Borrow, tax and/or sell?

Repairing the damage Cyclone Gabrielle caused and building better infrastructure will be expensive.

The costs will be shared among individuals, businesses, insurance companies, councils and the government.

The government, as is its habit, seems to be thinking more or higher taxes will be necessary, but will they?

Now is not the time for new taxes and the Government should be upfront about whether it plans to introduce them, National’s Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says.

“National stands with all communities devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle. We support everyone working to respond to the ongoing emergency and we applaud the commitment to fund a full rebuild. It’s the right thing to do.

“However, we are also conscious that Kiwis remain caught in a cost-of-living crisis. We are alarmed by the suggestion that the Government could impose a new ‘cyclone’ tax on New Zealanders to fund the rebuild.

“It is simply irresponsible for Ministers to be plotting another tax grab at this difficult time.

“Instead, the Government should bring discipline to its own spending, dump expensive pet political projects like Auckland Light Rail, and focus on getting infrastructure built more efficiently.

“In a crisis the Government’s first port of call should not be the back pockets of cash-strapped Kiwis.

“National remains committed to reducing the income tax you pay, building and repairing the infrastructure New Zealand needs and managing government finances responsibly.”

People faced with rebuilding their lives, businesses and homes in the flood-affected areas will need every cent of their own money. So does everyone else struggling with the cost of living crisis.

And there are alternatives to more and higher taxes.

One of those  is abandoning the wastefully expensive light rail projects:

The Government needs to immediately scrap plans for light rail in Auckland and Wellington and refocus efforts on rebuilding the transport networks around the country devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle, National’s Transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says.

“Our regions are hurting right now and whole sections of our state highways and local roads have been destroyed and cut off.

“Given the scale and cost of the rebuild ahead, Kiwis can’t afford up to $29.2 billion for Auckland light rail, or $2.4 billion for Wellington light rail.

“Auckland light rail is a titanic waste of time and money. Labour failed to deliver on its 2017 promise to build light rail from Auckland’s CBD to Mt Roskill by 2021, and $72 million has vaporised so far with construction not even expected to begin until 2025. . . 

When the government is spending a billion dollars more a week than five years ago it shouldn’t be hard to find other ways to save money that would be better spent on the recovery.

Another alternative is borrowing which has its place when there are inter-generational benefits from the infrastructure that will be built.

There’s also the option of selling assets the government doesn’t need to own.

Landcorp farms would be a good place to start.

The company announced a net profit after tax of only $4m for the half year to December 2022.

That’s an appalling return on an investment of around $2 billion.

The opportunity cost of that much money tied up in a company making such a poor return on capital is substantial at the best of times.

These aren’t the best of times and that money would be far better invested in the roads, bridges and other infrastructure in desperate need of repairs and rebuilds.

 

 

Good bad & ugly

A crisis brings out the best in some people.

Among the examples are the work of the emergency services, people helping others in big ways and small and the three men who saved dozens of people.

A crisis also brings out the worst.

Police are seeing an increase in family harm incidents in areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Generators are being stolen – some from cell phone towers which compromise communication.

There’s also been looting of homes and businesses, intimidation from gang members and abuse of roadworkers.

Yesterday there were multiple incidents of abuse towards roadworkers across regions impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. This is unacceptable. The impacts we’ve seen in the past few weeks are devastating and distressing—we're in this together, and we have to look after each other.

— Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (@WakaKotahi_news) February 17, 2023

 

It is probable that not all incidents are being reported because there are still lots of areas without access to phones and internet.

Anger is a normal reaction to fear and grief but that doesn’t excuse intimidation, threats, violence or other despicable or illegal behaviour.

The good, bad and ugly are evident during a crisis, just like they are in ordinary times but a crisis requires an extraordinary response to the bad and ugly.

That means something more than talking from the Police Minister:

. . . Grilled by Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Nash was asked whether he thought the gangs would actually “pull their heads in” after the minister had made the plea to do so. “My plea … no, not my plea … my request is pull your bloody head in, get your animals off the streets and out of their cars. They have whanau and family affected as well. Get out and start helping them,” Nash told Hosking.

Referencing Nash’s comment about it not being the right time to commit crime, Hosking asked the minister when was the right time.

“There is no right time,” Nash responded.

Nash said that the criminal behaviour by gangs in Hawkes Bay was totally unacceptable.

”Police are onto this and, as a community, we won’t stand for such behaviour by gangs.”

Nash said gangs had a very strict hierarchy, with leaders and then men who go out on the streets.

”I ask them to take control of these men because their families are also impacted.”

Nash said it was not the right time especially when the city was in distress and people had no communication.

”We don’t want gangs. I called gang leaders and told them to get this under control, they call themselves community leaders so this is the time to show that leadership.”

He didn’t say what the response was to his plea and request but gang members who show no respect for the law are unlikely to respect the minister.

The region had got 120 additional frontline police staff in the wake of the cyclone and an extra 25 were coming on top of 770 already there, Nash said.

”Eagle helicopter has also come down from Auckland.”

Gang response units were also on the way and army personnel were also in the region, he said. . . 

Those sound like big numbers but is it enough for the large areas and small, isolated communities and households who have fear of being victims of crime added to the devastation Cyclone Gabrielle has caused?

Can the police do it by themselves or do they need the help of the army?

That is covered by legislation which enables the army to to provide assistance to the civil power in time of emergency.

When locals are manning road blocks to keep looters out it sounds like there are not enough police and that they, and the people and property at risk, need the help of the defence force.

When normal isn’t normal any more

It is hard to believe how dry it is in the southern South Island when so much of the North Island is grappling with the devastation caused by far too much rain.

Droughts are hard but farmers can buy fed, send stock to grazing or sell.

What to do and how to do it is far, far more difficult for those who have lost homes, buildings and infrastructure and whose farms, market gardens, orchards and vineyards are covered in slash or metres of silt.

The challenges are compounded by impassable roads, broken bridges, no power and intermittent, if any, internet and phone connections.

The damage Cyclone Gabrielle has done is far worse than Bola and dealing with it will be harder and take longer than the recovery from the Canterbury earthquakes.

If an office is destroyed work can carry on, at least to some extent, offsite.

You can’t farm offsite and market gardens, orchards and vineyards under silt might not be able to grow vegetables, fruit and grapes again for decades.

Livelihoods on the land have been destroyed and that will have a major flow on impact on employees in these businesses and those that service and supply them. It will also lead to shortages of the produce that has been destroyed, higher prices for food and a loss of export income.

Then there’s the homes that have been destroyed and lives that have been lost.

It’s not just financial, physical and practical challenges facing people, there are emotional and mental ones too.

For many people in these regions normal won’t be normal any more. Coming to terms with that will be harder when so much of the new normal is messy and unpredictable with no easy or inexpensive fixes.

How much more do you want to pay for food?

The annual increase in food inflation is 10.3%.

. . . In January 2023, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories we measure. Compared with January 2022:

• • grocery food prices increased by 11 percent
  • restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food increased by 8.3 percent
  • fruit and vegetable prices increased by 16 percent
  • meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 9.2 percent
  • non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 7.1 percent.

“Increasing prices for cheddar cheese, barn or cage-raised eggs, and potato chips were the largest drivers within grocery food,” consumer prices manager James Mitchell said. . . 

The floods that have caused so much damage in the North Island will cause shortages of fruit and vegetables will challenge the fight against food price inflation:

“The impacts of January’s historic flooding across the upper North Island will likely add further challenges to the inflation fight at the checkout,” says Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director Chris Quin.

