Farmers Weekly NZ September 25 2023

Mid Canterbury tales celebrate Feds

Fonterra smashes targets

share, compared with 36c in FY22, so the dividend payout was 52% and the co-operative retained 45c or $750m.

FONTERRA’S 2023

financial results smashed its own key metrics in its Strategy 2030, giving rise to new targets for the consolidation of gains already made.

The results were embarrassingly good, well in advance of the end of the decade.

They were largely shaped by non-reference products, cheese and casein, attracting huge premiums over reference products, milk powders and fats.

Not only are Fonterra’s targets blown, but the milk price framework of reference products is now questionable.

Reported profit after tax of $1.6 billion was up 170% from FY22 and massively exceeded the 2030 goal of $800-$900 million.

The return on capital – with a goal of 9-10% – came in at 12.4%, nearly double that of the year before.

The August capital return of 50c a share was matched by a dividend of 50c, bringing total payout to $9.22/kg milkfat, the second highest in Fonterra’s history. Reported earnings were 95c a

Debt has been hammered, down $2bn to $3.2bn and the 2030 gearing ratio target of plus-30% is already below 30%.

Inventory valuations and working capital movements have played a big part in debt reduction, along with a net $200m from the sale of Soprole in Chile.

To help maintain this momentum, chief executive Miles Hurrell has published two new strategic goals – inflation-adjusted cash operating expenses reduction of 4% annually and gross profit increase from core operations of 2% annually.

Those operational savings will help Hurrell meet other Strategy 2030 goals in capital expenditure and investments in sustainability and higher-value products.

Rather modestly, he said: “We released our long-term strategy in September 2021 and since then have made good progress towards our 2030 goals.

“Our FY23 performance demonstrates that we are focusing on the right strategic priorities.

“This said, we are aware that

Continued page 3

Bonding through all things ag

Friends Eliot Webby and Aliya Fever have stepped through their school agriculture studies side by side for years via Trades Academy and are now completing their New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3) and plan on continuing their learning with New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture Farming Systems (Level 3) next month.

Bremworth offers 10-year contracts

A plea from farmers for some certainty around strong wool production has prompted carpetmaker Bremworth to offer some growers supply contracts. NEWS 5

Undetected drench resistance is costing NZ’s sheep industry close to $100 million a year.

6

South Island’s large rural electorates expected to be dominated by National in October poll.

POLITICS 8-9

Ben Anderson wants less farming nostalgia and a lot more fresh thinking from the next PM.

OPINION 19

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News in brief Research funding

A research project to future-proof and protect New Zealand’s food systems and the environment has received more than $10 million in funding.

The joint venture between the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative of the Riddet Institute and iwi group Wakatū Incorporation was selected by the MBIE as a recipient for its 2024 Endeavour Fund round. The project, funded for five years, will address the growing concerns around sustainable nutrition and food affordability, project coleader Professor Warren McNabb said.

Sealord expansion

Sealord has crowned itself New Zealand’s lord of the sea with the acquisition of Independent Fisheries.

The fisheries company will become the country’s biggest seafood business through the agreement to buy privately owned Independent Fisheries, one of NZ’s largest deep-sea fishing companies. Sealord won’t comment on how much the deal cost.

POLITICS: DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says the comments of cabinet ministers on the new scientific study of methane targets amount to politicians playing to their constituents.

A2 Milk changes On track

A2 Milk has given notice of cancellation of its exclusive manufacturing arrangement with Synlait covering infant formula base stages 1 to 3. A2 Milk said Synlait’s delivery and performance during 2023 have fallen below the level required for the exclusive manufacturing and supply rights. If Synlait appeals the cancellation notice the matter will be resolved through good faith negotiations, a2 Milk said.

Scheduled rail freight services to Napier resumed last week, after a seven-month halt since the line was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.

KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy said the line’s re-opening – allowing rail freight to get to Napier Port – is an important step in the region’s recovery. The port’s chief executive, Todd Dawson, said it is positive for Hawke’s Bay and for cargo owners throughout the North Island.

Back in 1860, exporting meat to the other side of the world seemed about as easy as nailing gravy to the ceiling. But a few determined kiwis took the bull by the horns and now our grass-fed beef and lamb is sought-after all around the globe.

At AFFCO, we see the same pioneering spirit alive and well in farmers today. We’re playing our part too – exploring every opportunity to take New Zealand’s finest farm-raised products to the world.

our pioneering spirit tells us nothing’s out of reach

Continued from page 1

there are challenging conditions on the ground for many of our farmers.”

Strategy 2030 contains a milk price range of $6.50 to $7.50 average for the decade, which unfortunately for Fonterra’s farmers looks a lot like the unwelcome 2024 season forecast of $6 to $7.50.

In the two years since that target was set the break-even for farmers has increased from $6.50 to $8.30, including a $1 of additional interest costs, according to AgFirst Waikato.

Fonterra chair Peter McBride said the tailwinds from stream returns are forecast to ease back to normal and that Strategy 2030 is being examined and will be revised early in 2024. There will be years ahead that deliver results ahead of or behind the targets set in 2021, he said.

“For example, the $6.50-$7.50 milk price was not a target but a working assumption for the modelling,” he said.

“The whole business environment has changed, and inflation has certainly impacted farmers’ costs since 2021, so our goals need right-sizing.

“But the direction of travel hasn’t changed and its all about continuous improvement, because in cooperatives good-enough never is.”

McBride said the two new goals of operating expense reductions and gross profit improvements have a natural tension.

“We are not going to just take out costs at the expense of growth.”

Dairy doldrums take some wind from Fonterra’s sails

FONTERRA’S 2023 annual results are tempered by the sobering financial reality many dairy farmers are facing this season, chief executive Miles Hurrell says.

Hurrell said he had mixed feelings about the result, considering how far Fonterra has come in improving its financial position since it posted a $196 million loss for the 2018 financial year.

This year’s results had the cooperative announcing a profit after tax of $1.6 billion, up 170% for the 2023 financial year, as well as a full year dividend of 50 cents per share, including an interim dividend of 10 cents per share.

The cooperative has done a lot of work on its balance sheet to get to this position, he said.

“But we also can’t lose sight – a midpoint of $6.75 for the season we’re in now, it’s going to be tough on farms.”

Hurrell said a number of key drivers helped Fonterra deliver the result, including favourable margins in the ingredients channel, in particular the cheese and protein portfolios, which he called its “star performers”.

“We also saw improved performance in our foodservice channel due to increased product pricing and higher demand as greater China’s lockdown restrictions started to ease from the start of calendar year 2023.

“Further, across the second half, the operating performance of our consumer channel strengthened due to improved pricing. However, we adjusted the long-term outlook for our Asia Brands and Fonterra Brands New

We have already seen the last two GDT events show some signs of life and of course the FTA window opens up from January 1 2024.

Zealand business, resulting in full year impairments of $101m and $121m respectively.

“Greater China’s reported profit increased $11m to $284m, with the foodservice channel showing improved margins and resilience to market disruption from covid-19. However, this was offset by the consumer channel, which included a proportion of the Asia brand impairment.”

Hurrell said the co-operative’s ability to be flexible and shift product from one market to another assisted it greatly.

“We are seeing that play out this year. We’re seeing cheese and protein values significantly higher than milk powders.”

Looking ahead to this season, he expected the China market to recover early next year, particularly for its ingredients market.

“We have already seen the last two GDT events show some signs of life and of course the FTA [free trade agreement] window opens up from January 1, 2024.

“Is this a signal that we are starting to see demand emerge a bit earlier than we anticipated? It’s probably a bit early to confirm that just yet, we’ll need to see a bit more momentum.”

Hurrell said Fonterra’s medium-

to long-term position on China has not changed. The demand for good nutrition remains and its middle class is continuing to grow.

“While there are some headwinds at a macro level, an economy of 1.4 billion people still growing at significant rates at a world economy perspective, it’s a market we will continue to focus on in the long term.”

Hurrell said while they are seeing the impact on the milk price from a China demand perspective, its functional ingredients, cheese and protein businesses are continuing to grow. While milk powder has been impacted, the rest of Fonterra’s China business is performing well.

“I’m still very bullish on that market over the medium to long term.”

The Gold Standard

— For 36 years, Wairere has been the number one provider of rams in New Zealand.

— Others have followed our lead in innovation and investment in the future of sheep genetics.

— Wairere stock set the gold standard for performance.

— Wairere sheep set the benchmark in value for both breeding and store stock.

— Wairere Romney • Nudie • Challenger (FE resilient)

• Multiplier (composite) • Tufguy (Texel/Romney)

• Dominator (terminal) • SmartSheep (halfbred)

Fire risk grows as dry, windy conditions loom

THE country is drying out faster and earlier than usual as El Niño begins to bite, prompting Fire and Emergency NZ to start preparations for a potentially busy fire season.

FENZ acting service delivery wildfire manager Rachael Thorp said current conditions are similar to 2018 and, given that El Niño can rapidly change, officials have started monitoring conditions, regularly checking weather stations and receiving climate updates.

She said FENZ is planning for the east coasts of both islands to be dry from Northland to South Otago and exposed to west and northwest wind.

A wet and warm late winter and early spring have encouraged grass

growth that, when it cures, will provide an abundant fuel load.

The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia this week declared an El Niño weather event for both countries and WeatherWatch chief forecaster Phil Duncan said it is likely to be strong.

“I think by the end of October we will start to see which areas in NZ are drying out quickly,” he said.

Some isolated eastern areas are likely to reach 40degC-plus temperatures on occasion, fuelled by northwest winds emanating out of central Australia. While warning of a strong El Niño weather pattern, Duncan said NZ’s exposure to the Roaring Forties could see several rain events hit the country, potentially easing conditions. Weather systems look especially harsh for Australia, with El Niño on the east coast and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole system on the west.

Both encourage dry weather systems.

He said the South Island’s West Coast and Southland will be wetter than normal but the wet weather will taper out as it moves north up the west coasts.

The Bureau of Meteorology long-range forecast is for warmer and drier than average conditions across most of southern and eastern Australia from October to December.

Duncan said Sydney hit 35.5degC last week, the highest September temperature since 1930.

In NZ, the early arrival of dry conditions means a restricted fire season already applies to Nelson, West Coast and central Otago, the far north of Northland, the central North Island and parts of the Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.

Thorp is urging landowners to carefully check controlled fires are

extinguished, even several weeks after dying down.

This is especially significant given recent windy weather reigniting smouldering embers.

In the past month there have been 13 flare-ups in Hawke’s Bay, two in Wairarapa and one in Canterbury, which spread to a hedge and then to a house roof.

Tentative welcome for dairy market price lift

Skim milk powder and anhydrous milk fat led the way with 5.4% and 5.3% respectively and butter also rose 3.8%.

NEW Zealand whole milk powder prices on the Global Dairy Trade selling platform have risen 10% in September but dairy market analysts say they are not prepared to call this a market trend.

The GDT price index rose 4.6% on September 20, after a 2.7% lift earlier in the month.

However, in the previous four auctions, over July and August, the GDT index fell more than 12%.

Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny said the latest GDT is encouraging for the broad increases across four out of five dairy commodities sold.

The key whole milk powder prices rose 4.6% after 5.2% on September 6.

Cheddar prices were the only category to fall, minus 1.7%, and are now 25% lower than they were at the start of 2023. Fonterra will not be banking the non-reference product price premiums it has over the past

BIT BETTER: Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny says the GDT is encouraging for the broad increases across four out of five dairy commodities sold.

season. Penny cautioned against too much optimism, saying that dairy prices remain low after falling 25% over the past 12 months.

His farmgate milk price forecast is unchanged at $6.75/kg milksolids.

ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown said it is encouraging to see another sign that dairy prices might be finding a floor, but he remains cautious on the outlook.

“It was pleasing to see a return of Chinese demand at this event, and we will be watching this development at upcoming auctions.”

“We retain our $6.60 milk price forecast for the 2024 season but are pleased to see some upside

risk develop in this auction.

“We look forward to October’s auctions to see if the improved demand from China is sustained.”

Penny said it is difficult to judge yet whether prices have turned a corner.

“To make that call we will need to see further price lifts over October and into November.

“Indeed, the recent price rises may have more to do with the fact that low prices have brought buyers back to the market rather than any fundamental change or improvement in global dairy demand.”

NZX dairy analyst Alex Winning said the physical market lift is welcome but falls short of expectations on the derivatives market.

I think by the end of October we will start to see which areas in NZ are drying out quickly

Duncan

Bremworth offers growers 10-year contracts

APLEA from farmers for some certainty around strong wool production has prompted carpetmaker Bremworth to offer growers supply contracts.

Bremworth chief executive Greg Smith said providing farmers with certainty of income is critical to the future development of New Zealand strong wool.

Bremworth NZ buys about 3% of NZ farmers’ wool, making woollen carpets from yarn-spinning plants in Napier and Whanganui and a carpet-tufting factory in Auckland.

Smith has just returned from meeting with a Vancouver-based business partner that sells product on behalf of Bremworth in Canada and the United States.

“There is opportunity to do more, there is good potential with the markets largely dominated by cheap synthetics,” he said.

“We have got to make sure wool is sold for more, the days of selling cheap wool are gone.

“We have to appeal to consumers paying more for natural products of higher quality.

“The future is not in mass scale cheap wool.

“We need to differentiate and we need to get that story to the consumers who do now have an appetite for natural and quality over synthetics.”

Bremworth is looking to grow all its export markets, “especially Australia, where 50% of our sales go now and we expect, because of the popularity, we will more than double volume in the next decade”.

Having worked at Merino outdoor attire company Icebreaker, Smith was part of the business when 10-year contracts were offered to fine-wool suppliers.

It’s a similar deal Bremworth is offering to strong-wool suppliers

who can meet the quality specifications and certifications such as those associated with the NZ Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP).

Offers of 10-year supply contracts have gone out to a select number of farms, co-creating a woolgrowers club to get better returns for farmers, for Bremworth and ultimately the consumer, he said.

“Growers can take a 10-year contract giving more surety to the bank.

“They can show their kids, bring them back to the farm, inspiring interest for future generations to see an opportunity.

“We are long way off at the moment with strong wool, but this is a start.”

Smith said the contracts introduce a floor that will not drop below a certain value.

“It’s a contract for growers and value will grow as Bremworth grows.

“We recognise on-farm inflation at 16% is not sustainable. We have

to try and help growers, that’s the purpose of contracts.

“We want it to be successful. We are spending an enormous amount of money.

“We hear wool is the choice of people who want the best and the sales pitch is to grow that number of people.

“Farmers are making enormous progress, they are breeding for it, they care for it more than anyone.

“Our aim is to have 50% of supply under contracts exporting predominately to Australia while realising potential growth in North America.”

The contracts are offered by Elco Direct, the company’s woolbuying arm. While Bremworth is aligning with Wool Impact, it’s on a different platform.

“Wool Impact and various other brands are working quite well together but I don’t think in a sense that is seen by farmers.

“I understand their patience is running out but reality is it’s taken 20 years to get this bad, there’s no silver bullet.

“It’s a matter of brands, industry, growers working together, being really in tune with and in front of the consumer.”

Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams welcomed the contracts.

“It’s a fantastic initiative. Bremworth is showing good strong leadership, protecting their business going forward and offering security for farmers.

“We have a got a shrinking industry that’s not going to get better.

“We are developing an amazing fibre, if we can’t produce at scale, we need to protect the resource, we are very close to a cottage industry now.

“Unless contracts come out of Wools of NZ and Wool Impact then there will be no point very soon in developing products or markets as we won’t have scale.

“Bremworth read the room, that’s smart business securing their supply into the future.

“It’s the best step forward for strong wool growers in years.”

SUPPORT: Certainty of income is an option for a select number of strongwool growers under a new initiative.

Williams is gunning for fresh thinking in the industry’s greater leadership.

“The reason we got rid of the wool levy was to get rid of the old boys’ network.

