Category: Country

Source: Radio New Zealand

A decision to allow the continued use of farrowing crates and mating stalls is the straw that broke the camel’s back for animals rights activsts.

In the past few months, associate agriculture minister Andrew Hoggard, responsible for animal welfare, has drawn intense criticism from animal welfare organisations, particularly for new pig welfare regulations.

The minister’s work to extend the use of sow farrowing crates and mating stalls was agreed to by select committee last week, giving farmers a decade before they need to comply with larger stalls pigs will spend less time in.

Now, animals rights organisation SAFE has asked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to take the portfolio away from Hoggard, due to what it called a lack of impartiality and conflicts of interest.

“Hoggard’s persistent efforts to undermine and weaken [the Animal Welfare Act 1999] demonstrates clear and significant conflicts with this mandate,” it said in the complaint signed by chief executive Debra Ashton.

“During his tenure as the minister responsible for animal welfare, Minister Hoggard has gained a reputation for ignoring independent animal welfare science, disregarding the advice of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), sidestepping equitable consultation, and contravening High Court rulings.”

But Hoggard said his farming background and CV showed he was qualified for the role.

“Well, I think SAFE wouldn’t be happy unless there was a vegan in the role who was totally opposed to farming effectively,” he said.

“They want an end to people owning pets, people being able to use animals for agriculture, and all the rest of it.”

From lobbyist to legislator, the Rangitīkei dairy farmer and former Federated Farmers president began his first term in parliament in late 2023.

“I think you compare me to anyone previously in any agriculture role in government, I think my CV stacks up rather impressively,” he said.

Luxon received the complaint from SAFE and said Hoggard had assured he was compliant with the Cabinet Manual 2023.

“The prime minister expects all his ministers to follow the Cabinet manual guidance. Mr Hoggard has assured the PM’s Office that he has followed that guidance,” a spokesperson said.

The Cabinet manual said ministers were responsible for ensuring that no conflicts existed or appeared to exist between their personal interests and their public duty.

Hoggard was also the minister for biosecurity, food safety and associate minister for the environment.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

As is often the case, especially in farming, “fresh is best” when hunting for sheep poo it seems.

Country Life joined Wairarapa sheep, beef, and deer farmer Paul Crick while he was out collecting samples to be analysed as part of a study by Beef and Lamb New Zealand that aims to better understand facial eczema.

He’s one of almost 300 farmers involved in the nationwide study.

“I’ve done a lot of things, but I never thought I’d be called a poo hunter,” he says with a laugh.

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What is facial eczema, or FE?

It’s caused by a toxin-producing fungus found in pasture which affects grazing livestock including, sheep, cows, deer, alpaca and goats.

The toxin impacts the liver, leading to significant health issues such as reduced fertility, weight loss, decreased growth, lower milk production, photosensitivity, sunburn, and in severe cases, death.

There is currently no cure for FE, which costs New Zealand farmers an estimated $332 million annually, according to Beef and Lamb.

“It loves warm, moist, humid conditions. It’s in the sward, animals come along, graze the pasture, ingest the toxin,” Crick explained.

From October, farmers collect about 10 samples from the same mob around different paddocks every couple of weeks. FE remains present in the paddocks until about late May, Crick said.

“What we’re trying to do here is build up a bit of a database and knowledge about where the spores are and hence that’s why we’re collecting the poo samples because we’ll find it in the poo samples themselves.”

There’s an art to finding the right samples as Country Life discovered.

Apart from freshness, it’s important to differentiate smaller lamb poo – more like Smartie pellets – from that of the mature mob. More liquid-like samples are difficult to collect but that’s what the blue gloves are for.

“The ewes tend to like camping in their spot,” Crick said as he hunted around for the perfect specimen.

He got it, and it’s even warm.

“That’s hot out of the oven that one.”

FE is particularly challenging for farmers because “you can’t see it” and there’s no cure – zinc can be used as a preventative measure.

At Glenside, Crick also breeds his own FE-tolerant rams as part of Arahura Sheep Genetics.

He said they wanted to “front foot” the issue and saw that farmers can make good progress quickly through bringing these traits into their flock.

“Good genetics is one tool in the toolbox and there’s other tools that farmers can use.”

It’s the third season he’s been involved in the study.

FE is prevalent in Wairarapa but farmers don’t know how much so.

“It’s here down through the North Island and they’ve actually found spore counts down in Otago.”

Twelve farms in Wairarapa were involved in the first year and all detected spores.

The next season one farm went through the season with none, while one of the 11 that did have spores even presented with clinical signs of FE.

Crick said his first season results came back with no spores detected and he worried it was a “waste of time”, but he said knowing where FE isn’t is just as important as knowing where it is and the conditions that surround it.

“We took our last sample at the end of May and I thought ‘God there’s going to be nothing’.

“It came back with a spore count of over 100,000. It really made me think.”

