Ballance chief executive Kelvin Wickham says the co-operative supports National’s policy and its recognition that reliable access to fertiliser and water is critical to on-farm productivity and to the New Zealand economy.

“Primary production is, more than ever, the engine of our economy, and fertiliser security is food and economic security for New Zealand,” Wickham says.

National’s policy, announced this morning, comes after significant disruptions to shipping routes, global fertiliser prices and availability amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Associate agriculture spokesperson Mike Butterick said without reliable access, the farm sector would not be able to sustain its current production base.

“New Zealand plans for fuel security and energy security. National believes we should also plan for fertiliser security to protect New Zealand’s productive economy,” he said.

The party would also, if elected, create a $10m fund to partner with domestic fertiliser manufacturers to support pathways for long-term domestic nitrogen production and the transition from natural gas to electrification.

“National will prioritise reducing reliance on imports and improve certainty of availability for our farmers,” says Butterick.

Wickham agrees that the conflict in the Middle East has shown the importance of planning for soil nutrients the way the country plans for fuel, and secure, well-managed supply supports both productive farms and the New Zealand economy. “We welcome the focus on working directly with supplier countries to keep fertiliser flowing when markets are disrupted.”

Wickham is urging bipartisan support for this policy direction so that farmers and investors have confidence it will stand the test of time.

“Ballance will continue working with all parties, before and after the election, to help ensure a secure and resilient nutrient supply chain,” he says.

The business has been operating from the new site since early June, followed by the official opening celebration in mid-September.

The purpose-built facility, situated on a 10,000sqm site, is said to have been designed to meet the demands of modern agricultural machinery, growing customer fleets and increasingly sophisticated service requirements and represents a major step forward in capability, capacity and customer support for the region.

Landpower founder and director Herby Whyte said the investment reflects the com-pany’s long-standing commitment to New Zealand agriculture and the communities it serves.

“I have always held a long-term view of showing our commitment by investing in New Zealand agriculture, and this building is an expansion of our future,” says Whyte.

The facility has been designed around operational excellence, with a significantly ex-panded workshop featuring modern tooling and gantry systems to improve service efficiency and reduce turnaround times.

In line with Landpower’s strategy of a greater parts stockholding, closer to where equipment is working, the new location incorporates a purpose-built parts department of over 200m², housing in excess of 3300 individual inventory line items, aimed at im-proving parts availability, reducing customer downtime, with the capacity to support future growth.

The workshop addresses future expansion needs, including a site and wall configura-tion that enables seamless extension as demand continues to grow. In addition, acknowledges increasing equipment values, with a 50-metre-long pole shed providing covered storage for customer machinery, including large combines and forage har-vesters, alongside new machinery awaiting assembly and delivery.

Landpower chief executive Richard Wilson says the development reflects the compa-ny’s commitment to combining world-class agricultural machinery with industry-leading customer support.

“It’s bringing the best of a family-owned business and the latest agricultural machin-ery together in a future-focused facility designed to help and support our local cus-tomers,” says Wilson.

Led by branch manager Jordan Law, the Central Districts team is proud to play an ac-tive role in the local community, from supporting Feilding Rural Days, school and sports fundraisers, to taking part in the annual Feilding Christmas Parade.

www.claasharvestcentre.com/dealership/claas-harvest-centre-central-districts 

Following a record year in 2022/23, with revenues of EUR 641 million, and a subsequent downturn (EUR 461 million in 2024/25), the trend is on the way up again, driven by multiple developments in grassland technology, including updates to its Harvest 4.0 app, auto swath placement for Novacat V and two additions to the loader wagon ranges.

With a steady 90% export ratio, with France and Germany among the most important markets, the company also achieved year on year growth in the all-important Austrian domestic market.

Employee numbers remains stable at 2100 people, who represent 37 different nationalities of which 1173 work in Austria, 407 in Czechia, 208 in Germany, 76 in Italy, and the remaining 217 work at Pöttinger subsidiaries around the world. Manufacturing is centred around manufacturing plants at Grieskirchen and St. Georgen bei Grieskirchen in Austria, Bernburg in Germany, Vodňany, Czechia and Tagliamento in Italy.

With its international parts logistics centre in Taufkirchen (Upper Austria) and 17 regional warehouses across Europe, America, Asia and Australia, Pöttinger ensures a fast and reliable supply of parts over the longer term around the globe,

An expansion at Taufkirchen, that commenced in March 2026 and scheduled for completion by the end of the year, will create an additional 3000 sqm of warehouse capacity, alongside a fourth aisle in the automated small parts warehouse, which will create another 10,000 storage spaces.

Despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, Gregor Dietachmayr, speaker of the executive board, had an optimistic outlook for the future until last month: “While the markets remain challenging, we did see the first signs of stabilisation. However, the situation is bound to change as a result of the drought affecting almost all European countries and the consequent drop in crop yields. Our mission is to continue supporting our customers by investing in innovation, digitisation and new products and services. This provides the basis for ensuring that we continue to grow in the future.”

https://www.poettinger.at/en_nz 

Hall brings extensive senior executive and commercial leadership experience across New Zealand’s agribusiness and food sectors, most recently as acting chief executive and deputy chief executive commercial at AgResearch, where he was responsible for commercial performance, stakeholder engagement, organisational transformation and led geographically dispersed complex teams.

Prior to AgResearch, Hall held senior sales and marketing leadership positions with ANZCO Foods, including responsibility for global markets and significant revenue portfolios.

Hall’s initial focus will be supporting the fast-growing Carrfields Machinery business, while also working closely with group managing director Craig Carr and the senior leadership team on several strategic projects and initiatives underway across the group.

 Carr said the appointment would strengthen the leadership of the business as it continues to grow.

“We welcome Stu to our Carrfields family and look forward to the contribution he will make as we continue to grow and strengthen the business for the future.”

Blitzing the previous FIA-officiated hydrogen internal combustion benchmark of 185.5mph set by the BMW H2R in 2004, the record was achieved using two of JCB’s own production-based hydrogen digger engines, producing a combined 1600bhp.

Manufactured at the company’s engine plant in Foston, Derbyshire, the same basic engines are currently powering JCB machines and equipment rolling off UK-based, Foston production lines, as part of the company’s £100 million hydrogen programme.

Driven by wing commander Andy Green OBE, the 32-foot car recorded an average speed 400.623mph in its first run across the Bonneville salt flats, and 412.135mph on its second run, giving the average of 406.320mph – the fastest a hydrogen internal combustion car has ever travelled. Green was also the driver of Dieselmax when it set the, still standing, FIA world diesel land speed record of 350.092mph at the same location in 2006 and remains the only person to have broken the sound barrier on land

JCB is no stranger to breaking records and in addition to the Dieselmax success, the Fastrac became the world’s fastest tractor at 135.191mph in 2019, and in 2014 the GT set the backhoe loader record at 72.58mph.

Looking at the Hydromax’s specifications, its twin, 4.8 litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engines, sees a four wheel-drive layout, with one unit powering the front wheels and the other the rear. A steel lattice chassis is encased in an extremely aerodynamic carbon fibre skin over its 9.8m length and tipping the scales at 2.6 tonnes.

Developed in just over a year, with intensive testing in the UK before heading to Bonneville. The car features advanced cooling systems, including ice and water to manage engine temperatures, and a six-speed racing gearbox controlled via paddle shifters. The project focuses on JCB’s commitment to hydrogen technology for heavy machinery, showing practical applications of zero-emissions technology.

Having led JCB’s hydrogen engine project, Chairman Anthony Bamford came up with the idea of the hydrogen World record in 2025. Lord Bamford commented, “Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power. Today we have done it again — this time with engines powered by hydrogen-the same engines powering JCB diggers right now.”

The record comes ahead of the opening of JCB’s new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas, which will employ 1500 people manufacturing machines for the US market.

www.jcb.co.nz 

Its core business is grain and seed, particularly grass seed, followed by grain, brassica and clover seed, alongside processed vegetables and beef finishing. The 2025 harvest put the business under pressure, with repeated rain leaving only a few short harvesting windows.

After trialling the New Holland CR11 combine harvester alongside its current CR10.90 machines in a wet, stop‑start harvest, the business confirmed it will upgrade to a duo of the new CR11 model, next generation combines from 2026.

Managing director Aaron Chudleigh spent his time in the paddock personally trialling the CR11 in heavy, high‑value pickup crops to see how it performed when conditions were at their toughest. Across key crops, compared to the CR10.90 units, the CR11 delivered around 1.7 times the capacity in wheat, 1.9 times in clover and up to 2.2 times in grass seed, while maintaining a clean sample and low losses.

“The biggest gains for us have been in the pickup work,” Aaron said, “Around 60 to 65% of our harvest is lifting windrowed grass, brassica and other small seeds, so I was really focused on how the CR11 coped with those heavy, high‑value crops on large format pick-up fronts.

“With the CR11 we can pick up two windrow rows at our normal harvesting speed, and in grass seed it’s basically doing the work of two machines,” he said.

“In a wet season like this, one every extra minute counts. There were times when the CR11 could go out 30 to 60 minutes earlier in marginal conditions, pick up two rows and still do a tidy job, which was the difference between getting a paddock done before the next rain or not.”

Cochranes, the largest New Holland dealer in the South Island, worked alongside Fairfield
Farms to trial the CR11
in the region’s demanding small‑seed conditions. Group sales manager Barth Landy said, “We trialled the CR11 in some of the toughest small seed conditions, including new variety perennial ryegrass, to really test the machine, with early results showing it performing exceptionally well”.

“The scale of small seed production here in New Zealand is larger than almost anywhere else in the world, so these trials were some of the most demanding CR11 small seed tests done to date. They gave us real‑world data to prove how the machine performs in small seeds and to help validate its potential for large-scale growers across New Zealand, and indeed, globally.”

From 1 January 2027, that approach could become much harder to justify.

Updated Veterinary Council guidance will put greater emphasis on antimicrobial DCT being justified at the individualcow level, strengthening the expectation that antibiotics are used only where there is evidence they are needed.

MSD Animal Health veterinary technical advisor Matt Buckley says selective DCT itself isn’t new. What is changing is the weight behind it and emerging technologies to support smarter dry cow decisions.

“The thresholds and guidelines have been there for quite a while. The difference now is that vets have much stronger backing to say, ‘show me the evidence that this cow needs antibiotic dry cow therapy.’”

And recent New Zealand research suggests that for the vast majority of herds, treating every cow isn’t necessary.

DairyNZ says extensive analysis has found blanket DCT provides a benefit only in herds where bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) is above 250,000 cells/mL and rises by more than 50,000 cells/ mL during the final three months of the season.

Fewer than 5% of New Zealand herds are likely to meet those criteria.

For the rest, DairyNZ’s advice is selective antibiotic DCT for qualifying cows, combined with internal teat sealant for all cows to help prevent new infections during the dry period.

Why does it matter?

The objective isn’t to remove access to antibiotics for cows that need them, but to avoid using them where there isn’t evidence they’re required, reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use without compromising animal health.

It also forms part of the much bigger challenge facing agriculture and human health: antimicrobial resistance.

Buckley says protecting the effectiveness of the antibiotics available to treat both people and animals is ultimately what responsible use is about.

“We want antibiotics to work when we genuinely need them. This isn’t about not treating cows that need treatment – it’s about the right treatment, for the right cow, at the right time.”

For New Zealand dairy, that’s also an important position to protect. DairyNZ says New Zealand farmers already rank among the lowest users of antibiotics internationally.

Selective DCT might sound straightforward in principle, but the harder question is how to make it work in the shed.

Unlike a blanket approach, selective DCT requires farmers and vets to determine which individual cows warrant antibiotic treatment, using evidence such as clinical mastitis records and individual-cow somatic cell count (SCC) information.

Buckley says this is where the conversation needs to move beyond simply telling farmers to use fewer antibiotics.

“If we’re asking a farmer to make a decision for every individual cow, we need to make that practical,” he says.

Building a picture of the cow over time

Traditionally, individual-cow SCC information has commonly come from herd testing. Increasingly, in-line milk monitoring can provide another source of that information.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Dairy Science involving 1544 cows across four predominantly pasture-fed New Zealand dairy herds investigated whether SenseHub Dairy In-Line Somatic Cell Count could help identify cows for different treatments at dry-off.

Researchers found that in-line SCC information collected over the final 12 weeks of lactation delivered similar results to conventional herdtest SCC measures in identifying cows with major intramammary infections at dry-off.

The researchers concluded that the in-line SCC data had utility for selecting cows for either antimicrobial DCT or internal teat sealant at the end of lactation.

For Buckley, the value of collecting that information extends well beyond the dryoff decision. Having individual-cow SCC data available throughout the season gives farmers a deeper picture of what’s happening within their herd, including the ability to identify cows with rising SCC earlier and investigate potential mastitis issues sooner, ultimately driving better outcomes and more milk the vat.

“It’s about having more information about the individual cow and being able to act on it,” says Buckley. “By the time you get to dry-off, you’ve already built up that history rather than starting from scratch.”

Turning Data Into A Decision

Many farmers already use herd-test results, clinical mastitis records, dry-off dates and other information to create reports identifying cows that meet the criteria for antibiotic DCT.

“If you’ve got a report that can identify the cows that are above the agreed threshold over the last 12 weeks and have had mastitis, you’ve got your list of cows that need antibiotic Dry Cow Therapy and your list of cows that don’t,” says MSD animal health veterinary technical Advisor Matt Buckley.

“It becomes a two-second job.”