“We are in that space again with Wool Impact, Wools NZ – the same people trying to fix the problem they helped to create.

We have to try and help growers ... We are spending an enormous amount of money.

“We are over hearing we are developing markets, it’s taking too long away, meantime we are losing sheep.

“For a strong wool grower we need to know it’s not going to cost us to shear. The only way to get surety of supply is to offer farmers a contract,” Williams said.

High cost of unseen drench resistance brought to light

THE New Zealand sheep industry is being robbed of almost $100 million a year because of undetected drench resistance, according to latest research.

Data analysis by Invermaybased Techion said the cost of undetected drench resistance has exploded to an estimated $98m per annum.

A key contributor to the dramatic failure is that commonly used triple drenches are not effective on 27% of NZ sheep farms.

This level of drench failure mirrors other industry reports and again highlights the increasing productivity and sustainability threat to the sheep farming sector, Techion founder and chief executive Greg Mirams said.

In 2020 Techion, the business that developed the FECPAKG2 parasite testing platform, reported the cost of undetected drench resistance was $48m a year.

Mirams said building on data collected for the past 18 years, in just the past three years, the company has seen triple drench failure increase from 15% of properties to 27% in 2023.

The data comes from Techion’s DrenchSmart service, a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) that independently reports to farmers which drench actives are working effectively on their farms and which are not.

Wormwise programme manager Ginny Dodunski said farms using untested, partially effective drenches will not see visual signs until things are quite serious and in the intervening years farms can be quickly breeding high numbers of drench-resistant worms.

“If a drench is only 70% effective, each time that drench is given it’s effectively leaving 30% of the worms behind. These then have three weeks to continue to breed and lay eggs.

“If you’re drenching every 28 days, it’s obvious how quickly resistance can build up,” Dodunski said.

Mirams said the days of farmers simply assuming a triple drench will work are gone.

aware there is a problem when they experience poor lamb performance in late autumn, or a large tail-end in hoggets or ewes through the winter.

“Unfortunately, when farmers observe these production losses, the drench has likely been failing for years.

“With animal performance on many farms so dependent on the use of effective drenches, when they fail, production losses can be significant,” Mirams said.

Techion’s 2017 study undertaken with United Kingdom retailer Sainsbury’s, reported undetected drench resistance reduced carcase value by 14%.

resistance may reduce income by an estimated $81,200 per year.

Sainsbury’s head of livestock Gavin Hodgson, who was integral in commissioning the study, said improving productivity and sustainability is critical for the long-term future of the lamb supply chain.

“The increasing threat of drench resistance, the viability of the lamb sector and harsh climatic conditions for farms across NZ and the United Kingdom pose a significant threat to farmers, which is why it’s critical for farmers to know the effectiveness of the treatments they use.

change in drench efficacy on the property was so significant that we had to go back and test again as we didn’t believe the changes could be so dramatic over three years.

“We’re seeing the reduction in drench effectiveness increasing significantly.

“This can have a devastating impact on the farmer, their mental health, their property value and the wellbeing and performance of their stock,” Mirams said.

“With limited effective quarantine protection in place, farmers are often unwittingly importing triple drench resistance onto their properties.

“Many farmers have not tested whether their drenches are effective and as a result, are suffering production losses they are not aware of.”

Farmers generally only become

Analysis of the 2023 Ministry for Primary Industries statistics shows 17,964,138 lambs went to the works in the 2022-2023 financial year, and undetected drench resistance could be costing the NZ sheep sector $98m in 2023.

At an individual farm level, for a property producing 4000 lambs annually, undetected drench

As well as controlling parasites this knowledge will help meet customer demand for transparency by reducing farming inputs,” Hodgson said.

Other drench options fared no better in the latest analysis, with BZ/Lev combinations failing on 50% of properties, while Lev/Aba combinations were failing on 32% of properties.

“In two cases this year the

Escalator 2024 Applications Open Impact Leadership

Although cases of drench failure production loss are becoming more common, there are sustainable and cost-effective options for farmers to improve productivity and reduce cost. It begins with a whole farm approach instead of relying solely on drenches to control parasites farmers must utilise a range of tools.

These include better nutrition of breeding stock, grazing management, pasture types, stock class options, cross-grazing and genetics.

Many farmers have not tested whether their drenches are effective and as a result are suffering production losses they are not aware of.

Greg Mirams Techion

Mid Canterbury tales celebrate Feds story

THE history of Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers published in the book 50 Years On – From 1945–2000 is everything the title suggests and much more.

“You may be forgiven for thinking I am a product of the numerically challenged younger generation when we all know 1945 to 2000 is 55 years,” author Kevin Geddes said as he addressed the launch of his book at a function at the Hotel Ashburton.

“But when you publish a book in New Zealand you must register a title with the NZ National Library and when published deliver two copies of the book to them.

“After writing the first three chapters I expected to knock this bugger off in a couple of months but then life happened.

“It took two more years and then it seemed logical to finish at the millennium, an additional five years, so there you have 50 plus five equals 55.”

The book details the journey of a bustling rural community from the rations and regulations immediately after World War II, the loss of exclusivity in the United Kingdom market, through subsidies and Rogernomics, to the turn of the century.

It shows how ordinary farmers handled the trauma and Federated Farmers supported them.

Geddes, a meticulous researcher, weaves the facts he found in a multitude of documents into a readable and enlightening narrative portraying Mid Canterbury as both unique and a microcosm of the broader rural community.

Geddes said the idea of capturing the history of Mid Canterbury Feds began 20 years ago with people invited to share their experiences for a book.

“We had a great evening listening to war stories, which were fascinating, but then everyone said ‘This is what really happened, but don’t quote me!’”

It was then that the services of a couple of journalists were engaged.

“They did some interviewing and preliminary writing before determining that writing the history of Feds in Mid Canterbury was a task bigger than Ben Hur.”

The project lapsed for a bit before Geddes was prodded to get on with the job.

“I had help offered on the grounds that I was part of the history now and, soon to retire, would have lots of spare time.

“We resolved the best way to accurately record the history would be to use the minute books of all meetings as our source of reference.

“I must point out that all the minute books when piled up stand over 2m high and to accurately record the history of the province, all the minutes had to be read.”

Geddes read, and read some more, and managed to catalogue most of the major changes that have happened in New Zealand farming from 1945 to the millennium.

The book describes the views of Mid Canterbury farmers as they deal with constricting regulations imposed moving out of the postwar period when farm production was commandeered by central government at set prices to enable NZ to help feed Britain.

It covers the establishment of the fledgling Ashburton Trading Society (now trading as Ruralco), the boom years of the 1960s for the meat and wool industries and the constrictions inherent in a command economy when government control extended into most areas of economic activity, to the destructive impact of domestic inflation on farming and the unbalanced impact of the Rogernomics economic restructuring of the 1980s.

From the rise and fall of farmer co-operative meat companies to the establishment of a farmerowned fertiliser co-operative and the development of an industry dominated by one major farmercontrolled dairy company, the book outlines issues both local and

After writing the first three chapters I expected to knock this bugger off in a couple of months.

national that inspired farmers and farming.

The book is also a celebration of the people who populate its pages – “people who have been effective leaders in this community and wider NZ community”.

“In thinking of the issues of yesterday, we stand on the shoulders of those who went before and we celebrate their legacy to us today,” Geddes said.

“Their principal legacy is a strong representative organisation, Federated Farmers. Nurture it and continue to support it into the future.”

Geddes was born into farming in Central Otago and went on to take over the family farm in 1960. He was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship in 1972 and moved to Mid Canterbury where he developed an irrigated sheep, beef and cropping farm.

An interest in agricultural politics saw him move though the ranks of the Mid Canterbury meat and wool section and into provincial governance. With the formation of the NZ Rural Trust in 1988 he was appointed coordinator in Mid Canterbury to help farming families through the downturn of the ’80s.

At the expiry of the NZ Rural Trust Geddes was appointed executive secretary of Feds Mid Canterbury and in 1998, with the move to centralise administration and policy of the 24 provinces in Federated Farmers, he was appointed manager of the grains council based in Ashburton. In subsequent years his role expanded to include that of executive director of the Fertiliser Quality Council and the NZ Groundspread Fertilisers Association and he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1991. In 2016 he was awarded the Queens Service Medal for services to farming and justice. He retired from Feds in 2018, at which time he was honoured with life membership of Federated Farmers.

Southern candidates seek seismic shifts

IN THIS year’s General Election, political pollsters and commentators expect that National will restore hegemony across seven large rural South Island electorates, from Kaikōura in the northeast down to Southland.

Labour must defend its

possession of Rangitata, Taieri and West Coast-Tasman against the anticipated swing back to National.

Labour is strongest in Taieri, south of Dunedin, where Ingrid Leary had a majority of 12,400 votes in 2020.

She is 52 on Labour’s list and needs to win the electorate to be assured of remaining a Member of Parliament.

The next-strongest position for

Labour is in West Coast-Tasman, with high-ranked Agriculture and Trade Minister Damien O’Connor fighting his 10th election.

He won that electorate four times before 2008 and has won four more terms since 2011.

In 2020 he gained a 6200-vote majority.

National will again be represented by Maureen Pugh, a list MP since early 2015, and 26 on National’s list.

An independent candidate, Patrick Phelps, is promising to make the race interesting, saying that O’Connor (Labour 10) and Pugh are assured of a return to Wellington and that the Coast needs an independent voice to make things happen.

“I know how different both Tasman and West Coast regions are from the rest of New Zealand and that the political status quo is not working for us,” Phelps said.

“If we vote for an independent MP, West Coast-Tasman could maximise our leverage over the decisions of the next government – whether the prime minister’s tie is red or blue.”

National leader Christopher Luxon ventured into rural heartland Canterbury to meet farmers at Kirwee, in the Selwyn electorate.

It did not go well when the

metropolitan media repeatedly asked questions about National’s tax policy instead of what it calls its Primary Sector Growth Plan, released that day by agriculture spokesperson Todd McClay.

A centrepiece of that policy is making water storage a permitted activity on farms, which would be welcomed throughout rural Canterbury and Otago.

Selwyn is held by Nicola Grigg

for National, number 19 on her party’s list and, with a 5000-vote majority in 2020, responsible for one of the strongest stands in the country against Jacinda Ardern’s red wave.

Neighbouring Rangitata MP Jo Luxton is also number 19 on Labour’s list, and she had a similar majority in 2020.

Grigg is a shoo-in for her electorate win but Luxton has an uphill road back to Wellington.

Neighbouring Waitaki was won by Jacqui Dean for National in 2020, against the red tidal wave, and she is retiring after six terms in Parliament.

inflation are always emphasised in his conversations.

Anderson’s position of 59 on National’s list is not a concern, he said.

“I have to prove myself and I did not seek or deserve a high ranking,” he said.

Labour’s candidate is Ethan Reille, a Waitaki District Council employee and former head boy at Waitaki Boy’s High School only two years ago.

In the 2017 election Labour’s Jo Luxton got 36% and in 2020 she won the seat with a majority of 4400 votes (50% of the votes), defeating National’s Megan Hands (40%).

The electorate covers the larger population centres of Timaru, Ashburton, Temuka and Methven, where Labour is stronger, and the National-leaning central Canterbury farming heartland from the mountains to the sea.

before winning Rangitata in 2020.

She has been Minister for Customs since May 2023 and is Associate Minister for Agriculture and Education.

She has risen 20 places on Labour’s list this time and can be assured of a return to Wellington.

“They need a strong representative in Rangitata and I think I am the best person for the job.

“I put great emphasis on trusting relationships and I think our rural folk do too.”

Newly selected Miles Anderson, the former Federated Farmers meat and wool chair, is expected to substantially increase National’s majority.

Waitaki has a coastline from St Andrews in the north to Palmerston in the south, including Oamaru, and covers Tekapo, Twizel, Omarama, Wānaka and Cromwell along with the country towns along the Waitaki River. Its voters are 90% European and 20% working in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Anderson said the major issue for voters in Waitaki is the cost of living, and that outweighs all other issues by two to one.

Worries about health services are also to the fore, given the contracted arrangement for Oamaru Hospital and the rebuild of Dunedin Hospital, and a shortage of oncology services.

Across all farmers the concern over rules and regulations, falling commodity prices and on-farm

If elected, he would be the youngest MP in NZ history, and this is the first General Election in which he has been old enough to vote.

“Waitaki hasn’t had adequate representation for the past six years, and it has missed out on many opportunities for diversification of our economy,” he said.

The primary sector contributes 30-40% of the economy and there are many challenges right now, Reille said.

“My aim is to ensure that rural communities get as much investment as towns and cities.

“Farmers are both optimistic and pragmatic and I have been advised to work towards ensuring the next generation has the opportunities that were available in the past.”

In Rangitata during the 2000s National enjoyed a reliable majority, with Jo Goodhew in 2014 on 67% of the candidate votes, and her third consecutive win. In 2017 Andrew Falloon got 53.5%.

Luxton has a background in early childhood education, and she entered Parliament at 29 on Labour’s list in the 2017 election

Nil withholding, for when she needs it.

She said Labour has a heritage in the region through former minister for agriculture Jim Sutton, who represented the Aoraki electorate from 1984 to 2006 before losing the seat to Goodhew in 2005.

Luxton said she makes no distinction between urban and rural people in her representation.

National candidate James Meager (Ngāi-Tahu) has been campaigning for a year since being selected, in the first electorate in the country to confirm a newcomer.

A former Parliamentary staffer, he believes that background will enable him to be effective in Wellington while spending as much time as possible as the Ashburton-based MP.

His appeal to rural voters is summed up in the phrase “get Wellington out of farming”.

“Our regulation-cutting policy, cost-benefit analysis, slowdown in environmental requirements, and repeal of Three Waters are all designed with that objective.”

Although not under-estimating his task in beating Luxton, Meager said all larger towns in the electorate are rural servicing centres where the party’s rural policies will resonate.

“She has been this MP for three years and in Wellington for six, so I tell everyone it is not going to be a walkover.”

His whakapapa is part of who he is, not the selection definition, and he gets satisfaction out of bridging Māori and European cultures, for usefulness and connections.

I have to prove myself and I did not seek or deserve a high ranking.

Miles

Sector leaders stand by methane report

gases on climate warming, which requires changing the measurement metrics and having targets based on the latest science.

FARMING leaders are standing by a scientific report that said New Zealand’s methane reduction targets exceed its climate change goals, after it was was criticised by a senior cabinet minister.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw rejected claims the way methane is calculated disproportionately burdens the livestock industry, countering that the sector needs to do more to reduce emissions.

“Agricultural emissions are not priced at all, whereas every other sector of the economy faces a price of approximately $70/tonne for their carbon dioxide emissions,” Shaw said.

He said methane matters as it has a far more powerful effect on global warming than carbon dioxide.

If anything, other sectors of the economy have been asked to do the heavy lifting to compensate for the lack of action on agricultural emissions.

Shaw rejected the notion that agriculture is being asked to do the heavy lifting.

“If anything, other sectors of the economy have been asked to do the heavy lifting to compensate for the lack of action on agricultural emissions.”

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said such comments amounted to politicians playing to their constituents.

“There won’t be any progress until after the election, then we’ll see who is in government and then we will work with the new government,” he said.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said the debate should address the impact of

“What we are trying to do is reduce global warming and this is a step forward for the agricultural sector to now have quality science on that direction of travel.”

The report released last week by scientists from the universities of Oxford and Cranfield was commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ), DairyNZ and Federated Farmers, and said NZ’s methane reduction targets are excessive relative to the warming effects of the gas.

It concluded that to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to below 2degC, a metric that measures the contribution of each gas to warming relative to that threshold should be used as it more accurately represents progress towards that target.

It found that if current methane reduction goals are achieved, they could offset all NZ’s expected additional warming from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide up to 2050 and mean NZ reaching peak warming in the 2030s before reversing to 2022-27 levels.