Beef and Lamb principal scientist Dr Cara Brosnahan said there’s already been some interesting findings from the study which revealed early signs that elevation, pasture height, and even neighbouring farm’s spore counts can impact FE.

She said this year, the final season, is “critical” to building on their understanding.

Beef and Lamb covers all testing costs, including sampling kits and prepaid return courier packaging.

As part of the study farmers also receive regular fungal spore count results, along with an anonymised nationwide map that tracks FE spore levels.

It’s the work of parasitologists like Sarah Riddy.

She and her team at Awanui Labs in Palmerston North process up to 260 samples sent in by farmers each fortnight during the peak FE period, the results of which, along with forms detailing things like breed, grazing, height and type of pasture, inform the nationwide FE map.

“Each of the farmers send in 10 samples per mob and that allows us to give a sort of overall pool value,” she explained.

“It gives them an idea of what’s happening in the mob rather than in each individual animal.”

At the lab, she weighs out one gram from each of the different samples to add up to a total of 10 grams, which is then mixed and diluted with 90 millilitres of water and spun to allow the sample to distribute evenly.

It’s then loaded onto a chamber and analysed under microscope – a grid helps her count the number of spores manually.

“One thing parasitologists are good at is microscopy, we spend our whole days on a microscope counting. So we’re very good with numbers.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Mitchel Hoare is pretty busy these days, with not only a 500-hectare farm to run and shares in a native plant nursery, but a new agricultural drone venture.

He and fellow farmer Andrew Blackmore set up King Country Ag Drones about six months ago.

They saw a gap in the market, bought some “state of the art equipment”, and “between the two of us, in our spare time, we’re giving this a crack”.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The big banks are responding to an ongoing drop in global dairy prices, with the ANZ the latest to trim its farmgate milk price.

ANZ has revised down its forecast to $9.65 per kilogram of milk solids for the 2025/26 season.

Against its previous forecast of $10.00/kgMS, the latest figure released on Friday represents a 3.5 percent downgrade in the expected payout.

This follows the lead of the BNZ which, on Thursday, revised its figure to $9.50/kgMS and the NZX, which lowered its forecast to $9.49 /kgMS.

ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly said dairy prices are coming under increasing downward pressure with surging global supply.

Since its high in May, the GDT Price Index has dropped 18 percent.

Global dairy prices, particularly butter, have dropped amid strong milk production in New Zealand and other major dairy exporting markets.

On top of that, whole milk powder prices have slumped nearly a quarter since May.

“Dairy prices peaked in May with the benchmark whole milk powder (WMP) prices well over USD4,470 a tonne, now whole milk powder is looking at USD3405,” Dilly said.

“The benchmark whole milk powder (WMP) price has dropped 23.8 percent over that time. But in our view, it’s butter that’s been driving the dairy market since early last year.

“Butter prices were really high last year and no one could make enough of it. Now everyone’s making too much of it.”

The production situation has improved this year in both the EU and the US. In both markets, the fat components of the milk are also rising strongly, which means more butter can be made from each litre of milk.

One mitigating factor for dairy farmers here is the weak New Zealand dollar.

All eyes in the rural sector will be on Fonterra’s quarterly update on December 4 when it also releases the first quarter FY2025 trading results.

The dairy co-operative is forecasting a midpoint of $10/kgMS but it too is likely to come under pressure to revise downward.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Warning: Readers may find these images distressing

Animal welfare activists, public submitters and the associate agriculture minister are still at odds around the use of farrowing crates and mating stalls at pig farms, amid the release of covert footage inside one.

The Ministry for Primary Industries was investigating what it called “minor animal welfare issues” at a South Taranaki pig farm, after activists released covert footage from inside the barn using farrowing crates.

MPI animal welfare inspectors visited the farm last week following a complaint it received from animal rights group SAFE relating to footage it received from ‘Grassroots Campaign’.

Videos showed large, lactating sows constrained in farrowing crates, unable to move beyond standing, one with a large open wound, some without water or dirty water only, and some biting the metal bars.

Piglets were able to access the sow for milk and lived separately in heated homes, but had no natural material like hay, and dead piglets were piled up in a rubbish bin.

SAFE chief executive Debra Ashton said farrowing crates were a cruel practice that should be banned, as previous governments had promised.

“That must be a horrible existence for those pigs in those conditions,” Ashton said.

“What we’ve really seen here is animal cruelty where pigs are confined in those crates that are so small, they can’t turn around, look after their piglets properly.

“These are conditions that are typical on a farm that is using farrowing crates, and that I think is our biggest concern that this is business as usual.”

Ashton said it received the footage externally from “brave people”, and conditions were kept behind closed doors without it.

“We’re not asking for anyone to enter a property to get footage. But out of frustration, we can see why people would do this.”

She said releasing the footage was not about victimising farmers.

“We are talking about a system that the government is allowing, we’re not trying to pick on individual farmers.”

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard led legislative changes that sought to amend the minimum standards for pig farming that retained the use of both farrowing crates and mating stalls, but with slightly larger sizes and less time for pigs spent in them.