Commenting on the latest food price inflation figures released by Stats NZ today, Quin says as predicted adverse weather events are proving to be the wild card for growers, manufacturers and retailers of food in New Zealand.

“The recent devastating floods have hit Auckland’s vegetable growing regions hard at a critical time of the growing season and are making things challenging for our whole food ecosystem from paddock to plate. . . 

“We are also facing ongoing flood-related logistical challenges and longer transport times, because of road closures and significant repairs required from Coromandel through to Northland. Damage to infrastructure is meaning longer routes and driver hours and this is exacerbating the already chronic shortage of experienced drivers.” . . 

The government isn’t responsible for the floods but its immigration policy is a major cause for the driver shortage.

“Domestic price pressures remain high, including the tight labour market, pressure on wages and salaries, persistently high fuel (diesel) costs, and high feed and fertiliser costs for suppliers,” says Quin. . . 

 The impact from the increase to the minimum wage, which comes into effect on 1 April, is still being assessed but will add to wage cost pressures across the food sector this year. . . 

The steep increase in the minimum wage and the flow-on affect it will have on other wages is entirely due to the government and other policies will put further pressure on food prices.

The replacement to the RMA has been widely criticised for very good reasons, among them the added compliance and costs it will impose on food production.

Its UnFair Pay Agreements (UFPA), will add to wage pressure and labour costs.

The incentivising of forestry is replacing productive pastoral farming with pines and whatever it does to tax animal emissions will lead to higher prices for meat and milk while reducing export income and almost certainly making global emissions worse when less efficient farmers in other countries increase their production.

How much more do you want to pay for food? The sensible answer is no more and most want to pay a lot less.

There’s nothing we can do about the damage mother nature has done to food production and the pressure that will put on prices but we can get a government that understands the importance of farming and whose policies don’t discourage it.

That won’t automatically bring the price of food down but it will reduce the costs that are pushing it up.

Rural round-up

Cyclone Gabrielle starts to rattle supply chains – Neal Wallace :

Meat processors have ceased operations at several North Island plants, and Fonterra is facing milk collection issues due to disruption from flooding and road damage.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said Cyclone Gabrielle and subsequent declarations of a state of civil emergency have meant the temporary closure of some meat processing plants due to staff not able to reach work and stock trucks being unable to access farms.

Fonterra reports severely limited tanker access to farms north of Whangārei and on the Coromandel Peninsula, and Farm Source has closed stores in Northland, Taranaki and Paeroa. 

Karapeeva said while there is little pressure on processing capacity at present, that could change once the cyclone passes and farmers need to quit stock. . .

Food Price Index: fruit and vegetable industry continues to battle market forces and tough weather conditions :

The release today of the monthly Food Price Index showing a 16 percent increase in the cost of fruit and vegetables around Aotearoa compared with January 2022 is unsurprising for the horticulture industry.

United Fresh President, Jerry Prendergast, says the raft of challenges facing the country’s growers mean consumers should be prepared for continued disruption to fresh produce pricing and availability.

“Cyclone conditions in the North Island are delivering more rain to growers already struggling with washed-out crops. Some of our Pukekohe growers were reporting losses of up to 30 percent from January’s adverse weather. Every flood event can equate to weeks of lost production as well as disruption to key logistics such as transport and seasonal work like kiwifruit thinning,” says Prendergast.

“Costs are at an all-time high for the whole industry as we face increases in the price of fuel, fertiliser, and labour. The wet weather systems have put more pressure on a supply chain that was already struggling,” he says. . . 

Statement from Vegetables New Zealand re Food Price Index for January 2023 :

‘The latest food price index increase comes as no surprise, given how vegetable supply has been affected repeatedly by atrocious weather over recent months.

‘Some vegetable growers in Pukekohe are reporting losses of up to 30 percent due to the weather event that happened in that area in late January. It is too soon to tell how Cyclone Gabrielle will affect vegetable supply, on a national level.

‘Fresh vegetables in season still offer good value when compared to some other popular supermarket choices.

‘Growers – just like all New Zealanders – are facing increasing costs. Repeated bad weather and poor growing conditions only compound the issue because they reduce supply and increase costs. . . 

Tolaga Bay farmer seething as forestry slash causes floodwaters to swamp house, land again – Sally Murphy :

There is widespread damage to farms across the North Island with those in parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay particularly hard hit and forestry slash is one again a huge problem.

Tolaga Bay farmer Bridget Parker said forestry slash has caused a huge amount of damage to her farm yet again.

“It’s enormous; there is silt all over the road. It’s so thick you can’t walk through it; there are logs as far as the eye can see. There is so many logs all the fences are down; wherever you look it’s total carnage.”

Parker, whose farm has been destroyed by forestry slash during storms multiple times, said they can look at forecasts for rain, wind, drought and even tides but they could not predict what was going to happen when it came to the logs. . . .

https://twitter.com/andrew_hoggard/status/1625582996136034304

https://twitter.com/andrew_hoggard/status/1625319503730184192

Honey yields expected to see significant drop apiculture New Zealand :

Honey yields are predicted to be well down this season compared with the 10-year average of 19,000 tonnes.

Final figures are not produced until the end of June. But Apiculture New Zealand chief executive Karin Kos said everyone was talking about how much the yields were down and the season was nearing its end.

She said it was no surprise, given spring was wet and cold, summer has had too much rain, flowering had been poor, bees hadn’t been out foraging and when they had there had been little to feed off.

“If I look at the beekeepers I’ve been speaking to in Auckland, Waikato, East Cape, pretty much most of the North Island, they’re saying it’s one of the worst seasons in 10 years. . . 

Turned into a water wildlife park now. See the cattle egrets on the gear? pic.twitter.com/i9aZAwmqYz

— Kathryn de Bruin (@KathryndeBruin) February 14, 2023

 

update from my mate on the hill. He's stuck between the Redcyffe bridge being gone and Fernhill flooding. its a real mess over there. Apple bins were floating down the road. #CycloneGabriel #napier pic.twitter.com/Q1Z1v6aJM9

— Jamie Annan (@Testerpot) February 14, 2023

 

Why is parliament rained off?

A national state of emergency doesn’t apply to the whole country and doesn’t need to.

Cyclone Gabrielle has left a trail of devastation in its wake.

Power, telephone and internet are out; homes, roads and bridges have been destroyed throughout the upper North Island.

But the weather has not done any damage in Wellington so why has parliament been rained off?

The election is scheduled for October 14th leaving fewer than 30 sitting days in this term. Why has the government reduced that by decreeing parliament won’t sit any more this week?

There is a silver lining to that, though.

It leaves even less time for this government to push through more damaging legislation before we get the chance to elect a much better one.

Rural round-up

Farmers, growers face flooded fields, ruined crops after deluge – Sally Murphy :

Pastures are underwater, crops have been destroyed and culverts and valuable feed have been washed away due to heavy rainfall since Friday.

Auckland Federated Farmers president Alan Cole said farms were completely smashed because of the sheer volume of water.

“Some farms have lost all of their culverts, there’s a lot of fencing down and one dairy farm is under water so those cows had to be moved pretty quickly.

“It doesn’t matter how big your infrastructure is; nothing was prepared for that amount of water.” . . 

Auckland floods: Piles of fresh produce litter roadside, new hassle for growers, shoppers – John Weekes :

A fortune in fresh produce has been wiped out in the Auckland floods with piles of onions washed onto the roads and more food price inflation expected.

Fields with pumpkins, garlic, onions and other crops in Pukekohe were still partly flooded on Monday afternoon, nearly three days after the peak of the storm.

