TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS
FARMER PERCEPTIONS of current economic conditions have risen to their highest level in almost a decade.
Results of Federated Farmers latest Farm Confidence survey released this week (next week) found a net 33% of respondents believe conditions are currently good, a dramatic turnaround from the record low of -66% just a year ago, and up from 2% in January this year.
The turnaround in farmer confidence comes on the back of lower interest rates, strong dairy and meat prices, and government cuts to excessive red tape.
More farmers are also confident of profitability: confidence about current farm profitability is at the highest level ever recorded in the survey, with a net 65% of farmers feeling confident about profitability – up 12 points since January.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the survey shows the rural mood has improved significantly this year, rebounding from record lows 12 months ago.
“Farming families have been through some really tough years recently and that’s weighed heavily on our rural communities,” says Langford.
“For the last few seasons, we’ve been farming with sky-high interest rates, rising on-farm costs, fluctuating incomes, and a web of red tape that felt near impossible to navigate.
“It’s great to see our July survey showing many farmers are feeling a whole lot more positive, thanks to
better returns, lower interest rates, and easing inflation.
“We’ve also seen a government that’s been willing to work with farmers and scrap some of the most unworkable, impractical rules that were killing the rural economy.”
Langford says lifting farmers’ confidence has been his number one focus since stepping into the role as president and he’s taken that
responsibility seriously.
“We took a long hard look at what was concerning farmers the most back in 2023 and came out with 12 key policy changes for the next government to implement.
“We called it a ‘roadmap for restoring farmer confidence’ and we’ve been relentless in pursuing the changes we knew would make the biggest difference behind the farm gate.”
That list included fixing unworkable freshwater rules, getting RMA reform right, urgently reviewing our methane reduction targets, and rethinking the rules for carbon forestry.
“The Government has really listened to farmers, got stuck in making some much-needed changes, and they’ve essentially ticked 11 of those 12 policy priorities off the list.”
Langford points out that it’s impor-
tant to note that not all farmers are feeling positive, with arable farmers in particular continuing to face significant headwinds and challenges.
“Many arable farmers aren’t even breaking even, and let’s not forget the farmers in Nelson Tasman who are facing a very long recovery after the recent flooding.”
The survey found that while confidence in current conditions is high, the forward-looking indicators have started to soften.
A net 6% of farmers expect economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months – still in positive territory, but well down from 23% in January. Future profitability expectations are also softer, sitting at a net 18%, down from 31% earlier this year.
The dairy sector led the decline, with expectations dropping 32 points, likely due to concerns about poorer milk prices, while meat and wool remains most upbeat.
“There’s still plenty of uncertainty on the horizon,” Langford says.
“Commodity price volatility, arable sector struggles, and global market jitters are making farmers a bit more cautious about what’s coming.”
Despite global uncertainty, farmers remain focused on strengthening their financial footing, with 43% planning to reduce debt in the next 12 months, almost double from a year ago.
“Farmers are using the breathing room from lower interest rates and improved profitability to pay down debt and build resilience. That’s smart business,” Langford says.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says it’s great to see many farmers are feeling a whole lot more positive.
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No evidence on banks colluding on lending policies – ComCom
sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
FEDERATED FARMERS is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
This follows the Commerce Commission rejecting a complaint from Federated Farmers that alleged potentially anti-competitive, coordinated, cartel-like behaviour involving five major banks – ANZ, ASB, Bank of New Zealand, Rabobank and Westpac – in their association with the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
The Commission says it has investigated and found no evidence to support Federated Farmers’ complaint.
The five banks collectively account for around 97% of New Zealand’s agricultural lending market.
Federated Farmers’ new banking spokesman Mark Hooper told Rural News that they are incredibly disappointed by the Commerce Commission’s ruling.
“Of course we disagree with their findings, but they’ve made their decision.
“Federated Farmers are still strongly opposed to the way our banks are behaving and their treatment of farmers. We’ll also continue to oppose the Net Zero Banking Alliance as a concept.”
However, the federation has no plans to appeal the Commerce Commission decision through the courts. Hooper believes the case has run its course.
“Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to appeal the decision either. We’re a voluntary membership organisation that runs off the smell of an oily rag.
“Our pockets simply aren’t deep enough to go up against these big foreign-owned banks who have endless armies of lawyers, lobbyists and PR consultants.
“Between them they’ve got over a trillion dollars in assets.”
Hooper says Feds will change tack and refocus attention on the parliamentary banking inquiry.
“That’s our best bet to hold these banks accountable for their actions and get some meaningful change.
“The findings of that inquiry should be due back in the next month or so, and we’re expecting to see some meaningful changes for farmers through that process.”
New Zealand Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont told
Rural News that they were not surprised by the outcome.
“We were not surprised that the Commerce Commission found no evidence to support the allegation because our banks are fiercely competitive and take great care to comply with their competition law obligations,” says Beaumont.
ACT MP and rural affairs spokesman Mark Cameron says he wasn’t also surprised by the ComCom decision.
“Some may say it was a foregone conclusion of the old boys’ club of the dusty board room of the ComCom. Not for me to decide.
“However, the wider question is how was is that so many farmers felt that they were playing on a tilted playing field.”
Commerce Commission general manager competition, fair trading and credit Vanessa Horne says the complaint, received last December, alleged the banks were coordinating their agricultural lending policies to align with Net-Zero Banking Alliance strategies and targets. It alleged that, in doing so, the banks were potentially acting anticompetitively, in breach of the Commerce Act.
The complaint also raised concerns that this alleged coordination could reduce farmers’ access to capital, resulting in higher borrowing costs and stricter lending terms.
$6m expansion for woollen yarn plant
LISTED CARPET manufacturer,
Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The company says the expansion marks a key stage in its return to full domestic production of its woollen
yarns and a boost to local employment.
Bremworth chief executive Craig Woolford, says the investment is designed to ensure greater efficiency, product and quality control and significant lead time improvements, while avoiding excess capacity.
He says they plan to operate three
shifts 24 hours a day, every weekday and will hire up to 40 new staff to accommodate expected demand.
“As a result of the cyclone, most of our Hawke’s Bay facility was taken offline.
“To maintain carpet production, we introduced a hybrid yarn supply model which saw increased quantity
of our yarns processed externally, including offshore. Rather than just reinstating everything, we’ve taken the opportunity to rebuild smarter –in the process, allowing us to ramp up yarn capacity as demand grows,” says Woolford.
for Compartment Troughs/Tanks
SUDESH KISSUN
Federated Farmers’ new banking spokesman Mark Hooper says they will continue to oppose the Net Zero Banking Alliance as a concept.
Processors helping nurture China red meat promotion
MEAT INDUSTRY Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector’s key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
At last week’s Red Meat Sector Conference in Christchurch, Guy told Rural News that Taste Pure Nature has “been around for a while,” and while Beef + Lamb pushed it hard, it never had 100% processor support.
“So now it’s processor driven, the marketing managers are all over the strategy.”
At the recent China Business Summit, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon laid down a challenge of sorts to the red meat sector, saying while our red meat sector has
“built
a big business in North America”, New
NEW EXPORT STRATEGY
NEW ZEALAND’S red meat sector has unveiled a new strategy to boost export returns, as new analysis shows non-tariff trade barriers (NTBs) are costing the industry an estimated $1.5 billion every year.