The research will be submitted to the Climate Change Commission, which will next year review the Zero Carbon Act, which could include greenhouse gas targets.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said the debate is actually about whether to reduce the warming effect that’s accumulated or to stay where we are.

“I believe our sector will be able to meet its targets through the investments being made into new tools,” he said.

“The pricing system we are establishing will ensure the levy from farmers is invested for farmers to get those tools as soon as possible.”

Climate Change Commission chief scientist Grant Blackwell said next year’s review will firstly consider if there has been or is likely to be significant new evidence or “a new global context for change”.

“Then we need to determine if

that significant change justifies a change to the emissions reduction target.”

Blackwell said the methane study is one of many submissions from

individuals, community groups, NGOs, research institutions, businesses and industry bodies.

“We’re reviewing and considering every piece of information we

COMMENTS:

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says the comments of cabinet ministers on the report amount to politicians playing to their constituents.

received and will use it where appropriate to inform our analysis on whether NZ’s emissions reduction target should be changed.”

Rural relocation fund for overseas GPs

network chief executive Dr Grant Davidson said.

GENERAL practitioners relocating to rural areas from overseas will now qualify for relocation funding, following advocacy from the body representing rural health services.

The Rural Health Network (Hauora Taiwhenua) has successfully advocated for relocation funding from Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora) to support the recruitment of international GPs applying to work in rural primary care practices.

“This is very welcome news for all rural general practices,”

“Being able to attract and recruit international GPs in a competitive market has long been a challenge for underresourced practices.”

The relocation fund, which opened on September 1 and

closes on June 30 2024, is available to support internationally recruited GPs who take up a new position and/or sign an employment agreement with an eligible rural primary care practice between September 1 2023 to June 30 2024.

It offers up to $20,000 paid in two lump sums over a two-year bonding period for each eligible internationally recruited GP. Davidson said heavily incentivised recruitment campaigns in other countries, in particular Australia, provide stiff competition.

“We know that our rural practices, many of which are reaching burnout, will be most thankful.”

Neal Wallace NEWS Health

Being able to attract and recruit international GPs in a competitive market has long been a challenge for underresourced practices.

Young Waikato Polled Hereford tops bull price

MAHUTA Polled Hereford at Glen Murray in northern Waikato has set the highest price so far in the spring bull sales, with $23,500 paid by Koanui Herefords, Havelock North, for Mahuta Skywalker 2034.

Mahuta had 69 bulls in the offering and sold 66 with an average of $3700.

Other transfers were $10,000 paid by Glenbrae, $6300 paid by Circle D Ranch and $6200 paid by Maranui.

ORC river flow call a blow to local farmers

FARMERS relying on irrigation from the Manuherikia River in Central Otago fear new higher minimum flow rates will leave them with unusable assets and few choices for their land.

The Otago Regional Council this week accepted a staff recommendation to triple the river’s minimum flow to 2500 litres per second over the next 17 years.

The recommendation is for an initial minimum flow of 900 l/s on notification – increasing over seven years to 1200 l/s by 2030 and finally to 2500 l/s by 2040. This will be measured at Alexandra, at the bottom of the catchment, and councillors and staff acknowledge it will impact farmers and land use.

Council chief executive Richard

Saunders said the proposed 17-year time frame is driven by the potential scale of change required in the catchment, the expiry dates of existing resource consents and the need to appropriately manage higher flows within the river.

The former chair of the Manuherikia Catchment Group, Anna Gillespie, said the decision ignores an offer by land users to implement a catchment-wide scheme to provide a minimum flow of 1100l/s.

Land-use change is not an option for many of the affected farmers.

The scale of on-farm storage needed to be reliable is prohibitive, the valley is too high and too cold for grapes or horticulture and most farms are too small to become dryland businesses.

Gillespie’s farm has about $2 million invested in irrigation infrastructure that could become surplus in 2040.

She said their hope is that the

90-year-old Falls Dam at the head of the catchment can be rebuilt to supply water for the river and irrigation.

The proposed 17-year time frame is driven by the potential scale of change required in the catchment.

There are 182 surface water take permits within the wider catchment, most related to agriculture, and 17 groundwater consents for agriculture and two for councils.

The Manuherikia River catchment originates in the northern reaches of the Maniototo district, the St Bathans and Hawkdun ranges.

It then flows 85km to join the Clutha River at Alexandra.

Mahuta principal John Allen said Skywalker is a very good bull with top figures out of a first-calving heifer by Mahuta Qualifier 0034, and the vendors were very happy with the result.

He thanked the Chesterman family at Koanui and the determined under-bidders from Grassmere Herefords.

Turihaua Angus, east coast, had a full clearance of 30 bulls with a top price of $17,000 for Turihaua T143 paid by Orere Angus in Gisborne.

The average prices paid were

$7372 for yearling bulls and $5900 for two-year-olds.

Kayjay Angus at Masterton had a full clearance of 24 yearling bulls, averaging $4166 and 10 heifers, averaging $3200.

Two top-priced Fullbeamsired bulls at $9000 went to commercial farmers and Kaharau Angus bought two at $8500 and $3000.

Bluff Herefords at Glenbrook had a full clearance of 59 yearling bulls, averaging $2483 and topping the sale with $3700. Heather Dell Angus, Rotorua, sold 22 of 25 offered with an average of $2550 and a top price of $4100.

A large sale of bulls by Mangaotea at Inglewood resulted in top prices around $3100 to $3400.

Two-year Herefords averaged $2800 with a top of $3100; two-year Angus had the same top price and averaged $2633; two-year Jerseys averaged $2620 with a top of $3100 and four Murray Grey bulls averaged $3175 with a top of $3400.

In the yearlings the Angus ranged between $1800 and $2500 with a top of $3200 and the Jersey range was $1350 to $1700.

Debate defines rural voters’ alternatives

THE battle lines for the rural vote were decisively drawn in a political debate in Hamilton, and the options for voters defined.

An estimated 300 people who attended the Rural Issues Debate at the Mystery Creek Events Centre on September 14 saw the National and ACT parties take aim at what they saw as a deluge of rules and regulations heaped on farmers in the past six years amid accusations the government has not backed the sector.

At the other end, Labour and the Greens said current policies are necessary and will provide farmers with opportunities.

NZ First was somewhere in the middle, saying the focus needs to be on getting the basics right, ensuring family farms remain viable and that farmers should not be judged on the lowest common denominator.

What was missing was a detailed presentation of each party’s policies, with much of the time devoted to accusations and general debate.

Organised by DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Federated Farmers, the debate was moderated by Newstalk ZB host Heather du Plessis-Allan.

Asked if he took responsibility for the negative sentiment among farmers, Labour MP and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said he did not because covid and the Ukraine war have influenced factors such as inflation.

He also questioned whether the results of farmer surveys don’t reflect a natural farmer bias against Labour.

O’Connor rejected a claim that the volume of rules and regulations his government has introduced are partly responsible for rural mental health issues.

He countered that farmer representative groups have “over hyped” issues, such as saying 10,000 consents would

be needed for intensive winter grazing.

Nationally just 350 applications were lodged, and 259 issued.

“That kind of irrational and emotional response from leadership is what leads people to fear what is coming at them.”

ACT election candidate Andrew Hoggard, a former Federated Farmers president, bristled at O’Connor’s accusation, saying that information was supplied by regional councils and he was representing the views of farmers. Hoggard wants policies that make farming enjoyable and said new drinking water rules, for example, will not make that achievable.

Those rules require him to get resource consent to spray weeds over half his farm, including blackberry on his river boundary. If he does not control those weeds, they will collapse the

fence allowing cows access to the river.

“What do you want, the blackberry controlled or cows in the river?”

National’s Todd McClay repeatedly hammered the line that farmers are over-regulated – which he said drives up costs and impacts viability. He said the current government does not back farmers. He said new rules wrongly focus on compliance, not outcomes, and show a lack of trust in farmers at a time the country needs them.

“When we have a strong rural economy, we have a strong NZ economy.”

Farmers have told him they can spent 20% of their day on compliance paperwork but he said the government should only need that information once and then be responsible for sharing it between departments.

NZ First’s Mark Patterson asked why Green Party co-leader James Shaw was absent from the debate,

saying this was “where the money is made not spent”.

Retiring MP Eugenie Sage fronted as Shaw was at a political debate on finance.

Patterson said the sector cannot rely on “cutting and slashing everything” to improve viability. That would also not happen by selling commodity products but by lifting value behind the farm gate.

“What has happened is we have done too much too soon.

“This means chopping, changing and repealing things when they come up against the hard reality of farmer feedback, to the point where farmers have rolled up into a foetal position and won’t respond.”

Sage said regulation is needed to ensure the sector is positioned to confront challenges such as climate change, and from that will come opportunities.

“You can’t have a healthy planet and climate without a regulatory environment,” she said.

Good farm management means better water

of phosphorus and suspended sediment decreased the most in response to on-farm work.

TWENTY years of monitoring dairy farms in five catchments across New Zealand has revealed significant improvements in water quality.

As part of an Our Land and Water study to analyse historical data, DairyNZ’s water quality science team, in collaboration with AgResearch and Lincoln University, revisited dairy farms in the Waiokura (South Taranaki), Toenepi (Waikato), Waikakahi (Canterbury), Bog Burn (Southland) and Inchbonnie (West Coast) catchments to assess whether on-farm actions have helped improve water quality over time.

The five catchments are dairy farming areas that were part of the 2001-2010 Best Practice Dairy Catchments project that monitored water quality and environmental work on farm.

Monitoring of water quality and changes to farm practices continued from 20112020, as part of national long-term data collection.

Researchers found that, over the 20-year monitoring period, including postextension, 70% of in-stream water quality trend directions were improving or showed no change.

The median levels of most contaminants in water have also decreased, due to farmers implementing good management practices (GMPs) such as improved effluent management and stock exclusion.

The study found in-stream concentrations

Overall, the research showed the implementation of GMPs on farm does improve water quality.

The analysis shows the good outcomes achieved by improving management practices on dairy farms, DairyNZ general manager sustainable dairy Dr David Burger said.

“The mitigation options dairy farmers can take to reduce footprint are widely known, but analysis of the positive impacts of these over time is less available.

“So it’s good to see this dataset showing extension efforts to help farmers improve their management practices have led to water quality improvement.”

Research lead and Our Land and Water National Science Challenge chief scientist Professor Rich McDowell said the findings are positive but also show continued action is needed in key catchments to maintain the momentum.

“The data shows that, over the 20-year period, many trends were improving or showed no change.

“However, we know nitrogen levels increased in many catchments due to development on other dairy farms over the same period.

“This means there is still more to do in some areas to lower nitrogen and E coli concentrations. In some catchments, more than good management practice may be required, such as land-use change, to meet water quality expectations,” he said.

National pledges to shake up consent regs

ANATIONAL Party-led government would shake up the rules for on-farm water storage and resource consent requirements for commercial fruit and vegetable growers, it says.

Not surprisingly, the policy announcement has been welcomed by Irrigation NZ and Federated Farmers, who said the two activities have been suffocated by onerous planning rules, regulations and delays.

National’s Primary Sector Growth Plan eliminates the need for resource consent to build water storage infrastructure on land unless wetlands or significant natural areas are affected.

Councils would be required to approve or decline consent for other types of water storage within two years, with consents lasting 30 years.

The commercial growing of fruit and vegetables would become a permitted activity under the Resource Management Act and in most cases growers will not need to obtain consent to grow more food.

The party said this acknowledges the importance of the primary

sector to the economy and the need to help it to grow.

Maximum penalties for breaching border biosecurity rules would be increased.

The party would eliminate the need for consent to establish wetlands, as they provide environmental benefits, capture carbon and increase biodiversity.

Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Colin Hurst said the water storage policy is sensible and exactly what farmers have been crying out for.

“The reality is that New Zealand is getting less water when we need it, and more when we don’t.”

He gave an example of how the system is broken.

A water storage scheme in Wakamoekau near Masterton was recently abandoned because of what he called endless red tape.

“Meanwhile, the Matawii Dam near Kaikohe has recently been completed and is beginning to fill with water.

FAST-TRACKED: National’s Primary Sector Growth Plan does away with the need for resource consent for water storage infrastructure unless wetlands or significant natural areas are affected.

“The difference between these two schemes? The Matawii project was granted a ministerial fast-track.”

Irrigation NZ chief executive Vanessa Winning said water storage has been stymied by complex consenting processes,

and this policy would encourage investment while still protecting important environmental assets.

“Consenting processes under the current RMA interpretation and the upcoming Natural Build and Environment Bill are expensive, onerous, and for a timeframe that

wouldn’t see payback of the initial investment.”

It is preventing farmers moving into high-value horticulture or crops at a time when they are being asked to do so, while impacting the ability to grow food, she said.

The reality is that New Zealand is getting less water when we need it, and more when we don’t.

Colin Hurst Federated Farmers

Lincoln students spread the agri word

LINCOLN University

students showcasing food and fibre career opportunities to highschoolers around New Zealand have successfully wrapped up their Agri-ventures project.

Agri-ventures, aimed at Year 11 and 12 students, has been running for five years as part of Lincoln’s Future Leader Scholarship programme, but was made available nationally for the first time this year when varsity students Fergus Lee, Danielle Bain and Campbell Barclay jumped on board.

The three spent two days highlighting as many career opportunities as possible in the NZ food and fibre sector.

“We signed up 17 passionate high-school students from around the country from as far north as Whangārei and as far south as Invercargill, many of whom are from urban areas,” Lee said.

“A lot of schools, especially urban ones, don’t teach agriculture as a subject, so unless the students have cousins on farms or watch Country Calendar, there aren’t many resources to find out what’s happening in the sector.

We signed up 17 high-school students from around the country, many of whom are from urban areas.

“So that was the core reason for the project.”

Bain said she had long wanted to run Agri-ventures.

“I attended the programme as a Year 12 student and absolutely loved it.

“It opened my eyes to the wide

range of opportunities available in the agriculture sector, which led me to study at Lincoln,” Bain said. The event kicked off with Federated Farmers president, Meat the Need founder and Lincoln University alumnus Wayne Langford sharing the challenges and wins he had experienced on his journey and offering advice on mental wellbeing in a rural context.

The high-school students then visited Cleardale Station in the Rakaia Gorge, where they heard from high country farmer Ben Todhunter, also a Lincoln alumnus, about sheep and beef farming, including the importance of genetics when it comes to

selecting for the best sheep.

Other locations on the agenda were Rakaia Island, to cover dairy careers, and PGG Wrightson to gain insight into the wool industry and the need for more woollen fabrics instead of synthetics, as well as discovering the range of career paths in the company.

The trip also included visits to Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) to explore the careers available there, PGG Wrightson Seeds Kimihia arable research farm for information on the seed industry and the FoodStuffs South Island warehouse to see the end products along the food supply chain.

Running the event nationwide

meant participants needed accommodation, requiring a lot more funding than in other years.

A wide range of sponsors supported the initiative, and many also hosted the school students during their visit, including PGG Wrightson and PGG Wrightson Seeds, Rakaia Island Farm and FMG.

Other sponsors were Silverwood Trust, Ballance Agri-nutrients and Lincoln University, as well as Southland businesses Legendairies dairy farm and the Mokoreta Genetics sheep and beef farm.

“I have worked as a summer student for Legendairies and Mokoreta during my summer holidays and both are role models in their industries and are committed to attracting more young people into agriculture,” Lee said.

As part of the Future Leader Scholarship programme, all thirdyear students are tasked with initiating a project of their choice and working on the delivery with a team of first- and second-year students.

Ilse von Hirschberg, who runs the scholarship programme, said Agri-ventures was usually hosted in partnership with Lincoln University staff members.

“But this year, the team did it all by themselves, which was very impressive,” Von Hirschberg said.

Hamilton to host Young Farmer Grand Final

HAMILTON will host next year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final.

The event, now in its 56th year, is a highlight on the rural calendar and will see seven national finalists battle it out over three days for the prestigious title.