The community in the south of Auckland has some of the country’s best horticultural land. But roads and fields were damaged and crops washed into ditches and even residential suburbs.

Some people on Monday were scavenging onions at the side of the road. . . 

Out the back for a decent look today. No quad access for the foreseeable future. Electrics and boundary fences smashed, so lacking any secure paddocks on this block. Hope everyone else doing ok @MorrisonFarming @farmingwomennz @Infideliter2022 pic.twitter.com/Jmbzcj1rEQ

— Nicky Berger GrassFedInTheCity (@berger_nicky) January 28, 2023

Camp reveals rising stars in dairy world – Tim Cronshaw :

A youth camp has helped young animal handlers perfect tricks of the trade. Tim Cronshaw takes a closer look.

Holly Powell is tucking away a few tricks of the trade for a major dairy event after picking them up at a skills camp in Rangiora.

The 19-year-old was among 21 young handlers to attend the World Wide Sires National All Dairy Breeds Youth Camp organised by Holstein Friesian New Zealand at the local A&P showgrounds.

“I’ve been to four camps now and every year you pick up little pieces and tricks to make the animals look as good as possible, just picking up tricks to do the the top line and the belly hair.” . . 

Food exports increase in 2022 :

Total exports saw a growth of $8.7 billion (14 percent) to $72.2 billion in the year ended December 2022 compared with 2021, Stats NZ said today.

Annual imports also rose sharply to $86.7 billion, up $16.1 billion (23 percent).

“Price inflation has been a topic of interest in 2022, and we’re seeing the results of it in these large increases,” international trade manager Alasdair Allen said.

“Many major export commodities eased in volume but saw price increases drive higher values across the year. . . 

Picture the neighbour just sent me of a rainbow and our heifers on the multi crop and one i took out our window. Does a rainbow mean it's actually going to rain?! pic.twitter.com/XEuadUmH3e

— Anieka Templer (@AniekaNick) January 30, 2023

Fonterra signs five-year contract with EROAD for 500+ tankers :

Transportation technology services company EROAD Limited (NZX/ASX: ERD) (EROAD) has today announced the acquisition of a significant enterprise customer in New Zealand.

The Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (Fonterra) has signed a five-year contract to install EROAD fleet management hardware across its fleet of 500+ milk tankers.

Mark Heine, EROAD’s Chief Executive Officer says, “we’re incredibly excited to be partnering with such an iconic and important organisation here in New Zealand. Creating safer, more sustainable roads is at the very heart of what we do at EROAD, and it’s clear that Fonterra is equally committed to these goals.”

From Cape Reinga to Bluff, and almost everywhere in between, Fonterra’s milk collection operation spans the entire country. Through its fleet of 500+ milk collection tankers and 1600+ tanker operators, Fonterra completes an average of one farm collection every 15 seconds and collects around 16.5 billion litres of milk per year. . . 

Ag-drive partners with Agriacadamy to broaden training available to the agricultural sector :

Waikato’s largest agricultural vehicle training provider, Ag Drive, has signed an agreement with Agricademy to deliver its award-winning operator training to even more of the agriculture sector.

Agricademy provides training for new employees in a more affordable and effective way, leaving classrooms behind, to quickly improve staff productivity. Their innovative training model has been developed online and on-farm for the generation that gets its information online on their smartphones and connects on social media.

Agricademy Managing Director Alister Shennan says they’re excited to be working with Ag Drive, which has a great reputation for offering practical, tailored training in the machine and vehicle operation space.

“Agricademy training offers the practical and life skills employees need to do well at work, so it was a natural synergy for us to partner with Ag Drive, who are known for their practical training,” he says. . .

Rural round-up

Contrary to Govt opinion, it’s growers who know how to grow – Gerrard Eckhoff :

One of the biggest problem our country faces is the continuous supply of false prophets who have the ear of government.

They come with ideas that sound workable but in practise turn out to be well less so. Their greatest ability is to ignore the realities which contradict the theory.

This is never more the case than when the politics of the environment (see rural NZ) are dissected. Our Government overrides and/or ignores the overwhelming success of the primary sector’s capacity to produce at a level which supplies significant capital for our health, education and welfare sectors to meet much of the needs of our wider society.

This is a result of the constant rational application to change which now seems to have been set aside in favour of a more “natural” process without the use of science. . . 

Government’s response to East Cost flooding is insulting – Clive Bibby :

Normally, when a state of emergency is called, as it was on the East Coast last Wednesday when Cyclone Hale reached its peak, you expect all the local and government agencies who are charged with mobilising the relief effort to be operating in unison to help those in need. 

As one of those living at the epicentre of the destruction (we live on the Paroa Road inland from Tolaga Bay), l am able to give an accurate account at what happened immediately after and since the storm decimated a good portion of our rural community. 

I am pleased to report that the local Civil Defence effort throughout the region was as good, if not better, than l have ever seen. They no doubt saved lives with their swift response across the board. They all deserve medals. 

However, the Government’s response has so far, been non existent – throwing a few hundred thousand dollars at us and offering to send a bus load of “Taskforce Green” people who can do little more than watch from the sidelines as the heavy machinery and related contractors deal with the carnage.   . . 

Love an early morning walk on the farm, so does the Lab! Malting barley just coming through. It will get a water on it today. @FARarable @FedFarmers @harvestnz @ColinHurst16 @Lewisridge_Farm #maltingbarleyforbeer pic.twitter.com/rwKUytcnZL

— Karen Williams (@KarenWi71) November 7, 2022

Ewe-topia or bust: Sunny visions of tourism to come – Matthew Scott :

A famously animal-shaped building in rural Waikato is up for lease – just like the hopes of the tourism sector in general

It’s one of the most iconic pieces of architectural kitsch lining the highways and byways of rural New Zealand – the giant corrugated iron ewe in the small Waikato hamlet of Tirau.

The ewe and its equally quintessential companions, a dog and a ram, have greeted travellers since the 90s and become a common stopping point for tourists en route to the more in-demand sight-seeing locales of Rotorua and Taupo.

But despite its fame, the ewe is a sheep without a shepherd. For the second time in as many years, it’s been listed online in search of a new leaseholder, following the departure of woolcraft store The Merino Story in late 2021. . . 

PINZ throws the spotlight on food and fibre innovators :

The hunt is on for the latest crop of innovators who have helped move New Zealand’s reputation for producing high quality foods and fibres to even greater heights.

The fifth annual Primary Industries New Zealand Awards will be held in Wellington on July 3, a highlight of the two-day PINZ Summit.

“The hard graft and long hours that our farmers, growers and processors put in is the core reason food and fibre make up more than 80 percent of the nation’s merchandise exports,” Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland says.

“But giving us that edge in highly competitive international markets, and helping us meet environmental, biosecurity and other challenges are those researchers, technologists, cross-sector collaborations and producers who find better ways of doing things. . . 

Take a bow stone fruit growers. Crazy weather, logistics and labour shortages haven’t stopped you delivering a magnificent harvest. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/lOa6KWHa8y

— Dave Beare (@Portreath44) January 16, 2023

Right forest, right place :

It is time for the forest industry to have a conversation with itself about putting the right forest in the right place in the brave new world where ex-tropical cyclones are the new normal, says Dr Sean Weaver, CEO of environmental forestry company Ekos.

“The damage to Tairāwhiti property and infrastructure from Cyclone Hale is a sign of things to come if clear cut plantation forestry continues to be undertaken on erosion-prone landscapes,” Weaver said.

“We need to stop doing clear cutting on erodible lands and transition to continuous cover forestry and permanent forests in vulnerable parts of the country” Weaver said.