The Meat Industry Association (MIA) and Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) launched their biennial Barriers to International Trade report and joint value-growth strategy, Our Pathway to Growing Value, at the Red Meat Sector Conference in Christchurch last week.
MIA Independent chair Nathan Guy says the two documents clearly show the opportunity to unlock significant economic value through trade policy and improved market access.
“When used appropriately, nontariff measures can deliver genuine consumer benefits such as sciencebased biosecurity and food safety requirements, or sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
“But when they add cost without value, they become barriers to trade, dragging down the sector and
Zealand “probably needs to do a better job in our
reducing returns for farmers, processors, and the wider economy.
“That’s why we’ve released this year’s Barriers to International Trade report alongside our new strategy.
“Together, they provide a roadmap for working with government and trading partners to systematically reduce these barriers and grow value across the sector.
“If we get this right, it means more money back into farmers’ pockets, and more reinvestment in processing innovation and sector growth.”
marketing story relative to the Australians”.
In China, Taste Pure Nature is part of the answer to that challenge, says Guy.
“It’s a focus in on Shanghai, because it’s one of the most sort of Western-aligned cities in China. It’s an $8 million dollar program over three years, $2 million from Beef+Lamb, $2 million from MIA and $4 million from government… and it’s all about trying to market and promote our attributes, which are: grass-fed animals outdoors are a highly nutritious food, safely produced in a sustainable way.”
He acknowledges the scale of challenge in growing market share in China, saying “our lunch has been cut” by a very competitive and congested market.
“There are 42 countries with similar access to what New Zealand has got. We had first mover advantage with the FTA (free trade agreement), but there’s a lot of grainfed beef that’s going into China and our grass-fed is seen as inferior.”
He says we need to push the attributes of our red meat, which are a good match for consumers “focused on health and wellness”.
“We produce a product that should be priced
GRASS VS GRAIN
MIA CHAIR Nathan Guy thinks education about how to cook grass-fed meat is part of the challenge of closing the gap between grain-fed and grass-fed meat in the eyes of Chinese buyers.
He says a lot of our product is too good to just go into a hot pot.
“So, we need to be aiming and aspiring for the white tablecloth restaurants in Shanghai.
“Shanghai’s population is nearly 25 million. There is a lot of wealthy consumers in China. Yes, understand that their economy has slowed a little bit, but still, at 4.5% GDP, it is significant growth, and we’ve got the opportunity where we pitch our marketing initiative at the wealthiest consumers.
“A lot of its storytelling, a lot of it’s being positive about our product and trying to differentiate our product from others. We believe Taste Pure Nature and Shanghai will raise our profile in a congested market, but there is still more value to realise.”
higher than grain fed. At the moment, there’s a premium on grain fed, so we need to do our utmost to promote (our product), hence we’re doing this joint marketing initiative.”
In June this year, MIA and the Prime Minister launched the next phase of Pure Taste Nature in China, with a refreshed logo and the PM presenting official Taste Pure Nature authorisation plaques to key Chinese business partners. MIA said at the time, “This recognition acknowledges the contribution of the Chinese retailers and distributors, but also serves as a key market differentiator, providing consumers with a visible symbol
of authenticity and quality”.
Guys says it will be up to companies to decide if they want to put stickers on their packs with the brand, New Zealand, Taste Pure Nature, and if they want to put leaflets in their boxes, they’ve got plaques they can display at the point of sale for consumers.
“Because when I’ve been up to China recently, I just realised that our message is a little bit silent, so we need to amplify that and base it on our natural attributes. to ensure that we can drive up our returns for processes and farmers.”
ADAM FRICKER
MIA independent chair Nathan Guy.
Keeping up with China
KEEP UP with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Delivering kiwifruit by drone and selling meat on an electric vehicle digital platform – when it comes to innovation and e-commerce, China is proving a world leader. However, New Zealand food producers are being cautioned not to take the Chinese market for granted but to keep up with trends or risk losing market share to competitors.
At the day-long event, attended by over 400 people including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, New Zealand agribusiness leaders highlighted innovation in the
Chinese market and how it’s helping their companies increase sales and boost returns for growers and farmers back home.
Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake told the event that innovation changes are happening rapidly, and the company needs to be in China to expand and build capability and keep pace with changes. Zespri does 40% of its business in China online and it is essential for the company to keep up with e-commerce.
“They are now delivering kiwifruit via drones to anywhere you are - you go online and buy kiwifruit, and it gets delivered by drone.
“You can’t keep up with that if you operate out of NZ,” he says.
Te Brake says he enjoys going to China.
“Because every time you go, you learn something new. We’ve got a globally leading supply
in China because our partners have invested heavily in new technology and new automation; we show them to our other partners around the world.”
Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton told the summit that
if people think that sustainability doesn’t matter for the Chinese market, then “they are a long way wrong”.
Boulton gave an example of electric car company NIO, which is building a ‘lifestyle club culture’ among Chinese
consumers. The EV company is selling products aligned with its values. SFF sold 30,000 packs of grass-fed NZ beef in one week on the car company’s platform.
“This is on an EV car digital platform, one example of the different business models operating in China.”
Speaking at the event, Fonterra president global ingredients Richard Allen noted that innovation has been one of the big stories for the co-op in China – across both food service and ingredients.
“In our food service business, we’ve invested significantly in developing our local innovation capability.
“We have six application centres across mainland China, and within those we have over 50 chefs who work closely with our customers across the region, really ensuring that we take
DAIRY SEASON OFF TO A FLYING START
NEW ZEALAND milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
While June and July, are the seasonal lows and their milk production numbers don’t typically draw much attention, ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly believes the stars are aligning for a strong spring – from August to October – led by a signal from the market that the world needs more milk.
Dilly says high global dairy prices are encouraging farmers to increase production where possible, both in New Zealand and overseas.
Fonterra’s opening milk price is $10/kgMS and falls within a wide forecast range of $8 to $11/kgMS. ANZ is also forecasting a milk price of $10.
The milk production boost is driven by good pasture growth over winter, providing plenty of feed available under foot. This includes a recovery from drought conditions that impacted Waikato and Taranaki from January to March 2025.
Dilly notes that great reproduction metrics, particularly the 6-week in-calf rate, mean more cows ready to be milked earlier in the season.
“The metrics were good last year and even better this year,” he says.
This winter’s dairy cow cull numbers are roughly 8% lower than last year. Farmers have been drying off their herds as late as possible, and they are also likely to keep older cows past their ‘best before’ date to boost production in 2025/26.
Dilly says a surge in palm kernel expeller (PKE) imports - up 34% in
the best of New Zealand dairy and we apply that to local tastes and local trends.
“And that has been a big part that’s underpinned our growth.”
China is New Zealand’s number one market. It represents about $18 billion of trade, or on a daily rate, it’s $50 million of trade a day. NZ’s next biggest market is the US, equating to about $7 billion, then Australia at around $5 billion.
However, despite the stats, nothing can be taken for granted.
Ministry for Primary Industries chief transformation officer Jenny Cameron pointed out that China is also now the number one market for over 100 other countries.