Fourteen FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year teams will also compete for a national title, along with 63 AgriKidsNZ competitors from across the country.

But to make it through to the final they first have to prove their worth. Between February and April, seven Regional Final competitions will be held across the country and only those who top their field will qualify for a spot on the national stage.

New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith said farmers everywhere are still buzzing after this year’s winner, Emma Poole, made history as the first woman to top the podium.

“I’d love to see Emma’s win give more young people the confidence to stand up and give it a go. Last year around 40% of competitors were female and we’d love to see that figure go even higher in 2024.”

It doesn’t matter whether or not you have a farming bone in your body, you’ll love being part of the action.

be a huge weight off our incredible team of volunteers who support us year in, year out. They put so many hours into each competition, so hopefully by streamlining the contest in this way we’ll be able to take off some of the pressure,” Coppersmith said. The new format was trialled in the Northern and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regions last year.

Entries for all three levels of the contest open on Wednesday, October 18 on the New Zealand Young Farmers’ website.

Coppersmith said she’s looking forward to an action-packed event in the “mighty Waikato” on July 11, 12 and 13 next year.

“The Waikato region really is a slice of paradise. It’s heartland, rural New Zealand and it has a long and proud farming history.”

The event is popular with contestants and a fan favourite. Season 55’s Grand Final in Timaru attracted thousands of spectators, giving a substantial boost to the local economy over three days.

“It doesn’t matter whether or not you have a farming bone in your body, you’ll love being part of the action. The contestants that make it through to the Grand Final are the country’s very best young farmers. The competition is fierce, with high-pressure challenges that could focus on any aspect of modern farming across the whole supply chain,” said Coppersmith.

Grand Final convenors and local Young Farmer members Nicole Cooper and Dannielle Imlig said they’re looking forward to showcasing Waikato to the rest of the country.

Usually, a series of one-day district competitions kickstarts the contest, but this year’s format looks a little different with both the district and regional competitions rolled into a single weekend. Day one will resemble the traditional district contest while day two will align more closely with a Regional Final.

“It means we don’t have to organise 14 separate district competitions, which will

Letters of the week Superstars, not villains

FARMER confidence at an all-time low. Sobering statistic.

Lambing has gone exceptionally well, hoggets getting on with the job and despite mud and wet weather everything is ticking along. Yesterday was 18degC and spring is definitely in the air with grass growth increasing and mud (finally) drying up.

And yet ... I too am feeling a bit jaded.

The looming threat of a methane tax on agriculture leaves me astounded.

A tax based not on sound current science. A tax that will cripple agriculture and as such, our country. A tax that will see even more productive farmland sacrificed for wholescale pine planting – much for foreign greenwashing offset bullshit.

For decades we have been under pressure to change stocking rates, farm policy and systems to address concerns over the environment, water and emissions. Our sector has been working along this path with great progress. This proposed tax will do nothing to further our progress, in fact it could do the opposite as funds directed to positive changes leave our hands as a negative tax.

From the Editor

Dialling up

SCENES of people frantically fleeing their homes as wildfire engulfs regions around the world have become all too familiar on our news feeds this year.

In recent months devastating fires have hit large areas of Europe, North Africa and North America.

In Canada alone, the wildfire season has been the most devastating on record and burned almost 14 million hectares.

The Maui wildfire, in Hawaii, led to an estimated 97 deaths, the most fatalities from a wildfire in the United States in more than a century.

Scientists in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands got together after the Canadian fires and now believe the climate crisis played in a part in the

blazes that ripped through Quebec this year.

The burning of fossil fuels made the prospect of fires at least twice as likely, and the fire-prone weather made them at least 20% more intense.

The study found that while the fire-prone weather conditions were unprecedented, they are no longer unexpected and will become more commonplace as the world continues to heat up.

It is easy to dismiss the fires as an overseas issue, something that wouldn’t happen in New Zealand.

Not so.

The carnage should serve as wake-up call, particularly as the arrival of El Niño is expected to bring hot, dry and windy conditions to some parts of the country – a classic fire risk scenario.

Our neighbours in Australia have suffered multiple wildfires, and many fatalities, over the years and each summer seems to bring more severe fire warnings to parts of that country.

Sydney already has a total fire ban in place – the first in almost three years, in response to unusually hot and dry conditions across southeast Australia.

And let’s not forget it is only three years since the Canterbury village of Lake Ōhau was destroyed by fire caused by a crossarm failure on a power pole on conservation land.

The fire, fanned by strong wind gusts,

swept through the village, destroying 48 buildings and burning more than 5500ha of farm and Department of Conservation land.

Last week people were evacuated after a significant scrub fire at Pukaki Downs. Galeforce winds helped drive the blaze.

FENZ acting service delivery wildfire manager Rachael Thorp is warning current conditions are similar to 2018.

Given that El Niño could rapidly change, officials have started monitoring conditions, regularly checking weather stations and receiving climate updates.

Restricted fire seasons are already in place in Nelson, West Coast and central Otago, the far north of Northland, the central North Island and parts of the Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.

The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) sounded a warning last month, saying the increase in wildfires around the world should have people on alert for potential large-scale fires in NZ forests and rural landscapes this summer.

NZIF president James Treadwell called for better co-ordination and management of fire risks, saying there is an urgent need to prioritise at-risk land management issues.

FENZ is urging landowners to take care with controlled fire and ensure they are properly extinguished.

Parts of the country are still coming to terms with the devastation of this year’s cyclones. The last thing we need is more destruction.

Agriculture is not without responsibility but –

The beach on the farm is absolutely littered with plastic. Heartbreaking. As I look to the east from the top of the Waikaretu Valley I can see the Huntly smokestacks. Indonesian coal being stockpiled as New Zealand coal mining ceases.

Hampton Downs landfill is taking massive amounts of recycling as we have nowhere to deal with it.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic heads in and out of Auckland and Hamilton, most vehicles carrying one person.

Antiquated water treatment systems all along the Waikato River are routinely overflowing in rain events, which we have had constantly this year. And agriculture is given the burden of blame for water quality issues?

Race to repel rogue species gains speed

Andy

Sheppard is a research director at CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, McGeoch is from La Trobe University, Hulme from Lincoln University, and Cassey from the University of Canberra.

INVASIVE alien species are driving biodiversity loss and extinctions in every country, all over the world.

Responding to the challenge, the United Nations has released the first global assessment of invasive alien species and their control.

It comes from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which represents almost 140 member states.

Over four years, 86 expert authors from 49 countries gathered the latest scientific evidence and indigenous and local knowledge on invasive alien species. The report draws on more than 13,000 references, including governmental reports. We were among the authors. Here are some of the key insights for Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

In 2019, IPBES released a global biodiversity assessment that placed invasive alien species in the top five drivers of biodiversity loss – alongside changing land and sea use, over-exploitation of natural resources, climate change and pollution.

This triggered further assessment to determine the current global state of biological invasions, the effectiveness of our existing responses, and recommended management and policy options.

The result is the most comprehensive overarching policy-relevant report on biological invasions to date.

It promises to help us meet our international obligations under the recently adopted United

Continued from previous page

Huge housing developments are sprouting all along the route with little infrastructure development to support them, adding pressure on water treatment plants, waste management and motorways, not to mention schools and hospitals. Rural schools are investigating the cost of wool carpet despite the government offer of a free synthetic, plastic, imported option as they see the benefits and obvious superiority of a wool product.

So much room for improvement.

Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. In particular, one of the targets in the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework is to “eliminate, minimise, reduce and/or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity and ecosystem services”.

The world faces increasing biosecurity threats, but effective management can prevent or lessen the extent of subsequent biological invasions. Ambitious progress can be achieved with an integrated approach.

Australia already has close to 3000 introduced alien species. Aotearoa NZ has almost 900.

Globally, we observe around 200 new alien species every year, and many of these species (more than 10%) have negative impacts, including threats to native species, the health of natural vegetation, or the way ecosystems work.

Australian examples include foxes, red imported fire ants and gamba grass.

Aotearoa NZ suffers from invasive Australian possums. And the Māori cultural icon the kauri tree is under siege from a deadly dieback disease.

The assessment reveals that invasive alien species have contributed to 60% of global extinctions, and have been the sole driver of 16% of recorded extinctions.

Australia and Aotearoa NZ have among the highest modern global native species extinction rates. Australia is the worst in the world for mammals, while Aotearoa NZ has experienced tragic loss in endemic birds, largely due to invasive species.

The economies of both countries rely heavily on agriculture, trade and ecotourism. These sectors are highly susceptible to threats from invasive alien species. The cost to Australia is A$24.5

So many areas where NZ needs to clean up its act.

Agriculture being charged with the burden of responsibility is ridiculous.

Will I be paying this tax?

Absolutely not.

Will I be bullied into methanetesting rams by sly government incentives to commercial farmers for “methane genetics”? No again. Not until we fully understand the long-term impact of selection for low methane on rumen size, growth and fat deposition.

What I will be doing is continuing to innovate and select for the most efficient sheep in the world.

billion ($26.6bn) a year out of an estimated global cost of $713bn a year.

The cost of biological invasions is quadrupling every decade, but stringent biosecurity policies and practices can protect our environment and economies. They also safeguard our wellbeing and cultural and social livelihoods.

Continued co-operation and investment across our region is paramount to preventing future impacts from increasing threats. These include foot and mouth disease and avian influenza.

Australia and Aotearoa NZ have among the highest modern global native species extinction rates.

At the same time, already established invasive alien species can supercharge environmental disasters. For example, the wildfire-promoting properties of introduced African pasture grasses exacerbated bushfires in Hawaii this year.

An effective biosecurity system can mitigate the threats from invasive species. But to do so, we’ll need coherent policy across primary production and logistic sectors, better education and greater public awareness.

We need to co-ordinate and prioritise our efforts, from offshore ports to border control

Efficiency trumps emissions taxes, seaweed extracts, rumen boluses, pasture spray and methane genetics every time.

I will continue to produce highly disease- and parasite-tolerant genetics. Moderate-sized, longlived ewes with robust constitution and superior maternal ability, producing fast-growing lambs with high yields – these are part of the solution.

Drench failure, biodiversity, significant natural areas, winter grazing restrictions, environment, water and methane madness all these challenges facing agriculture point to the requirement to reduce

and quarantine, through to eradication or containment of any new pests and weeds.

Government-industry partnerships are leading to trusted “green lane” trade supply chains. This cuts red tape for businesses that manage import risks and produces pre-costed and codesigned emergency response agreements.

Prevention will not stop arrivals altogether. We will still have to contend with blow-ins on storm winds, ocean waves and boat hulls. There’s also the $23bn a year illegal pet trade.

Biosecurity tools work best alongside strong public support, regulation and governance. We share a proud history of effective biological control programmes for many weeds and pests. Australia’s approach to rabbit control using a virus was a world first and it remains in use 70 years later. This has delivered benefits worth more than $70bn.

Despite strong biosecurity measures, highly engaged primary industries agricultural industries, excellent research infrastructure and a high level of public awareness, invasive alien species continue to slip through our borders and multiply.

We tried to defend our countries against recent invasions from the fall armyworm, myrtle rust and the varroa mite. But they have still managed to establish.

The rising pressure of trade will likely outpace the resourcing dedicated to biosecurity measures.

numbers and increase efficiency to maintain profit.

This is what I want to be part of. Producing more from less.

Our sector knows how to do this. Tangible results on farm from genetic and systems adaptation that reduces input and increases profit. Claiming that farmers resist change is absurd. We embrace change as we respond to market pressures, weather challenges, technology advancements and government policy. This is our history.

Agriculture can continue to clean up its act by doing what we already do so well.

Frequent interceptions of pests, weeds and diseases at our border highlight the pressure we are under. We will have to simply become smarter, more effective, and better co-ordinated across the human, animal, plant and ecosystem health sectors. We encourage governments to recognise the threats invasive alien pests pose and mobilise their resources and capability to combat these threats – in regions where a species is first recognised as going rogue, rather than simply monitoring its progressive global spread. This is the One Biosecurity concept.

Australia and Aotearoa NZ can play a much stronger leadership role in managing biosecurity risks in the Pacific. After all, lax border protocols in our neighbourhood help pests and diseases end up on our doorstep. – This article was first published on The Conversation.

Got

farmers.weekly@agrihq.co.nz

We will continue to plant trees, retire areas, adapt our systems to protect soil, biodiversity and water while reducing inputs and increasing efficiency and performance to remain profitable. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, defeated, frustrated – jaded. I hope we can also see opportunity.

NZ farmers are superstars, not villains.

We produce protein from grass with a high level of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. World leaders. Embrace this. Keep your head up and keep doing what we do so very well.

A province that punched well above its weight

Alternative view

Canterbury Federated Farmers between the years 1945 and 2000. The title doesn’t suggest an interesting read but it certainly is.

There are many books written about agriculture and its various crisis and opportunities over that period but none to my knowledge does so from a grassroots farmer’s perspective.

You can drive from the northwest of Mid Canterbury to the southeast in less than an hour, so the thoughts and opinions of those 15 branches provided an intimate and personal view of the rural happenings over that 55-year period.

was to send two delegates to the Dominion Conference of Federated Farmers in Wellington. That involved travelling to Christchurch by train and taking the overnight ferry to Wellington. After two days of the conference it was the reverse journey home.

Another was to welcome returned service personnel to the organisation with a year’s free subscription. A retired squadron leader was the organisations’ first secretary.

IWAS in Ashburton last week to speak at the launch of Kevin Geddes’s book 50 Years On. It is always good to get out of the home patch and mix with farmers from another area and Ashburton certainly turned it on.

The evening started with a presentation from our new Agricultural Trade Envoy, Hamish Marr. I hadn’t met him before but he was impressive talking about his background and the trade challenges of the future. He’ll do a good job in that role.

Geddes’s book is about Mid

Meaty matters

For most of the first half of the previous century farming was dominated by the old Farmers Union. In 1945, I read, “the farmer’s voice was fractured and the once-powerful Farmers Union had lost the support of farmers and the government”.

I can’t see that happening today.

Federated Farmers was formed as the voice of all farmers and Ashburton County was one of the first in the South Island to get behind the new organisation.

In 1945 we were recovering from World War II and recession. Prices paid for produce over the war years had been kept low so as to support Britain. It was the beginning of a new era.

One of the first decisions made

Geddes takes the reader from the days when farming was regarded as the backbone of New Zealand –and farmers’ sons were considered an exciting catch by many – to the current era of farming being considered the whipping boy by both national and local politicians. It details the challenges of grass grub, the banning of DDT and Dieldrin and the fight over Canada geese. The scourge that was nassella tussock is also well documented.

Mid Canterbury is both unique and a microcosm of the broader rural community.

Unique in the way it set up branches across the province to reflect the concerns of those small communities. Unique in starting a trading co-operative, a rural support trust, purchasing its own building, promoting irrigation and supporting amalgamation to

achieve a quality secondary school.

A microcosm in its reaction to the option of wool acquisition, its opposition to good farmland being used for residential dwellings, piloting hydatids control and its pioneering of the income equalisation scheme.

Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers was even more than that. As a team player it worked with the national office to get rid of restrictions on the carting of livestock, farmers being able to kill stock on their own account, fertiliser quality and prices for produce.

Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers also produced its share of national farming leaders. People like Hilgendorf, Grigg, Robertson, Mackenzie, Glass, Acland and Geddes himself all went on to national honours.

Mid Canterbury Feds had just 1000 members over 15 branches but they consulted at length, collated those views and forwarded them to Wellington. Take a Parliamentary Select Committee debating a rural issue: Feds could say that Mid Canterbury had consulted with 1000 members over 15 branches and the effects on the ground will be this. It makes it extremely difficult if not impossible for a Wellington-based, city-centric bureaucrat to argue against.

I commend this book to you. It is a well-written, factual, fascinating record of a province of farmers who punched well above their weight. As I said, it was a great evening. I thoroughly enjoyed mixing with the many locals who attended and appreciated the opinions they offered.