“If the costs to clean up the mess and compensate people for property and infrastructure damage from forestry sediment trespass were factored into forestry investment models, clear cut forestry would be far less profitable in such places and probably would not happen,” he said. . . 

Wool project aims to put money back in farmers’ pockets :

New Zealand strong wool could bring a sustainable bounce back into soft upholstery – and woolgrowers’ bank accounts – through a new project seeking an alternative to synthetic fillers.

The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund is committing $790,000 over three years to a project led by Wisewool aimed at increasing the market potential of woollen knops – the small, light fluffy balls used as a filler ingredient.

“This project has the potential to improve returns to our strong wool producers and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to existing products made from synthetic materials,” says Steve Penno, MPI’s Director of Investment Programmes.

“Woollen knops can be used in baby bedding and insulated clothing, as well as mattresses, so it’s a versatile product with plenty of scope. . . 

Beautifying the blogosphere

Night #nature pic.twitter.com/SYctXYwuQt

— Nature 🌱 (@nature_forum) December 15, 2022

Rural round-up

‘Fundamental differences on HWEN flagged   – Gerald Piddock:

“Not our proposal at all’ says DairyNZ chair

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel is distancing the farming sector’s emissions proposal from the government’s, saying the two are fundamentally different.

There are similarities at first glance, but once the organisation started reading through the fine print, it found that the proposal contained big differences to the one outlined by He Eke Waka Noa (HWEN).

“As we have looked into it, and as we have looked at the details of the whole proposal, it’s become more obvious how different it really is. It is fundamentally different and is not our proposal at all,” Van der Poel said. . .

Fonterra unhappy with government’s emission proposal – Sudesh Kissun:

Fonterra says it has some reservations about the Government’s consultation document on agricultural emissions.

Fonterra chairman Peter McBride had told co-op shareholders that the Government proposal creates “an imbalance within the sector”.

McBride sent an email to shareholders after addressing a primary production select committee in Parliament this morning.

He told Fonterra farmers that Fonterra supports the intent of He Waka Eke Noa – a partnership of 13 members of the agriculture industry, including DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ. . .

Pregnancy testing today at Greenhill. 100% of these maiden heifers in calf again. 80+ yrs of unbroken genetic line of them on this farm. pic.twitter.com/btLHqPN9Ai

— Jake Smith (@GreenhillStud) October 12, 2022

QE II celebrates milestone, reaching 5000registered open space covenants :

An 8.9-hectare forest that landowners the McDonald family call ‘The Gorge’, has officially become the 5000th area in New Zealand to be protected with an Open Space Covenant in partnership with the QEII National Trust.

Toby and Charlotte McDonald and their family hosted other local QEII covenantors and local community members at their farm in rural Wairarapa on Wednesday to celebrate the milestone, right next to the newly protected forest.

The newly registered Open Space Covenant protects modified primary forest and a stream system that feeds into Wainuioru River.

The forest contains rare and threatened species including Olearia gardneri(Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable). It also contains one of the few rimu remaining in the district and is home to pōpokotea (whitehead), a Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable species. . . 

Wet weather crop delays costing arable farmers winter and money  :

Wet weather in parts of the North Island over the past few months has been causing huge issues for farmers and growers, who have had to delay planting valuable crops.

A cold snap earlier this month froze the asparagus crop of one of the country’s largest growers, Boyds Asparagus, in Waikato and strawberry crops on the outskirts of Hamilton were decimated by heavy frost.

In Horowhenua, heavy rain and flooding has also delayed potato planting, with growers forced to wait until their fields dry out before planting new crops.

And the variable weather is affecting arable crops too, with farmers also having to delay planting their maize and fodder crops. . . 

Get paid to work in one of the world’s most beautiful places – Andrea Vance:

Working from home could prove difficult – but the daily commute might involve a jet boat or helicopter ride. And your direct reports would include some of the world’s rarest creatures.

It’s a dream job – patrolling some of the world’s most spectacular wilderness, and caring for kiwi, penguins and lizards on the front line of extinction.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is on the hunt for a biodiversity supervisor in Haast, on the western edge of Mount Aspiring National Park.

But in a nation-wide labour market shortage, there have been just three applicants so far for the role, based in New Zealand’s most remote town. DOC are now casting the net wider. . . 

Good evening 🐑🐑🐑 pic.twitter.com/LKMA50w8op

— Olga Pecorelle (@OlgaPecorelle) October 19, 2022

 

Shared knowledge ‘magic ingredient’ – Gordon Davidson:

Farmers and crofters learning from each other is the ‘magic ingredient’ needed to expand sustainable farming practices in Scotland.

So says Nikki Yoxall, of Grampian Graziers and Pasture for Life, who will be speaking at a public webinar about the progress of agroecology in Scotland on November 11.

Over 60 farmers and crofters from Aberdeenshire to Galloway are already meeting up in small local groups to explore sustainable farming practices, from Scottish-grown poultry feed to mob grazing, and discussing how they can improve the financial bottom line. November’s webinar is being presented as the first of a number of upcoming opportunities for other farmers to join them.

“We are learning by doing and trying things out,” said Ms Yoxall. “Being part of a group helps – we get to share what works well, what are the sticking points. Different practices suit different farms, and often you don’t know what will work well until you – or your neighbouring farm – give it a go.” . .

Rural round-up

Wetlands bring adverse effects farmers struggling – Paul Melville :

For the last two years, many farmers have appealed what they view as unworkable freshwater regulations.

The chief culprits have been rules requiring resource consents for planting a winter forage crop, rules that make paddocks of weeds so-called protected wetlands, and rules that require fencing of thousands of mountain streams.

Some 11,000 farmers across New Zealand were in breach of new fertiliser cap rules because a website wasn’t ready in time for them to comply.

But farmers are not alone. The wetland rules in particular apply to the entirety of New Zealand. What has become apparent, however, is that, under the regulated definition of a wetland, we actually have many more “wetlands” than first anticipated. With rules that make it impossible to do any earthworks within 100 metres of a wetland, and wetlands potentially on every corner, the Ministry of the Environment released proposed changes to these rules in May that would create a pathway for quarries, landfills, clean fills, urban development, mining and critical infrastructure. . . 

Oops the world price dips for dairy products but low NZ dollar is a compensating factor – Point of Order :

Dairy prices have fallen  at the  Fonterra  GDT  auction this  week.  The average price at the fortnightly sale fell 3.5% to US$3911 ($NZ6830) a tonne, after rising 2% in the previous auction.

Prices have generally been falling since hitting a record high in March. But   with the  NZ dollar  now  down around the US57c mark, the  impact   of  the  latest fall  on the  farmgate  payout  will not  be as  great as it  at  first appears.

The price of wholemilk powder, which strongly influences the payout for  farmers, fell 4% to US$3573 a tonne.

Prices for other products fell  also: butter was down 7% to $4983,skim milk powder down 1.6% to $3497,  and cheddar down 3.8% to $4,966. . .

Oh thats a bit untidy. pic.twitter.com/iozohpyFcV

— Blocka 🧢 (@blairdrysdale77) October 5, 2022

This unrelenting wet is squeezing me dry – Steve Wyn-Harris:

There’s nothing glorious about mud, mate.

The big wet. There is no other term I could use for these past four months.

It’s been horrible.

Other regions have had heavy destructive flooding, which we’ve fortunately missed. It’s the constant persistence of rainfall and no drying that has been difficult here. . . 

There’s strength in numbers for future farms – Neal Wallace:

Data-driven transformation of farms is the way forward, panel says.