“We are a tiny player in the Chinese economy, so we cannot take that position for granted.
the past year - should provide support on the shoulders of the coming season.
“Last season’s milk production was up 3.0%, the largest year on year gain since 2014/15,” he says.
The weather was very good last year despite challenges in Southland, Taranaki, and Waikato.
“The extra feed on hand this year provides a buffer, but the weather tends to drive milk production in New Zealand, says Dilly.
“It is hard to make large gains two years in a row, but with the stars
“We must maintain that sophistication and innovation in those distribution channels. The Chinese demographic is changing; consumer and customer expectations are rising all the time.”
Trade Minister Todd McClay agrees.
He says that while NZ can celebrate being the first country to have a full trade agreement with China, things have changed.
“We sort of had the playing field to ourselves, for a little bit alone for a long time. If you go to China now, that’s not the case.
“Everyone in the world is there. They’re playing, you know, very aggressive catch-up to New Zealand.
“And although their products are not as high quality, they’re not as good, they’re not as tasty as ours, sometimes they’re not bad either.”
aligning, growth of 1-3% should be attainable in 2025/26 if the weather cooperates. The expansion signal from the market is much stronger this year – recall Fonterra’s opening milk price was just $8/kgMS last year – and Southland should rebound with vigour.
“If this comes to pass, it would be the second straight year of high prices and high output, a rare and very welcome combination for New Zealand’s rural sector.”
chain
Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake says he enjoys going to China, because “every time you go, you learn something new”.
Stress mounts after Tasman floods
HORT TAKES A HIT
PEOPLE AFFECTED by the recent two severe flood events in the Tasman district are weary and exhausted trying to deal with the devastation on their farms and orchards, according to the head of the Rural Support Trust (RST) in the region.
Richard Kempthorne says for some, it’s challenging, and for others, “hugely challenging”.
The combined effects of the two flood events within a matter of days have seen land washed away by the Motueka River, fences severely damaged, pasture and orchards covered in silt and debris other farm infrastructure such as farm tracks and buildings destroyed.
Kempthorne says the recovery has started and it’s going to be a very long journey because some properties have suffered severe damage.
“These people are going to take some time to first work out what to do and then do what needs to be done.
“From the local council point of view, this has been a massive flood which has done enormous damage [around]
HORTNZ CEO Kate Scott says they are starting to see the substantial cumulative effects on their members of the two disastrous flood events.
She says the second one resulted in significantly more impact, not just in different areas but for additional growers. She says there are reports that some growers have lost large areas of land that has just been swept away by the Motueka River
“Not only are we seeing a lot of silt and debris damage in orchards, but sheds, houses, cool stores, packhouses and worker accommodation have also been damaged,” she says.
Scott says the fact that the floods weren’t at key harvest time was something of a blessing. But she adds, the impacts of the floods may not be known for weeks, months and perhaps years. She says orchardists and growers from Hawke’s Bay hit by Cyclone Gabrielle have been very forthcoming in sharing their knowledge on how to deal with a similar situation.
“They learned ways of dealing with trees that were lying in degrees of water and silt and the risk or root rot, and this knowledge will give Nelson Tasman growers the best shot at dealing with the crisis they are facing,” she says.
Scott says HortNZ has staff in the region and they are playing a facilitation role, supporting growers. She says HortNZ is speaking to government on almost a daily basis to ensure they are fully aware of the extent of the crisis in the region.
the river, including the river changing its course,” he says.
Kempthorne says river engineers are going to have to have look and see what can be done immediately and what needs to be done in the longer term. This has significant implications for property owners adjacent to river and there will be many
discussions in the next weeks and months.
He says the RST is helping to connect the worst affected farmers to Enhanced Task Force Green, which is just about to get started with the cleanup. He says many farmers will need help removing stones and silt or resowing new grass on the silt.
STATE HELP
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS including the Prime Minister have been down to Tasman to get a first-hand look at the extent of the damage. They have put in $500,000 to help with the recovery in the primary sector, and a one-off grant of $50,000 to help the student army get out and help farmers and orchardists clean up their damaged properties. And much to the delight of the region,
“They have also got to look at fencing and how they replace what has been destroyed. They have to decide whether they put up more resilient fencing that can withstand the type of
the Government has found the money to fund a new Tasman/Nelson weather radar to improve severe weather monitoring.
The region has been asking for this for many years. The cost of $5 million to set up the station and a further $800,000 to operate the system will come out of the existing Met Service budget.
event the region has just experienced, because more events like this will likely occur,” he says.
Kempthorne understands why some people who’ve been badly hit by the floods are angry and upset at the lack of immediate government funding to help them out. He says after an event like this, adrenalin kicks in as they deal with the immediate issue. This is often followed by people
Healthy Ageing for Rural People
going into a slump, followed by anger. But in the final analysis, he says the reality is that the local council and the Government must come up with a very accurate and sound estimate of the cost to fix the problem. He says this will be in the multi millions of dollars.
Kempthorne says in the meantime, farmers and orchardists who live by the river need to focus on repairing their damaged properties, then think about the future.
@rural_news
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Many Tasman farmers will need help removing stones and silt or resowing new grass on the silt.
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New Waikato medical school ‘a boost for rural health’
RURAL HEALTH advocates say the Government’s decision to establish a new medical school at the University of Waikato augurs well for the rural sector.
Rural Health Network
(Hauora Taiwhenua)
chief executive Grant Davidson said that they were “excited by the long awaited announcement” of a third medical school, particularly given the emphasis on rurality in the announcement.
“This will complement the excellent training programmes already in operation at Auckland and Otago, while providing a graduate-entry
option with strong community immersion. It will give hope to rural general practice that the continuance of a targeted workforce for rural communities is important to this government.”
Davidson said that research has shown that rural-origin students trained in rural areas by rural health professionals were six times more likely to work in rural areas post-graduation.
“While graduates from the Waikato programme will be able to follow any medical specialty, we hope that by having more exposure during the training to general practice, a higher percentage of graduates will see the benefits of working in the community.”
Davidson added that Hauora Taiwhenua was encouraged that “our collective efforts to empower our rural com-
munities by ensuring they have access to high-quality healthcare services, delivered by professionals who understand and are committed to rural values and needs, has
been heard”.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said that with $82.85 million in government funding and over $150 million from the university, supported by philanthropic investment, the new school would have a strong focus on primary care and rural health.
The school will offer a graduate-entry programme, providing a flexible new pathway into medicine that helps attract a broader range of students and build a stronger, more diverse workforce.
“It’s an innovative model that supports our focus on strengthening primary care, making it
easier for people to see their doctor – helping Kiwis stay well and out of hospital,” said Brown.
“It also builds on the university’s recent additions of nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes, demonstrating a strong and growing commitment to developing New Zealand’s health workforce.”
Brown says the school will build on the Government’s investment in the health system and workforce by adding another 120 doctor training places per year starting 2028, on top of 100 additional medical training places being added over the term of this Government across the universities of
Auckland and Otago.
Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti says the decision is a significant step forward for both the University of Waikato and tertiary education in the wider region.
“It strengthens the university’s position as a leader in education, training, and research, and creates new academic and economic opportunities for Hamilton, the Waikato, and rural communities.
“By expanding access to medical training, we’re creating new opportunities for students from across the region and beyond, while also helping to future-proof the local workforce.”