Technology can also help make those decisions easier to implement on farm, including by helping farmers identify and separate cows requiring different treatments.

Milk volume can also help determine when an individual cow is ready to be dried off, while other individual-cow data can help farmers manage the wider transition through dry-off.

The technology doesn’t replace the veterinarian. The appropriate thresholds and treatment strategy still need to be determined between the farmer and their vet, taking into account the mastitis situation within the individual herd.

“As 2027 approaches, farmers who have traditionally used blanket DCT should talk to their veterinarian about how they will approach dry-off, what criteria will be used to identify cows requiring antibiotic treatment, and whether they have the individual-cow information needed to support those decisions,” says Buckley.

Selective DCT has been best practice for years, and from 2027, farmers and vets will need to work together with evidence regarding which cows actually need antibiotic treatment to ensure that selective DCT decisions are implemented on all farms.

Alliance Co-operative Chair Mark Wynne said the planned distribution would include two payments to eligible farmer-shareholders: a dividend for shareholding and a supply rebate for eligible livestock supply. Of the total, 45% will be paid as a dividend and 55% as a supply-based rebate.

The dividend and rebate are expected to be distributed to farmers in late 2026.

Further Distribution Planned

A further distribution of up to $20 million is planned for next year, subject to livestock flows. Seventy-five per cent is expected to be paid as a rebate and 25% retained as earnings.

"This planned distribution reflects the commitment to returning value to farmer-shareholders while continuing to strengthen the business," Wynne said.

"Reset-and-Growth Phase"

Alliance Chief Executive Niall Browne said the company is making good progress.

"Ten months on since the transaction with Dawn Meats, Alliance is changing for the better," he said. "After a tough few years, the business is moving into a reset-and-growth phase, built on disciplined improvements across the areas that will drive future shareholder value."

Browne said Alliance is maintaining its market share across lamb, mutton, beef and venison, with potential for growth. He said the company's financial performance continues to improve, and its focus is on turning that progress into stronger, more consistent returns.

"That means doing the basics better every day," Browne said.

He said Alliance is investing in plant upgrades to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, environmental performance and product quality. It is also streamlining livestock procurement, staying closer to customers and making faster decisions closer to its plants and regions.

"We are delivering against what we promised," he said.

What Shareholders Need To Do

Farmer-shareholders are being encouraged to check their livestock supply numbers in the Alliance farmer portal.

Alliance has not set out the detailed criteria for eligibility in the announcement.

But during September, the emphasis on cattle switches towards another unique and beautiful side of Taniwha Station – the 10ha of daffodils that are grown exclusively to benefit a local charity.

The farm is owned by Angus and Esther Mabin and Angus is the fourth-generation family member to run the property. Since his grandfather acquired the property in the mid- 1890s it’s been variously a conventional sheep and beef operation, a deer farm and a polled Hereford stud. When Angus took over the farm from his father in the 1980s it was a conventional sheep breeding operation with steers.

Angus’ return to the farm, after finishing his degree at Massey University, coincided with the major economic reforms of the then Labour government.

“I had some very inspiring uncles who were into the bull beef game at an early stage, so I exited sheep and entered bull farming, which was the best thing I ever did. Now we are known as the daffodil farm,” he says.

The story of the daffodils is one of remarkable generosity and community spirit. It was the birth of Angus’ brother that prompted his mother Railene to begin what has turned out to be a lifetime legacy. According to Esther Mabin, her mother-in-law was so grateful for the help given to her by the Plunket nurse that she decided that she would like to thank that organisation in some tangible way.

“She said ‘I can’t sell cakes because I am not very good at baking so instead, I will grow daffodils and sell them’. Initially she’d bundle them up and sell them in town, and then as the children grew up, the daffodils were put at the farm gate on the main road in buckets and she got her kids to do that,” she says.

Initially, says Esther, the daffodils were just around the main homestead like they were on many similar properties, but Railene dug these up and started a major planting programme. This included buying a whole range of different varieties and finally she purchased all the stock from a grower at Palmerston North who was retiring.

“This led to Railene’s husband Barrie having to slightly reduce the farm and the enlarge the house paddock to ten hectares, all of which is devoted to beds of daffodils of different colours and varieties,” she says.

With this expansion has come the development of a large park which, besides the huge number of daffodil beds, includes ponds and trees, not to mention stunning views of the distant mountain ranges. Taniwhai has now also become a popular wedding venue. It also includes a building that serves as a shop that sells light refreshments during the two weeks Taniwhai is open to the public.

Esther Mabin says when she married Angus, the daffodils were still being sold in the nearby town of Waipukurau along with a few gate sales. Then a small committee was formed and it was decided they would offer people the chance to come and pick their own flowers.

Various times to do this were tried, including opening the property every two years, to weekends and so on. But Esther says the demands on the family were great and finally, after Covid, they decided that they would open up the property every September for two weeks and three weekends.

Initially the local Plunket society was the chosen charity of the Mabins, but that organisation made a decision that any money given to the local group had to be passed on to their national office. At that point the Mabins decided they wanted to just give to a local charity and so now their Taniwha Daffodil Charitable Trust supports the CHB Parents Centre and the CHB Pregnancy and Parenting Hub – which supports parents and their babies.

Preparing for the two-week open period is a busy time for the Mabins, their extended family and their team of volunteers. The 10ha house paddock has to be mowed, signs erected and areas marked out for parking cars.

Railene Mabin

Joy To The People

At the centre of all of this is Railene Mabin who instigated this amazing project, for which in 2017 she received the QSM for her services to Plunket and charity. She is centre stage in the shop selling flowers and chatting to members of the public.

For Railene, Esther and Angus Mabin, opening up their property to the public and selling daffodils comes with some very satisfying moments, such as seeing up to 300 cars in their carpark at weekends. Also seeing the smiles on the faces of people who come and pick flowers and picnic on the spacious grounds.

Then there is the money that is raised. This year they expect to give around $20,000 to their main charity and a few small ones.

“It brings a lot of joy to a lot of people. Just when you are feeling grumpy about it, someone says ‘this is a great community service and thank you for opening your property’. This is our dividend,” says the family.

That was the focus of Catch the Rain, a farmerled research project funded by Beef+Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and led by Quorum Sense.

For non-irrigated sheep and beef farms, rainfall is one of the most important resources. But rain falling on a farm does not automatically mean more soil moisture and pasture growth. If soils cannot absorb rainfall effectively, water can run off rather than soak into the soil.

More than 60 farmers across the South Island and lower North Island contributed to the project through workshops, interviews and on-farm trials, with 11 farmers testing practical, low-cost ways to improve rainfall infiltration on their own farms.

“The value of Catch the Rain is that it has tested practical management changes in real farm environments. Farmers can now see where there is potential to improve rainfall infiltration and, importantly, have a way to test what works for their own farm,” says Dr Suzi Keeling, head of science and research at B+LNZ.

“Being part of Catch the Rain opened up a totally different way of looking at soil for us. Learning about Visual Soil Assessments and how soil structure influences rainfall infiltration was really interesting,” says Banks Peninsula farmer Will Johns.

Three approaches were tested:

• Longer pasture recovery periods
• Applying a biostimulant to support soil biology
• Establishing more diverse pastures

The strongest result came from longer pasture recovery periods.

On three farms, infiltration rates almost doubled on average within nine months compared with control areas. Longer recovery periods are a relatively low-cost change that can be introduced into existing farm systems without capital investment. In the trials, farmers compared standard rotation lengths (i.e. 30 days) to extended recovery periods ranging from 60 to 90+ days.

“The results show that farmers don’t necessarily need major investment to make a difference. Longer pasture recovery periods are a relatively simple change, and the trials showed a significant improvement in infiltration on the farms involved,” says Keeling.

The biostimulant trials, using a Biomarinus fish hydrolysate product, also showed positive results. Infiltration increased by about one third within just nine months on three farms, while soil analysis showed increased abundance and activity of fungi.

Sam Lang, project lead for Catch the Rain, says “The farmers chose practices intended to deliver other benefits alongside improving infiltration, such as carrying more feed into summer or improving nutrient cycling. Finding system or practice changes that deliver those kinds of win-wins is important to maximise the short- and long-term benefits”.

The diverse pasture trials were less conclusive. Infiltration fell during the trial period, reflecting the short-term disruption to soil structure caused by pasture renewal, but longer-term benefits still need to be assessed.

Dr Gwen Grelet, science lead for Catch the Rain says, “What was really encouraging was that we could detect measurable changes in soil function within less than a year, using relatively simple management changes. These were small, farmerled trials, so we need to be careful about generalising the results, but they provide a strong reason to keep testing these approaches across different farms, soil types and climates”.

I’m sure most farmers would agree that a right-leaning government is more favourable than a left-leaning one for our agricultural sector. But I think it is important to look beyond the sound bites, slogans and social-media memes and examine what this coalition Government has actually done over the past three years. If you don’t dig into the detail, it is very easy to come away with the impression that everything is going just fine. Due to editorial constraints, I will focus on one area:

Paris Agreement and Net Zero

National remains committed to New Zealand’s Paris Agreement commitments and the country’s 2050 net-zero target. The question isn’t simply whether these goals sound worthwhile. The question is: what are they costing New Zealand, and what are we getting in return?

Domestic Costs

New Zealanders have all felt the impact of rising costs, and the transition towards decarbonisation is not cost-free. Electricity prices have risen significantly, placing pressure on households and businesses, with some energy-intensive manufacturers scaling back or closing operations. The Government’s drive towards Net Zero is one factor contributing to the changing energy landscape and increased costs businesses face. At a time when households and businesses are already under financial pressure, these costs also raise questions about whether valuable resources are being diverted from essential services and priorities.

Treasury’s June 2026 analysis estimates that meeting New Zealand’s Paris Agreement emissions commitments could involve up to $5.0 billion in offshore mitigation costs for 2021–2030, plus a further $1.6 billion for 2031–2035. These are in addition to wider domestic economic costs.

The Prime Minister has expressed confidence that New Zealand can meet its emissions targets without spending billions on offshore mitigation, with much of that confidence resting on new agricultural technologies. But will farmers actually want to use them? Many farmers aren’t prepared to sacrifice the productivity, profitability or viability of their businesses to meet what they see as the demands of an ideological global climate agenda. Why should farmers adopt methane inhibitors, vaccines, boluses or other technologies when there is no tangible benefit? As one farmer put it, “I will not flagellate myself on the climate altar”.

The National Party has continued to provide millions of dollars in research funding for biotechnology tools to reduce methane. The problem is that market demand appears to have received less attention. Feedback from farmers suggests many remain unwilling to incorporate methane biotech tools such as vaccines, boluses or low-methane genetics into their farm systems. After all, what tangible benefit will they see?

The Government has now committed a further $51 million to accelerate the development and adoption of these technologies. When substantial sums have already been invested, the temptation to keep spending in the hope of achieving the desired outcome can be difficult to resist. Are we seeing the sunk-cost fallacy in action?

We are consistently told that we need to stay in the Paris Agreement because of trade. However, an OIA to Treasury in 2025 asked what cost-benefit analysis had been undertaken comparing New Zealand remaining in the Paris Agreement with withdrawing. Treasury replied that it held no such analysis and did not believe any other government agency held one.

Therefore, when the Prime Minister states that New Zealand cannot afford to leave the Paris Agreement, the Government cannot point to a Treasury cost-to-benefit analysis comparing the economic consequences of staying with withdrawing. We don’t know the full economic consequences of withdrawing. But we do know that meeting the commitments associated with staying is already exposing New Zealand to billions of dollars in potential costs.

International Costs

Article 9 of the Paris Agreement says developed countries “shall provide financial resources” to assist developing countries with mitigation and adaptation. However, the agreement does not give New Zealand a specific dollar figure. New Zealand chose to make a NZ$1.3 billion grant-based climate-finance commitment for 2022–2025, with at least 50% directed to adaptation. MFAT describes this as part of New Zealand’s Paris Agreement commitments.

New Zealand’s net Crown debt is now around $186 billion, with Treasury forecasting it to rise above $230 billion over the next few years. For a country already heavily in debt and under financial pressure, does this make good financial sense? Our hospitals and essential services are under significant pressure, yet substantial public funds continue to be funnelled to climate policy, including international climate finance.

If a household found itself deeply in debt, a financial adviser would likely recommend cutting back to essentials, prioritising the bills that matter most and scrutinising discretionary spending. Perhaps the Government should apply the same discipline to climate spending while prioritising essential services (health, education, roads).

Beyond The Headlines

This government has delivered some policies that will be welcomed by farmers. But that doesn’t mean that the details should escape scrutiny.

The Paris Agreement and Net Zero commitments carry significant economic consequences. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in agricultural emissions research and technology, while many farmers remain unwilling to adopt those technologies without a clear productivity, profitability or business benefit.

This issue cannot be properly judged from a political slogan or a Facebook meme. The devil is always in the detail. The question is whether the costs, commitments and consequences of these policies are receiving the scrutiny they deserve and which party/s are brave enough to challenge them.

Helen Mandeno is a dry stock farmer from South Waikato and a member of the Methane Science Accord.

The PM indicated the importance of the primary sector when talking to journalists after announcing the government’s drought relief support package of £65m for farmers hit by the drought.

He was then asked whether there would be increased funding for the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the next budget. Although he didn’t answer directly, he did say that “I do not think we can face the future in the same way we may have done in the past, where we just think, somehow magically food will arrive on everyone’s plate at a price that they can afford”. He also restated the intent to position farming and food production within core national resilience – “I think that should give you your answer”.

There are lessons in this for New Zealand.