What’s going on with China’s consumers

THE rural sector’s immediate prospects for export growth are very limited, given the economic and consumer spending slowdowns in our main trade partner markets.

It would be easy to criticise exporters for putting too many eggs in the China basket, although this isn’t the first time we have become disproportionately reliant on a single market. Global recessions come around at regular intervals, but not so frequently

Low Input High Production

they can be planned for with any certainty, either their timing or depth.

It isn’t immediately possible to find new customers to replace those who place consistent orders during the good times and then cancel or postpone confirmed orders when their economy slows or grinds to a halt. But a degree of flexibility and fleetness of foot is a necessary skill for exporters that find themselves scrambling to move perishable goods in a recession.

The ideal business model is a distribution of customers across several markets to guard against a downturn in some regions or product categories, but this presupposes some markets remaining strong. A global downturn offers limited escape routes.

As New Zealand’s largest export destination, taking over $20 billion of goods and services, China’s economy is hugely important to us with particular emphasis on dairy, meat, kiwifruit, cereal and

wood products. NZ companies sell very little of this direct to consumers, but an understanding of the distribution channels and retail environment is an essential precondition of success.

At last month’s Red Meat Sector Conference, China marketing expert Mark Townsend, who founded the Shanghai-based company China Skinny in 2011, spoke about the complexities of the market, the importance of Continued next page

Waimai rams are bred to give you a low input flock, with selection for facial eczema tolerance, worm resistance, low methane, low dags and large breech. At the same time, their production traits make you money: strong growth, high fertility and good survival. Join us on our journey toward creating a more profitable low input sheep.

Dear Chris ...

Eating the elephant

I wanted to have a chat to you about.

It is easy to be sentimental about what we do here on the land. Like the images Barry Crump’s books created in my mind, just as vivid are those from a childhood spent on isolated hill country. Mustering stock by horseback, cutting scrub, the long days docking and even the billy tea at smoko when out fencing are memories I wouldn’t change for the world.

But I also know that my father shielded me from forming the other memories. Memories of financial hardship, letting the house insurance lapse, and wondering if the bank would make this season our last. These are the memories that farmers would like to forget, but can’t, because they repeat like clockwork.

IWONDER if, by any chance, you have read any Barry Crump? When I was a boy growing up in the King Country his books were my wellthumbed favourites, A Good Keen Man especially.

In one of the books, and I can’t for the life of me remember which, Barry tells a story about getting off a train after a long time in the bush, and there, sitting on the platform, tied to a pole, is a dog jealously guarding a pile of old worn-out hunting gear. Barry makes the observation that both dog and gear must have belonged to a deer culler, because only a deer-culler’s dog would think such a pile of gear could be worth protecting.

There are parallels here with farming, Chris, and that’s what

working back from the consumer and prospects for the future. His pointed to the huge differences between different parts of the country, including its sheer size with 79 cities having a population larger than NZ’s, each with its own distinct food preferences. An obvious example is the ease of finding lamb in Beijing compared with Shanghai, while in the far north mutton with good fat cover – which is rarely sold further south – is popular because of the very cold winters.

Townsend emphasised that while China’s economy is not performing to normal expectations for several reasons, there are also substantial changes in consumer habits as a result of covid and demographic trends in the population. Because of these factors the nature of food purchasing has changed dramatically, although the overall rate of protein consumption continues to exceed the growth in GDP.

There are now 350 million urban households that since Covid have invested in making their homes more comfortable and, instead of eating out, now enjoy cooking at home. Kitchens are now better planned, with bigger ovens and freezers than before. This has a logical effect on how people eat. Another factor is the so-

As we’ve touched on before, our industry is not much of an economic performer, or at least not for those who actually farm. Our all farm types average return on capital is 2.5%. If you were a fund manager providing this level of return to your clients, you wouldn’t last beyond the first performance review.

And yet those that represent our industry to our government seem hellbent on maintaining the status quo.

Chris, what I am trying to say is that farming needs some fresh leadership. It badly needs the type of transformation that can only come from completely rethinking how we farm, what we sell and how we sell it.

I understand that politicians will often take their cues from

called Lazy Economy, which demands “make life easy for me”. Consequently ready-to-cook meals are predicted to increase sixfold between 2019 and 2026 and they must be easy to find, buy and cook.

Since covid the number of people living on their own has increased from 75 million to 92 million,which means a substantial growth in demand for small servings to satisfy the singles economy.

Trends like sustainability are more about what is in it for the consumer than for the planet, while plant-based products are still a very small category because

the loud and established voices. Voices that present themselves as representatives of the whole. But for the most part these voices are from the status quo. They are experienced in the past and want to see it continue. These are voices that have relied on capital gains as the basis of their business model, have pushed productivity over value creation and seek to sell commodities instead of products. These voices have overseen environmental degradation, a loss of social licence, the consolidation of farmland and the loss of rural communities. They have driven talented young farmers to leave

Chinese consumers don’t like them much; central government has also started approving GMOs, but as yet consumers are not keen. However, things happen much more quickly in China than in other markets, so this could change and it will be important for marketers to watch closely for new trends emerging. One of these trends is for shoppers to buy on Douyin, a sister app to Tiktok, rather than through traditional retail channels. Also since covid China has felt itself unloved internationally, which has made consumers less willing to buy foreign brands,

the industry, and even the country, because the numbers no longer stack up. And again, all for the princely average return of 2.5%.

And this is bad for you Chris, because the country misses out on all that potential GDP. Revenue that is currently captured by those countries that import our raw commodities, add value to them

which have also lost touch with the Chinese market and as a result domestic products have become more relevant and popular.

Townsend cited the example of liquid milk, which on the Alibaba platform has risen by 19% since last August and now comprises 35% of the dairy market. Overseas brands have failed to take advantage of this trend with market share dropping by a third from a comparable period last year.

David Mahon, a long-established expert on the Chinese economy, argues consumer purchasing is severely hindered by the dire state of the property and car markets, which are characterised by price competition attempting to provoke demand. Consumers will wait for the price wars to bottom out before they are willing to spend.

The Chinese government’s willingness to stimulate demand may determine whether or how quickly the consumption pattern improves, but Mahon maintains there is a serious need to correct the structural weaknesses in the economy before a real recovery can occur.

Provincial and municipal governments have had a large proportion of their local taxes diverted to central government coffers, as well as restrictions imposed on land to boost agricultural production.

and, in the worst cases, sell them back to us.

We need a fresh approach, and we need fresh people to drive it. This election provides an opportunity to really kick on with agriculture and grab a bigger slice of the value chain.

Once this election is over, let’s form a new agriculture advisory group.

But let’s not rearrange the deck chairs and fill it with the same old voices who will give both you and me the same old thing. Let’s fill it with disrupters.

Let’s fill it with the very best marketers, brand developers and food technologists out there. And most importantly, let’s put people in there with a track record of creating valuable products and successfully selling them to the world.

To help with this Chris, let’s rethink our trade policy. Let’s stop focusing on creating access for commodity products and start creating access for brands. Perhaps you could consider focusing as much effort on incentives as we currently do on regulation?

Perhaps you could promote the development of additional processing capacity in New Zealand.

Perhaps you could further accelerate entrepreneurial activity in the country and help develop a whole new range of brands that take full advantage of the latent potential of our first-class food, fibre and timber outputs. Chris, there is so much potential for our sector out there. I get excited just thinking about it! But please let’s stop listening to the old deer-cullers’ dogs. Give them a pat and leave them to lay in the sun. It’s time to kick on.

The net effect has been an acute shortage of funds resulting in local government salaries being cut by half and the sale of land for industrial and residential property development, even insolvency, thereby causing a massive property oversupply.

Things happen much more quickly in China than in other markets.

According to Mahon, central government ideally needs to empower the private sector and reduce the influence on the economy of state owned enterprises, which currently make up 40% of GDP, while being very inefficient.

Another negative factor in both the private and state economy is the level of corruption, which crushes the morale of ordinary working people and small business owners. Mahon believes this must be addressed to ensure the population continues to grant central government its uncritical support.

China will inevitably be a major trading partner for the foreseeable future, but continued growth cannot be taken for granted without concerted effort to understand the economic and political factors at play.

This election provides an opportunity to really kick on with agriculture and grab a bigger slice of the value chain.

Get on and do – after a cyclone hits

Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer Patrick Crawshaw shares how he dealt with the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Give us a bit of background. Where are you farming, Pat?

We’re farming beef and lamb on 280ha in Pātoka, about 40 minutes west of Hastings in the Hawke’s Bay.

What do you like about the job?

Farming’s a passion for me, it’s what I’ve always enjoyed. I get a lot of satisfaction from working with livestock and prime stock. It also gives you that ability to connect with the land and the outdoors, get your boots on the ground and some dirt under your nails.

Sounds like you’re in the right job, but this year must have been testing. What sort of damage did your farm sustain during Gabrielle?

We were isolated from the rest of the community for five or six weeks when the bridges were out. We also lost a lot of internal access across our farm and couldn’t remedy that for a month ’til there was a break in the weather for the digger work. We went from 58 available paddocks down to 18 and all the challenges of dealing with that.

What does it take to work through a disaster like that? It must’ve been rough at first.

Yeah, don’t get me wrong, there were tough moments. I’m not afraid to say there was more than one occasion when I was brought to tears over different things. The reality of it was tough. But one thing that helped me was what I had learnt through the drought of 2020 and 2021.

That’s pretty ironic during a flood, but it makes sense. What did you learn?

That you need to take control of the things you can control. If you’ve got a plan you think you can pull off and have the capacity to do it, back yourself and do it. It could be as simple as doing a lot of little things around the farm. Working like that gives you that mental lift and makes you realise that you can make a difference.

The weather hasn’t always been very conducive to getting those fixes done so we’re still settling for a lot of imperfection, but I still get satisfaction about what we have been able to do – resurrecting some of the broken things. That’s what put the light at the end of the tunnel for me.

Any other tips?

Another thing I learnt from the drought was to be strategic in my management and decision making. It’s harder than it sounds when a big event like a storm happens, because all you want to do is get on and put the fences up again and get things back to normal. Like every farmer I want to get on and do the do, but once you’ve got your essentials like water and stock

containment up and running, it’s important to step back and be strategic.

How does that work in practice?

Well, as challenging as Cyclone Gabrielle has been, the rebuild is our chance to set up a new plan and try and make things better than what they were before. The cyclone is something we can learn from. That’s how we think about it. I think it’s about getting up out of the weeds and having a proper plan that optimises your time and energy too. Tick off the priority stuff and postpone things that are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

What about looking after yourself? How did the stress of the cyclone impact your health?

When these events first happen, their impact is blurred by the adrenaline of having to respond to an emergency. One of the big challenges we had here was water for our stock so my whole focus was getting in a generator to pump water up to the top tanks and lines there. Once that was done, I could feel myself coming off this big adrenaline high and crashing down. That was my body telling me to take a breather to try and recover.

That cycle happened three or four times, as we ticked off the big challenges. I remember the moment we managed to get trailer access through the river to get the stock out to the processors again. Once the first load of bulls hit the truck on the other side of the river, I could feel my body go heavy. Sure enough, by the end of the day I was really in need of a good night’s rest. So, it wasn’t easy.

How do you sustain a long-haul recovery effort?

Even though Cyclone Gabrielle happened a while ago, we are still living and breathing all of it. So as time has gone on, I’ve realised that workload is something that really needs to be moderated. Getting through an event like this is like running a marathon. We’re going to be dealing with these issues for two, three, five years, so it’s all about being able to look out through the front windshield every day with the energy and motivation to find solutions. That means giving yourself a chance to recharge. We got off farm recently just to take that break. Sometimes it’s important to take the pace out of life, get away from the business for a bit and hang out with family.

What sort of mindset is helpful to get through?

You can still set high goals, but you’ve got to be able to settle for “it is what it is” at times.

When you’re full of adrenaline you feel like you can conquer the

I remember the moment we managed to get trailer access through the river ... Once the first load of bulls hit the truck on the other side of the river, I could feel my body go heavy.

world and just get on and do. But once that erodes, you’re still left with the mountain to climb. So, you have to be okay with the fact that you can go away on holiday knowing those problems will still be there when you come back.

I find it’s also important to operate in the moment rather than worrying about things that are yet to happen or have already happened. Those are things outside your control, but right there and then is where you need to be and where you can make a difference. There’s a freedom in thinking like that.

How do you keep family life ticking over during such a pressured time?

That was probably the hardest thing of the whole cyclone for us. We didn’t have running water at the house at first, so we flew our two little girls out to my mother

in law’s. We were fortunate to be able to do that, but I literally broke down in tears over that.

So when the kids came back it was a breath of fresh air for us. The difference they brought to our environment was amazing. Even though I had a mountain of problems out there with the infrastructure, once I took off the gumboots at the door, I had to stop thinking about my issues and deal with their priorities. My most pressing issue suddenly became how to get a doll dressed! Immersing myself in their world gave me that mental break from my own challenging world. That was a massive thing for me.

What else helps you keep well?

A big one for me is having people around that I trust who I can discuss problems with and bounce ideas off. I suppose you’d call them mentors, but to me they’re just mates. Having people around you who you can call on in both good and tough times is one of the biggest things in terms of coping with the ups and downs of farming.

In the midst of it all, you entered the FMG Young Farmers competition and were a grand finalist. Why on earth would you do that with so much on your plate?

[laughs]Yeah, it was a bit of a juggle with work and family, but

we were just stoked to be there. One of the best ways to keep in a good headspace is surrounding yourself with people who are ambitious and thriving. The other competitors in the grand final were exceptional people, so I found it very motivating and energising. That sort of environment is contagious and really good for you. A big thing for me is to be continually learning, not just what I know about farming, but what I know about myself.

When you reflect back on the impact of the cyclone, what’s your main take on it?

It was a great demonstration of the strength of our community. People were mucking out sheds, helping to make roads, cooking for others.

You had the business owner working with a bunch of people he didn’t know from a bar of soap. It was a real get on and do effort from the whole community. That was one of the main lessons for me. You can be really successful in different parts of your business, but you still need to invest in the people around you, your community and the neighbour across the fence, because when the chips are down, those are the people you look to for help and support.

Publishing kudos for Scion researchers

Two Rotorua scientists have had their study involving the genetic modification of trees featured in Nature.

SCION is toasting the success of two leading researchers who have earned the equivalent of an Olympic gold medal in the world of science.

Dr Marie Joo le Guen and Dr Stefan Hill contributed to a research paper published in the scientific journal Nature Plants – one of the most respected scientific journals in the world. Nature covers a wide range of disciplines, and its articles are known for their high impact and global significance.

Becoming a published author in any of the Nature journals is considered highly prestigious in the academic community –something not lost on the Rotorua researchers.

“Getting into Nature is something you hope for,” said Hill, Scion’s portfolio leader for High Value Biorefineries.

“As a group, we submitted the manuscript earlier this year and, as with most journals, the reviewers were very picky, but this process felt like it was next level.

“They question all aspects of the science, so when you finally receive an email that tells you your manuscript has been accepted, you feel elated. It’s nice to see that our science is of a level that is deemed worthy of being included in a journal like Nature.”

Their research paper, titled Ectopic callose deposition into woody biomass modulates the nano-architecture of macrofibrils, was led by Dr Matthieu Bourdon of the University of Cambridge and involved 33 researchers from more than 20 universities or research organisations around the world. The research shows how trees can be genetically modified to produce wood that is easier to process into biofuels and chemicals that can replace those made from fossil fuels.

the Cambridge-led team.

“Matthieu contacted us because the team needed to understand how genetic modifications had changed the walls of cells in the trees’ wood. They needed to know whether modifying the trees to produce more callose in their cell walls changed the size and distribution of nanometer-scale pores in those cell walls.

“Trees have evolved strong cell walls so they can grow tall. While this is a smart idea if you’re a tree, it makes it hard for us to break wood down and turn it into chemicals that can replace those made from the petroleum industry.”