Rob Macnab believes New Zealand sheep and beef (ngā kau me ngā hipi) farming systems are on the cusp of an exciting era but warns that farmers need confidence – and assistance to collect and understand data to drive that change.

A consultant with Total Ag in the Waikato, Macnab was part of an online panel discussing how to match consumer expectation with farm business realities. 

He said collecting data on greenhouse gas emissions is a new skill set for many farmers (kaimahi pāmu). They need to be given the tools and scientific support to ensure collection is accurate and the information applicable. . . 

Keeping the cattle mooving – Shawn McAvinue :

Shawn McAvinue talks to Palmerston Saleyards chairwoman Anita Vickers before the start of the first Palmerston Spring Cattle Sale last week.
Q How long have you been chairperson of the saleyards?

You can say chairman, none of this politically correct bull… I’ve been chairman since 2020.

Q What does the role call for?

Looking after the saleyards, general maintenance and making sure everything is happening.

Q What will you do today? . . 

We work everyday to be as efficient as possible with how we farm the land by reducing any excess inputs/passes and fuel use

It not only makes economic sense it also makes environmental sense

In Agriculture the 2 normally go hand in hand #ThoughtsFromaFarmer pic.twitter.com/hQtsdmPbo2

— John Kowalchuk🧢 (@kowalchukfarms1) October 2, 2022

Dutch farmers face a major uncertainty – Sudesh Kissun:

European dairy co-operative FrieslandCampina has put on hold a cash payment to farmer members due to uncertainty over the Dutch Government’s nitrogen proposals.

Chief exectuive Hein Shumacher says the Dutch Government’s target for reducing nitrogen pollution in some areas by up to 70% by 2030 is “a major uncertainty”.

“For this reason, we are exercising extra caution in terms of our outlook for the rest of the year, and we have decided to forego the interim pro forma supplementary cash payment to our member dairy farmers.

” Dutch farmers have been taking to the streets in the Netherlands to protest, calling the targets unrealistic. . . 

 

Meanwhile on the farm . . .

Beaut result overnight, quite a few lambed, only one 2th with dead lambs.

Hoping those farmers higher up are doing ok. pic.twitter.com/LeLNj3uMbI

— Ben Dooley 🧢 (@BenDooley8) October 5, 2022

Staying warm 😌 @BenDooley8 pic.twitter.com/W8cJf0cK31

— Sarah Dooley (@cobb808) October 5, 2022

It's a slow milking this morning. pic.twitter.com/PssqNl86i0

— Anieka Templer (@AniekaNick) October 5, 2022

 

The look on this newborn calf's face pic.twitter.com/Iktr8H0ZuT

— Dr Nicola Dennis🇳🇿 (@AuntThistledown) October 5, 2022

Merry Christmas to one and all! pic.twitter.com/Nn6ie2bC3v

— Dr Nicola Dennis🇳🇿 (@AuntThistledown) October 5, 2022

Poor pups. Apparently its so cold in Te Ānau, they're producing ice cubes pic.twitter.com/IjSq2pTjL4

— Tiredj (@Tiredkiwi1) October 5, 2022

Rural round-up

Lamb losses as spring storm brings snow – Neal Wallace:

Two days of snow, rain and bitterly cold temperatures on the east coast of both islands have caused lamb losses and added to already saturated soils.

Snow up to 50mm fell on Monday night in Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, central North Island and Gisborne Wairoa.

Lambing has started in some lower areas of the North Island and farming leaders said there have been losses.

Snow was lying down to sea level in parts of the South Island on Monday night, and at higher altitude in the North Island where lambing has yet to begin. . . .

High country lessees have high carbon hopes – Richard Rennie:

Lessees of Crown land want clarity – and fairness – when it comes to the carbon work they put in.

High country leaseholders are crossing their fingers the government will see sense in adjusting legislation to better enable them to capitalise on carbon opportunities Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) bring.

Gerald Fitzgerald, legal counsel for the High Country Accord group, said Wellington has repeatedly overlooked high country Crown pastoral lessees when drawing up legislation, whether it be stock exclusion, biodiversity, and more lately new carbon rules.

“Again and again, we have been frustrated there is no recognition in policy design work of the particular tenure of Crown pastoral leases. This is at a technical legal level, and a lack of insight at a practical level on the different farm management systems on high country farms,” Fitzgerald said. . .

 

 

The first of the wagyus are arriving. pic.twitter.com/UdE5teNFVP

— Anieka Templer (@AniekaNick) September 4, 2022

Cheesemaking waste product potential gamechanger for diabetes sufferers :

A New Zealand-based company researching alternative uses for a by-product from cheesemaking has its sights on developing it into a remedy for people with type 2 diabetes.

WheyTech Bionics NZ is partnering with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on a 2-year project that aims to develop technology to process whey permeate as a sweetener product with anti-diabetic properties.

Whey permeate is a by-product from the cheesemaking process. 

“An existing patent from Germany shows the high levels of glucose in whey can create a sugar with properties that are anti-diabetic,” says Steve Penno, MPI’s director of investment programmes. . . 

War on weeds – could a wasp join the fight? – Emile Donovan :

We know New Zealand’s ecosystem is precious: our islands are home to flora and fauna not found anywhere else in the world.

This is special, but it also means we have to be careful. An introduced species from another part of the world can quickly become invasive, take a foothold and wreak havoc.

One way of controlling invasive species is to bring in yet another species to essentially prey on the thing you don’t like.

This is called biological control.  . . 

Agricultural Biotech’ Research Centre for sale goes under the microscope with property investors :

A former equestrian school, wedding and function venue – converted into a high tech’ agricultural biotechnology company’s research headquarters – has been placed on the market for sale.

The property and buildings housing the laboratories and research facilities for ground-breaking rural science company Ecolibrium Biologicals is located in Bombay just south of Auckland, and sits on some 18.55-hectares of land.

The substantial property was originally developed as a kiwifruit orchard in the early 1980s when its owners built a three-bedroom home, while simultaneously converting an old cow shed and building which were later developed into an equestrian riding centre & school.

The venue’s infrastructure was expanded in the early 1990s when a lodge was constructed as a riding school lodge, which later morphed into a wedding reception venue – known as Footbridge, with its own chapel on site, allowing wedding ceremonies to be held on-site. . . 

Good morning ☕️🐄 #dairy365 pic.twitter.com/jMj3mSMtdg

— Julia Slater (@JuliaSl76299470) September 4, 2022

New Zealand butchery team take third place at world competition :

The Hellers Sharp Blacks have won third place at the World Butchers’ Challenge in Sacramento held over the weekend. The team, made up of six Kiwi butchers, travelled to the U.S.A. last week to compete against 12 other countries in a three-and-a-half-hour showdown at the Golden 1 Centre in Sacramento.

Team captain of the Hellers Sharp Blacks, Riki Kerekere says that after two years of covid cancellations it was amazing for the team to finally be sharpening their knives and competing on the world stage.

“To come third is a massive achievement and I am really proud of how well the team performed on the day,” says Riki.

The competition was held on Saturday 3rd September, Californian time, and saw the Golden 1 Centre in Sacramento transformed into the world’s largest butchery. Local and international visitors were treated to a spectacular three and a half hour cutting competition where each team had to turn a side of beef, a side of pork, a whole lamb and five chickens into a themed display of value-added cuts. Teams had to demonstrate their carving, boning and finishing skills underpinned by their own creative and cultural flair. . . 

Now for the good news

As much of the country copes with too much rain, we need to keep bad weather in perspective.

Climate-related disaster costs are declining for all country income groups

How come we never hear this?