Prominence and funding go hand in hand as society realises that the people working the land are important and need research in order to cope with the changes in climate, regulation and societal preference (affecting social license and consumption) that are being experienced.

The basic issue is food. It does not magically arrive.

For New Zealand it is also an issue of the economy, which then supports people to buy the food they need.

In an RNZ broadcast (now a podcast findable as ‘Our economic recovery: Want the good news or the bad news?’), Sharon Brett-Kelly explained the basics of the current economy. The message was that some parts of the economy are doing better than others, but that the good parts were having a positive effect on adjacent areas. “Primary industries are doing well and that’s filtering into South Island cities.”

Andrew Kelleher, the executive director of financial services company Shaw and Partners, calls it the proximity factor – proximity to primary produce markets.

In the rural sector we know about the money-go-round, where the farm income is then dispersed to employees and rural companies which in turn support others, including the supermarkets.

This message is not as clearly articulated in urban areas, where people’s first reaction (at least when asked by journalists) is that ‘food is too expensive’. However much leaders explain that domestic prices reflect the export prices (and then the cost of processing and transport and employment in the retail outlets selling the food and the rates and interest on the buildings…), ‘too expensive’ and ‘the cost-of-living crisis’ prevail. Yet when asked (sadly not since the end of 2022, and published in 2023), 70% of people agreed or strongly agreed that a farming-based economy is good for New Zealand. Only 8% did not – and they do tend to have loud voices.

It is the 70% that we can focus upon when talking about the importance of producing food and supporting the export economy.

Recent reports from BERL for beef and lamb, and Sense Partners for dairy, make the value of pastoral farming, through processing to export, clear. The reports show that processing employment in the primary sector has grown considerably, in contrast to the manufacturing sectors. “This long-run performance matters because processing jobs are generally higher paid and anchored in regional supply chains.”

In particular, ‘dairy is a large, regionally distributed, high-wage, export-intensive platform that supports a broad domestic supply chain and converts New Zealand’s natural advantage into durable national income’.

Farmers, rural professionals and researchers have created a competitive advantage globally. This advantage is already eroding because of lowering costs of production in some countries. It will be under threat if we don’t have the promised shifts in regulation to enable productivity gains, and ongoing research to create further productivity.

Both are vital.

The government is making progress with regulatory changes. As long as we keep explaining that on farm the changes are within environmental requirements and enable increased productivity, social license to operate will be maintained.

The government is also funding large research programmes with direct relevance to farming through the Ministry for Primary Industries. Programmes such as Resilient Pastures, and Dairy Beef opportunities, are under way, but what is also needed is the identification of drivers that have resulted in the apparent plateau in pasture productivity. Is drought, flood, heat or nutrient availability causing limitations? Or something else? Until scientists identify what is causing the problems, the promises made by developers of new technologies to do with, for instance, pasture management will not be realised.

By aligning food production with defence, energy, water and steel as core to national resistance, Andy Burnham has raised the profile of the importance of farmers and farming.

The world, including New Zealand, should do likewise.

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Adjunct Professor Lincoln University, is a farmer-elected director of DairyNZ and Ravensdown. She is also a member of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers’ Organisation. jsrowarth@gmail.com

OPINION: When I hung up my boots and stepped back onto the farm, I left behind a world where belonging was built in every day. In professional rugby, we are in each other’s pockets. We wear the same jersey, speak the same language, and rely on each other on the pitch.

Moving back into farming was a massive shift for me, both in routine and identity. Because out on the farm you can spend a lot of hours by yourself, in your own head.

Moving back into farming was a massive shift for me, both in routine and identity. Because out on the farm you can spend a lot of hours by yourself, in your own head.

The trouble is, farm life is flat out. Between calving, milking, weather and the endless daily tasks, there’s always a reason to keep your head down. We tell ourselves we’ll pop over to see a neighbour once things quieten down, but in farming, things rarely do. If you wait for free time to connect, it won’t happen. You have to make getting off the block a deliberate choice and a regular habit.

That’s one thing sports taught me - the value of a bit of team commitment. If you sign up for a local team, you turn up; if you don’t show, the team is short and can’t play. That positive bit of pressure forces me to put down the tools and get off the farm once a week. Running around a social netball court is good fun and great exercise, but more than that, it’s a genuine protective factor for my own mental health. It gets me out of my own head, builds my sense of belonging in the local community, and burns off a bit of steam. And we always have a good laugh.

Looking out for each other doesn’t need to be a heavy conversation either. I never pick up the phone and think, right, I’m going to go increase someone’s sense of wellbeing today. It’s simpler than that. It’s sending a quick text. It’s pulling the ute over for five minutes when you spot a neighbour out by the fence line. It’s just letting people know they are on your radar.

With Mental Health Awareness Week this year focusing on ‘Belonging Matters’, it’s a good reminder for our rural community. We don’t have to wait for a crisis to happen to pop in across the road. Keeping up those simple, everyday connections is what holds our communities together and makes sure none of us are walking the paddock alone.

Belonging Matters

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 runs nationwide from 12 - 18 October around the theme Belonging Matters. Visit mhaw.nz to access ideas, free resources, events and find simple ways to connect in your workplace or community. Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps people manage the ups and downs of farming and growing. Last year, 20,000 farmers attributed an increase in their wellbeing to the programme. For free, farmer-to-farmer tools and resources head to farmstrong.co.nz

In just two words it summed up what not only this sector but in fact the whole world is facing.

Think of the multiple threats emanating from the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, the unpredictability of Donald J Trump and the rapid rise in trade protectionism and the erosion of rules-based trade. Then overlay that with climate change and more frequent adverse weather events, be they droughts or floods.

At the same time, the red meat sector is having to look into its crystal ball and second guess the flips and flops of consumer preferences and the myriad rules and regulations which spring up almost daily to challenge our marketing and logistic teams. Can it get worse? Who knows.

At the Red Meat Sector Conference it was heartening to see the resolve of positivity and determination of the sector to get through this maze of adversity.

Once upon a time the sector was renowned for the inability of meat processing companies to work collaboratively alongside farmers. Thankfully, this is no longer the case and now we have a united sector pooling its expertise, innovating at pace and doing a great job for New Zealand.

We are seeing an example of excellence at the research level with improved and appropriate genetics, better farm systems and management, skill at the processing level with workers on the chains developing techniques that maximise the value of every carcass.

At the same time, the companies themselves are deriving maximum returns for every ounce of meat produced and opening up new markets. And credit where due, our officials and politicians are doing well to secure access to markets.

That the red meat sector is in good heart and in good hands is a credit to thousands of dedicated individuals and the mood of positivity at the recent conference is real and justified.

But in the early 1990s, stock horses on farms began to disappear due to a growing preference for quad bikes and later side-by-sides or UTVs. Suckling knew he had to change the direction of his business.

Seeing potential in the quad market, in 1991 Suckling launched his first product, a cab for quads called Quad Pod.

Over the coming years, as UTVs began replacing quad bikes, Suckling ventured into cab kits and accessories like windscreens and launched a new business, Ag-Tech Industries in Dargaville.

Soon, UTV cab kits were in hot demand, and the saddle business ceased.

The biggest breakthrough came in 2012 when the world’s first flexible crush protection device (CPD) for quads was launched - the ATV LifeGuard.

The LifeGuard began winning innovation and health and safety awards and by 2014 over 1000 had sold, including a first shipment to Australia.

Innovation continued to play a key role in the company’s development and by 2019 a new flexible crush protection device made from plastic, the QuadGuard, was launched.

Today the business, under the name Trax Equipment, makes windscreens, roof kits, doors, stock crates, mudflap kits and CPDs.

Vernon Suckling has retired and his son Kerry and son-in-law Kingsley now manage the business, which carries the reputation of making farm work easier and safer for side-by-side and ATV users.

Kerry told Rural News that problem-solving is what built the Trax reputation from day one.

“It hasn’t stopped since. Honda, Yamaha, Polaris, CF Moto – every model that’s landed on our shores has brought a new design challenge.

“Trax has met every one of them. If your quad or UTV is doing real work on the farm, there’s a solid chance something on it carries the Trax name.”

However, Kerry says the part of the range that matters most doesn’t get talked about enough. Quad bike rollovers are still one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on New Zealand farms. Not a statistic – a reality that too many rural families know firsthand, he adds.

Trax’s award-winning Lifeguard crush protection device, and its next-generation QuadGuard, exist for exactly that reason.

Kerry says they aren’t accessories and could be the difference between life and death for quad bike riders involved in a rollover.

When the NZ Government decided to reintroduce roll bars due to the number of deaths, Kerry recalls a person coming up to his dad and suggesting the concept of “a Roman arch could be incorporated into a roll bar somehow”.

“This got dad thinking and he made many prototypes out of wooden blocks before launching one at Mystery Creek which won an award.

“That got dad a lot of attention all around.”

The CPDs are now sold worldwide. While Australia and New Zealand are the main markets, the UK is also embracing CPDs made in New Zealand. Lifeguard CPDs have also been sent to Antarctica to be fitted on ATVs used there.

Kerry believes his dad’s innovation has been a game changer for farm safety.

“We’ve had many numerous reports of how it’s [prevented] injury or death.”

CPDs are not mandatory but WorkSafe and ACC strongly encourage farmers to have their ATVs fitted with one.

So, what’s Kerry’s message to quad bike users?

“It is their call at the end of the day, but too many ATV riders are killed or seriously injured in rollovers and the stats speak for themselves, CPDs and helmets are a crucial part of preventing this.

“It’s like a seatbelt in a car: it minimises your chances of injury or worse if there’s a mishap.”

For a limited time, farmers can access a 20% discount code for CPDs from Trax Equipment and Safer Farms thanks to the Safer Rides programme - saving up to $395 on selected models. To apply for your discount visit www.saferfarms.org.nz/safer-rides-2026

With those in the primary sector facing uncertainty - geopolitical events, looming El Niño and a general election around the corner - what assurances of support can you give the farming community?

NZ First

There can be absolute assurance that New Zealand First will continue to prioritise the primary sector within the next government. We have a strong policy focus on regional New Zealand and understand implicitly that 82% of New Zealand's merchandise exports are derived from the efforts of our farmers, growers, fishers and foresters. Sectors that are not only vital for underpinning thriving rural communities but fundamental to the overall economic performance of New Zealand as a whole.

We have a proven track record of standing up for maligned and neglected industries like mining, fishing, aquaculture, forestry and wool and will continue to promote policies that prioritise their future.

Our track record in using our political leverage in coalition negotiations is to secure funding for regional infrastructure, previously via the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) and during this term of government, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF). We have secured funding for key regional infrastructure like flood protection, water storage and irrigation projects and port upgrades.

We believe the regions earning the money should get a fair share back from Wellington. Regional development will continue to be a huge focus for us and policies like returning half of mining royalties to to the regions they are extracted from will further advantage rural New Zealand.

Labour

Just like the cost-of-living crisis, our farmers are having a cost-of-farming crisis. Rising costs, energy insecurity, biosecurity risks and extreme weather are all putting pressure on farming businesses and our rural communities.

Government has a role to play in easing those pressures. We are focused on practical policies that give the rural sector the confidence and certainty they need to remain profitable, build resilient businesses, and plan for the future. Our Small Business Action Plan is an example of this. Small business owners will get paid sooner, get more support to invest in the equipment they need, and keep more of what they earn.

National

Our track record and farm profitability is the best assurance we can offer.

When we came into government, farmers were facing a price on livestock emissions, a ute tax and a pile of new rules from Wellington. We scrapped the ute tax in our first weeks. We scrapped He Waka Eke Noa and took agriculture out of the ETS. And we started cutting back the red tape.

Farmers noticed. In late 2023, rural confidence in the Federated Farmers survey was at an all-time low of negative 66%. Within two years it had rebounded to plus 37%, one of the biggest turnarounds, because farmers were allowed to farm again. We declared Labour's war on farmers over, and we've celebrated your success. Farmers are now more confident about profitability than at my time since records began.

The sector has responded. Food and fibre exports are forecast to hit a record $64.3 billion this year. Across the whole economy, exports are up around $20 billion since we took office. One in every seven New Zealanders works in the primary sector, and our goal is to double export value in ten years.

Trade is a big part of that. We've concluded deals with the UAE and the six Gulf states. Our free trade agreement with India comes into force on 20 October. It removes or cuts tariffs on 95% of what we sell there and opens up a market of 1.4 billion people. Exports to the EU have risen $3 billion.

Today we have more market access than we can supply. That's a good problem to have, but we need to fix it. In our next term, our land use flexibility policy will make it easier for farmers to change how they use their land, so they can produce more while still meeting our sensible environmental and climate obligations.

Strong national numbers don't make life easy on every farm. Conflict in the Middle East is pushing up fuel and fertiliser prices.

El Niño could bring a dry summer. Farmers carry that risk every day, and we know it.

So we'll keep backing you when it gets tough. That means the Rural Support Trusts, Farmstrong and the Rural Wellbeing Fund. It means simpler rules and consents for on-farm water storage. It means $40.5 million over four years for catchment groups, because locals usually know what works best in their own patch.

And it means certainty. We've replaced the RMA. For the first time, food and fibre production is now written into the new Natural Environment Act as a goal.

We'll also soon announce new policy on water storage and irrigation. It will boost rural production and give the world's best farmers the certainty to invest.

Opportunity

We believe there are two things farmers - and indeed all New Zealanders - need from the government in these increasingly uncertain times. Political stability and investment in innovation.