Researchers did this by genetically changing the trees so they produced more of a type of sugar called callose in their wood. The Scion scientists were able to develop and apply new methods to help confirm if the changes were working in the way the scientists hoped.

Hill said Scion was approached by Bourdon following previous work with another researcher on

The team needed to know whether callose was causing the changes in the wood that would make it easier to process. Hill and Le Guen used a technique called differential scanning calorimetry to precisely measure how changes in the freezing point of water in the wood samples related to the differences in nano-pore size and distribution resulting from the genetic changes to the trees. The pair’s results ultimately supported the overall outcomes of the research.

Le Guen said the experience shows that Scion can collaborate with the top-tier universities in the world.

“Cambridge University is still

the No 1 university globally, and they invited us to participate, which is wonderful recognition of our science capabilities at Scion, as well as an opportunity to learn from the best.

“What’s more, the analysis work we’ve set up from this project is really useful for all the other science that Scion is doing. It gives us a whole new way of looking at cell wall architecture, which complements all our work to understand biomass better.

“This is critical to our mission to support New Zealand’s transition to a circular bioeconomy.”

Another benefit is that it has opened up further collaboration with Biomata, a new international associated laboratory, led by Scion and French research organisation INRAE. Bourdon said Scion’s research was an essential part of the overall study.

“We managed to genetically introduce callose into wood, but our prior analysis surprised us by suggesting that this polymer did not interact with other wood components.

“However, some experiments showed that the modified wood was able to absorb more water, which we thought could be because we had also changed the wood’s nano-pores.

“From there, the collaboration with Scion was paramount to experimentally confirm this hypothesis and nail down the physical effect of callose introduction on the engineered wood ultrastructure. This final piece of data allowed us to finalise our model of action describing how callose introduction can mediate an increase in wood digestibility for wood biorefinery pipelines.”

Nitrogen tips can help reduce maize costs

TOOLS and practices are available to help maize growers facing economic headwinds with the new sowing season beginning in October.

While nitrogen fertiliser prices have eased from the peaks of the last two years, these are still a significant contributor to the cost of maize production, Foundation for Arable Research senior maize researcher David Densley said.

Densley recently led a series of FAR winter maize workshops throughout the North Island and in Canterbury.

For the 2023-2024 maize production season, the projected total fertiliser cost is forecast to reduce by almost $390/ha compared to last season.

Fertiliser costs are projected to fall to 43% of the total cost of production, compared with 51% in 2022/23, using information from Pioneer’s Maize for Silage catalogue.

Nitrogen is expected to make up 40% of the total fertiliser budget in the 2023-24 season down from 47% the previous year.

While production costs for maize silage have increased on average by $51/ha a year over the last 26 years, since the 2019-2020 season, this rise has jumped to $270/ha/ annum.

Total maize silage growing costs are predicted to be about $3438/ha, slightly down on last year.

Farmers can save money in N costs as well as make environmental gains by making better use of plant available N

naturally present in the soil, Densley said.

Rather than applying a standard amount of nitrogen fertiliser, growers are encouraged to measure how much N is in the soil (using a MinN test), as well as what might become available during the growing season (Potentially Available N) and take this into account when determining crop N fertiliser requirements.

As well as reducing the risk of N leaching, N fertiliser is the

main source of greenhouse gas emissions from a maize crop, which the government plans to tax.

“A lot of people are soil testing, but most people aren’t using this information to determine their N fertiliser application rates.

“Our research suggests that even after long-term maize production there can be a significant amount of mineral N in the soil available to the maize plant.

Our research suggests that even after long-term maize production there can be a significant amount of mineral N in the soil available to the maize plant.

“Measuring mineral N ahead of side dressing provides the opportunity to reduce input costs without compromising yield.”

As soil mineral N levels are variable across a field, consideration should be given to where samples are collected, he said.

The amount of N which becomes available during the growing season can be significant, so it is also worth measuring for potentially mineralisable N.

In terms of agricultural emissions, benchmarking of 20 maize systems showed average annual GHG were 2 tonnes CO2e/ ha for grain.

Silage is higher at 3.5t CO2e because of the influence livestock have on emissions within the production system.

It’s nice to see that our science is of a level that is deemed worthy of being included in a journal like Nature.

Positive response to banking plea

Federated Farmers have called for an independent inquiry into rural banking – and it seems to be prompting traction. In a rare display of consensus during the Rural Issues Debate, the idea received crossparty political backing.

The Commerce Commission is currently undertaking a market study into personal banking looking at the levels of competition, what is or isn’t working well, and how things could be improved – but the terms of reference exclude rural business banking.

Federated Farmers domestic commerce and competition spokesperson Richard McIntyre said with agricultural lending exceeding $63 billion, and interest rates being the single largest expense for most farmers, it was time for somebody independent to ask the banks some hard questions.

“Farmers are doing it tough right now with rising costs, bad weather and falling payouts. The last thing they want to be worrying about is whether they’re getting a fair deal from their bank,” McIntyre said.

National’s agriculture spokesperson Todd McClay red some early shots during the Rural Issues Debate, accusing Labour of using an 11th-hour study into personal banking, when they’d had six years to do something, to divert the country’s attention away from concerns about high interest rates and high bank pro ts. He agreed we either need to extend the scope of the current

inquiry or have a speci c inquiry into rural lending.

“I think we should get to the bottom of this,” McClay said. “It seems madness that when there is more risk, [the banks put] interest rates up, making those rural businesses they rely on [to pay the loans] even less sustainable.”

Challenged by debate moderator Heather Du Plessis-Allan on why the Government had not included rural banking in the market study, Damien O’Connor said there had been no request from the rural sector for that

to happen, and the Government didn’t want to ‘over-reach’.

While he acknowledged Federated Farmers for now doing so – and supported our call for an inquiry –he claimed Feds had never shown a willingness to take on the banks.

“It is really hard [for farmers] to take banks on when you’re beholden to them [with a mortgage].

“They can be quite vindictive and vicious.”

O’Connor pointed out his Government had brought in the Farm Debt Mediation Act to protect

farmers (with NZ First’s Mark Patterson interjecting the original Bill was his party’s) and threw out his own challenge to National:  why were they pledging to scrap the Conduct of Financial Institutions Act when that legislation includes protections from bank practices such as the disastrous interest rates swap crisis of the mid-2000s that cost farmers hundreds of millions of dollars?

Mark Patterson’s view was that a rural banking inquiry is overdue.

“The Australians have done ve or

QUESTIONS:

Richard McIntyre says the Net-Zero Banking Alliance raises very serious questions about whether our banks are acting in a truly competitive manner.

six major inquiries into their banks.  The pro t margins they’re making in New Zealand are higher than they are in Australia – we’re being absolutely rorted.”

The latest Federated Farmers Banking Survey, carried out in May 2023, showed a noticeable upswing in the number of farmers who felt they had come under undue pressure from their bank.

Numbers were up from 17% in November 2022 to 24% in May 2023.

Continued next page

advocacy, there is strength in numbers. And that number is one.

35,000+ watch Rural Issues Debate

Restoring farmer confidence was the central theme of the Rural Issues Debate held at Mystery Creek on September 14th – and the opening of the Government books just four days earlier provided plenty of ammunition for the Opposition parties to have a crack.

A live studio audience of 300 farmers, along with 35,000+ viewers online at home, got to see spokespeople from all the major political parties polling over 5% go toe-to-toe discussing the big issues impacting rural New Zealand –including the cost, complexity, and compliance that has been heaped on our farmers.

Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford had set the tone at the start of the week by stating the Government PREFU (pre-election economic and fiscal update) exposed the urgent need for policies that will grow our economy.

“New Zealand is hitting real economic headwinds and there’s no relief in sight for Kiwi families, with total debt forecast to pass $200 billion by 2025. The $11 billion deficit forecast this year is our biggest deficit on record outside of the disaster years of 2020’s Covid 19 Pandemic and 2011’s Christchurch earthquake,” Langford said.

“Farmers are feeling the squeeze too, with farm incomes falling sharply, high input costs, and increasing interest rates. There’s huge pressure in our rural communities - but the whole country is feeling it.”

Langford said to dig New Zealand out of this financial hole, there needed to be a commitment to growing the economy – “and that means more farming, not less.

“But that’s just not where the political narrative has been for the last few years. There has been absolutely no discussion about how we can sustainably grow our meat and milk production despite the huge potential.

“Instead, the focus has been on constraining our farmers further, wrapping them up in red tape, and heaping on cost, complexity, and compliance.  The end result is record low farmer confidence and a slumping New Zealand economy. It’s no coincidence they have arrived at the same time.”

That was exactly what Rural

Continued from previous page

This is the highest level since the survey began in 2015.

The survey also indicated that farm interest rates had increased sharply with an average interest rate of 7.84% in May 2023, up 4% from a low of 3.79% in May 2021.

The average overdraft interest rate was 10.07% in May 2023, up 3.79% from a low 6.28% in November 2021.

Richard McIntyre said those numbers will only have increased since May as interest rates have continued to climb, economic conditions have quickly deteriorated, and many farmers have rolled off their fixed rates.

“Kiwi farmers are carrying around $63 billion of debt, so a 4% increase

Issues debate moderator Heather du Plessis-Allan hit the Agriculture Minister with in her opening question.  A fired-up Damien O’Connor reminded her, in case it had passed her by, that issues of confidence and costs had a fair bit to do with COVID, the Ukraine war and weather extremes.

“I went back and had a look at the confidence surveys over the years.

Since we got into Government, they’ve all been negative, in spite of $9 milk payouts and an average $12 per kilogram for lamb between 2020 and 2022.

“So why would that be?  It’s not a bias against what Governments do, is it?”

O’Connor said the crowd reminded him of a much bigger gathering at Christchurch in 1985 when he was a sharemilker, where they were protesting against the removal of subsidies.

“Farmers always react a little negatively to some of the things that need to be carried through.  We’re doing some of those things.  No-one likes change, I get that.”

O’Connor claimed that major customers of Fonterra, such as Nestle and Waitrose, were reacting to consumer pressure over climate change and animal welfare and demanding the co-operative move

in interest rates means there will be $2.5 billion fewer dollars circulating in our rural economy.”

Even if agricultural lending rates were only 1% higher than they ought to be compared to residential home loans, that’s still over $600 million being taken directly off farmers’ bottom lines.

Farmers are also noticing that banks charge much higher interest rates for farm lending than home loans, but there seems to be no clear explanation why that’s the case.

on scope 3 emissions and other fronts.  He said the Government was trying to position farmers for the realities of the future and shouldn’t be blamed for a post-COVID demand slump from China.

Todd McClay, National, agreed there was not much governments can do about export returns.  “But what his Government is responsible for is the costs imposed on farmers through rules and regulations.

“The way we fix this is to build back trust into farmers and stop trying to run farms through Wellington.  You need to understand that farmers care about the land, and where we do need a rule, make it a good rule that focuses on the outcome, not a costly rule that just burdens them.”

To applause, McClay pointed out that replacing the cumbersome 800-page RMA with 1300-pages of new legislation, when the aim was to simplify consent processes, was not progress.  Under National, the Natural and Built Environment Act and the ‘Ute tax’ would be gone within 100 days.

ACT’s Andrew Hoggard, a former Federated Farmers President, warmed to the same ‘cutting unnecessary red tape’ theme. Answering an accusation from O’Connor that Feds had “over-hyped” the impact of new winter grazing

“We want to know if higher interest rates for farmers are increasing banks’ profitability or cross subsidising a much more competitive market for home loans.

“We also want to understand what role regulation plays in the higher interest rates farmers are paying.

“Even if agricultural lending rates were only 1% higher than they ought to be compared to residential home loans, that’s still over $600 million being taken directly off farmers’ bottom lines.”

Other issues an inquiry could investigate include branch closures and new bank environmental requirements.

“Farmers are running large and complex businesses and will often

rules by saying 10,000 consents would be needed, yet only 350 had been applied for, Hoggard said the estimate had come from regional councils and the low number was probably because farmers “couldn’t be arsed” filling in the paperwork for something that wasn’t needed.

Farm Environment Plans had originally sounded sensible, Hoggard said, as an alternative to going through costly consent processes.

The way we fix this is to build back trust into farmers and stop trying to run farms through Wellington.

“But what’s coming out is that we find the auditors and accreditors for these plans have to understand the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Mana o te Wai and Te Ao Māori.  That’s just adding cost for what?!

“These farm plans are about managing critical source areas on the farm and yet we’re introducing all this cultural stuff which isn’t about the environment or helping you farm better.”

Mark Patterson, NZ First, said

need to speak to their local bank manager face-to-face, particular in tough times like what we are currently farming through. A strong relationship and access to working capital is absolutely critical,” McIntyre said.

Feds also have significant concerns about whether New Zealand banks’ participation in sustainability initiatives like the Net-Zero Banking Alliance are reducing competition in agricultural banking. Under this alliance, banks have collectively agreed lending strategies including setting 2030 targets for reducing the level of emissions associated with lending.

The BNZ is the first bank to announce a target in New Zealand, stating they aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from

ANSWER THE CALL: Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says to dig New Zealand out of this financial hole, there needed to be a commitment to growing the economy from political leaders.

capturing more value behind the farm gate to avoid being caught so badly in commodity price fluctuations does require being able to tell a compelling and legitimate provenance story.

“But I think what’s happened is that we’re trying to do too much too soon. We’re chopping and changing stuff, putting [regulation] out then repealing it when it comes up against the hard logic of farmer feedback.  It’s got to the point where farmers have just rolled up in a ball and are very hard to engage with.

“Let’s settle it down a bit.  Farmers [will be in] a better mindset when they get a government that understands farming, that values what we do and doesn’t judge us by the lowest common denominator.” For Eugenie Sage, the fires and floods in places such as Hawaii, Greece and Libya, and the weather bombs that have hit our provinces, were a wake-up call on the need to reduce emissions and reassess the way we farm.

“Mark is right, we need to be able to prove provenance.  And so, regulation is absolutely critical to ensuring people meet standards.  We finally got organic certification sorted out under Damien and our organic exports have grown by 20% between 2017 and 2020.”

dairy farming by 11 per cent in the next six years.

“This banking alliance raises very serious questions about whether our banks are acting in a truly competitive manner, or if the joint commitment is effectively banks collaborating on a joint lending strategy,” McIntyre said.

“Individual companies are free to put in place whatever requirements they like but we have a real issue when the main competitors are collectively setting requirements that leave farmers without choices.

“There is potential for the Commerce Commission to consider what pre-competitive commitments banks in New Zealand can make before consumers rights to a competitive marketplace are compromised,” McIntyre said.

New report raises serious questions about NZ’s methane targets

For years Federated Farmers have argued that New Zealand’s methane reduction targets go further and faster than is fair for Kiwi farmers. A new scientific report from the Universities of Oxford and Cranfield has confirmed we were probably right.

There are now serious questions being asked about the ambition and scientific underpinning of our current methane reduction targets.

The report, commissioned by Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ, found that if other countries meet their existing emissions reduction commitments then a 15% reduction in methane would see New Zealand methane contribute no additional warming from 2020 – and warming is the problem. That’s why the Paris Agreement has a temperature target.

“The current methane reduction targets have been a real point of contention for most farmers who have felt like they’ve been asked to go further and faster than needed – that’s why this new study is so important,” Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford says.

“For years farmers have been told that we’re responsible for half of New Zealand’s emissions, but this report clearly shows that we’re not responsible for half of the warming – and global warming is what we’re trying to prevent.”

The Zero Carbon Act targets require reductions of 10% by 2030 and 24 – 47% by 2050 relative to 2017 levels, but the global understanding of climate change science has evolved significantly since New Zealand set those targets in 2019.