LEO ARGENT
Rural Health Network chief executive Grant Davidson.
Farmers back plan change ban
THERE’S BEEN widespread support from the primary sector for the Government’s move to put the brakes on local authorities to do any more work on planning changes ahead of major changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Federated Farmers and Beef+Lamb NZ have both praised the Government’s action, saying it will give greater clarity to farmers.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says much of the planning changes that local authorities were about to start work on would not be completed or implemented by the time the new RMA changes would be made in the next couple of years.
“So rather than let these pricey, pointless
planning and policy processes play out, the Government will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system,” he says.
Under the Government’s new directive, only plans that have reached the ‘hearing stage’ can proceed, but the notification of any new changes is now prohibited. There is a provision for a local authority to appeal to go ahead with a plan change in exceptional circumstances, mainly around natural hazards.
But Bishop says he wants to make it clear that stopping plan changes does not mean stopping progress on work that supports the Government’s priorities in areas like housing, intensification and urban development.
B+LNZ chair
Kate Acland says the announcement provides farmers with further clarity over the coming months. She says they have repeatedly raised
concerns about rules coming out of regional planning processes, with significant implications for farmers.
She says last year the Government restricted regional councils from
notifying any freshwater planning instruments before 31 December 2025, but that date was looming before any new rules were in place.
“Without a further delay, councils would
CONVISO SMART brings higher germination and greater flexibility.
Down in Woodlands is Horizon Flowers’ famous tulip farm managed by Roy Smak. The Smak family came over from Holland more than 30 years ago to help Horizon grow tulips in Southland’s ideal tulipgrowing climate and soil. When they’re not in tulips, some of the paddocks are leased and planted in sugar and fodder beet by local agricultural contractor and farmer, Erik Smak.
Erik’s contracting business covers a wide area from South Otago right down to the bottom of Southland. He not only grows the beet but runs his own big, self-propelled beet harvester to lift sugar beet for sale to farmers for winter feed.
We caught up with Erik on the Horizon Flowers farm to talk about his operation and the KWS CONVISO® SMART system.
Cleaner crops. No more gaps. The benefits of the CONVISO SMART system to Erik are more than sugarbeet bred to be herbicide
tolerant. It’s the high germination rates that have impressed him, as Erik explains.
“With KWS, we’ve grown both sugarbeet and grazing fodderbeet and both have very high germination rates. It comes up nice and even - I don’t like seeing gaps - plus it’s very palatable to cows.”
As a contractor, you want to get the most out of the land you’re leasing: it’s all about yields and efficiency. Higher germination means every seed planted is going to grow. Flexibility on spray dates and crop stage spraying is also key in Southland as weather can get in the way.
“The spray system that KWS gave me, completely knocked out every weed and the crop is very, very clean and healthy because of that. Definitely give it a go. It’s an easy, simple system with good proven results. So, if you’re considering it, just go and do it,” vouches Erik.
have restarted their processes based on the current rules. It’s therefore positive to see this deadline pushed out further, as it is something we’d been asking for,” she says.
Federated Farmers
RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says councils across New Zealand have been continuing to push ahead with new district plans that put farms under restrictive overlays, such as Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Significant Natural Areas.
He says this is despite the fact that any plan changes may only have a shelf life of months, given the Government intends to pass a new Resource Management Act next year.
“It’s a huge waste of time – and ratepayers’ money.”
Hooper says work on these new rules is pointless when the current RMA will be scrapped within 12 months and all the councils are doing is creating angst and confusion, and wasting bucketloads of ratepayer money.
Erik Smak, Grazier/Contractor - Woodlands, Southland
SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ERIK SMAK
B+LNZ chair Kate Acland says the announcement provides farmers with further clarity.
Solid result for farmer co-op
HERD IMPROVEMENT
company LIC has ended the 2024-25 financial year in a strong position –debt free and almost quadrupling its net profit.
The farmer-owned cooperative’s total revenue jumped 10% to $295 million on the back of increased investment by farmers into their herds.
Net profit after tax reached $30.6 million, up from $7.7m the previous year. Farmer shareholders will receive a dividend of 12.22c/share, totalling $17.4m.
LIC board chair Corrigan Sowman says the co-operative is pleased to deliver such a positive result for farmer owners, especially one which reflects the hard work that has been put in to ensure value behind the farm gate.
“In the past 12 months
ciation and amortisation compared to last year and operating cashflows increased by $16.3m year on year on the back of improved underlying earnings and prudent capital management.
The co-operative continued to invest into Research and Development, representing a 6% increase on last year at $22.5m.
important initiative to replace aging legacy systems and improve customer experience, making the co-operative easier to work with.
“This investment is predominantly into software as a service (SaaS) tools, the costs of which are generally expensed as incurred, rather than amortised over future financial periods.
we have seen Non-Return Rates (NRR) of our fresh sexed semen lift to within 1% of conventional semen, we have had close to 1.5 million animals genotyped through our GeneMark Genomics programme and we have continued to work with our industry partners to increase the number of integrations avail-
able through our MINDA Herd Improvement platform,” says Sowman.
“Whether it’s allowing farmers to generate more replacement heifers from their top performing cows, increase certainty around parentage or reduce time spent on paperwork, our co-opera-
tive is focused on putting farmers and their herds at the heart of everything we do.”
Revenue has increased by 10.4% as farmer shareholders invested further into their herds and the co-operative achieved a 14.8% improvement in underlying earnings,
excluding the one-off negative impacts of the semen quality issue and the tax deductibility on commercial buildings change included in last year’s financial result.
For the current financial year, the co-operative expects underlying earnings to be in the range of $18-22 million, assuming no significant events, including climate events, or milk price changes takes place between now and then.
The co-operative will also continue to invest in R&D with the next stage of its methane research due to get underway in the last quarter of 2025. The
Recent years’ investments in digital capability have resulted in a $4m increase in depre-
“For the purposes of determining the underlying earnings of LIC, this expenditure will be excluded. Reported Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) will be negatively impacted by the implementation costs incurred within a given year.”
From the 2025/26 year, LIC is planning a multiyear investment into customer facing systems and process improvement. It says this is an
LIC chair Corrigan Sowman says the positive result reflects hard work that has been put in to ensure value behind the farm gate.
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DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther.
Tractor sales: signs of life but no boom yet
WITH JUNE ending and following the most upbeat National Fieldays for several years, tractor dealers are reporting a lift in sales.
The Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) is reporting that tractor sales, often the barometer of how agribusiness is feeling, have increased in the January to June period by 7.5% across the country, compared to the same period in 2024.
Totals sales reached 1252 units overall, with the North Island up around 8.1% at 811 units year to date and the
South Island climbing by 5.8% to 441 tractors. Of the overall total tractors sold, 0 to 40hp made up 20% of the market, 40 to 100hp achieved 23.5%, 100 to 150hp was the key sector with a 39% share, 150 to 200hp came in at 11.5% and over 200hp recorded just 6% of sales YTD.
TAMA president Jaiden Drought says the market remains a little soft, despite a significant increase in rural confidence.
“Fieldays was positive for most exhibitors, with reports of plenty of lead generation, although at this stage, those enquiries haven’t flowed through to significant increases in
sales volumes.