Returning stability to politics is central to Opportunity's platform this election. That's why we have called for a 30-year infrastructure strategy with the buildout of our roads, bridges, power plants and other critical infrastructure led by the Infrastructure Commission, not politicians. It's also why we will convene cross-party plans for health, education and energy - so the system settings for these services stop changing each election cycle. Underpinning our commitment to stability is our Citizen's Voice policy, which will mainstream the use of Citizen's Assemblies in central and local government to ensure that decisions are real, lasting and informed by the communities those decisions affect.

Innovation is how we meet the challenges coming at us, because there are no problems that farmers and Kiwi innovators cannot solve, if given the proper support to get on and solve them. Our Breakthrough Economy policy includes a generational uplift in our research and development spending, with a focus on funding our regional polytechnics, agricultural scientists and technology incubator programmes properly. We will also back small businesses, like farms, to step-up their technology rollout through a 25% tax credit on new investments, and make financial and accounting support services for small businesses more widespread.

That was the message from Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy in his opening address at last week's Red Meat Sector Conference in Wellington.

He told the 300 delegates that many good things are happening in the sector and pointed to the investment taking place in the sector - notably the Irish meat processing giant Dawn Meats taking a 65% shareholding in Alliance and ANZCO taking over the successful Greenlea Meats.

The theme of the conference was 'managing volatility', appropriate given the myriad of geopolitical events impacting the red meat sector at present. But Guy insists that the industry is nimble and agile.

"We have always faced headwinds, but it just so happens they are blowing pretty hard in our face at the moment," he told Rural News.

"We are worried about the US investigation to ours and Australian lamb exports there and claims that these are 'injuring' American lamb producers," he says.

The sheep flock in the US is a mere five million, and Guy says NZ does not believe that its exports to the US are impacting negatively on their sheep producers. Rather he says our lamb goes into their market at a time when American lamb is not on supermarket shelves and there is a strong argument that having lamb on shelves for 12 months of the year is beneficial to all parties.

He says other challenges are the high cost of diesel and rising freight costs, which are impacting on profitability right across the sector. Another problem is the proliferation of non-tariff trade barriers - or specific rules that countries we export to impose on us to protect their own producers.

"These are costing us $1.5 billion a year and we are working closely with MPI and MFAT to eliminate these," he says.

Despite the volatility, there are many positives emerging. The conference heard from a variety of experts in market intelligence and international trade, including Simon Quilty and Brett Stuart from Global Agritrends who pointed to a positive outlook for beef exports to the US.

Making a video appearance at the conference was the former CEO of Air New Zealand, Greg Foran, who now heads up Kroger - a large US company which runs supermarkets, manufacturing facilities and other retail outlets.

One unexpected insight from him was the fact that about 12% of Americans are now on weight loss drugs - a trend likely to continue. This has positive implications for NZ because people need high-quality protein which our beef offers.

Guy says NZ can meet this need immediately, although he says our processing companies may need to reduce the size of the portions of the meat they supply.

Immediately after the conference, Guy in his capacity as NZ's special trade envoy left for India, taking a delegation of representatives from the primary sector to progress the benefits of the recent India FTA that comes into force later this month. While he'll be supporting the apple and pear, kiwifruit and honey sectors, he also plans to attend a wool and textile expo and take part in a lamb promotion.

"The timing of this trip is perfect because there's a lot at stake and a need to build the relationship with India," he says.

Participants at the recent Arable Sector Forum were actively following up on the five big headings to consider how they could best be addressed.

As a research, development and extension organisation, FAR's work would continue to bring a sharp a focus as possible on the things that make a difference to the growing of crops, "whether that's about improving profitability or reducing costs or whatever it might be".

Champion said FAR was looking more closely at connecting arable to other sectors, primarily dairy and sheep and beef.

He noted that 75% of wheat and barley go into animal feeds rather than human consumption, and probably 90% of arable farms would carry livestock in some form.

"So how do we think about connecting better into dairy, identifying and then providing the opportunities around using New Zealand grains for supplementary feeding in those pasture-based systems?

"These are some of the things that we're turning our attention to."

However, there were some barriers to replacing imported feeds with local grains, such as their nutritional profiles versus animal nutrition needs, and greenhouse gas impacts.

"We've released some life cycle analysis data recently which is the first New Zealand generated data across maize grain, maize silage, feed wheat and feed barley.

"We now recognise that there are dairy farmers who are interested in it and there are small incentives that are available at the moment for lowering emissions."

While PKE was the most common imported feed, there were others such as dried distillers' grain and soy.

"The reality is we won't be able to substitute all of that. The volumes are more than we produce here in New Zealand."

Champion has been in the role as FAR CEO since July last year, following several years with Beef+Lamb NZ and in a private consultancy.

He said the organisation recently released a new five year strategy focusing on four key goals, with strong connection to growers and collaboration at the heart of FAR's approach.

One goal area was building an understanding of arable and "getting a bit more visibility" on what arable does, said Champion.

Arable had a strategic role in underpinning the sheep and beef and dairy sectors, both through the provision of grazing land in mixed farm systems - which was becoming more important in key areas like Canterbury - and in the supply of the pastoral and forage seeds that drive those big export industries.

He says this needs to be fixed because it's inhibiting development in these areas.

He cites a report by the combined Chambers of Commerce of the South Island which points out the funding for infrastructure across the country is wrong because it prioritises population growth over economic growth.

Patterson says, for example, the South Island is only getting 11% of the national roading funding. Yet, he says, there are rural roads in the South Island that need resealing and bridges that need repairing.

"We have got to be wary that some of the big mega projects don't suck out the potential to maintain our rural infrastructure, because it is under a lot of pressure to severe weather-related events. If you look at really productive areas like Tairawhiti, they face huge challenges at times getting their product to market," he says.

Patterson says lack of infrastructure is hindering economic development in areas with known huge potential.

Another issue that is inhibiting growth in some rural areas is a lack of quality internet access. He says the telcos keep saying everything is right, but Patterson says that's not the feedback he's receiving. He says the rollout of broadband has reached 87%, but asks, what about the remaining 13%?

"We can't have digital poverty in NZ and a lot more work needs to be done. Lack of quality broadband is not only affecting farmers to run their businesses properly, but it's making some people think twice about working in some remote places. There's a perception in Wellington that the job is done - well it isn't," he says.

Finally, Patterson says in all his interactions with rural communities, the issue of most concern is that of health.

He says health services are under pressure in multiple places and are just being held together by very dedicated and hardworking professionals on the frontline.

He says Labour's decision to restructure the health service in the middle of the Covid pandemic was madness. 

He says a number of moves are underway to improve the situation.

"Often some of the problems could be fixed with the addition of a few thousand dollars. And this could result in a more comprehensive service," he says.

Patterson says there is a need to fortify rural health services to take the pressure off base hospitals.

Sheepmeat exports were worth $309m, 20% more than in August last year.

China increased 46% to $71m, while the United Kingdom rose 118% to $54m and became the third-largest sheepmeat market by value for the month.

Beef exports increased 26% in value to $403m. The US remained the leading market at $155m, up 30% while China rose 12% to $79m and Canada increased 55% to $18m. Fifth-quarter exports were worth $156m, an increase of 13%.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby said the result underlined the value the sector continues to generate for New Zealand.

"A 23% lift in export value is a strong result. Export volumes have also increased compared with August last year, but the more significant movement is in value, reflecting improved returns from international markets.

“The breadth of the result is encouraging, with export values higher across all major markets and gains for both sheepmeat and beef in China.”

However, Beeby says one month’s data should be viewed in context, given the global volatility and costof- living pressures that may push some consumers towards lower-value proteins.

The August result builds on the returns for the 2025/26 financial year (year ending 30 June), where red meat and fifth quarter exports were worth $13.1 billion. This was 21% higher than in 2024/25 and a record annual export value.

After posting a record net operating profit of $113 million for the 2026 financial year, the SOE has trimmed back its forecast 2027 net operating profit to a range of $77 million to $87m in its integrated report released last week.

In August, Pāmu reported a NOP of $113 million, up from $49 million the previous year, alongside a net profit after tax of $160 million. The Government received $25m in dividends from Pāmu for 2026, including a $10m special dividend reflecting Fonterra's special capital return to farmer shareholders.

While farms are still on track to increase production, chief executive Mark Leslie says the profit forecast revision has come down due to two factors - rising input costs and weather.

"Those additional feed, fertiliser, and fuel prices mean nearly $30 million of additional costs that the businesses are facing this year, so that's a big reason for the backing off that profit," he told Rural News.

"We haven't backed off on the production side of it, so that's being held.

"We are watching, like everybody is probably watching, two things now: one is those fuel and fertiliser feed costs, and the other, what plays out with weather conditions around El Nino.

"But if you look at a $77 million to $87 million range, if you asked me two to three years ago how that looks, it looked pretty positive."

This year's record results reflect the progress Pāmu has made in strengthening the commercial performance of its core farming business.

Strong protein prices supported the result, but they were not the whole story, says Leslie.

"An estimated 60% of the improvement came from productivity and operational performance: producing more from our land, livestock and people, managing costs carefully, and making better decisions across the portfolio," he says.

Over recent years, he says Pāmu has maintained a disciplined focus on the fundamentals of farming performance, growing more feed, improving animal performance, managing costs carefully, and ensuring resources are directed to where they create the greatest value.

Pāmu dairy farms produced 15.8m kgMS last year, 13% more than the previous year. Livestock productivity rose slightly to 22m kg liveweight.

At the same time, cost of production for conventional dairy dropped 7% to $6.99/kgMS, went up 10% for organic dairy and up 7% for livestock.

Leslie says their priority is now to lock in the gains made.

"That means continuing to lift productivity, sharpen capital allocation, manage costs and risks, and focus effort where it will have the greatest commercial impact.

"We also recognise that ongoing global volatility and forecast El Nino conditions are expected to increase costs in the coming year. We will keep investing in people, systems and stewardship where they support stronger operating performance and long-term value creation.

"There is more work ahead, but the direction is clear. When we stay focused on our core operations, make good commercial decisions and keep lifting productivity, we create value for our shareholder and, through that performance, contribute practical benefit to New Zealand agriculture."

Champion recently acted as facilitator for an Arable Sector Forum that brought together FAR, Federated Farmers, the Ministry for Primary Industries and growers, to grapple with an exodus of farmers reportedly leaving the sector in search of better returns.

Champion told Rural News that all the key inputs - fuel, fertiliser, machinery, agrichemicals - had outpaced any gains on the product side.

"Some of those are very significantly beyond our control because of tensions in the Middle East or whatever it might be.

"We can't necessarily address those in the shorter term."

However, he was encouraged by the working relationships evident at the forum. As a smaller sector, everyone knew everyone else, and no one was trying to hide from the challenges, he said.

"The fact that people have come together and getting some energy and momentum into this conversation is really positive.

"I'm really encouraged by, number one, the recognition of the issues; and number two, the desire to do something about it and the willingness to actually move and try to move reasonably quickly."

A press release following the meeting said it identified five initial priorities for action and further engagement with the sector:

• Addressing poor on-farm profitability and managing costs
• Improving market intelligence and data to support on-farm decisions
• Growing the partnership between the arable sector and the dairy and livestock sectors
• Identifying opportunities to improve transport and logistics
• Developing customer recognition of the benefits of New Zealand grown grains.

Associate Minister of Agriculture Mike Butterick, who attended the forum, says arable growers played a vital role in New Zealand's food and fibre sector and economy.

"Arable growers produce the grain, feed and seed that underpin livestock production, horticulture, food manufacturing, and pastoral farming systems across New Zealand.

"The Government recognises the strategic importance of the arable sector in driving the prosperity of our rural communities and the New Zealand economy.

"At the Forum, there was a real sense of optimism, with everyone committing to positive action and acknowledging that we can achieve more together.

"The Government continues to drive positive changes for the sector through significant and sensible reforms in resource and freshwater management, cutting red tape, and investing in innovation and climate-friendly initiatives.

"We're committed to continue working alongside the arable sector to create the right environment for a thriving, profitable, and resilient sector."

David Birkett, immediate past Federated Farmers arable chair, said the Feds were committed to supporting efforts to help drive the arable sector's long-term success and rebuild growers' confidence.

"The Forum enabled first steps towards supporting our growers to navigate challenges, strengthen financial resilience, and capture future opportunities."

However, Labour’s agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says the rules will be used as “a starting point” to take to a select committee.

Luxton made the comments at the Rural Leaders Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton this week.

About 300 farmers attended the event, organised by Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ,

Luxton says Labour has no plans to bring back the rules which were roundly rejected by farmers.

“The start point is not the end point because whatever we do with the freshwater space, we need to make sure that it is practical and workable for farmers,” she says.

“Everybody wants clean drinking water and clean rivers, and we do have to make sure that we are working towards that because it's not our generation, it's our children, and their children are going to be the ones that deal with anything that we do now and the decisions that we make.

“So, I want to make it clear that we'll go through a full select committee process so that everybody can have their say and whatever comes out of it, we'll make sure that it is workable and practical for farmers and rural communities.”

But National’s Todd McClay pounced on Luxton’s comments, reminding her that people rejected the rules even as a starting point and they did this by voting Labour out of office in 2023.

“So, where will it end up? What's the end point going to be?

“You're saying: we're only going to do something that you know you don't like”.

Luxton replied that no matter the outcome, “we will ensure that it is workable and practical for farmers”.

Debate host, Heather du Plessis-Allan asked Luxton what would be different from ‘the end point’ a new Labour-led government was trying to achieve and what former Labour Environment Minister David Parker achieved in 2022.