With the Climate Change Commission (CCC) set to review New Zealand’s methane reduction targets in 2024 in line with Zero Carbon Act, Federated Farmers, B+LNZ, and

DairyNZ commissioned research to help inform the conversation and help work out the most appropriate way agriculture can contribute to New Zealand’s climate goals.  We want the Commission to take this significant new research into account and set targets based on a climate warming approach.

The study on the warming impact of New Zealand’s current methane targets was led by internationally respected climate scientist Professor Myles Allen.  He’s a Professor of Geosystem Science at the University

of Oxford, Director of the Oxford Net Zero Initiative, and has been described by the BBC as ‘the physicist behind net zero’. Fellow Oxford experts Jessica Zionts and Miyabi Barth, and Dr Michelle Cain of Cranfield University also contributed to the research. These are highly credible international climate scientists who are widely regarded as experts when it comes to methane.

The study found that if other countries meet their existing emissions reduction commitments, then a 15% reduction in methane

would see emissions of that gas from New Zealand contribute not additional warming from 2020 levels.  If countries significantly increased their current levels of ambition, a reduction of up to 27% of methane in New Zealand may be required. Or to frame that in another way, the study found that if we stick to current methane reduction targets, that will offset all the additional warming from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from the entire New Zealand economy. This raises serious equity issues for rural communities

and farming families who may be asked to shoulder more than their fair share of the climate burden to offset a lack of emissions reductions in urban communities. Essentially the current targets would see New Zealand peak its warming in the 2030s and reverse back to 2022-27 levels which is well ahead of most other countries who are currently aiming to achieve peak warming (“net zero”) from 2050. The research is a critical contribution to the conversation about climate change and raises

serious equity concerns for farmers who may be being asked to do more of the heavy lifting, and bear more of the cost, than other parts of the economy.

That’s an even more pertinent question when one considers that agriculture delivers more than 60% of New Zealand’s merchandise exports.

Federated Farmers will continue to advocate that warming impact of the various greenhouse gases is the key consideration in any debate on reduction targets.

Together with B+LNZ and DairyNZ, Wayne Landford says Feds aim is to continue to inform farmers and New Zealand communities about warming impacts ahead of the Climate Change Commission’s public consultation in 2024.

Farmers will then have the opportunity to have their say on the Commission’s advice on targets in 2024.

“Farmers have been making huge progress in reducing our environmental footprint and our methane emissions have been stable or declining for the last decade,” Langford said.

“If we want to get an accurate picture of how we are progressing as part of global efforts, it’s important that we measure and report our emissions based on their warming impact. Total emissions just don’t give you the full picture”.

Why is it important to take a warming approach?

• The Paris Agreement’s goal is to limit warming to well below 2 degrees. It therefore makes sense that a country’s climate change objectives take account of how much they are contributing to warming.

• Most countries globally are aiming to be “net zero” by 2050. For countries that have emissions profiles dominated by CO2, this means that they will cease contributing to further warming (achieving peak warming) by approximately 2050.

• For CO2 emissions to cause no additional warming, they need to be reduced to net-zero.

• Methane emissions do not need to be reduced to zero to stop causing additional warming.

• Under the current methane targets New Zealand would achieve peak warming in the 2030s and reverse warming back to 2022-2027 levels by 2050. This is because the “cooling” impact of the ambitious reductions in agriculture (and waste) offset the ongoing additional warming caused by energy and transport over this period.

• Methane, a short-lived gas, does not accumulate in the atmosphere in the same way as long-lived gases like CO2 and N2O. While more potent than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere, methane persists in the atmosphere for around 12 years as opposed to the millennial timescale of CO2.

Why did the Government set targets of 24-47%

• The Government recognized that methane is different and does not need to go to zero by taking a split gas approach in the Zero Carbon Bill.

• It took the 24-47% reduction targets from an IPCC “special report on pathways to 1.5 degrees” that came out in 2019, but the authors of that report specifically said that

the ranges in their report should not be used as national targets and countries should determine their own relevant ones.

• Professor Myles Allen was a coordinating lead author of the IPCC report

created distorting incentives.

A word on greenhouse gas metrics

In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol standardised national emissions reporting by applying the Global Warming Potential (GWP) accounting metric and applying a 100-year time horizon so greenhouse gases could be combined into a single common unit. However, there have been concerns as to the accuracy of GWP100 for decades, and that it has

Professor Myles Allen and fellow report authors say this is because the amount of global warming caused by short-lived GHGs is largely driven by their annual emissions rate (i.e., the flow into the atmosphere of that gas). This contrasts with longlived GHGs such as CO2, as their contribution to global warming is dependent on the total cumulative emissions since pre-industrialisation (i.e. the stock of the gas in the atmosphere).    GWP* is a ‘flow-based’ metric, which looks at the rate-of-change of short-lived GHG emissions, which contrasts with GWP and GTP which are both ‘stock-based’. Given the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit warming to well below 2 degrees, the authors note that using a metric that measures the contribution of each gas to warming relative to that threshold would constitute a useful policy tool that more accurately represented progress towards the temperature target.

While countries are required to use GWP100 for international reporting of their emissions and NDCs (nationally determined commitments), there is nothing to prevent them from also using other metrics as a basis for their emissions reduction policies. Allen and his

team argue it could also be useful for countries to report GHGs separately and set separate targets alongside their GWP conversions.

“This would allow tracking of an entity’s contribution to warming in addition to progress towards targets set using aggregate stock-based metrics.”

NZ agriculture is not the greatest contributor to warming

Professor Allen and his fellow researchers state that in New Zealand prior to 1990, methane was the dominant contributor to global warming, causing nearly 60% of New Zealand’s contribution to global warming since 1850.  While there has been a lot of discussion about historic warming and responsibility to reduce, their report notes that most developed countries have opposed this.

“Countries with CO2 as their predominant gas could only remove their historic warming by actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and can only stop adding to additional warming by reaching net zero. As such, contributions to additional warming since 1990, arguably the earliest date of an emerging international consensus on the climate issue, are generally considered more relevant,” their summary report states.

The report therefore assessed the relative contribution of each gas to warming since 1990 and found that energy had contributed the largest proportion (54%) and agriculture second at 37%.  Methane was responsible for just 16% and nitrous oxide 20% of the 37% contribution to warming from agriculture over this period.

The Oxford study showed that methane’s contribution to ongoing warming has reduced significantly, particularly in the last decade, because methane emissions have been stable or declining. The authors noted that, while agriculture was 51% of current annual emissions using GWP100, this was quite different to its current contribution to warming and this reinforced the importance of taking a warming approach to emissions.

For years farmers have been told that we’re responsible for half of New Zealand’s emissions, but this report clearly shows that we’re not responsible for half of the warming – and global warming is what we’re trying to prevent.

Wayne Langford Federated Farmers

Matamata 1578 Old Te Aroha Road

Auction

It's all here!

This 217 ha property is well-presented with very desirable contour and strong farm infrastructure, with an exceptional ability to deliver premium returns. Located in the Waikato district, 15 minutes' drive from Matamata, that winters on average 500 R2 dairy heifers plus beef stock. The property is well farmed and regularly fertilised. The contour ranges from flat to easy medium hill to slightly steeper contour at the rear and has been subdivided into approximately 50 paddocks, mostly with great track access and water troughs. There are two sets of cattle yards, a woolshed, a six bay calf shed and two workshops. The property also includes an executive four bedroom home clad in schist and cedar with a great outlook over the district. There is native bush plus 4 ha of pines and manuka plantings that could generate future income from honey. A hunting hut for red deer sits on the eastern boundary.

Maungatautari 128 + 248 Stokes Road Auction

Cambridge

Auction 12.00pm, Thu 26th Oct, 2023, (unless sold prior), Hautapu Sports Club, 211 Victoria Street, Cambridge View Wed 27 Sep 1.00 - 2.00pm Wed 4 Oct 1.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TXR104102

Steve Mathis

M 027 481 9060 E steve.mathis@pb.co.nz

Deadline Sale

Lake side beauty!

A property, the likes of which, you are unlikely to find anywhere else. Bound by Lake Karapiro along its eastern boundary, with quite easy vehicle access right to the river's edge and 3 - 4 amazing sandy beaches at your disposal. The potential for recreational use of this area needs to be seen to be appreciated. The contour is, in the main, easy to rolling with some steeper sidlings. Lots of options with a recently decommissioned (2.2 years ago) dairy shed, three homes, long road frontage, lots of good contour and of course, direct access to the lake.

36 ha plus a unique business opportunity

Auction 11.00am, Wed 11th Oct, 2023, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 94 Duke Street, Cambridge

View Tue 26 Sep 12.00 - 1.00pm Tue 3 Oct 12.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR163250

John Sisley

M 027 475 9808

David McGuire

M 027 472 2572

If you're looking for a truly unique business opportunity, look no further! We have on offer New Zealand's only Medical Leech Supply business with a proven, consistent income stream. The property comes with 36 ha of easy rolling to medium hill farmland in a great location. The homestead is an attractive three bedroom home with large office and timber features throughout. There's no shortage of additional farm buildings and the 5.8 ha of QEII woodlots add to the immaculate presentation of this stunning property.

Deadline Sale closes Thursday 12th October, 2023 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior)

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/CBR167017

David McGuire M 027 472 2572

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

Pongaroa 173 Waikakahi Road

Waikaka - 58 ha + 24 ha *Subject to Survey

Waikaka provides an exceptional entry level finishing property located in the Pongaroa farming district with purchase options. As soon as you enter this property you will appreciate the work that has gone into this productive farm which was once part of a larger property. With improvements of a high calibre which includes a three bedroom family home with encompassing views, Four stand woolshed and covered yards and cattle yards with handling facilities. 45 ha of the country would be suitable for cultivation which includes 20 ha of drained flats in improved pastures. The property has had a good fertiliser history, and excellent reticulated water throughout. The property is well suited to be split if required, with 24 ha including the developed flats in one allotment while the remaining 58 ha includes all the infrastructure. Seldom do properties of this quality come to the market with an excellent level of improvements only 10 km from Pongaroa township and 25 km to Akitio Beach.

NEW LISTING

Tender closes 2.00pm, Fri 13th Oct, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua.

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR108954

Jared Brock

M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith

M 027 220 8311 E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz

NEW LISTING

Tapora 392 and 421 Journeys End

Waterfront dairy or avocado gold!

Positioned on the banks of the Kaipara Harbour is Pinehill Farm; a 301 hectare dairy operation with exciting avocado potential. Set in five titles, this top-tier farm operation boasts an impressive pedigree; with a recent 2022/23 production of 223,989 kgMS achieved from its low-input dairy farming system. Moreover, 102 hectares is identified for future orchard development in this proven avocado “capital”. Other special features include highly fertile predominantly free draining volcanic soils, a high volume farm bore, a 60 bale rotary shed (with ACR’s), a standoff feedpad system, and four houses. With direct access to the Kaipara Harbour, Tapora's popular golf course, and within 90 minutes of Aucklands CBD you can enjoy the best of both worlds! bayleys.co.nz/1203601

301 ha

Tender (unless sold prior)

Closing 12pm, Fri 27 Oct 2023

41 Queen Street, Warkworth View by appointment John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Morrinsville 785B Valintine Road

Complete dairy goat operation

This irrigated dairy goat unit, between Morrinsville and Hamilton, would have to be one of the best around. Excellent infrastructure includes a well located 120 bale rotary dairy. The nicely shaped square unit is all mowable. Water is sourced from a number of bores, with

bayleys.co.nz/2314912

100.3488 ha

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 2pm, Wed 25 Oct 2023

96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Thu 28 Sep Mike

PAPAMOA, BAY OF PLENTY

A Farm with a World of Future Opportunity

• 74.8949 hectares total area

• Three bedroom Keith Hay home Grazing land, approx 25 paddocks 7ha of Pine, 1ha Lusitanica trees

Streams, riparian planting, bush

• Implement sheds, woodshed, barn

• Opportunity for future diversification

• RV $2,110,000

Phone or email for full Information Memorandum

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2023

WAIMAMAKU

636 TAITA ROAD

3 1

AUCTION Plus GST (if any)

(Unless Sold Prior)

1.00pm, Monday 16 October

VIEW By Appointment Only

David McLaren

M 027 223 3366

E dmclaren@pggwrightson.co.nz

Karen McLaren

M 027 555 0421

E karen.mclaren@pggwrightson.co.nz

PAENGAROA, BAY OF PLENTY

Rural Life with Development Opportunity

Escape to the beauty of the hills with this exceptional rural property. Nestled amidst the countryside with panoramic views, embrace a peaceful and slower pace of life while still being within easy reach of urban conveniences.

• A desirable land size of 22.663 hectares

• Multiple, elevated house sites with views of the coast and natural landscape

Fully fenced grazing paddocks

Two storage sheds

Opportunity for subdivision Contact Morgan today.

pggwre.co.nz/TEP38123

AUCTION Plus GST (if any)

(Unless Sold Prior)

1.00pm, Monday 16 October

VIEW 12.30-1.00pm Sunday 1 October

Morgan Sayle

M 020 413 60152

E morgan.sayle@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER 4:00pm 26 Oct 2023 at 33 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri (unless sold prior)

VIEWING

Phone For Viewing Times

barfoot.co.nz/849734

NEW LISTING

311ha Beef Unit

Estimated 278ha effective, excellent contour, 80% free draining volcanic soils. Recently wintered around 600 Friesian bulls, the block is very capable of running more. Was run as an intensive technograzing system but would need to be reinstated. Good array of buildings and well maintained four bedroom home.

Claude Shepherd 0274 410 436 c.shepherd@barfoot.co.nz

Competitive metre rates

CORK OAK TRUFFLE TREES

BRIDGE & STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE

From $12,999 RRP

Ferris® suspension systems are engineered to provide you with a smooth ride on uneven ground. The deck of the mower works in conjunction with the suspension system to provide a consistent quality of cut.

And, the TRIPLE mower deck (on selected models*), now gives you side discharge, rear discharge and mulching configurations that can be converted as required.

FOR ONLY $2.30 + gst per

Weekly

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. Pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916 / 027 363 2932.

HORTICULTURE

NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

HYPNOTHERAPY

FARMING FAMILIES, online hypnotherapy support for everyday challenges. Contact Shirley Henderson at shirl@ shirl.nz for a chat. For more info: http://www.facebook. com/handsforhealthnz

LEASE LAND WANTED

TOP QUALITY IN-MILK COW AUCTION

Date: Wednesday 4th October

Address: Cambridge Saleyards

Start Time: 11:30am will be available for online bidding

A/c V Jensen:

End of an era, 40yrs owner bred in-milk Frsn/FrsnX 3 digit code young cows.

75 x Friesian & Friesian Cross In-Milk young cows including a complete replacement line of 2yr heifers. BW203, PW234, LW235, RA93%. Herd tested 30th August 27.7ltrs, 2.3ms, SCC

77. Many years LIC nominated and Premier Sires (Emphasis on A2A2 sires for the last 12 years). These strong uddered cows will come forward in excellent condition. BVD tested, Lepto Vacc, TB Status C10

CONTACT:

Luke Gilbert 027 849 2112

A/c Bayliss Farms:

Genuine Spring Calving Content of Autumn Herd.

PUMPS

HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz

RAMS FOR SALE

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.

ONLY $2.30

50 x In-Milk Frsn/FrsnX cows. BW195, PW279, LW290, RA93%. Young spring content of an autumn calving herd with outstanding indexes. Lepto Vacc, TB Status C10. Herd tested 21st September 2023.

CONTACT:

Kelly Higgins 027 600 2374

PAYMENT TERMS: Payment to be made within 14 days of the sale. Delivery Day of sale.

QUICK PASTURE growth. Only $6.50+gst per hectare delivered. 0508-GIBBGRO [0508 442 247] www. gibbgro.co.nz. “The Proven One.”