“There still appears to be a cautionary approach, but my gut feeling is that
the period from October to May 2026 is going to be strong.”
In the UK, during
the first half of the year, farmers registered 4869 tractors, 17% fewer than in January to June
2024, about 25% below average, and the lowest level recorded at this point in the year, since 1998.
The news coincides with the National Farmers Union (NFU) commenting that any further agricultural concessions would cripple an already hard-pressed farming and growing sector, which it claims “had done its bit” on trade with the US.
The commentary comes amidst serious concerns that the US is likely to demand even greater access to the UK agricultural market, in return for reducing or removing the additional 10% tariffs applied by President Donald Trump
earlier this year.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “It’s understandable that the UK government wants to eliminate the 10% tariffs on all goods going to the US, but we have to ask –at what cost?
“The US has made it clear they want greater access to our market for their agricultural produce, and it’s not afraid to throw its weight around to get what it wants.
“The UK agriculture sector has already done its bit, paying with access to our beef and ethanol markets to reduce tariffs on cars, aluminium and steel. We have nothing more to give.”
31,990
MARK DANIEL
TAMA president Jaiden Drought says the tractor market remains a little soft, despite a significant increase in rural confidence.
EDITORIAL
A roller coaster ride coming?
THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to stop local authorities going ahead with reviews of district and regional plans makes sense for several reasons.
As Chris Bishop says, the details of the ‘new RMA’ are still being worked out, but it’s clear major changes are in the wind.
Of late, government ministers have weighed in against local authorities for straying from core business such as providing essential utilities and throwing money at other dubious activities – dare we say, cycleways that clog up cities such as Wellington.
There is rightly frustration in the primary sector over the actions of both district and regional councils, who, in the eyes of the present coalition, have placed unnecessary and unworkable restrictions on farmers and growers.
Two things now are clear. Firstly, silly restrictions will have no place in the new RMA, although the Government says it will not back away from rules that protect the environment or in any way compromise New Zealand’s high quality primary exports.
Secondly, and one can almost see worry wrinkles appearing on the faces of politicians and staff in local government, is that with the new RMA there will be significant changes to the roles and responsibilities of local government.
The last major changes in this area were in 1989 and it’s clearly time for another shakeup. To be fair, some of the problems that local government get blamed for are the result of previous governments’ edicts.
But don’t be surprised to see change of the like we saw nearly 40 years ago. While the new RMA will make allowances for regional and district differences, central government will tighten up the powers of these organisations.
There may even be a move to abolish regional councils and replace them with unitary authorities throughout the country. These already exist in places such as Gisborne, Nelson and Marlborough.
So, watch this space and get ready to ride the new roller coaster.
THE HOUND
Not so cuddly
THE IMAGE of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took to social media to gloat over Bayer Crop Science’s decision to close its Hastings research site. The closure is a worry, especially given the very real potential for other multinationals to pull away from local product development.
NZIER estimates that NZ would suffer economic losses of $7.5 to $11.4 billion without effective crop protection. Bayer’s withdrawal will cost jobs and mean fewer tools for farmers. Our ‘kind & cuddly’ regen farmer reckons, “Great to see this poison company leaving!” He says “smart farmers” like him are adapting to life without chemicals and the rest of you are “dinosaurs”. Humble as well as kind! Your old mate reckons if this is how their poster boy acts, the ‘regen’ lobby needs a rebrand!
Stop the rot!
BAYER CROP Science closing its Hasting research site could be the tip of the iceberg. It’s an open secret that other multinationals are far from enamored by our cumbersome, onerous and frankly stupid approvals process. The cost and slow pace of our regulatory process has destroyed the confidence these agri-chem companies have to invest in local product development, hence there are far fewer applications in the system. Which means fewer new tools for farmers. KPMG says the animal health industry in NZ not only underpins the export industries that pay for pretty much everything in this country, but on its own it employs 1100 people and generates $430m. Our bureaucrats need to drop this mindset that we’re so ‘special’ that we can make the approvals process as hard as we like, and these companies will invest here. They’re already voting with their feet.
EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Peter Burke Ph 021 224 2184 peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
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NZ vs Aussie beef
YOUR OLD mate hears that at a recent China Business Summit, PM Christopher Luxon delivered a none-to-subtle “could try harder” report card on the red meat industry regarding its exports to China – particularly when compared to Australia. Aussie PM Anthony Albanese was visiting China at the time. When asked, ‘What’s our point of difference [with the Aussies]?’ our PM responded, ‘Well we’re just better than the Australians, let’s be clear. We don’t lose to Australians ever at home or abroad.’ He then opined that the red meat sector needs to ‘do a better job in our marketing story relative to the Australians than what they have been doing’. Perhaps aware some of the red meat leaders were in the room, he added that Nathan Guy (MIA) and SFF had done exactly that with the launch of Taste Pure Nature.
AUCKLAND SALES CONTACT: Stephen Pollard Ph 021 963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz
WAIKATO & WELLINGTON SALES
CONTACT: Lisa Wise Ph 027 369 9218 lisaw@ruralnews.co.nz
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
Trop de Paris!
YOUR OLD mate’s ear has been chewed off recently by farmers voicing their displeasure with the National Party, particularly relating to how they’re treating their farmer base. These correspondents all acknowledge some good work was done untangling the red tape. They’re less happy about what the Government’s adherence to the Paris Agreement is forcing them to “sneak through” in the form of legislation though. And now, backed by a government whose stated policy is to tear down the Ardern-Shaw climate policy circus, the Centre for Sustainable Finance has put out their “NZ Taxonomy”. It’s all shackled to Paris: The Net Zero Act, He Waka Eke Noa, the Net Zero Banking Alliance, Mandatory Climate Related Disclosures, and National’s plan for a Farming Tax. If they’re brave enough, NZ First and Act could gain a few votes next election by kicking Paris to touch.
SOUTH ISLAND SALES CONTACT: Kaye Sutherland Ph 021 221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz
DIGITAL STRATEGIST: Jessica Marshall Ph 021 0232 6446
“Edna, call the cops! some tree-hugging greenie has chopped down our new ‘scrap the Paris Climate Agreement’ road sign!”
Helping our youth to be resilient
THE RURAL Support Trust ran a dinner and debate at the National Fieldays last month. In tables of 10, over 540 people were wined and dined, including the Prime Minister, supported by ministers from around the country.
Chairs and directors of boards and the CEOs and staff of many companies were present. This was an indication of the importance of the topic – rural mental health.
The event was organised by Mike Green (Fonterra), managed by Ro Duncum and Jamie Mackay and entertained with a debate involving rural leaders and personalities (James Meager, Sarah Perriam-Lampp and George Dodson for the affirmative; Julia Jones, Suze Redmayne and Jenna Smith for the negative). The moot was that the grass is greener in the South Island.
The evening and online silent auction raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust. And while everybody involved applauded the result, we were also bewailing the need.
Each year between 15 and 25 farmers take their own lives. This is the coroner’s report estimate. Statistics New Zealand estimates that suicide rates are 40% higher in rural areas (16 per 100,000 people) than in the general population (11.2 for every 100,000). In some areas in America the farmer suicide rate is estimated at three times the national average. In France the increase is approximately 25% greater than average. It is a global phenomenon, and whichever figure is picked, it is too high.