Luxton says they aren’t going to say, “this is what we must do”.

“We're going to say this is where we start. We want to hear from you, find out what's workable, find out what's achievable, while ensuring that we maintain sustainable rivers.”

Du Plessis-Allan then asked about how united Labour was on the path to take on water reforms.

She pointed out to Luxton that there's friction within the Labour caucus “on a bunch of things where you guys are pulling at each other and trying to figure out where the policy position is”.

“Is Rachel Brooking (Labour environment spokesperson) in agreement with you or is she with David Parker?

Luxton replied that Brooking agreed with her.

“Actually, she's spent the last three years getting out on the farm as well: getting to understand the intricacies that are involved in the farming sector.”

Ironically, New Zealand First and the Greens found themselves on the same side of the debate on this issue.

NZ First MP Mark Patterson told about 300 farmers at the event that the NZ/India FTA was not a game changer.

“There’s no beef, no dairy, lamb is a tight deal and the tariff on wool is like 2%,” he says.

Pressed by debate host Heather du Plessis-Allan that India was one of the largest export markets in the world and have a growing middle class, Patterson says the FTA was “a pretty tight deal”.

He claimed under the FTA, New Zealand would provide uncapped student coming in with work rights.

He also claimed NZ had signed up to invest $35 billion into the Indian economy.

“If it was a free trade deal, we would have been all over it. But look at what we've had to trade off here.

“This is a massive trade off of actually very small gains.”

Green MP Steve Abel also chimed in, questioning why NZ got the China FTA across the line without investing $38b.

“We don't have a foreign direct investment clause in any other trade deal.

“I would say this is probably the worst trade deal ever negotiated.”

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay, who is credited with negotiating the deal with his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal jumped in to defend the FTA.

McClay reminded the audience that India has 1.4 billion people compared to five million in New Zealand.

He says the Indian FTA “is a better deal than most any other country that has signed an FTA with us.

“It's not perfect.  We didn't get enough dairy.

“But for most other sectors, you will have an opportunity to go out there and beat the Australians and the level playing field will be better.”

McClay says he has a lot of respect for Patterson and NZ First leader Winston Peters.

“He's a very, very long-time family friend of mine. It's a good deal: it’s time to move on.”

Fish & Game New Zealand chief operating officer Richie Cosgrove said trout in many waterways hadn't been fished for months.

"There is every reason to be excited, and plenty of opportunity to get out on the water," Cosgrove said.

Cosgrove said fishing offered benefits well beyond the catch itself.

"Fishing is great for body and mind. It is hard to dwell on your worries when your attention is on a trout at the end of the line. It is also a great way to spend time with whanau and friends, get some wild kai on the table, teach kids new skills, and pass on a love of the outdoors."

He said the sport remains accessible regardless of budget. "You do not need the latest and greatest gear to enjoy fishing. With a licence and some basic equipment, you can easily get started without spending a fortune."

Cosgrove encouraged families to make the most of the school holidays, pointing out that many regions have kid-friendly fishing spots within walking or biking distance of main centres.

Children under 12 can fish for free, though they still need a licence. Anglers aged 12 to 17 can buy a whole season licence for $31.

Fish & Game has launched a new Fishing Knowledge Hub, an online resource bringing together guides on where to fish, choosing gear, reading the water, and techniques spanning spin, fly and boat fishing, along with advice on preparing a catch for the table and a growing library of how-to videos.

"Whether you are picking up a rod for the first time or you have fished our rivers and lakes for years, the Hub has something for you," Cosgrove said. "It is everything you need for freshwater fishing in New Zealand, all in one place."

Cosgrove noted New Zealand ranks among the world's best trout fishing destinations. "It is world-class fishing, and it is right on our doorstep. We look forward to seeing people out on the water this season."

Whole season licences are available online and from accredited sports shops and other outlets, with licences and the Fishing Knowledge Hub both accessible at fishandgame.org.nz.

The council had been considering the option to deal with more than 20,000 cubic metres of sludge stored in geobags and at the bottom of aeration ponds at the Cromwell wastewater treatment plant.

Councillors instead chose to continue trucking the sludge to a landfill in Winton, the disposal method used previously.

Federated Farmers Otago president Anna Gillespie welcomed the outcome.

"It's heartening that councillors have heeded the anger and strong warnings from rural residents in Lauder and the wider Manuherekia catchment," Gillespie said.

"The understandable motivation was to save ratepayers' money in these tough times, but that cannot be at the expense of the environment and water quality in a sensitive catchment."

Gillespie said Mayor Tamah Alley and Deputy Mayor Tracy Paterson had acknowledged during the process that rural residents shouldn't be expected to bear the impact of waste generated in urban areas.

Council officers had warned of potential rural community fightback and possible delays to urgent work needed at both the Cromwell and Alexandra treatment plants if a decision was delayed. But new information emerged suggesting the existing Lauder consent might only cover about half of what CODC needed to dispose of, while the projected ratepayer savings from using Lauder narrowed from an initial $600,000 estimate to $182,000.

Gillespie said Federated Farmers had questioned the science and modelling behind the original consent allowing sludge from Wānaka and Albert Town to be spread at the former sheep and beef farm at Lauder since it was first granted.

"The prospect of more sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra was truly alarming," she said.

She said Otago Regional Council (ORC) was now reviewing the conditions of that original consent in light of concerns Federated Farmers had raised.

"It's pleasing to learn that Otago Regional Council is now reviewing those consent conditions in light of the points we've been making."

The state-owned enterprise, described as New Zealand's largest farming business, paid a $25 million dividend to its shareholder and delivered a total shareholder return of 11.4 percent for the year, a measure the company says reflects both financial performance and broader value creation.

Strategic Priorities

The report outlines progress across a range of strategic priorities, including climate adaptation, Farm Environment Plans, workforce development, technology adoption and innovation partnerships.

Pāmu said these priorities reflect the findings of a recent materiality assessment, which identified the value the company provides in testing, demonstrating and sharing new farming approaches that benefit the wider sector, beyond its own operations.

"Spillover Benefits" for the Wider Sector

Pāmu Chief Executive Mark Leslie said stakeholders recognised the role Pāmu can play in helping the broader primary sector address shared challenges and opportunities.

"As a state-owned enterprise, we have an opportunity to create spillover benefits that extend well beyond our own farms," Leslie said.

The report cites technology partnerships, genetics programmes, environmental initiatives and other innovations as examples of work aimed at improving productivity, sustainability and resilience across New Zealand agriculture.

The result marks a significant improvement in profitability year-on-year, though the report frames the outcome as more than a financial story — pointing to Pāmu's dual role as a commercial farming business and a state-owned entity expected to generate wider benefits for the sector, including in environmental practice and innovation.

New Zealand's red meat and fifth-quarter exports were worth $867 million in August, up 23 percent on the same month last year, according to data released by the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

The figures were released to coincide with the annual Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington on 29 September.

Sheepmeat: UK Surges, China Up Sharply

Sheepmeat exports totalled $309 million in August, 20 percent higher than the same month last year.

China rose 46 percent to $71 million, while the United Kingdom jumped 118 percent to $54 million, making it the third-largest sheepmeat market by value for the month.

Beef: US Remains Top Market, Canada Surges

Beef exports rose 26 percent in value to $403 million.

The United States remained the leading market at $155 million, up 30 percent. China increased 12 percent to $79 million, and Canada rose 55 percent to $18 million.

Fifth-quarter exports were worth $156 million, up 13 percent.

A Strong but Volatile Picture

MIA chief executive Nick Beeby said the result reflected improved international returns rather than simply higher volumes.

"A 23 per cent lift in export value is a strong result. Export volumes have also increased compared with August last year, but the more significant movement is in value, reflecting improved returns from international markets," Beeby said.

"The breadth of the result is encouraging, with export values higher across all major markets and gains for both sheepmeat and beef in China."

He cautioned against reading too much into a single month's figures. "One month's data should be viewed in context, given the global volatility and cost-of-living pressures that may push some consumers towards lower-value proteins."

Beeby said August's result builds on a record 2025/26 financial year (ending 30 June), in which red meat and fifth-quarter exports were worth $13.1 billion — 21 percent higher than 2024/25.

"Doing More With Less"

Beeby described the sector as a New Zealand success story in extracting more value from a smaller national livestock base, driven by higher global prices, strong demand for premium cuts and a continued shift toward processed, chilled and frozen products.

"Around 97 per cent of exported product is now high-value chilled or frozen cuts, supported by valuable co-products and a diversified global trading network. Frozen carcasses now account for just three per cent of trade," he said.

"This reflects the sector's focus on capturing more value from every animal and delivering products that meet the needs of customers around the world."

Applications open on 1 October and close on 31 October 2026 at 11.59pm NZT.

The Award is open to New Zealand and Australian residents aged 21 to 35 who are actively engaged in the primary sector, with one winner selected from each country each year.

What Winners Receive

Winners receive a $10,000 education package alongside a bespoke programme of mentoring and professional development, including access to influential figures across farming, agribusiness and beyond.

All travel and accommodation for mentoring trips is covered, with flights sometimes taken by private plane to reach remote and diverse locations across both countries.

Finalists also join the Zanda Alumni, a network offering ongoing support and learning opportunities.

"It's Changed My Life"

2026 New Zealand winner Karn Dhaliwal, from the Waikato and founder of Ohinewai Harvest Ltd and Dhaliwal Ag Ltd, has just returned from mentoring trips around Australia and New Zealand as part of his prize.

"The Zanda McDonald Award is unique. There is nothing out there like it, and it's changed my life," Dhaliwal said.

"The biggest thing is the connections I've made and the people I've been fortunate to have around me. It's already opened up areas I hadn't even thought about, and I've only just started on my journey."

Why the Award Stands Out

Zanda McDonald Award Chair Shane McManaway MNZM said the Award's trans-Tasman focus and bespoke, personalised approach set it apart.

"We're excited to discover the next generation of passionate young Kiwis and Aussies who are poised to make a difference in agriculture," McManaway said.

"This Award is designed to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. Winners will engage with some of the top trans-Tasman agricultural operators, gaining invaluable insights and leadership skills that are truly transformative."

A Track Record of Career Acceleration

Organisers say the Award has built a reputation not just for honouring talent but for accelerating it, with past winners and finalists describing the experience as career-defining, enlightening and personally transformative.

Young people in farming, agribusiness or related primary sector careers looking for their next step are encouraged to apply before the 31 October deadline.

The two organisations say strengthening the rural GP workforce is one of the most effective ways to improve access to care and reduce long-standing health inequities, which they say fall hardest on rural Māori.

College President Dr Luke Bradford said rural GPs are highly skilled generalists working across a broad scope of practice.

"We know rural communities experience poorer health outcomes and greater barriers to accessing healthcare. Strengthening the rural GP workforce is one of the most effective ways to improve access, reduce inequities and ensure people receive the care they need, when they need it," he said.

"This is not simply a workforce issue. It is about ensuring rural New Zealanders have equitable access to high-quality healthcare."

A review published in the New Zealand Medical Journal draws together three decades of New Zealand research on rural medicine.

According to the College, it identifies repeated calls over that period for rural-specific postgraduate training and points to the role dedicated training pathways can play in supporting rural medical careers.

In response, the College has developed GP Rural, a proposed postgraduate pathway sitting within its existing General Practice Education Programme.

The pathway is intended to give registrars sustained preparation for rural practice and to support broader rural medical career development as rural health services change.

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network Chief Executive Dr Grant Davidson said the network already invests in encouraging young people into health careers, but doctors working at the top of their scope in rural areas need specific training.

"A dedicated Rural GP Training Pathway would give them the skills, experience and confidence they need to build sustainable careers in rural communities," he said. "Rural communities cannot afford to wait for the workforce gap to grow further."

College Chief Executive Toby Beaglehole described GP Rural as a practical opportunity to support the future workforce.

"GP Rural would prepare doctors for the realities of rural practice and support more of them to build long-term careers in rural communities," he said.

"Workforce shortages cannot be solved overnight. Long-term progress requires sustained commitment and collaboration across the health system."

The College and Hauora Taiwhenua are encouraging continued investment in rural medical workforce development, saying GP Rural could make a meaningful contribution alongside a more integrated approach to rural medical training and career development.

CODC will decide at a meeting this week whether to send thousands of cubic metres of accumulated sludge to the Manuherekia catchment. Council staff have recommended the option, saying it could save ratepayers about $600,000 compared with trucking the waste to a landfill in Winton.

Federated Farmers Otago president Anna Gillespie said the proposal follows closely on the heels of a non-notified consent granted to Queenstown Lakes District Council to spread Wānaka and Albert Town's sludge on a former sheep and beef farm in Lauder.

"It's absolutely staggering that the council is even discussing this after the recent outcry over Wānaka trucking its treated excrement to a Lauder farm," Gillespie said.

What's Driving The Proposal

According to the council report, sludge from the Cromwell treatment plant has been stored in geobags — porous containers that let the material dry out before transport.

The council says it is running out of storage space, and a further 20,000 cubic metres of sludge from wastewater settlement ponds needs to be shifted urgently or the plant risks breaching its own consent.

Sludge from the Alexandra plant also needs a destination.

Farmers' Concerns

Gillespie said the Manuherekia catchment has been the focus of years of work by local farmers to improve water quality, backed by more than $4 million in central government Jobs for Nature funding through the Thomson's catchment project and Waiora Manuherekia.

She questioned modelling used to support the Lauder consent, arguing the farm's gravelly, low-rainfall soils cannot realistically grow enough crops to absorb the nutrients in the volume of sludge proposed.