GIBB-GRO GROWTH PROMOTANT GIBBOOST INCREASE PASTURE growth and dry matter. $5.50 per/ha ex store + GST. Phone 0508 733 343. www.vernado.co.nz

GOATS WANTED

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds. Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten. Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats

Call Debbie 027 705 7181

DAIRY OR GRAZING FARM wanted. Open to leasing, equity, share farming or developing land in partnership. Rangitīkei, Manawatū or HB areas. Phone Michael 027 223 6156.

THE GULLIES WILTSHIRE & Low Input Rams. SIL; FE and worm tolerance. Richard Morrison Phone 021 626 513. richard@thegullies.nz www.thegullies.nz

WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone 0800 85 25 80.

3rd ANNUAL ON FARM SIMMENTAL YEARLING BULLS

8TH ANNUAL YOUNG IN-MILK FRSN/FRSNX COW AUCTION

RURAL MASSAGE

RELAXING FULL BODY massage in rural Ohaupo. Unwind. De-stress. Visit ruralmassage.co.nz for details.

WANTED TO BUY HOUSES AND SHEDS for shifting, relocating and removal. Phone 020 473 2394.

WANTED TO LEASE

SHEEP AND BEEF breeding farm. Approx 600-1000ha plus. Hunterville, Taihape, Hawke’s Bay, Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Gisborne and Wairoa areas. Experienced Leasee. Contact Pete Hammond. Phone 027 412

A/c Clearview Trust

S & K McDonald

Date: Thursday 28th September

Address: 82 Clearview Road

Start Time: 6.00pm (undercover, complimentary hospitality provided)

COMPRISING:

14 x Owner Bred 1yr Pure Bred Simmental Bulls

DETAILS:

• Helmsman Auction

• Outstanding Temperaments

• TB, BVD & EBL tested negative and vaccinated

• Strong guaranteed market for Simmental Calves

AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Our breeding program focuses on quiet temperament and easy calving bulls that will produce high value progeny for our purchasers. This years sale offering is a good balance of well structured, quiet bulls that we are proud to present to the market.

DELIVERY/PAYMENT TERMS:

Deferred payments until 20/10/23. There will be trucking available free of charge for purchasers within Taranaki

OUR VENDOR:

Shane McDonald M: 027 244 2404

CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENTS:

Daniel Crowley M: 027 215 3609

Brent Espin M: 027 551 3660

Tim Hurley M: 027 414 6756

Daniel Hornby M: 027 636 2090

‘Our best line up yet’

A/C Troy Stevenson

Date: Friday 6th October 2023

Address: 437 Patiki Road, Pihama, South Taranaki

Start Time: 11:30am (undercover, gourmet BBQ lunch provided) will be available for online bidding

COMPRISING:

142 x young Friesian / Friesian Cross In-Milk Cows BW227, PW280, LW281 RA99%

DETAILS:

• TBC 10 – Mycoplasma Bovis not detected and BVD negative.

• All cows in-milk, milked twice daily in rotary shed.

• Herd Tested 18th September 2023, 2ms/cow, SCC 69

• Strict selection policy all young cows mainly 2-4 year olds, including a CRL top Friesian Heifers DNA Profiled and A2 Verified.

AUCTIONEERS NOTE:

Due to a very robust selection process, this 8th annual offering will be one of the highest that has been presented. All cows personally guaranteed by our vendors offering 1-Week soundness trial. Cows are milked to supply calf milk then offered for auction. Young and all sound these cows will come forward in good condition ready for mating. We totally recommend these cows. Annual buyers have commented on the high standard of cows been offered previously.

PAYMENT TERMS:

Deferred payment due 20th January 2024 Immediate delivery.

CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENTS:

Tim Hurley 027 414 6756

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YEARLING BULL & HEIFER SALE

A

14

SHEEP FARMERS

“We have used WormFEC Gold Genetics for over 30 years and we get great performance on our hill country farm. We measure our lamb FEC levels and can often get up to 8 weeks before needing to drench our lambs. I have farmed for 45 years and we have never had such clean lambs and get almost no flystrike. Some of our lambs don’t require dagging, even before they go to the works.”

WormFEC

WOODBANK

FOR SALE

• Extremely quiet bulls

• More milk & quality calves

• Birth weight, short gestation length, calving ease.

•

FORTUNA EAST FRIESIAN STUD M

VERMONT ANGUS ALFORD FOREST CANTERBURY

462 0126 Geoff Wright 027 462 0131 Russell Berquist 027 478 5981 Kim Berquist 027 487 5411

Quality Hill Country Angus Bulls

Use pure genetics fr om a registered sheep breeder/member to gain a hybrid

www.nzsheep.co.nz

“What’s going on with the scanning result - it’s down again. And what about these ewes that are scanned in lamb, why so many dry ones at weaning??”

“Ewe losses are so much higher than the neighbour? and ewe condition is lower than it should be.”

“I am feeding really well, why is the weaning weight not improving??”

“I only get a few clinical FE cases.... maybe there are more affected than I thought?”

Sound familiar?

Maybe it’s time to invest in FE Gold Rams

If you want the best, buy the best www.fegold.co.nz

A single guy decided life would be more fun if he had a pet.

So he went to the pet store and after some discussion with the pet store owner, he finally bought a talking centipede, which came in a little white box to use for his house.

He took the centipede back home, and decided he would start off by taking his new pet to the pub for a drink with him.

So he asked the centipede in the box, “Would you like to go down the pub with me today? We will have a good time.”

But there was no answer from his new pet.

He waited a few minutes and then asked again,”How about going down the pub with me?”

Again, there was no answer from his new friend and pet. So he waited a few minutes more and decided to invite the centipede one last time.

This time he put his face up against the centipede ‘ s box and shouted, “Hey, in there! Would you like to go to the pub with me?”

This time, a little voice came out of the box, ‘’I heard you the first time! I’m putting my shoes on!”

Please Note change of starting venue - 1653 Mount Nessing Road, Albury, South Canterbury, Rockburn Yards

Tuesday 3 October 2023

Commencing 11am

278 Ylg Simmental/Hereford & Simmental/ Angus x Steers

224 Ylg Simmental/Hereford & Simmental/ Angus x Heifers

To be sold following above at 260 Rutherford Road, Albury Opawa Yards

55 Ylg

FRIESIAN FRIESIAN X LIC INMILK HERD CLEARING SALE

Tuesday 3 October | 11.30am

A/C B & R Hopper Family Trust

To be held at Morrinsville Saleyards.

Comprising:

130 Friesian (95%) Friesian X Inmilk Dairy Cows, BW 140, PW 156, RA 90%

• 50 years father to son family ownership

Last season – 310 M/S per cow (Once a day 1st December), on System 1

• Cows currently producing 1.9 M/S per cow (24 Litres), Fat 4.3, Protein 3.9, SCC 140,000

• Young stock sold last season

TB Status C10, BVD Neg, Lepto Vacc Sale catalogue available approx 28th September.

Due to the family farm going into solar panels and drystock, this quality herd will be offered for auction.

Farmers in search of genuine cows are advised to attend this fixture.

Online bidding available via BIDR .

Enquires to:

Brian (Vendor) 027 482 8225

Allan Jones (PGW) 027 224 0768

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz

PALMERSTON 1ST SPRING CATTLE SALE

Friday 29 September | 10.00am

Palmerston Sale Yards

All cattle yarded overnight & sold over scales

Comprising Approx:

67 Angus & Hereford 2yr Steers

15 Hereford & Hereford X 2yr Steers

70 Hereford/ Friesian X 2yr Steers

15 Speckled Park X 2yr Steers

10 Murray Grey/Friesian X 2yr Steers

10 Friesian 2yr Steers

10 Beef 2yr Bulls

39 Hereford 2yr Heifers

15 Angus & Angus X 2yr Heifers

15 Hereford/Friesian 2yr Heifers with 15 calves at foot

168 Angus & Angus X 1yr Steers

15 Hereford 1yr Steers

10 South Devon/Saler X 1yr Steers

46 Composite 1yr Heifers

63 Angus & Angus 1yr Heifers

40 Hereford/Friesian x 1yr Heifers

Watch and bid from anywhere.

For more info go to www.bidr.co.nz

Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions.

Gerard Shea (PGW) 027 442 5379

Callum Stalker (RLL) 027 473 0846

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz

Helping grow the country

Helping grow the country

Glen R Angus Spring Bull Sale

SPRING FLING DISPERSAL SALE AYRSHIRE & JERSEY (IN-MILK COWS & REPLACEMENTS)

Wednesday 4 October, 11.30am

Hybrid Bidr auction to be held on the property of the vendors:

Fusion Genetics Ltd. - Ron and Amy Baker

259 Aranui Road, Palmerston North, 4475

Offering comprises complete Ayrshire and Jersey.

Portion of herd plus young stock including 2023 born calves.

This offering of high producing, well-bred females includes:

• 31 In-milk cows

2 autumn calving Ayrshires

• 7 Rising one-year heifers

• 1 Brown Swiss one-year heifer

49 Head. Herd TBCIO, LEPTO Vaccinated.

• 2 Autumn 2023 born Ayrshire heifers

5 Weaner Ayrshire and Jersey heifers

• 1 Autumn 2023 born Ayrshire bull

Plus: 36 straws of selected Ayrshire & Jersey semen, and 5 Ayrshire embryos. Very good confirmation, high producing cows, fully recorded, in very good condition, recommended for dairymen looking for genuine replacements.

View catalogues online or request from the auctioneers:

Jamie Cunninghame (PGW) 0275 833 533

Brian Robinson (BRLL) 027 241 0051

New

Eastern farmers offload to meet El Niño

Weather system already blowing through the saleyards as farmers plan for a long dry summer.

IT FEELS very much like the east coast of the North Island has jumped out of the pool and into the fire as a potentially long dry summer lies ahead. After such a wet start to the year, pastures are drier now than they have been in a long time, and, ironically, rain is needed.

El Niño has been officially announced, though it was obvious that the country was on a slippery slope to that weather system.

Eastern and lower North Island farmers have been quick to respond after learning from past experience and the store cattle markets have come alive as annual spring trading combines with many farmers pushing the offload button.

Saleyards in the firing line of El Niño have been busier than normal. In the week starting September 11, 4500 store cattle went through Stortford Lodge, Feilding and Wairoa alone. Wairoa had not held a spring cattle sale since 2019 but an influx of entries and a capacity yarding at their usual destination of Stortford Lodge meant that the need was met.

The following week there was a big offering at Stortford Lodge again, bucking the usual trend of large fortnightly sales. Feilding also shut its books on Tuesday for the upcoming Friday sale as tallies flew past 2000-head.

In contrast, volume at saleyards on the western side of the North Island and into the South Island are much closer to normal or below, which is both a sign of limited need to offload as well as fewer dairy-beef cattle to trade.

The first two weeks of September were good for North Island store cattle sellers as buyers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. For yearling traditional steers, weights on average were similar to last year at 273kg and though the strong dollar value results couldn’t be met, the market was still very pleasing at an average of $3.78/kg.

That level fell comfortably within the range for prices paid since 2016 when prices took a sharp incline and have remained there.

Yearling dairy-beef steers bettered last year’s average price of $3.47/kg for 257kg, to $3.53/ kg for the same weight. This class was the only one to do so and reflected the lower volume of stock available.

The 2-year steer market followed the same trend as the younger traditional steers. The extreme price levels of a $3.60/kg average for 2-year traditional steers last year could not be matched, but the $3.39/kg achieved was very respectable in the first two weeks of the month. An average of $3.19/ kg was achieved for 2-year dairybeef steers.

Trading in the South Island is a few weeks behind the north and for the first two weeks prices for 2-year traditional steers, and

Pinpoint the factors shaping beef and lamb slaughter prices up to six months in advance with this must-have forecasting and planning tool.

yearling and 2-year dairy-beef steers, have been 14-24c/kg on average behind North Island levels. The biggest deficit is for yearling traditional steers, which are 42c/kg behind, though there will be plenty more in the South Island to come through the system yet.

However, the latest sale at Stortford Lodge is not included in

this data and there was a noted correction to the market as local farmers offload in preparation for a dry summer and therefore local demand was also limited. The success of that sale relied heavily on outside support and it was there, from Waikato, King Country and Manawatū, but without the local demand to underpin prices did come back.

Two-year traditional steers eased on average 14c/kg and yearlings steers 17c/kg, though lighter lines dropped more significantly.

And it looks like that downward trend will continue as the influx of cattle to eastern North Island yards continues.

Western saleyards in the

North Island are in more of a comfortable trading pattern as they benefit from an El Niño weather pattern.

Last year’s spring market will be near-on impossible to beat as it was the strongest on record but at Frankton, 2-year dairybeef steers did start September able to match them but have now settled at an average of $3.15$3.20/kg, which is on par with 2021 levels.

Yearling dairy-beef steers followed a similar pattern, starting strong and settling at an average of $3.49-$3.57/kg. It is likely that this market will be able to maintain those levels given potentially lower supply and good growth.

The first two weeks of September were good for North Island store cattle sellers as buyers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in.

Weekly saleyards

Store cattle are flowing into South Island saleyards now as the spring market ramps up. Coalgate is holding fortnightly store cattle sales and offered up 470 mainly good quality traditional and dairy-beef cattle, which sold to keen interest. Canterbury Park tallies rose to 573 though breeds and quality were more mixed and that was reflected in the prices paid. Balclutha also held a spring cattle sale that yarded just over 700 cattle, and 2-year steers reached a top of $1580 and heifers, $1460.

Coalgate | September 14 | 555 cattle, 3232 sheep $/kg

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AgriHQ market trends

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NOTE: Slaughter values are weighted average gross operating prices including premiums but excluding breed premiums for cattle.

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Now that El Niño is officially here ...

IT’S official: after months of waiting, El Niño is now finally here. The Bureau of Meteorology – widely seen as the Australasian climate experts – announced it on Tuesday September 19th.

BoM uses its own strict criteria to measure sea surface and atmospheric conditions in the tropics and many expected the announcement a few weeks ago.

But the announcement does little to change what is going on weather-wise around New Zealand.

It’s a bit like we’ve gone from driving at 90km/h to now 100km/h and we’ve reached the open speed limit.

In other words, the weather pattern has been emerging for several weeks now and many around NZ have noticed the change to milder and drier conditions.

The recent rain will have been very welcome – and it’s worth noting that, as I’ve often repeated here, NZ’s location on Earth means the Southern Ocean weather systems give us wet weather, and that is forecast for Southland and West Coast over the coming several months.

So does this mean every weather

column from now on will just continue to repeat “hot and dry summer coming”?

No, not at all. In fact there’s little point in obsessing about what are the wellknown facts with El Niño.

Instead, it makes sense to now paint a picture of what may happen – but balance that with silver linings.

It’s not all bad news, and in fact recent conditions could be considered extremely favourable for pasture growth in the western side of the country.

An El Niño spring can be a little more showery for the western North Island. With the increased daylight hours and

warmer airflows in the mix (off and on) from Australia and following on from a wet winter, it’s a great recipe for fast grass growth.

My highly scientific way of monitoring pasture growth in northern NZ is how often I use my lawn mower.

It gained dust in the garage over winter – but has been used twice in the past 10 days.

At the other end of NZ, southerners have spoken about how mild soil temperatures are following a winter that had very limited frosty days.

So over the months ahead we expect the usual spring dry to develop in eastern and inland parts of both main islands.

On top of that, extra high pressure from Australia will sometimes bring with it warmer air from Aussie’s interior. (Also, with over 70 fires burning now in New South Wales alone, NZ can expect smokey/hazy skies from time to time. Australia’s bush fire season looks to be especially busy.)

The Southern Ocean will provide NZ will some relief – and cooler air like this week – and the Tasman Sea may also briefly provide wet weather systems too (like this past weekend) .

But we do need to be prepared for a reduction in rain over the coming several months.

WELCOME: Map shows expected rainfall from 7am Sunday September 24 through to 7am Sunday October 1.

Highlights this week

• Cooler this week, some by several degrees

• Risk of frost for the lower South Island

• Colder pulse of air in southern NZ Tuesday

• More high pressure late week

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