strengthening our presence in Asia.”

MARK

JCB’s 403E compact electric loader is claimed to match the performance of its 403 diesel-powered stablemate.

Claas unleashes new beast

and it delivers all three in spades,” he claims.

CLAAS HAS made good on its promise to take the high horsepower tractor market head-on with the release of its XERION 12 series.

Engineered specifically for broadacre markets, the machine packs a super-efficient 653 or 583 horsepower engine, 914mm tracks, updated hydraulics and a new luxury cabin with fourpoint suspension.

Claas Harvest Centre product manager – tractors, Paul Holdaway, says the new series is the result of six years of research and development and 10,000 hours of field testing across five countries.

“XERION 12 is all about performance, comfort and productivity –

With a maximum power output of 653hp and 3100Nm of torque at just 1300rpm, the Xerion 12 is currently the most powerful four-wheeldrive tracked tractor on the market.

It is also the only one equipped with a continuously variable transmission as standard – alongside the highest hydraulic flow and the largest cabin in its class. The CVT splits the power transmission between the hydraulic and straight mechanical connection. The former is used to start off before the effort is gradually passed to the mechanical side as the speed increases.

This characteristic means that implements are protected by avoiding peak loads on the frame

structures and hitching devices caused by abrupt shifting or engaging and disengaging with the implement in working position.

XERION 12 is powered by the same 15.6L sixcylinder Mercedes-Benz

OM473 engine – found in LEXION combine harvesters and JAGUAR forage harvesters. This is coupled to the ZF continuously variable transmission for optimal power transfer to the ground or rear PTO – even at low

speeds or under heavy operating conditions.

“This intelligent drivetrain, coupled with Claas’ highly successful ‘high torque, low rpm’ concept, ensures fuel-efficient operation,” Holdaway adds. “Independent test-

ing has shown fuel consumption per hour is 8 to 10 percent less than other tractors in this category.”

TERRA TRAC models are equipped with newly developed triangular crawler units and 914mm or 762mm tracks, while

wheeled alternatives can be fitted with 800/70 R42 dual or 900/60 R42 single tyres.

All models can be configured with up to eight double-acting control spool valves and three load-sensing hydraulic pumps. This delivers a combined flow rate of 537 L/min, meaning even the biggest air-seeders – with a continuously high oil demand – can be operated more efficiently at reduced engine speed.

New Zealand growers will have to wait until at least 2025 before the new series lands in this country, due to anticipated in the North American and European markets. However, it will also allow customers to have the choice of either a Stage 5 or Stage 3 engine.

BIG DNA

Claas’ new XERION 12 series is set to take the high horsepower tractor market head-on.

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Origin Ag showcases its new line-up

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

ORIGIN AG is New Zealand’s only farm machinery co-operative and owned by a group of farm machinery retailers.

It was set-up in 2004 to provide its members and their customers with high quality farm equipment directly from the manufacturers.

Over time, the company has experienced formi-

dable growth and has firmly positioned itself on the NZ farm machinery scene.

Managing director David Donnelly says cooperatives are founded on strong values, and Origin

Ag puts these into practice every day.

The company imports its products directly from overseas manufacturers, including well-known names such as Pöttinger, Alpego, Bogballe, Hat-

JCB SERIES III

zenbichler, Gascon and Joskin.

Its recent annual conference, held at the Mystery Creek Event Centre, used the main building to showcase the existing and new products to an audience of sales teams from throughout NZ. The event also brought together key personnel from overseas suppliers.

This included Jacques Duyckaerts from Joskin, Alex Zaffonato, export area manager of Alpego, Markus Gahleitner of Pöttinger Austria and Ben Mitchell, sales & service manager for Pöttinger in Australia.

European-based personnel explained the difficulties experienced during the Covid-19 and the Ukrainian tensions. They said this had led to short working, reduced production and difficulties in acquiring raw materials and components.

However, they all suggested that in the last six months or so there has been a move back to normality, with major investment in new factories and infrastructure and a host of new products in the pipeline.

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE IT, A JCB SERIES III CAN LIFT IT.

Some farmers think a telehandler is for the big farms or best suited to European or North American operations. But you’ll be surprised to know that telehandlers are the fastest growing on-farm utility category in the New Zealand market. You’ll also be surprised by what you can do with a LOADALL and how much it improves productivity on all types of farms. You won’t however be surprised to know that the JCB SERIES III is the world’s No.1 LOADALL.

With the grass harvest season approaching quickly, Origin took the opportunity to introduce the new Pöttinger TOP 882C twin rotor rake to their range of popular centre-delivery swathers.