"There is a serious mismatch between those estimations and what the consent allows," she said.

The Existing Lauder Consent

The Wānaka-related consent, granted without a public hearing on the basis its effects would be "no more than minor," allows up to 2000 cubic metres of sewage sludge and a further 3600 cubic metres of grease trap, mud tank and winery wastewater to be spread across 178 hectares at Lauder.

The same consent permits CODC to use it too, via contractor SJ Allen Ltd.

What Federated Farmers Wants

Gillespie said the group wants the existing Lauder consent re-investigated and is renewing its call for Local Government Minister Simon Watts to intervene.

"We're calling on Central Otago District councillors to kick this short-sighted plan to touch," she said.

Richard Snell was elected to the LIC Board as the North Island representative. Shareholders also ratified the re-appointment of Sophie Haslem as an Appointed Director for a further three-year term.

Snell is an independent farm consultant based in the Waikato, with dairy farming interests spanning the Waikato and King Country. He brings extensive dairy sector experience from both New Zealand and overseas, with a particular focus on science-led decision-making and the co-operative model.

Alongside the Board result, shareholders elected Todd Halliday, Kevin Argyle, Clarence Stolte, Linda Rollinson and Enda Hawe to represent shareholders across the Upper North Island, Lower North Island and Upper South Island territories. Carlos Cuadrado has also joined the SRG, appointed by the group itself as an Appointed Member.

Board Chair Thanks Shareholders and Candidates

LIC Board Chair Corrigan Sowman thanked shareholders who took part in this year's voting and welcomed the incoming representatives.

"I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote and have their say. Farmer ownership is at the heart of LIC, and our shareholders have a genuine voice in who represents them and the future of their co-operative," Sowman said.

"I'd also like to thank everyone who put their name forward. Standing for election is a significant commitment, and we're fortunate to have farmers willing to contribute their time and experience to LIC."

"We're pleased to welcome Richard to the Board and our new members to the SRG. They bring valuable experience and farmer perspectives to LIC, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to deliver for our shareholders and the wider dairy sector."

Farewells to Outgoing Representatives

Sowman also acknowledged retiring Director Duncan Coull, thanking him for his significant contribution to LIC and its shareholders.

"Duncan has been a strong advocate for our farmer shareholders and has brought considerable farming experience and insight to the Board. We're incredibly grateful for the commitment, perspective and leadership he has given LIC during his time as a Director, and we wish him all the best for what comes next," Sowman said.

He also thanked departing SRG members Aleisha Broomfield, Phil Lowe and Dan Joho for the role they played representing shareholder interests and maintaining a strong connection between the co-operative and its farmers.

Financial Performance for 2025/26

The Annual Meeting also reflected on LIC's financial performance and its continued focus on investing for long-term, on-farm value. For the 2025/26 financial year, LIC delivered:

• Underlying earnings of $21.8 million
• A 7.2% return on capital
• Revenue growth of 6.7%
• A dividend declared at 80% of underlying earnings
• A strong balance sheet, with no term debt

Sowman said the co-operative's financial strength allows it to invest with a longer-term view, with the benefits of those decisions often only showing up on farm many years later.

"As a co-operative, we have the ability to invest in things that no individual farmer could or would choose to do alone. That means looking beyond the next few quarters and making decisions that will continue creating value for farmers well into the future," he said.

LIC's Board comprises six farmer-elected Directors and up to four Appointed Directors. The Shareholder Reference Group is an elected and appointed body of shareholders established to promote shareholder interests and help LIC deliver on its purpose and vision.

The Rural Co-ordination Group (RCG) met this week to assess conditions across the region and coordinate support for affected farming communities.

The group brings together Rural Support Trust Southland & Otago, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Environment Southland, Federated Farmers, Thriving Southland, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ.

Southland Rural Support Trust Chair Simon Hopcroft said the group's focus centers on four priorities: people, animals, feed and property.

"The sustained wet weather is taking a real toll across parts of Southland and South Otago. Every farm is different, but many farmers and their teams are dealing with added pressure, difficult decisions and long days," Hopcroft said.

"Our message is simple: you do not have to carry this alone. Talk with your neighbours, trusted advisers, veterinarian, bank, industry organisation or the Rural Support Trust. Reaching out early can help identify practical options and risks before the pressure builds further."

Practical Steps Farmers Can Take Now

The RCG has outlined a set of practical actions for farmers to consider in the current conditions:

• Review feed budgets and plan several weeks ahead for supplementary feed needs.
• Act early on feed purchases and delivery arrangements, particularly where transport or contractor availability may become tighter.
• Monitor stock condition and animal welfare closely, and seek advice promptly if concerns arise.
• Keep assessing pasture damage, access points and critical farm infrastructure.
• Check in regularly with staff, family and neighbours, and share the workload where possible.
• Ask for support early if the situation is becoming difficult to manage.

Feed Supply: Available, But Tightening

The RCG's current understanding is that supplementary feed remains available, although silage supply is very tight, and transport and logistics networks are under increasing pressure.

Farmers who anticipate needing additional feed are encouraged to plan early, rather than waiting until supplies or delivery options become more constrained.

The Toll Beyond the Farm

Hopcroft acknowledged that prolonged difficult conditions can affect farmers physically and mentally, not just their operations.

"Looking after yourself and your people is just as important as looking after the farm. Keep checking in with each other, and if things are feeling overwhelming, talk to someone you trust or contact the Rural Support Trust," he said.

Community Events and Coordinated Support

Stakeholder organisations are planning farmer support and wellbeing events across the region, giving farmers opportunities to access practical information, hear from rural professionals and connect with others facing similar conditions.

Organisations running these activities are being encouraged to register them on the Rural Support Trust Southland & Otago events calendar, so support can be coordinated and spread across communities rather than clustered.

The RCG is also keeping government Ministers and agencies informed, so decision-makers have an up-to-date picture of the challenges facing rural communities in Southland and South Otago.

A Community Response

Hopcroft pointed to the wider community response as a strength of the current situation.

"We are seeing neighbours helping neighbours, rural professionals stepping up and organisations working together to get support where it is needed," he said.

"Southland and Otago farmers are resilient, but resilience does not mean managing everything on your own. Support is available, and we encourage farmers to make use of it."

Ravensdown chair Bruce Wills says this year's election generated a strong level of interest among shareholders, with more than 21% of the co-operative's transacting shareholders voting.

"Both Jane and Kate bring strong governance experience and a deep understanding of New Zealand agriculture and the challenges and opportunities we face," Wills says.

Jane Montgomery Re-Elected for Third Term

Montgomery, re-elected to the board for a third term, has extensive hands-on farming experience across several sectors. She co-owns a dairy grazing and horticulture property in North Canterbury and, with her husband, operates a sheep and beef farm in South Otago along with a value-added farm product business.

Montgomery has served on the Ravensdown Board for six years, contributing to the co-operative's governance through a period of significant market and supply-chain challenges. She sits on the Board's Audit and Risk Committee and Appointments and Remuneration Committee, and chairs a Special Project Working Group.

She is also Chair of Future of Fibre Aotearoa and has previously held governance roles with the J R McKenzie Trust and AgResearch, where she served as an Associate Director.

Kate Acland Elected to the Board

Newly elected to the Ravensdown Board, Kate Acland is a farmer, business owner and experienced director. Together with her husband David and their family, she owns and operates Mt Somers Station, a diversified 3,800-hectare Mid Canterbury farming business spanning sheep, beef, dairy and honey.

Acland also founded Sugar Loaf Wines, a Marlborough vineyard, winery and export business supplying 22 international markets.

She currently chairs Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board, and is a director of the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand. She previously served as a director of farmer supply co-operative Ashburton Trading Society, trading as Ruralco.

Outgoing Director Mike Davey Farewelled

Wills paid tribute to outgoing director Mike Davey, who chose not to seek re-election at the end of his term.

"Mike has made a significant contribution over many years, both to Ravensdown and to the wider fertiliser industry," Wills says. "During his five years on the Ravensdown Board, his deep industry knowledge, passion for the co-operative and thoughtful approach to governance have been greatly valued."

"On behalf of the Board, I thank Mike for his long-standing service and commitment and wish him all the very best for the future."

Wills also thanked Stuart Taylor for standing in this year's election.

"Throughout the election period, it was heartening to witness such a high calibre of candidates express their interest in the performance and direction of Ravensdown," Wills says.

As a standing director, Montgomery is automatically reappointed to the board. Acland will take up office following Ravensdown's 2026 Annual Meeting, at 1pm on Thursday.

Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper described the legislation as a major milestone not just for farmers, but for New Zealand more broadly.

"We've been pushing hard for RMA reform because the status quo has simply not been good enough," Hooper says.

He says the RMA, in place for more than 30 years, had made it increasingly difficult and expensive for productive New Zealanders to grow the economy. Farmers, he says, had spent too much time and money navigating a system that was unnecessarily complex and uncertain, even for basic activities such as building a shed or water storage.

Hooper says councils and communities had also been left managing layers of bureaucratic planning rules and processes under the current system.

"This marks the end of that era and the beginning of an opportunity to do things differently," he says.

Legislation Passed Before Election, as Federated Farmers Urged

Federated Farmers had repeatedly called on the Government to pass RMA reform before the November general election.

"We've been clear that getting this legislation passed before the election was important, and the Government has delivered on that," Hooper says.

He says the country now had "a clean slate" and the opportunity to build a planning system that is simpler, more predictable, and focused on outcomes rather than red tape.

"These two new laws mark a fundamental shift in the way New Zealand manages its natural resources," Hooper says. "Finally, we can restore some commonsense to the whole system and make it easier for farmers – and all New Zealanders – to get things done."

Certainty Needed for Long-Term Investment

Hooper says a better resource management system was critical to New Zealand's ability to grow and invest. He says farmers need to be able to make long-term business decisions without uncertainty over future planning rules, consent requirements or council processes.

He says that certainty matters when farmers are deciding whether to invest in infrastructure, improve environmental outcomes, expand production, develop irrigation, or make other long-term investments in their farms.

More broadly, Hooper says New Zealand needs to build houses, infrastructure and businesses, generate energy and grow its productive economy — and a planning system that adds unnecessary delay, cost and uncertainty makes that harder than it needs to be.

Focus Now Shifts to Implementation

While calling the legislation's passage a major step in the right direction, Hooper says the focus must now turn to ensuring the new system works as intended in practice.

"We'll be watching that closely and continuing to advocate for a system that delivers certainty for farmers while achieving the environmental outcomes New Zealand needs," he says.

Hooper says there was still some way to go before the new system is fully operational, but says there were steps the Government could take to speed up the benefits of the reform. He pointed to Federated Farmers' request for 10 new national standards that would make basic farming activities permitted activities.

The debate has been organised jointly by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), DairyNZ and Federated Farmers, and will be moderated by radio host and columnist Heather du Plessis-Allan.

The panel will feature:

• Todd McClay — National
• Jo Luxton — Labour
• Andrew Hoggard — ACT
• Mark Patterson — New Zealand First
• Steve Abel — Green Party

Organisers say the event will be one of the few opportunities to hear directly from all major parties on their vision and plans for rural New Zealand ahead of the general election on 7 November.

B+LNZ: Farmers Need Certainty, Not Policy Swings

B+LNZ chair Kate Acland says the debate provides an opportunity to shine a light on the issues affecting rural New Zealanders.

"We need predictability and certainty to help navigate the turbulent environment that we operate in, not policy swings," Acland says. She says B+LNZ was pleased with progress on reforming the Resource Management Act and on climate change policy, and looked forward to continuing that work with the incoming Government.

Acland says that alongside the priorities outlined in B+LNZ's 2026 Election Manifesto, the organisation wants the next Government to focus on safeguarding and improving market access, and managing supply chain disruptions, to support sheep and beef farmers and red meat exporters through global volatility.

Federated Farmers: "Farmers Don't Need More Promises"

Federated Farmers national president Colin Hurst says farmers need certainty about what the next Government will actually do, rather than further promises.

"This debate is a great chance for politicians to front up to rural New Zealand and explain how their policies will affect the people who feed the country and drive a big part of our economy," Hurst says.

He says farmers would be listening closely to what each party has to say, and expressed hope that politicians would arrive with real detail on what their parties will do, what it will cost, and how it will affect rural businesses.

DairyNZ: Farmers Need Confidence to Invest

DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says the agricultural sector is a major contributor to the economy and rural communities, and that farmers need confidence to invest for the future.

"When farming succeeds, rural communities thrive and New Zealand benefits through stronger exports, jobs and economic growth," Brown says.

Brown says DairyNZ's election priorities call for practical regulation, a strong focus on science and innovation, and policies that enable productivity growth while continuing environmental progress. She says the debate gives farmers a chance to hear how each party would support those outcomes if elected.

With the general election set for 7 November, the Rural Issues Debate is shaping up as a key moment for rural voters to compare the parties' positions on resource management reform, climate policy, market access, regulation and rural investment — all directly ahead of election day.

However, they caution that the real test will lie in detailed rules that are yet to be written.

A Step Forward From the RMA

Kate Acland, B+LNZ chair, says the current Resource Management Act has become too complex and expensive for farmers, communities and councils to navigate.

The new legislation, she says, creates a room for a simpler, faster and more practical approach to decision-making.

"This replacement legislation is an improvement and creates an opportunity for simpler, faster and more practical decision-making," Acland says.

B+LNZ was directly involved in the Government's reform process, pushing for a workable alternative to the RMA throughout.