University of Georgia research indicates four underpinning problems that pre-dispose the mental health crises leading to suicide: barriers due to the nature of farming, including time demands of farming and cultural stigma in help-seeking; acceptable messaging, including conversations as part of general health; accessibility of information to assist mental health; and basic support mechanisms through ‘you are
not alone’ messaging.
In Australia, analysis of surveys and interviews showed that a number of environmental influences are likely to contribute to the increased risk of suicide. In contrast, research for New Zealand has focussed on using the coroners’ reports to identify what the risk factors are. It concluded that financial stress and weather events made a negligible contribution. The main triggers were not very different from the risk factors for the general population. What made the difference was access to firearms.
Almost 40% of farm suicides involved firearms, compared with 8% in the general population over the same time. Further, it was noted that among farm suicides in New Zealand, young male farm labourers predominated, rather than farm owners or managers.
“For many young men, relationship losses, acute alcohol intoxication and ready access to a firearm formed a common constellation of risk factors.”
Statistics NZ indicates that alcohol abuse might be decreasing in the young, but drug abuse is increasing. The data that appear periodically on the news that rural areas have the worst abuse.
All of this boils down to the fact that ‘it’s complicated’, ‘there are no easy answers’, and solutions will be context dependent.
But if nobody knows that somebody is having a problem, the solution will be absent.
RST tries to work at the top of the cliff, preventing people from going over the edge to the ambulance, but there are so many people and so little time.
University of Georgia research concluded that farmers’ stoic identities
and reluctance to admit mental health struggles, meant that speaking with those close to farmers may help improve understanding of what is needed to tailor farmer suicide prevention strategies.
The New Zealand research promoted the concept of a range of
rural suicide prevention initiatives to address various farm suicide risk profiles. In particular, young male labourers often have no contact with health services prior to death, “suggesting that rural suicide prevention efforts need to be positioned within community, farming and sports organisa-
tions, as well as health and social service providers”.
Farmer morale was up at Fieldays, reflecting lower interest rates and good product prices, but relationships will always break up, and alcohol and drugs will always be possible to find. What is needed is the resil-
ience training in youth to ensure that it is embedded as part of growing up.
The outcome of the debate was the unanimous decision that the grass is greener in New Zealand; the Rural Support Trust is working with farmers to enable them to see a positive future.
• Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Adjunct Professor Lincoln University, is a director of DairyNZ and Ravensdown, and a member of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers’ Organisation. She had the privilege and pleasure of chairing and adjudicating the RST debate. jsrowarth@ gmail.com
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Jacqueline Rowarth
14 MANAGEMENT Community action improves freshwater on dairy farms
FROM NITROGEN limits to ecosystem restoration –farmers and catchment groups are leading a new wave of environmental care, says DairyNZ.
New Zealand’s freshwater management policies have long been focused on nitrogen and other contaminant limits, but DairyNZ says with freshwater reform underway, there is an opportunity to shift towards more of a focus on stream health.
While reducing the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment to our waterways from farming activities is important, this narrower focus risks missing the bigger picture: the health of our freshwater streams depend just as much, if not more, on enhancing habitat, biodiversity, and re-instating more naturallike processes.
The science shows – and DairyNZ agrees –that New Zealand needs to rebalance its thinking from an exclusively mitigative approach to one that includes restoration and rehabilitation. That means investing in riparian planting, wetland restoration, and biodiversity corridors.
Restorative actions not only reduce contaminants but also build up the ecological integrity of our waterways, DairyNZ says, allowing native flora and fauna to thrive, which is the ultimate sign of healthy streams and riparian areas.
The power of riparian planting
Riparian planting is one of the most effective tools we have, and while many waterways have been planted, there is opportunity for much more.
Riparian planting stabilises stream banks, reduces sediment runoff, and creates habitat for native species. It provides shade, which makes a big difference to stream temperature – for example, peak summertime temperatures in small pastoral streams can be 10-12°C warmer than a
similar size forest stream (i.e. 18-20 vs 30°C).
Many of our native fish cannot thrive in water warmer than 25°C, and so if stream water is too warm, then the only way to cool it is to shade it – no amount of contaminant reductions will fix this.
Small streams make up 75–80% of our stream network and are especially important. They respond quickly to restoration, support key species like banded kōkopu and tuna (eels), and influence the health of larger downstream waterways.
The science of shade is clear
Just 1km of riparian planting can cool a stream by 5°C – a powerful, nature-based solution.
“The science of shading is more robust than the science of contaminant, such as N limit setting,” says Dr Craig Depree, DairyNZ principal water quality scientist.
Waikato Regional Council research from 2022 confirms that there is only a weak relationship between nutrient concentrations and important measures of ecosystem health, such as aquatic insects.
In contrast, habitat quality, stream temperature, and biodiversity are far more reliable indicators of freshwater vitality.
Policy focus on outcomes DairyNZ says it has
been active in representing its science-backed policy recommendations to government during the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) review in 2025.
Nitrogen (N) in NZ waterways accounts for just a small slice of ecosystem health, says Dr David Burger, a freshwater scientist and GM farm solutions and policy at
DairyNZ.
“In my opinion, we are far too focused on N in our policy frameworks in New Zealand. Through our engagement in the current policy reform, we’re advocating for a move away from a rigid focus on numerical nutrient limits, toward a smaller set of compulsory attributes centred on human and ecosystem health,” says Burger.
CAREX PLANTING
NATIVE PLANTS like Carex are unsung heroes. They spread naturally and quickly, holding up stream banks, are flood resistant, and providing habitat for insects that feed fish, contributing to the food cycle. They’re a perfect example of how native biodiversity supports ecosystem function.
“Planting Carex is the simplest thing a farmer can do for your small waterways and streams. It’s easy, I don’t need the council here to clear sediment and weeds from these managed waterways – so that’s a saving for ratepayers.
Among other things, DairyNZ is seeking a freshwater management framework that supports the work of catchment groups, who have demonstrated their effectiveness in delivering on-theground environmental improvements, such as riparian and wetland planting, which are critical to freshwater health.
FARMERS LEAD THE WAY
DESPITE THE policy gaps, many farmers have been stepping up. Across the country, dairy and drystock farmers alike have been partnering with iwi, councils, trusts, and community groups to plant natives, restore wetlands, and protect waterways.
Johan van Ras, a DairyNZ environmental specialist and farmer working with the Piako-Waihou catchment group, makes his point clear: “We’re doing this for the next generation, and I am so proud of what we have achieved,” he says. “The power of the group is the only way we’d have got this done, this is where the catchment groups are amazing.
“These restoration efforts are about legacy, community, and caring for the land,” he says. They also work –Johan is seeing his planted stream banks remain stable after flooding, in ways he never did prior to planting.
“After Cyclone Gabrielle my neighbours lost their banks, I did not,” he says. He points to the benefits for reduced maintenance (drain cleaning), indicating that since planting, they have not had to clean to remove sediment or nuisance weed.
Van Ras also has extensive wetland restoration planting on his Tatua farm near Morrinsville and, when combined with planting waterways and streams, hopes to provide habitat for taonga species like tuna (eels) and to potentially attract endangered bird species – such as the native bittern – back to this land.