Like its predecessor, the TOP 882C, the new machine is said to

offer excellent tracking, manoeuvrability and high output. It has a working width of 7.7m – 8.80m and swath width adjustment of 1.3m to 2.6m.

Despite a rotor diameter of 3.7m, the transport height – without removing the tine arms – is still below 4m.

It features suspension control springs, working in conjunction with the MultiTast jockey wheel system and a 5-wheel chassis that delivers the best ground tracking and reduced dirt ingress in the forage.

The MultiTast wheel tracks hit the ground immediately in front of the tines and responds to each undulation. With the new TOP 882C, the new Flowtast glide bar is available as an option, replacing the conventional rotor chassis wheels, with a glide bar for particularly challenging ground conditions.

This system glides over uneven deep plugging, peat, holes and wheel marks, making it suitable for soft and damp soil conditions.

An extended machine life is ensured by using special wear-resistant plastic, with each glide bar consisting of five individually exchangeable 15mm thick plates.

An individual rotor lifting system – with electrical preselect for raking headlands and field borders – is also available as an additional option.

Origin Ag’s recent annual conference saw an opportunity for the company to showcase its existing and new products to sales teams and dealers from throughout NZ.

John Deere’s NZ technician winners are grinners!

AS PART of an ongoing initiative to recognise the importance of service and parts technicians, John Deere ANZ recently held its third annual Technician of the Year Awards at a Gala event in Brisbane.

More than 100 technicians across Australia and NZ were nominated by their dealerships – with input from customers.

The 30 finalists travelled to JD’s Australian headquarters in Brisbane to be put through a rigorous assessment process, testing diagnostic capabilities, technical knowledge and customer service skills.

Three talented New Zealanders claimed a range of the top titles, with Bryce Dickson and Jimmy O’Donnell being named the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year and Parts Technician of the Year respectively. Meanwhile, Mark Haughton took out

the Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year Award ahead of two Australians and a fellow New Zealander.

John Deere NZ, Agriculture & Turf Technician of the Year, Bryce Dickson, works for Brandt, at Whangarei in Northland.

This year’s win marks the second time he has taken out the honour, after first being named Technician of the Year at the inaugural awards in 2021.

“The most rewarding part about being a technician is the support you get from John Deere on products,” he says. “Which gives you the confidence to go out in the field and talk about them.”

NZ Parts Technician of the Year, Jimmy O’Donnell, works for Drummond & Etheridge in Blenheim, Marlborough. Two years after taking up the role of parts technician at his local JD depot, hard work and commitment has led to him winning this award.

“The most rewarding

part about being a John Deere technician is the customer interaction and providing the parts that the customers ask for,” O’Donnell says. “Once they get them in their hand, they walk away happy.”

John Deere Construc-

tion & Forestry Technician of the Year, Mark Haughton, also works at Drummond & Etheridge, but at its Rolleston branch in Canterbury.

Haughton’s latest success follows him first securing the same title at the inaugural John Deere

Technician Awards in 2021. A native of Wales, Haughton says he enjoy the daily interaction with customers.

“I work pretty hard for them, so I’m thrilled that it’s being rewarded.”

John Deere ANZ managing director, Luke

Chandler, congratulated each of the New Zealand winners and emphasised how important their work was to prosperous industries and their local communities.

“Bryce, Jimmy and Mark have demonstrated exemplary performance

among a high calibre field of finalists and should be incredibly proud of their efforts in taking home their respective awards.”

Chandler added that with technological advances driving industry growth, future demand for technicians across rural centres in New Zealand continues to increase.

According to JD ANZ’s director of aftermarket and customer support, Emma Ford, this commitment is made clear by the statistics from the company’s online learning portal. It shows that between Australia and New Zealand, parts technicians accrued 7000 parts credit training hours, while service technicians achieved 30,000 service credit training hours.

“These awards raise the profile of John Deere on farms and in our communities and are a wonderful platform to promote the careers available in our industry,” she added.

■ Ideal for

■ Variable speed from 2600-3500 rpm.

■ Latest brushless motor technology means minimal heat build up

■ 1400gms means 100-200gms lighter than standard handpiece.

■ At 2800 rpm the 12-volt lithium battery will crutch 300-400 sheep or trim up to 400-500 cow’s tails.

■ Tough alloy switch box with auto rest fuse for overload or lockup – clips to belt.

NZ Winners: L to R Bryce Dixon, Jimmy O Donnell and Mark Haughton.

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