One change singled out as a win for the sector is the stronger recognition given to food and fibre production within the new framework — a shift Acland describes as a positive change for sheep and beef farmers specifically.

The Real Work Starts After the Election

Passing the two Bills is only the first stage of reform. According to B+LNZ, the practical, on-farm impact will hinge on a raft of secondary instruments yet to be developed: national direction, National Standards, regulations and regional plans.

That work won't begin until after the general election, and it's this next phase that will determine:

• What farmers can do as a permitted activity
• What triggers a resource consent
• What compliance obligations apply on-farm

B+LNZ says it will keep engaging with the Government and officials as these secondary instruments are developed, to help shape how the new system actually functions in practice.

Concerns Remain Over Freshwater Farm Plans

Despite the broadly positive response, B+LNZ has flagged ongoing concern about how Freshwater Farm Plans will be implemented for low-risk properties.

Acland points out that most extensive sheep and beef farms fall into the low-risk category, and argues the rules need to reflect that reality through proportionate requirements — rather than imposing costs or compliance work that doesn't match the actual environmental risk.

"Farmers need a system that rewards practical environmental improvements, rather than creating unnecessary duplication, cost or compliance burdens," she says.

B+LNZ has set out a clear benchmark for judging the reform's success. For sheep and beef farmers, that means:

• Clear, nationally consistent rules wherever possible
• Fewer unnecessary resource consents
• Lower compliance costs
• Recognition of the practical realities of running a farming business
• Continued, measurable environmental improvement

The sector, valued at $1.2 billion, plays a significant role in New Zealand's food and farming sector, with export earnings growing at over twice the rate of the wider food and fibre industry.

The Organic Scorecard, live on the OANZ website, will be updated during the election campaign as parties announce policies.

OANZ says the scorecard reflects political parties' responses to seven questions the organisation put to them.

Brendan Hoare, OANZ advisor, says the organisation is serious about the opportunity organics presents New Zealand and wants to know where political parties stand with respect to policies supporting the sector.

"The scorecard will help the estimated 120,000 organic voters make a decision in our up-and-coming election on 7 November 2026," Hoare says.

“Beyond those voters connected to the sector, we know a great many more Kiwis want a strong organic sector and to support policies that enable the benefits of organics to grow and flourish,” says Hoare. “This scorecard is designed to help inform their decision.”

The organic sector is poised to evolve and expand. It has its own Organic Act, an agreed sector-wide growth strategy, a world-first Associate Minister of Organic, and 9% growth across multiple food categories in both domestic and export markets.

“There is absolutely no reason for political parties not to get behind and support us,” says Hoare.

"We now need political and policy support to realise our ambition. The good news is that through our enquiry, we see areas where political parties are supportive, and areas where they can do better. This is great news, and by sharing our scorecard, the public can vote for an organic future.”

The acquisition lifts Egmont Honey's combined hive count to more than 22,000 across its Taranaki and Taihape operations heading into the 2026/27 season — a scale that likely makes it the largest beekeeping operation in the country.

The deal lands at a pivotal moment for the industry. Registered hive numbers across New Zealand have fallen sharply, from a peak of 918,000 in 2019 to under 490,000 now — a decline of close to half. At the same time, raw Manuka honey prices have started climbing again after a prolonged downturn.

Egmont Honey CEO and founder James Annabell says the timing of the acquisition reflects a broader shift in the market.

"Timing is everything," Annabell says. "Supply is tightening across the industry at exactly the point demand for genuine New Zealand Manuka is recovering. This is a key strategic acquisition that lets us supply our global retail partners sustainably and at scale, well into the future."

Tweeddale's has operated in the central North Island since 1945, and is well known in the industry for its distinctive green hives. The business was placed into receivership in March 2026. As part of the acquisition, Egmont Honey has retained Tweeddale's field beekeeping team, along with three members of

the Tweeddale family.

Annabell was clear that the acquisition won't alter how Egmont Honey works with its existing network of beekeeper suppliers.

"Our beekeeper suppliers are the backbone of this business," he says. "Tweeddale's hives cover only a portion of what we need each season, and they were already our largest supplier. This is about securing supply we already depended on, not replacing the people who built this company with us."

Annabell also paid tribute to the family behind the business.

"Don has built an extraordinary legacy over a lifetime in the industry, and that knowledge is not something you can buy or replace," he says. "Long may the Tweeddale legacy in the Central North Island continue, now under Egmont Honey's leadership and backed by our global network."

Egmont Honey exports Manuka honey to retailers across Asia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, giving the enlarged beekeeping operation a substantial international customer base to supply from its expanded hive network.

Earlier this month, Westpac's Economics team published detailed research into the likely impacts of El Niño across northern and eastern parts of New Zealand.

Based on past severe drought events, the research points to a potential 1% hit to GDP if conditions play out similarly this time.

Don't Assume The Worst - But Plan Now

Westpac NZ Head of Agribusiness Richard Anderson says farmers and growers shouldn't assume the worst outcome is guaranteed, but should use the time now to build flexibility into their operations.

"Every farming and growing operation is different, so now is the time to think about what El Niño could mean for your business and what steps you can take to manage the risks," Anderson says.

Anderson stresses that good financial planning deserves the same attention as operational planning. That means updating budgets, monitoring forecasts regularly, and being ready to adjust as conditions change.

He notes that while some farms may face higher costs from additional feed purchases or irrigation expenses, others could choose to sell stock earlier than planned to bring forward revenue and ease financial pressure.

Learning From Past El Niño Events

Anderson recommends farmers use their own history with the land as a guide.

Long-term property owners should reflect on what worked and what didn't during previous El Niño events, while newer owners are encouraged to talk to previous owners where possible.

"That local knowledge can be invaluable when preparing for dry conditions," he says.

Practical Steps For Farmers and Growers

Westpac has outlined a set of practical considerations for the season ahead:

• Livestock farmers should prioritise a reliable water supply and secure feed availability.
• Farmers should assess the condition and capacity of dams, troughs and reticulation systems, and review supplementary feed supplies such as baleage, silage and hay.
• Some may want to secure additional feed supplies or lock in contracts and prices before demand rises.
• Farmers with trade livestock could set trigger points for selling stock earlier if feed supplies come under pressure.
• Growers of fruit, grain and horticultural crops may benefit from warmer conditions, but should check irrigation systems for leaks, repair valves or pumps, and maintain storage tanks.
• Farmers and growers should also factor in any potential water restrictions in their area.

Farmers Are In Strong Financial Shape

Despite the drought risk, Anderson says most farmers and growers are well placed financially to cope with a dry summer.

"Arguably the industry is in the best position it's ever been to face into El Niño, thanks to generally low debt levels and high commodity prices," he says. However, he flags rising on-farm inflation — driven by higher fuel and fertiliser costs — as a concern for many customers Westpac has spoken with.

"This is where keeping a close eye on your budget and cash forecasts is key. Make sure you have enough cash on hand, keep an eye on markets for demand and price trends, and be prepared to change your approach as weather forecasts change."

Talk To Your Bank Early

Anderson's closing advice is straightforward: farmers concerned about how El Niño could affect their business should talk to their bank early.

"The sooner we understand your plans and challenges, the better positioned we are to support you," he says, adding that Westpac's agri bankers are embedded in rural communities and ready to work alongside farmers as they prepare.

Configured with a 1200mm flexible hose, a maximum flow rate of 350ml/min, alongside maximum operating pressure of 69Pa and an air lock detection function, Makita claims that it can increase efficiency by as much as 175% at 40MPa when compared to the existing 18v model. In addition, a fixed quantity discharge function simplifies applying the required volume of grease.

Discharge volume can be adjusted with a simple trigger pull, while continuous greasing is simplified by locking the trigger, which also helps to prevent accidental operation. Bulk grease is directly loadable into the gun’s barrel.

Compared to its predecessors, a redesigned lower housing features a wider opening to simplify changes to the bellows cartridge, while ease of use is achieved with twin, LED job lights and a shoulder strap.

Suitable for use with the firm’s BL4080H, BL4020 and BL4080F batteries, accessories include a three-piece adapter set, a loader fitting, adapter, joint and flexible hose set.

www.makita.co.nz

Manufacturers are reporting that potential purchasers are now paying much greater attention to fuel consumption figures, which in many cases also must take account of the addition of secondary Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), most commonly referred to as AdBlue.

Fendt’s 832 Vario recently evaluated in the DLG PowerMix test averaged a fuel consumption figure of just 235g/kWh of diesel and 29g/kWh of AdBlue in the field, which sets a record for tractors up to 350ps tested in the DLG PowerMix test to date. In addition, the 832 also fared well in for transport efficiency, achieving a best-in-class figure of 331g/kWh of diesel and 36g/kWh of AdBlue at 60km/h, in the large tractor class of over 305ps.

 The DLG (German Agricultural Society) introduced the PowerMix test back in 2005 as a response to criticism of existing OECD tractor tests. That criticism stemmed from the fact that OECD tests measured tractors’ features under fixed, laboratory conditions that did not accurately reflect farm work. Indeed, it was suggested that many tractors submitted for testing were “tweaked” to suit the static testing.

This led to the development of the PowerMix test, which uses 14 different test cycles that simulate typical agricultural jobs by combining drawbar work including ploughing and cultivation, PTO work such as mowing or baling, hydraulic demand and transport operations. These standards apply more realistic fuel consumption and efficiency in everyday farming.

The Fendt 832 Vario is powered by a six-cylinder, 7.9L CORE80 engine (which was awarded the ‘Diesel of the Year 2026 Award’), developed by AGCO Power, delivering a maximum power output of 342PS (252kW). On the DLG test bench, it delivered a maximum power output of 232kW and maximum torque of 1553Nm at 1300rpm.

Fendt has credited the tractor’s performance in the DLG PowerMix test to the CORE80 engine, the VarioDrive CVT and the Fendt iD low-speed concept working together, while also noting that its smaller sibling, the Fendt 826 Vario, also achieved noteworthy scores in the DLG PowerMix test, clocking in at 239g/kWh of diesel and 29g/kWh of AdBlue, suggesting that efficiency is not just a feature of the top-of-the-range model, but applies to the entire series.

Visit www.fendt.com/au

Equally well known throughout the area as a one-stop shop for all things farm equipment is Motueka Farm Machinery, operated by George and Dee Sturgeon.

After 44 years in business and one of the pair hitting a birthday milestone that starts with a seven, the pair have decided to hang up the overalls and switch off the computer, put their feet up and take things a little easier.

From September 1, the newly formed Motueka Farm Machinery 2026 is operating from the existing site, ensuring the long-term association with local farmers, growers and orchardists will continue.

The new business is owned by industry stalwart Gayne Carroll who operates specialised importer AGTEK, which focuses on orchard, viticulture and horticulture, alongside retailer BOP Tractors, both located in the Bay of Plenty town of Te Puke.

The new business will also keep its association with Motueka and the Sturgeon family, as George and Dee’s son, Brad, who has worked in the business for more than 22 years, will also be a shareholder.

Gayne Carroll says, “The Mot Farm Machinery story is one about a great Kiwi family, that 44 years ago saw George operating out of the back of a van, then setting down roots in a premises to serve the Upper South Island and West Coast.”

Carroll says his connection with the business dates to the mid-1990s when Mot Farm became the second dealer in NZ to become a Landin dealer.

“Over those thirty plus years, George and Dee became valued customers, but more importantly great friends, who went on to sell more than 600 tractors and countless pieces of machinery in the area.”

Motueka Farm Machinery 2026 will operate from the same King Edward Street site, led by Brad, who will oversee branch and service management, supported by a team of mechanics, parts and administrative staff and supported by head office in Te Puke.

“MFM 2026 allows us to set down some roots in the South Island, continuing the great work of George and Dee, while also bringing with us, unrivalled and extensive knowledge of the Landini and McCormick brands, having been the importer and distributor between 2011 and 2024. We are still able to offer genuine parts and service support for those brands, while at the same time, offering existing customers, access to existing and emerging brands such as Goldoni, TYM and Basak,” says Carroll.

These prime movers will be complemented by a wide portfolio of machinery brands including, Orizzonti mulchers, Dondi ditchers, Faza spreaders, Goppel front linkages, Special Cabs, Zago mixer wagons and Segway ATV / UTVs. They will also stock a wide range of NZ-manufactured implements and all the usual machinery implements.

“We wish George and Dee a well-deserved retirement, although I’m sure they will stay involved with the Sturgeon Amusement business that is a staple of local A&P shows throughout the South Island,” says Carroll.

“In the meanwhile, we look forward to a continuing relationship with the region’s farmers, growers and orchardists and welcoming new customers through our doors.”

www.motfarm.co.nz

Following the success of the 2026 Defender HD11, Can-Am is bringing the same innovation, comfort and performance to its mid-horsepower offering, with the Defender HD10. Equipped with a new best-in-class 80-horsepower Rotax triple-cylinder engine, the second-generation HD10 lineup boasts quiet, hardworking power to knock out the toughest jobs.

In addition to its revamped powertrain, the new-generation HD10 also benefits from an updated chassis and suspension design, state-of-the-art technology and premium interior comfort, all while working harder and smarter than ever before. The Defender XU model is available with the second-generation Defenders (HD10 and HD11), with the exception of the mud specialist X mr package.

Inside the cab, the 2027 Defender offers an upgraded experience with a new 5-inch colour information display, while the Limited, X mr and Lonestar models offer a refined 10.25-inch wireless, touch display with an embedded navigation function, AM/FM radio, alongside digital audio for cleaner sound and customisable screen capabilities. The wireless display also allows owners to update their vehicle’s software remotely to access the latest features and improvements.