“I’m really excited about bitterns, it’s a major motivation for me, although I haven’t seen or heard their unique boom call yet, it’s only a matter of time. I reckon I just need to convince my neighbours to get a more joined-up wetland habitat,” he says.
The Australasian bittern, known as the matukuhūrepo, has a population estimated to be in the hundreds, making it one of our most critically endangered birds. It is known to travel across the Waikato where Johan farms but needs the right native habitat and food sources to stop, fish and rest as it travels.
That said, van Ras proudly shows a picture of fledging swamp harrier (kahu) chicks in a nest within his wetland.
“It really hits home when you see these cool things with your own eyes, on your farm, and you know that’s because of what we’ve done. It’s a sign that the environment is healthy and thriving.
“And to be doing that while farming productively, is something I am immensely proud of,” says Johan.
Seeing tuna, and other native species return to the catchment is a key indicator of ecosystem health, says Makoha Nightingale-Pene, a project manager for Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust.
The Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust has played a key role in supporting planting efforts within the catchment.
It’s also robust, and able to ‘lay down’ during a flood, so less likely to get ripped out and cause blockages,” says Johan van Ras.
But restoration and riparian planting isn’t something landowners need to do alone. There is considerable support available, through plants, funding, people power, and community expertise.
The key is getting involved and initiating action in your own patch.
DairyNZ-supported catchment groups are at the heart of habitat restoration efforts
throughout the dairy farming regions of New Zealand. DairyNZ says they are one of the best opportunities to make progress on improving waterways and to add native biodiversity onto farm, which deliver co-benefits for people and the land.
“Catchment groups offer a platform for sharing knowledge, connecting people with common values, adopting good management practices, addressing water management challenges and helping communities enhance their environments.”
Established Carex/sedge riparian planting alongside native flax.
Kahu chicks in Johan van Ras’ wetland.
Protecting your patch
TREAT YOUR farm
boundary like a border.
This was one of the messages delivered to farmers at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Protect Your Patch workshop in Lincoln.
Run by Dr Will Halliday, veterinarian and B+LNZ’s senior manager technical policy, the workshop covered what farmers could do to “protect their patch” from pests and diseases.
“New Zealand has a border, and farms have boundaries, but farmers can treat their boundaries like a border and control what comes over it,” says Halliday.
As with national borders, there is pre-border, at the border and postborder management that can be implemented onfarm.
Halliday says farmers will already be doing this as part of everyday farming but should be aware
of the measures they are taking to protect their businesses.
Farmers can also assess the level of biosecurity risk from a highly likely scenario (buying lambs with worms) to a highly unlikely but devastating scenario such as an incursion by a disease such as Foot and Mouth. Halliday’s hierarchy of disease
At the workshop, Hal-
liday outlined what he has coined Halliday’s Hierarchy of Disease.
The first in this hierarchy is a nationally catastrophic disease such as Food and Mouth Disease, or Avian Influenza; the second are endemic nasties that are in NZ, but farmers work hard to contain.
Included in this list are TB, BVD, brucellosis, and drench resistance.
The third in the hierarchy are the many diseases that farmers have taught themselves to accept as “just part of farming”.
These include Johnes Disease, facial eczema, footrot and mastitis, and it is these diseases that are costing farmers the most in lost production and control efforts.
Seven biosecurity interventions
Seven measures can
help protect the farm business from pests and diseases.
1. Recording livestock movements is critical. This includes recording movements in NAIT and ASD forms, knowing where animals are coming from and what they may be carrying with them.
2. Keeping livestock well-fed and healthy will make them less suscep-
tible to disease. Animal Health Plans play a critical part in farm biosecurity as they serve both as a reminder and a record of animal health treatments.
3. People, equipment and dogs. Be aware of who and what is coming onto the farm, where they have been and what they are bringing with them. Keep a visitor register. Identify all the entry forms onto the farm and ideally provide cleaning and disinfecting facilities at entry points. These facilities can be as simple as a fish bin with water, disinfectant, and a brush.
4. Feed and water. Where is feed being sourced from? This includes hay and silage and milk, and colostrum. Some bagged supplementary feeds should not be fed to ruminants (check the label) and offal should be either frozen or cooked before being
fed to dogs to help prevent the spread of sheep measles.
5. Pest control. Pests can include plant pests as well as possums, pigs, deer, goats, rats and mice as well as feral sheep and cattle. These animals can cause damage to pasture or be a vector for disease.
6. Correct handling of waste and carcase management. Identify, remove and correctly dispose of dead stock. Manage livestock waste to ensure it is not a source of contamination.
7. Shared knowledge and understanding. Ensuring everyone in the farm team, as well as people coming onto the farm, understand that biosecurity is taken seriously. Include staff in drawing up and implementing biosecurity plans and learn where to go to identify pests and diseases. See https://agpest. co.nz/
New distribution and retail deal for red machines
ASHBURTON-BASED
CARRFIELDS has signed
an agreement with Manitou to take over the distribution and retail rights for Manitou Agricultural Equipment covering the lower North Island and the South Island, effective August 1, 2025.
Carrfields will work alongside Giltrap Agrizone, who will continue to distribute and retail Manitou in the upper North Island.
Carrfields managing director Craig Carr says, “Manitou will complement our current machinery portfolio, which includes global
brands Horsch, Krone, and MacDon. Adding the reputable Manitou brand, will allow Carrfields to offer a material handling solution for the
agricultural sector. We are delighted to offer the full agricultural range of products, parts and servicing heading into the spring and summer seasons.”
Andrew Giltrap, managing director of Giltrap Agrizone, says he is pleased to see the strengthening and consolidation of the Manitou network in New Zealand.
“Having worked with the brand for many years, we have a wide range of customers who have seen outstanding performance, versatility, low cost of operation and durability that makes the brand a leader in the telehandler sector. The new distribution agreement will allow a greater audience to experience what great performers these red machines really are.”
Stuart Walker, Manitou managing director, welcomed Carrfields to
SNIPPETS
MF REFRESH
their network as agricultural material handling specialists. “Their dedication to customer care and services aligns perfectly with our values. Their impressive previous market share and customer satisfaction history make Carrfields and Giltrap Agrizone great partners as we look to grow our presence in New Zealand.”
Established in 1958, Manitou has been manufacturing telescopic agricultural machines for over 45 years. Their investment and knowledge in concentrated at its engineering and production facility at Ancenis, France.
AB Equipment will continue to distribute the Manitou product range for industrial and construction equipment in New Zealand.
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MASSEY FERGUSON has announced a refresh of its 8S series and the arrival of the Xtra designation. There are no changes to the nominal 205-305hp power outputs, with much of the attention focused on software improvements to the Dyna-7 and Dyna-E transmissions.
Making use of the speed matching, smoothing out the robotised range changes, delving deeper into setting menus allows operators to tinker with the rate of acceleration and deceleration, alongside prohibiting range changes when for example, working under load with a cultivator. Cosmetic changes include black side panels and top grille, while the exhaust stack has been slimmed down, helping improve visibility.