Here data fromhttps://t.co/speosx2JS8 pic.twitter.com/Vw7FHdw51o

— Bjorn Lomborg (@BjornLomborg) July 25, 2022

Catastrophe cost has to be relative to economy

If twice as many houses, damage from similar flood or hurricane will be twice as large

This is why even the UN insists that we should measure vulnerability to climate-related extreme events in % of GDPhttps://t.co/RmL0PbDwkB pic.twitter.com/WAnXF2tyli

— Bjorn Lomborg (@BjornLomborg) July 25, 2022

Rural round-up

Climate Change Commission pours reality on HWEN proposals – Keith Woodford:

Industry groups now need to decide how to manage the HWEN stand-off with the risk of being left outside the tent

Big decisions are now required, both by rural industry groups and Government, following the Climate Change Commission advice on the He Waka Eke Noa proposals (HWEN). The Climate Change Commission, chaired by Rod Carr, has supported some aspects of the HWEN proposals put forward by industry, but has poured cold reality on other aspects.

Beef+ Lamb and DairyNZ have responded by suggesting that it is all or nothing.  However, that is not going to wash with Government. Once again, the rural industry groups have challenging decisions to make as to whether they are inside the tent or outside the tent.

First, there is a key area of agreement which needs to be celebrated.  The Climate Change Commission supports the split-gas approach, with this being fundamental to keeping methane away from the Emission Trading Scheme.  Given this support, the Government can now be expected to align firmly with this.   But there is still a lot of hard work to be done on sorting out the pricing mechanism for methane. . . 

Calls for help over ‘exploding’ rabbit plague grow louder – Jill Herron:

A government agency has been instructed to crack down on an out-of-control rabbit population decimating lakeside land

Government-managed land in Central Otago with an “exploding” uncontrolled rabbit population is finally getting attention after the Otago Regional Council stepped in.

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has confirmed the council inspected land it manages near Cromwell and Lake Dunstan and found it has “unacceptable levels” of rabbits.

The agency, along with a number of land-holders, has received a council “request for work” letter as part of a reinvigorated effort to push back the tide of rabbits decimating lifestyle blocks, farms and crown land. . .

Farmers who are intensively grazing forage crops are being encouraged to consider planting a catch crop to make use of the nutrients left in the paddock once grazing has finished.

Learn more about using catch crops in this article: https://t.co/NBZFRYlXYL pic.twitter.com/14mthWnBif

— Beef + Lamb New Zealand (@NZBeefLamb) July 16, 2022

 

Use of cover crops encouraged :

Farmers who are intensively grazing forage crops are being encouraged to consider planting a catch crop to make use of the nutrients left in the paddock once grazing has finished.

Heather McKay, Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Environmental Policy Manager, says farm-scale trials has shown that catch crops can reduce nutrient losses from the soil by up to 40% in some soil types.

“Sown as soon as ground conditions allow, catch crops such as oats or rye corn can be really effective at capturing nutrients and turning them into valuable drymatter.”

Trial work carried out by Plant & Food Research has shown oats to be an ideal catch crop in that they are cold tolerant and germinate at five degrees and above. They reduce water in the soil and capture soil nitrogen (N) left in the wake of winter grazing. . .

Kiwi-designed frost fighting machine gaining interest in France –

A New Zealand-designed frost fighting machine that looks like a giant hair dryer could become hot property in France.

Hamilton engineer Fred Phillips, along with two colleagues, started working on the machine, called the Heat Ranger ten years ago.

It is a five-metre tall machine that heats up to between 300 and 600 degrees Celsius, and pushes out air that is 35 degrees C, protecting 15 hectares of grape vines.

In 2020 one machine was used in Blenheim and one in France. . . .

Covers give calves a jump start – Nigel Malthus:

A Christchurch manufacturer of woollen calf covers says his newest product should find favour with the dairy farmers of Southland – even though his main market is the beef ranchers of North America.

David Brown is promoting his Fit N Forget calf covers, made of hessian-reinforced wool. They are sized for the typical American black Angus beef calf, at 85kg liveweight and with leg holes more closely spaced than a dairy calf cover, to match their stockier build.

Selling online, his main market is in the northern states of Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, with their particularly harsh winters.

But Brown also sees a market for them in New Zealand, even on dairy farms, whenever a farmer is not seeking dairy replacements but is using beef genetics to enhance the value of his calves. . . 

Absolutely amazing #skstorm near Strasbourg at 7 pm pic.twitter.com/RDNM57zhwo

— Jenny Hagan LostInSk (@LostInSk) July 16, 2022

 

Laura Schultz is 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year:

Three outstanding women have taken out first, second and third place with Laura Schultz from Trevelyans named Bay of Plenty’s Young Grower for 2022 at an awards dinner in Tauranga last night.

The competition took place yesterday, 20 July, at Mount Maunganui College, where eight competitors tested their skills and ability to run a successful horticulture business in a series of challenges. These were followed by a speech competition titled ‘What I’ll be growing in 2050’, at a gala dinner last night.

Laura excelled in the individual challenges, and impressed judges with her speech on providing the best quality produce by adapting to climate change to grow crops which meet the changing environment. Yanika Reiter came in second place, while Emily Woods was third.

Laura’s prize includes an all-expenses paid trip to Wellington to compete for the title of National Young Grower of the Year 2022, in September, as well as $1,500 cash. . .

 

Rural round-up

Practical and powerful resources growing great workplaces in food & fibre sectors :

Farmer Hamish Murray knows first-hand what it feels like to be short of the resources needed to create a great workplace. In 2014/2015, he and his family’s high-country sheep and beef farm suffered from one of Marlborough’s toughest droughts.

“My cup was empty; I had nothing left to give. When I reached emotional breaking point, it was obvious that to be successful at leading others, I needed to look at myself first. Soft skills aren’t a typical priority on-farm, but they matter the most if you want to attract, train and retain the best team.”

Hamish embarked on a series of coaching courses, mentoring and a Nuffield scholarship. Empowered by his new-found skills and knowledge, he then shared what he had learnt with his team.

“I worked out what I can control or change, and what I can’t. I learnt how to ask better and more open questions. We created a team, not a hierarchy. Accessing some very practical and powerful resources, improved my wellbeing, grew our staff’s self-awareness, and made our family business a better place to work.” . . 

Farmers stressed as Southland’s ‘green drought’ unlikely to break soon – Rachael Kelly:

John Smart looks out the window in the morning, sees the clear blue sky, and thinks it is going to be ‘’another crap day”.

He says he has never seen conditions so dry in his 30 years of farming in Southland, and he is worried that if rain does not fall soon, farmers are going to move from being ‘’stressed to really struggling’’.

“I’ve seen it dry before, but this is different. There’s no wind drying anything, and it’s staying warm even late into the evening.’’

Only 6mm of rain has fallen this month on the farm he is managing just outside Invercargill. . . 

Southland
30/3/21
vs
30/3/22 pic.twitter.com/79qs5F8NA9

— 🚜🐄 🧢Bruce🧢 🐄🚜 (@fairleigh_ag) March 30, 2022

Lack of staff, bad weather and Covid-19 creating challenges for wine harvest – Piers Fuller:

Ripe grapes don’t like the rain, and east coast vineyards are doing their best to get their harvests in before bacteria and mould takes hold.

After a hot summer the grape crops were in great shape, but heavy rains in February and March, and labour shortages are causing headaches for some wineries, particularly in Wairarapa.

Pip Goodwin of Martinborough’s Palliser Estate said it was “all hands to the deck” as they rushed to get their harvest in this year before the grapes were too “compromised”.