Having showcased the game-changing Can-Am Outlander Electric at National Fieldays in June, alongside the powerhouse of the Outlander 1000R, the Pro ATV lineup also receives notable upgrades for 2027. Factory-installed Can-Am accessories, including hand guards, fender flares, footwell protectors and a trailer hitch mount, offer practical benefits, as well as more connectivity packages.

The high-horsepower Outlander XT and Backcountry models are available with a 10.25-inch touch display infotainment system, offering a built-in GPS for access to offline mapping, while also offering convenient ride setting adjustments on the fly.

On the performance front, for 2027, all Maverick R models are equipped with the second-generation Rotax dual-clutch transmission, featuring an extra low gear for optimal power delivery in low-speed terrain and reinforced components to make the most of the additional torque. 

All 2027 Maverick R and Maverick X3 models are equipped with integrated window nets for better protection from the elements, while Maverick X3 models come equipped with door fillers for improved cabin sealing, Meanwhile the RS and DS variants receive a fully enclosed roof.

That’s from Colin Bond, the CEO of NZKGI, the organisation that represents kiwifruit growers. His comments come following another report of migrant exploitation. Reports say two migrant workers were forced to work up to 70 hours a week in Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchards for low or no pay, and one was made to hand back $1500 in cash under the guise of paying tax.

This was the latest in a series of incidents in the past year where migrant workers in the kiwifruit industry have been exploited.

Bond says they have seen such reports over the past years and his organisation has zero tolerance for such behaviour by employers. He says they would encourage anyone who is aware of any exploitation to report it to the authorities, and would in turn expect them to take action. But he admits in the case of immigrant workers, the situation is tricky because those affected may not be aware of NZ laws or are too afraid to report a problem.

According to Bond, the kiwifruit industry has 10,000 permanent employees and 24,000 seasonal workers at the peak of the season.

“Our hope is that every one of those workers gets treated well and gets a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and has a good experience working in the sector,” he says.

Bond says he’s confident that most employers in the sector are good and that staff are well treated.

Established in 2021, the awards champion the important contribution John Deere technicians make to New Zealand’s agriculture, construction and forestry industries, and honour the outstanding service and support highly skilled and committed technicians provide to John Deere customers.

The award winners were announced following initial nominations, online assessments and intensive, two-day testing program at John Deere’s Crestmead headquarters in Queensland, where 30 finalists from New Zealand and Australia completed a series of practical, diagnostic and technical challenges.

The New Zealand winners recognised at the 2026 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards were James Doherty, Drummond & Etheridge, Christchurch, who took out the New Zealand Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year Award, and Aaron Game of Brandt, Silverdale, who came away with the New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year Award.

Doherty was a farm kid from the South Island, who grew up in John Deere tractors and knew there was only one career path for him, leaving school in 2017 and heading straight to working with tractors.

“It’s all I ever wanted to do, and John Deere has always been the brand for me,” said Doherty. “I also feel like I’ve done really well for everyone who has helped me.”

The 26-year-old is renowned for his exceptional product knowledge and dedication to the job, with customers regularly asking for James specifically when they need technical support. He is committed to continually expanding his knowledge of the John Deere range and is proud of having the opportunity to work with test parts and at the forefront of the brand’s latest developments. He particularly enjoys working on the modern 8R Tractor and X9 Series Combine Harvester, but it is the 2850 (utility tractor) he has at home that has his heart.

Aaron Game said the first thing he thought of when claiming the title of 2026 New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year was being thankful to his customers at Brandt Silverdale for their support.

“We’ve got quite a number of large customers in our area, both agricultural and forestry and we’ve built pretty close bonds.”

The parts manager said he also enjoyed the great team culture with his colleagues at Silverdale. Parts, service and sales all work really well together and it’s very much like a family environment, he said.

“We all want the same thing. We all want success. We either succeed together or we fail alone.”

Aaron admits the role can be challenging, but “that’s what makes it fun”.

John Deere managing director Australia and New Zealand, Luke Chandler, said the calibre of this year’s winners spoke to the depth of capability across the John Deere dealer network, and the important role technicians and parts professionals play in keeping customers up and running.

John Deere Australia and New Zealand director, aftermarket and customer support, Steph Gersekowski, said the New Zealand finalists highlighted the diverse range of career pathways available to people pursuing technical careers through John Deere dealerships.

“Our finalists and winners show there is no single pathway to a rewarding career as a technician or parts professional in our industry and at John Deere,” Gersekowski said. “Whether they have come straight from school or made a career change later in life, they have embraced the opportunities that new technology is creating and have continued to build the skills needed to support customers in a fast-changing industry.”

Veterinarian and Zoetis veterinary advisor livestock, Victoria Chapman, says it’s more important than ever that farmers look after effective drenches, so they last into the future.

“We don’t know when the next drench will come and if it does, it won’t be a silver bullet. We need to be thinking now about managing parasites for drench longevity and better production,” she says.

“When we focus on parasite management, reducing reliance on drench and feeding stock better, it often results in improved production. This has been well demonstrated on farms that have hit a wall with drench resistance, particularly to triples, and have had to change their ways in order to keep farming sustainably.”

Feeding is a crucial element and good worm management goes hand-in-hand with better feeding, especially for youngstock, which are the parasite factories on farm.

There are three key factors to consider in parasite management planning heading into a new season: advance planning of the paddocks that lambs will be weaned on to, feeding and monitoring.

1. Plan your grazing carefully

Plan in advance the paddocks on your farm that lambs will be weaned on to. You do not want to be weaning lambs on to highly contaminated pasture. “A fat, single bearing mixed age ewe would have a lower faecal egg count than a skinny multiple bearing ewe, for example. So, with that example in mind, is there something you can do prior to weaning to prepare paddocks, like putting cattle through or early weaned ewes to mop up the worm burden where ewes and lambs that might be higher contaminators, have been?” Another option is for lambs to be weaned straight on to finishing crops, such as clover. The key point is to minimise exposure of lambs to larvae by providing them with clean pasture, as lambs will not grow optimally if they are ingesting thousands of larvae a day.

2. Feed to the best of your ability

Present the youngest, most susceptible animals with the best feed you have. You don’t want lambs having to look for feed, and do not wait to shift them. “Shift too early, rather than too late. They are picky and will eat the best feed, don’t force them to graze down where the larvae are.”

From weaning, you also want to turn your focus to fattening ewes for a good tupping the following year. “What are your options? With the talk of drought and El Nino do you maybe get rid of the poorer ewes?”

3. Monitor, monitor, monitor

Monitor before you drench. Bear in mind that a Faecal Egg Count (FEC) only gives you a small snapshot of the female worm population producing eggs. The lifecycle takes three weeks inside the animal from the time the lamb picks up the L3 larvae off the pasture until it is producing its own eggs. “We need to be mindful that what they have just ingested will not be visible in a FEC. Regular monitoring is important, but it is never the only tool to use before considering whether to drench.”

Along with monitoring, stockmanship plays a significant role. Farmers need to take into consideration the history of where animals have been grazing, climate (cold and dry means less development of larvae, while warm and wet can result in more worms), how much feed animals have been eating, the age of the animals and the stocking rate.

Having knowledge around the contamination level of pasture is crucial and that’s where a tool like the new DAGI app can help to identify highly contaminated pastures or safe paddocks, when planning grazing rotations.

“It’s about using data but also using stockmanship. A FEC is no replacement for good animal husbandry and stockmanship.”

Monitoring is important to help increase drench intervals, taking the pressure off the drench. If you plan to increase drenching intervals, you must monitor.

A FEC 14 days after drenching will help assess the effectiveness of your drenching process. “The drenching process includes everything from the correct dose rate to ensuring the drench goes down their throat. If the egg count is not zero, getting some advice from your vet would be a really good place to start,” Chapman says.

“Farmers often ask, which drench should I use? The answer is, an effective one that works on your property.”

The only way to be sure a drench is effective is to carry out a drench check, or a full drench reduction test. Using an ineffective drench not only compounds the drench resistance issue, it is a waste of money.

Proactive management

Drench has its place and is an important tool to reduce worms on farm, but drenching alone is not a parasite management strategy.

By having a comprehensive parasite management plan, including drench, farmers give themselves the best chance to keep drench in the toolbox for as long as possible, Chapman concludes.

• Article supplied by Zoetis

This is according to Agricom’s Allister Moorhead who was speaking about preparing for a hot, dry summer at a recent levy-funded Beef+Lamb New Zealand workshop.

He urged farmers to use short-term tools such as strategically applied nitrogen to maximise the spring flush and summer forage crops to help push feed forward into late summer.

While soil temperatures are only just starting to rise, Allister encouraged farmers to get N on as soon as possible to help drive early spring pasture growth.

“But pick your paddocks to power up.”

The resulting feed will help drive lactation and pre-weaning growth rates - or depending on the pasture species could be differed and carried further into summer.

“It’s about trying to maximise spring surpluses as surpluses gives farmers choices.”

Having a spring surplus allows for summer crops to be sown in the ideal window. 

Other tools farmers can use as the forecast El Nino takes grip include de-stocking, using older run-out pastures as a feed pad. 

“By late summer, continuing finish lambs on summer crops when you have skinny ewes is missing the opportunity for these crops to be used as tupping feed, setting up the following years reproductive performance.”

The appointment follows the passing of the previous Chair, Alan Livingston, in April this year.

What QEII National Trust Does

QEII works in partnership with landowners to protect and enhance special areas of biodiversity and cultural heritage on private land through covenants.

The Trust has built strong connections across the farming, rural, and conservation sectors, and holds a strong operating record with the Department of Conservation and tangata whenua.

Who Is Susan O'Regan?

A Waikato dairy farmer with experience working alongside iwi, Susan O'Regan also brings governance experience, including a term as Mayor of Waipa District Council.

She currently serves as a Crown appointee on the Waikato River Authority — putting her in a strong position to lead the QEII Board and engage with stakeholders across the sector.

Susan O'Regan's Reaction to the Appointment

O'Regan says she is delighted with the appointment and is looking forward to getting started in the role, including meeting the landowners protecting and enhancing biodiversity across the country.

"I am deeply honoured to be appointed Chair of the QEII National Trust and grateful to Minister Potaka for his confidence in me," she says. "QEII does extraordinary work — quietly, consistently, and in genuine partnership with landowners — and I am humbled to take on the responsibility of leading it at such an important time."

O'Regan says the Trust's mission to protect and enhance open space and biodiversity on private land has never been more relevant.

"Some of the rare plants and animals protected by QEII covenants are only found on private land, so it's really impactful work and only possible because of the strong relationships and reputation QEII has in the community. I look forward to working alongside the Board, the team, and QEII's passionate community of covenantors to strengthen that work and ensure it endures for future generations."

She says her connection to the role goes beyond governance experience.

"As a Waikato farmer myself, with land I care deeply about, I bring to this role not just governance experience but a personal connection to what QEII represents — the belief that those of us who are privileged to be kaitiaki of our land have a responsibility to protect what is precious on it."

O'Regan also paid tribute to her predecessor.

"I also acknowledge the passing of QEII Chair Alan Livingston in April — his connections, considerable commitment and passion have been invaluable for QEII, and he leaves big shoes to fill."

O'Regan is considered to hold significant mana and trust within her communities, positioning her to set the organisation's vision and collaborate effectively toward the Trust's objectives.

QEII Chief Executive's Response

QEII Chief Executive Dan Coup has welcomed the appointment, saying he's looking forward to getting to know O'Regan and working collaboratively on the opportunities and challenges facing the Trust.

"Susan has a good understanding of the Trust's work already, and we look forward to her leadership in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead of us," Coup says.

The QEII National Trust Board comprises six members — four appointed by the Minister of Conservation and two elected by QEII National Trust members.

The three other Minister-appointed board members are Philip Hulme, Richard McDowell, and Debbie Hyland. The two member-elected board members, elected in 2025, are Graham Mourie and Marie Taylor.

B+LNZ’s environment project lead, Tom Orchiston, says with El Niño weather conditions forecast, farmers will be keen to make the most of early spring soil moisture to get crops established, but it is important that they plan carefully to mitigate any risks associated with the practice.

“A winter grazing plan is a valuable tool to help underpin management decisions around the establishment, growing and feeding of winter forage crops,” says Orchiston.

Factors that should be taken into consideration before planting crops include soil type, slope, location of waterways and critical source areas, access to shelter and stand-off areas, and placement of water troughs and supplementary feed. 

Cultivation practices should also be considered that mitigate sediment loss, with low-tillage options being suitable in many situations.

He says it has been encouraging to see such significant improvements in the management of intensively grazed winter forage crops in recent years and knowing how important these crops are for many farmers, means care needs to be taken to protect soil, water and nutrient resources while ensuring animals remain well-fed and cared for over winter.

“There are a lot of factors to consider, but done well, forage crops are a valuable part of farming systems, particularly in the south, as they provide high-quality feed at a time of year when grass-growth is at a stand-still.”

Orchiston encourages farmers who send or receive stock from other farms for winter grazing, to have appropriate contracts in place that cover expectations and responsibilities around animal health, environmental considerations and plans for adverse weather events.

He also suggests farmers look back on the past winter grazing season to review their practices.

“Think about what went well and any management tweaks that could be implemented for next winter. To get the best results, it is good to start planning early for your next winter grazing season.”

He says there is a wealth of information for farmers on winter forage crops from establishment to post-grazing management on B+LNZ’s website. There is also plenty of information available on DairyNZ’s website and on regional council websites.