BATTLE OF TECHNICIANS
THE FIFTH annual John Deere Technician of the Year Awards will recognise the work technicians do every day to support industries critical to New Zealand’s economy. To be held in Brisbane in mid-September, technicians will undergo a final round of intense technical testing, judged individually on their ability to perform hands-on diagnostics and troubleshoot real-life scenarios and challenges. The four NZ finalists will compete for titles in three categories, including Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year and Service Apprentice of the Year.
Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year finalists include Bryce Dickson of Brandt, Whangārei and Robert Fisher of Brandt, Cambridge, New Zealand. Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year finalist, who will compete against four Australian technicians, is Alvin Gounder, Brandt, Whangārei, New Zealand. Service Apprentice of the Year finalist, who competes against five Australian apprentices, is Charlotte Giffin, Brandt, Whangārei, New Zealand.
CLAAS MILESTONE
HAVING RECENTLY hitting a 10,000 machine production milestone, the first Claas Lexion 400-series combines rolled off the company’s Omaha, Nebraska production line when it opened its doors in 2001, with a 200,000 square foot facility. Originally a joint venture between Claas and Caterpillar, the building was used to assemble Lexion combines sporting the Caterpillar logo and branded in yellow and black colours. In 2002, Claas took full ownership of the facility as CAT exited the combine business.
Carrfields and Giltrap Agrizone will be distributing Manitou agricultural equipment in NZ from August 1.
Top young farmer drives away with a NH Boomer
WAIKATO-BAY OF
Plenty farmer Hugh Jackson recently secured this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year title in Invercargill.
The final marked the culmination of months of qualifying rounds and regional competitions, and a return to the national stage for Hugh after a previous grand final appearance.
Jackson, 27, is involved in running a 1800ha sheep and beef operation at Te Akau alongside his parents, John and Jenny, and their “awesome farm team”. As a fourth-generation farmer, Jackson is continuing the legacy of his great-grandfather, who first purchased 600 acres in 1947 after returning from WWII.
Jackson, involved with Young Farmers since 2017, is the chair of his local Hamilton City Young Farmers club this year.
After competing multiple times in the Young Farmer of the Year, finally taking out the title has been a long-held goal, that Jackson admitted it was still sinking in.
For the next 12 months as the title winner, he is eagerly awaiting all the opportunities that will
come his way.
“I’m looking forward to rubbing shoulders with people I haven’t had the opportunity to meet and really see it as a learning and career-enhancing experience,” he said.
As part of his win, Jackson drove away with a New Holland Boomer 25C tractor, awarded by one of the competition’s major sponsors, New Holland.
Karl Harvey, CNH product specialist, tractors and grape harvesters, said New Holland was proud to continue its support of New Zealand young farmers, helping encourage the next generation to grow and evolve the industry.
“As the 57th winner of this title, Hugh embodies all the attributes that make this award so special. His knowledge, innovative thinking, passion and mental strength really shone through, and he’ll have so much to offer other young farmers, and the sector, as he fulfils all the opportunities open to him over the next 12 months,” Karl said.
Jackson said he was grateful for the ongoing support of sponsors like New Holland for the
award.
“It’s great that the sponsors see and want to contribute to the value of
this award, recognising their support helps secure the future of agriculture in New Zealand,” he said.
FMG Young Farmer of the Year Hugh Jackson with his New Holland Boomer 25C tractor.
Revamped forage harvesters break the 1000hp barrier
THE ARRIVAL of new F8 and F9 designations for its 8000 and 9000 series forage harvesters, signals a swag of upgrades from John Deere, highlighted by topping the 1000hp mark for the first time.
Amongst numerous updates and options, the two main talking points are the engine and operator cabin cab. Like its X9 headers and 9RX tractors, the JD14X engine will feature in all of the F8’s six models, from 425hp in the F8 100 and 645hp in the flagship F8 600.
Moving to the F9 range, a JD18X engine will power the F9 500
(700hp), F9 600 (765hp) and the F9 700 (820hp). At the top of the range, the F9 900 and F 1000 are powered by a Liebherr 24.2 L V12, delivering 890hp and 1020hp respectively, with the latter gaining an extra 50hp over the current 9900 model flagship.
All models feature HarvestMotion technology to maximise productivity at reduced engine speeds and deliver constant power over a wide rpm range, resulting in excellent drivability for the operator and improved fuel efficiency.
A new, roomier cab on both ranges comes across from the combine har-
vester ranges, offering more storage space, areas for hot and cold drinks, with dedicated holders for smartphones, keys and larger items, alongside 12v and USB connection points.
A new CommandPRO joystick is complemented by the G5/G5Plus CommandCenter touchscreen, featuring a new forage harvester-specific menu allowing operators to quickly access and adjust the machine’s main functions.
The console is reported to 35% larger and 75% faster than previous consoles, while incorporating a 1080P high-definition display.
The F8 and F9 can be
COVER AND KEEP CORE TEMPERATURES STABLE FOR SURVIVAL
• Cost effective and practical – easy to fit
Cover vulnerable new born lambs with woolover. Keep them warm and get them growing
The first 6-8 weeks is critical that new born calves get the start they deserve. THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! Realise the calves true genetic potential
equipped with advanced automation and John Deere Precision Ag Technology, including Ground Speed Automation, Intelligent Crop Tracking or ProTouch Harvest. Regardless of conditions, Ground Speed Automation ensures the machine constantly harvests at maximum productivity and optimal efficiency while minimising operator effort and stress.
Active Fill Control uses a stereo camera system to control the rotation and flap position of the spout automatically, tracking transport vehicles and aiming the crop for ideal fill strategy.
The ProTouch Harvest system offers single-click headland automation for maize, grass, or whole crop silage, managing header lift, spout control, AutoTrac, Active
Fill Control, and Ground Speed Automation for easy headland turns. In addition, when switching between road and field, ProTouch technology handles up to nine essential functions, including beacon lights, 4WD, settings for engine speed management, and spout positioning.
Operator comfort is taken care of by the latest ActiveSeat that swivels 16° in both directions, while the optional ActiveSeat II offers fully adjustable electric controls, including cooling/heating and massage functions.
Revised spout geometry allows up to 230° of rotation, a redesign of the rear axle’s steering system reduces the turning radius to 6.0m, while there is also the choice a new inoculant dosing system.
The new inoculant dosing system, IDS 2.0, works with HarvestLab sensor readings to optimise silage quality with a 50-litre insulated concentrate tank for highly concentrated additives and a 325-litre tank for high volume applications and water.
Customers can also choose from two new advanced kernel processor options, including the Ultimate 250TM kernel processor with larger 250mm diameter rollers, temperature monitoring and foldable design for best serviceability. The second optional is the XStream 305 kernel processor that delivers a 56% larger surface with 305mm diameter rollers, electrical adjustment and the well-proven oil-mist greasing for best processing in all length of cuts.
MARK DANIEL
At the top of the range, the F9 900 and F 1000 are powered by a Liebherr 24.2 L V12, delivering 890hp and 1020hp respectively.
A new, roomier cab feature on both range.
K-TROUGH. AS TOUGH AS K-LINE
® .
K-Trough has a proven track record for taking punishment from livestock.
› A wide base for extra strength and stability
› An inwards rolled edge to prevent stock rubbing
› A protected Philmac EasyPHIL compact float valve with easy access
› Quick and easy toolless service