“It was a very challenging harvest. The fruit got a little bit compromised by the rain, and then we had no pickers.” . .

Race to beat ute tax – Neal Wallace:

Attempts to beat the ute tax, which comes into force on April 1, have been hampered by supply issues delays.

Vehicle retailers reported exceptional interest as potential purchasers try to beat the levy and replace their utilities, but supply issues have caused delivery delays of up to six months for some models.

The Clean Vehicle Act imposes a levy on high carbon-emitting vehicles, with the money used to rebate or subsidise the purchase cost of new electric vehicles (EVs).

Implementation has already been delayed from January 1 due to covid. . . 

Hunters advised not to release deer into new regions :

Ahead of the hunting season kicking off in earnest, OSPRI and farmers are asking hunters to think again if they are considering illegally releasing and relocating deer into new areas.

Deer hunters can unintentionally spread bovine TB by moving/releasing deer from one area to another area. Over the years OSPRI has worked hard to eradicate TB in possums from large areas of New Zealand. This work can all be undone by the reintroduction of TB infected deer with the potential of spill back of infection into the possum population.

Waikato farmer Leith Chick says Sika deer from the Central North Island in particular, pose a threat of infecting others if they are released in TB free areas.

“Farmers who are getting deer released onto their land should be aware that they are exposing themselves to the risk of bringing TB to their farm,” says Leith. . . 

B+LNZ forecasts the average value of New Zealand's lamb exports in 2021-22 to reach a record high – up 14% on last season and 18% on the five-year average. Learn more: https://t.co/zqitL1S0OD pic.twitter.com/jqpwZBbPdL

— Beef + Lamb New Zealand (@NZBeefLamb) March 28, 2022

Comvita partners with Save the Kiwi to help safeguard taonga species :

Comvita has partnered with conservation organisation, Save the Kiwi, in a significant sponsorship agreement that will ultimately provide more safe habitat for the iconic birds across the North Island.

Starting with Makino Station, home to one of Comvita’s mānuka forests in the lush Manawatu-Whanganui region where kiwi already reside, the ambition is that over time Comvita’s properties will become kiwi-safe habitats.

The partnership will see the implementation of predator management plans on land managed by Comvita that will enhance biodiversity and provide kiwi safe habitats to help the endangered population and other native flora and fauna thrive.

Save the Kiwi executive director Michelle Impey says partnering with Comvita is a new and exciting approach for kiwi conservation. . . 

 

Rural round-up

NIWA predicts drought for top and bottom of the country – Tom Kitchin:

Parts of Aotearoa may have to prepare for a third consecutive year in drought.

Although spring rain may be keeping some hopeful, it is getting dry rapidly, with many farmers seeing their land dry out before their eyes in recent weeks.

The driest parts of the country are at opposite ends – Northland and Southland.

NIWA’s drought index is rating one part of Southland, dry, another very dry and a small part south east of Invercargill extremely dry. . . 

Low methane livestock a reality :

AgResearch scientists’ work to successfully breed low methane emitting sheep has the potential to help all NZ livestock farmers lower their carbon footprint.

The ground-breaking research took out the 2021 Supreme Award at the Science New Zealand Awards.

Backed by the industry through the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc) and the Government – via the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) – the AgResearch team spent over a decade working on the science.

They were able to identify genetic differences which influences how much methane an individual sheep produces. Methane is a relatively short-lived but potent greenhouse gas. . . 

The big mob of lambs moves to a new paddock, after a nice drop of rain this morning on the #FernFlats. pic.twitter.com/g37vNnok1W

— William Morrison (@MorrisonFarming) January 20, 2022

Annual food price increase the highest in a decade :

Annual food prices were 4.5 percent higher in December 2021 than they were in December 2020, Stats NZ said today.

This is the biggest annual increase since September 2011, when annual food prices increased 4.7 percent.

The main contributor to this increase was higher prices for tomatoes.

Tomatoes nearly doubled in price between December 2020 and December 2021, increasing 99 percent. . . 

Rabobank appoints new head of food and agri research for New Zealand & Australia :

Rabobank has announced the appointment of Stefan Vogel as General Manager of its food and agribusiness research division in New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Vogel takes on the role after more than seven years with Rabobank in London, where he held two concurrent global positions with the bank – Head of Agri Commodity Markets Research and Global Grains and Oilseeds Sector Strategist.

In his new position, based in Sydney, Mr Vogel leads the New Zealand and Australian arm of the agribusiness bank’s highly-regarded global food and agricultural research division, RaboResearch.

In New Zealand and Australia, RaboResearch comprises a team of 10 specialist agri commodities analysts, who are part of a network of 75 research analysts worldwide focussed on providing comprehensive, leading-edge food and agribusiness research for the bank’s clients. . . 

Landmark Agreement Paves Way For NZ Grown Cannabis Medicines :

New Zealand’s two largest medicinal cannabis companies have signed a supply contract that will provide Kiwis further access to locally made medicines and pave the way for international export success. 

The five year multi-million-dollar deal between Marlborough-based cultivator Puro and Auckland-based Helius Therapeutics is New Zealand’s largest to date.

Under the partnership, Puro will supply over 10 tonnes of organic medicinal cannabis to Helius over the next five years, the equivalent of approximately five shipping containers of dried cannabis flower. . .

White face in a browntop. #lochee pic.twitter.com/zL4CQeqRXV

— Good Morning all. 🇳🇿 (@CharollaisRams) January 20, 2022

Comvita and Microsoft collaboration brings magic of the hive to utilising Hololens technology :

Comvita, global leader in Mānuka honey, has today announced a new collaboration with Microsoft, with the creation of an immersive multi-sensory consumer experience powered by Microsoft’s HoloLens technology.

Set to launch to consumers in January 2022 at Expo 2020 Dubai, the experience represents the next step in Comvita’s mission to transform the consumer retail experience, following the opening of its award winning multi-sensory space, The Wellness Lab, in Auckland earlier this year.

With its application of Microsoft’s HoloLens technology, Comvita has transported the Wellness Lab’s 180-degree theatre experience into the fully mobile headset, enabling it to connect consumers anywhere in the world to the unique benefits of Mānuka honey and the magic of bees and nature. . . 

Cold kills more than heat

More people die from the cold than heat:

It is much easier to cool down in extreme heat that usually lasts only hours to days than to warm up in the killer cold that can last weeks or months.

This isn’t an argument to ignore climate change. It is an argument for being very careful about unexpected, possibly fatal, consequences of policies designed to lower emissions.

Several weeks ago RNZ reported on fears for the elderly as frosts started to bite and on Monday night the power went off completely:

. . .General manager of operations Dr Stephen Jay told the Herald he couldn’t rule out any further disruption to the network, stating “the emergency is far from over”.

“Things are running tight. Supplies have been running to the wire this morning.”

Last night’s outages affected parts of Wellington, Kāpiti Coast, Taupō, Hamilton, Napier, Hastings, Auckland and Whangārei.

None were warned yesterday that they would be without power, on a night which saw many cities head towards, or below, zero degrees. . . 

Households were inconvenienced, many people had to endure the cold and, oh the irony, people who couldn’t charge their EVs had to rely on petrol and diesel fuelled cars.

The black out also caused problems for businesses. Stock had to be turned away from freezing works and cows were left unmilked on some farms that do 16-hour milking.

National Party leader Judith Collins likened the outage to that which happened in a third world country.

“We do not live in a third world country.

“It was one of the coldest nights of the year last night and many families couldn’t keep warm.

“We should always expect that it will be colder in winter and we’ll need to use more energy, but the Government has failed New Zealanders by not being prepared.

“The Government has to be able to keep the lights on. This useless lot has failed to do that. ” . . 

Power companies must accept some of the blame but government policies are also responsible:

. . .As   Point  of  Order  sees  it,  there  will  be  a  great  deal  of  hand-wringing  in the Beehive  (and   possibly  some  glee across   in  the  Opposition  wing).   For  this   is  a  crisis   all   of  the  government’s  own  making. 

Remember  that the  decision  to   ban  further  offshore  oil  exploration  was  Ardern’s  “nuclear  moment”.  It  drove  away  international  oil  explorers, just    at  the  time  a   bunch  of  companies  had  been  planning further  work,  including  the  exploitation   of  already discovered  fields.

Since  then,  first  the  Labour-NZ  First  coalition  set  the  target  of  becoming  100% renewable  which  spurred  the  big  electricity  generators  to  turn  away  from fossil  fuels, earmarking more investment  for  wind farms,  and  subsequently  demand  for  electricity   has  outpaced  expectations.   

Labour’s  focus  on  renewables yielded  the  kind of  political  irony   this  week  when  700 MW  of wind  turbine  capacity  lay idle  because the  air  was  so  still  (but  the  locals were freezing). . .

Neither solar nor wind generation is 100% reliable. The sun doesn’t shine every day, it never shines at night, and wind turbines need neither too much nor too little wind to operate.

The government blundered into policies to reduce the use of fossil fuels without a proper plan for the transition. As a result we’re burning dirtier imported coal than our own and having power cuts.

Hamish Rutherford explains:

. . .As has happened before, Woods blamed the issue on commercial decisions by private companies. That does not get us very far. Of course companies make commercial decisions.

Between the decision to rip up the rules on the gas market, to the difficulty consenting renewables projects, to the threat to build hydro storage at Lake Onslow, the market is simply responding to the signals that the Government is sending it.

The government might think climate change is an emergency that requires drastic action but it won’t get buy-in from people who expect a first-world power supply when its policies result in third-world service.

This is night time in North Korea, blacked out among its brighter, lighter neighbours.

,

We need security of supply so that we don’t have to endure the same cold, dark nights here.

If you think daylight saving should last all year . . .

If you think daylight saving time should last all year with clocks staying forward permanently, check the times and temperature for sunrise and sunset this week.

Yesterday was the shortest day. I took this photo at 7:30am.

The sun didn’t rise until after 8am. It would have been later still further west and south.

If the clocks stayed forward all year it would be dark until nearly 9am.

Anyone working outside would have visibility and safety issues and children would be walking to school in the dark.

Yesterday it was reasonably mild during the day – about 12 degrees at lunchtime.

It had dropped to about 3 degrees by the time the sun was setting at about 5pm so neither the light nor the temperature would be conducive to outdoor activity if the clocks stayed forwards and it was light until 6pm.

I have a lot of sympathy for people whose body clocks are discombobulated by losing an hour in spring and regaining it in autumn.

But the solution isn’t to keep the clocks forward and plunge us into darker dawns all year, it’s to keep them back permanently.

Rural round-up

Evacuated farmer took no risks after losing 100 cows to flooding in 2009:

A North Canterbury farmer who had to evacuate today says the intense deluge has brought back memories of floods which washed away nearly 100 of his cows 12 years ago.

More than 240 residents in Waimakariri district have been told to evacuate. They include 102 housesholds in the Ashley River area, eight near Kairaki Beach and 133 near Eyre River – including Peter Schouten’s farm.

Schouten’s farm is 800m from the river, and some of his properties share their boundary with the river.

He recorded 150mm of rain up until 7pm on Sunday evening, shortly before he received an alert telling him to evacuate. They were in the process of packing up and leaving, when the police knocked on the door. Schouten has headed to his parent’s place “just around the corner”. . . 

Zespri profit soars to $290m despite ‘incredibly difficult conditions’ :

Kiwifruit giant Zespri has reported record returns for the 2020-21 season.

The company has reported a net profit after tax of $290.5 million – up $90m on the previous year.

Total global fruit sales revenue also grew to $3.58 billion – up 14 percent – and global sale volumes were up 10 percent on last season to 181.5 million trays.

The company said increased sales, the ongoing expansion of Zespri SunGold kiwifruit production and great quality fruit underpinned the strong returns. . .

This is what our grass and baleage wintering block looks like after 30 ml of rain slightly impressed pic.twitter.com/vMzdIK8enV

— Nick Templer (@NickTempler) May 28, 2021

Chuffed to hand over wool reins – Sally Rae:

Change is in the air at long-established wool business Brian Redding Ltd which has been operating in Gore since the early 1960s, as business and rural editor Sally Rae reports.

When it came to being in business, Jim Paterson’s parents gave him some good advice.

They drilled into him the importance of being “dead straight” in a community like Gore, saying reputation was everything.

And it was advice he heeded during more than four decades in the wool industry . . . 

Feed wheat and barley going strong but uncertainty remains around milling wheat:

Below average rainfall across many regions was a factor in the average 3% drop in yields for the six main arable crops in the 2020/21 season.

The latest Arable Industry Marketing Initiative (AIMI) report, based on 1 April survey results, also found that the number of hectares harvested was down 3% (-3183ha), with the net result being a 6% decrease in total tonnage compared to the previous season.

Particularly marked drops in tonnages were seen with feed wheat (down 9%) and malting barley (down 21%) while tonnages of milling oats and feed oats jumped 31% and 60% respectively. . . 

Safety profile – ensure people are well trained for all the tasks they need to do:

This profile is part of a seven-part series from WorkSafe New Zealand sharing the health and safety approaches taken by the grand finalists of the 2021 FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition. For the next seven weeks we will be sharing a profile and short video about each of the finalists and how they incorporate health and safety into their work, from a dairy farm manager to an agribusiness banker.

Working on massive farming operations in the United States highlighted the importance of New Zealand’s focus on health and safety for Dale McAlwee.

Dale, Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year, grew up near Timaru on the farm that’s been in his family for over a century. After gaining a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, he headed to the US for a year. He is now assistant manager at Singletree Dairies, a 2500 cow farm five minutes north east of Ashburton.

“In the US, I was working in massive farming operations for the wheat harvest. There were very large staff teams and the main focus was on employing experienced people who were expected to already have the knowledge to work safely with heavy machinery.

Love Bracken's expression in this picture & Bucky's little knee patches💚#lambs #cades #farming #hillfarm pic.twitter.com/yD7ytSXLIt

— Herdwicks of Highfields Farm (@highfieldsherdy) May 29, 2021

Nelson’s Seifried Estate takes top honours for sauvignon blanc:

Nelson’s Seifried Estate family winery has taken top honours for its 2020 Sauvignon Blanc at the prestigious Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2021, winning the title of Guala Closures Champion Sauvignon Blanc.

This newest accolade from the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards adds to the impressive medal tally for Seifried Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020, which has already been awarded ‘Best of Show New Zealand’ at the Mundus Vini Tasting in Germany 2020, Gold in the AWC Vienna 2020 International Wine Challenge, Gold in the Melbourne International Wine Competition 2020, and was rated 95/100 by Oz Clarke of Three Wine Men in the UK – his highest scoring wine of the New Zealand tasting!

“We are really quite blown away by this latest recognition of our 2020 Sauvignon Blanc,” says co-winemaker Heidi Seifried-Houghton. “With Sauvignon Blanc making up 63% of New Zealand’s total wine production, our competition was fierce!” . .