The select committee members reported back to Parliament on Tuesday that the changes could proceed without amendment.

Most public submissions opposed the legislative changes.

Hoggard said the new legislative changes aimed to maximise piglet survivability.

“I know a lot of people out there find the images reasonably confronting. However, that’s the whole goal of what it is we’re doing, is to actually minimize the time that sows spend in a farrowing crate down to just seven days.”

He said submissions on the changes were looked over for balance, but those affected by the changes like the pork industry must be considered.

“In terms of submissions, well, obviously the animal welfare organisations mobilised a whole bunch of people, and so yep, most of the submissions were opposed,” he said.

“But quite frankly, it’s not about the number of submissions for or against, because if that’s how we decided things in New Zealand, then we wouldn’t bother with a Parliament.

“At the end of the day, we have to make a call on what’s best for the country, and in terms of our pork industry.”

He said MPI investigated the farm, so it was an operational matter he could not specifically comment on.

The Taranaki farm in the videos was approached for comment.

MPI said the farm’s “minor welfare issues” were being addressed and inquiries and follow-up inspections were continuing.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The hunt for the cheapest fruit and vegetables by both supermarkets and shoppers is putting pressure on locally produced crops in New Zealand.

Over the past few months, well-known brand Wattie’s New Zealand of Hawke’s Bay made a series of cuts to local production, firstly of [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/573533/wattie-s-says-slicing-peach-production-in-hawke-s-bay-not-related-to-owner-s-split

canned peaches], then tomatoes, beetroot and corn.

A spokesperson for the brand, owned by American food giant Kraft Heinz, said it annually reviewed its crop intake to respond to market demand, increased competition from imported goods and rising input costs.

David Hadfield, chairman of grower group Process Vegetables (representing processors McCains, Wattie’s and Talley’s) said food quality and safety regulations on New Zealand farms were generally higher than in other countries.

But he said shoppers, supermarket buyers and others like rest home meal providers were instead buying based on price.

“I think the downswing at the moment is just a blip, really.”

He said when demand increased, which he was hopeful it would, so too would the area of crops grown locally.

“But as far as local fresh vegetables go, it seems to be a changing trend that there’s less and less going into shopping carts, that is a worrying trend.”

Hadfield said imported produce may be cheaper, but local growers needed to be viable to keep growing and support food security, in the face of high input and labour costs.

“I suspect it’s quite a lot cheaper than New Zealand-grown,” he said.

“In supermarkets, they’re looking to make money, so if they can buy something cheaper somewhere else, they will.

“Not to say that it’s as good as what they can buy locally, but the consumer doesn’t know that, so they push it through their home brands.”

Supermarkets importing for own brands

Supermarkets Foodstuffs and Woolworths imported fruit and vegetables for some of their canned homebrands, including Pams and Woolworths essentials.

Generally, they imported peaches from South Africa or China, beetroot from China, corn from Thailand and tomatoes from Italy.

Hadfield said production standards varied country by country, the use of labour in harvest times and safety measures on farm.

“You can understand why they do it, but quality wise, the New Zealand produce is probably better.”

A spokesperson for Foodstuffs said it sourced locally “wherever possible”, but international supplies helped keep prices affordable and supplies consistently available for shoppers.

“Wherever possible, we source from New Zealand producers, but in some categories, particularly canned fruit and vegetables, global sourcing allows us to maintain quality and price stability year-round,” it said.

“When local supply can’t meet the volumes we need, or when sourcing internationally helps us keep prices affordable without compromising quality, we’ll explore overseas options.”

A Woolworths spokesperson said it sourced canned fruit and vegetables from both the Northern and Southern hemisphere, following the seasonal harvests to ensure year-round supply.

“New Zealand has a limited number of manufacturers canning vegetable and fruit products, but we do stock branded options.”

It said its canned tomatoes were sourced from Italy for authenticity.

“We only source products that meet our quality and responsible sourcing requirements and we have established, long-standing and trusted relationships with our current global suppliers.”

Both supermarkets held their own responsible sourcing policies and rules for suppliers, who must also comply with rules and regulations from their own country.

Foodstuffs prohibited child labour, forced labour or modern slavery from suppliers, and also audited them by external firm Sedex.

These included suppliers identified as international “high-risk” sites – of which, 163 out of 165 had completed a recent “social audit”.

One of Woolworths New Zealand’s responsible sourcing rules was that suppliers must uphold worker rights.

“We take a risk-based approach to managing risk in our trade supply chain,” a spokesperson said.

“All trade suppliers, including those of vendor branded goods, are expected to have established arrangements and processes consistent with our commitment to upholding human rights, outlined in the Responsible Sourcing Policy.

“Sites in scope of our Responsible Sourcing Standards are subject to risk assessment, and their risk profile drives their due diligence requirements. These requirements may include self assessment questionnaires and third party Social compliance audits.”

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‘Exceptionally high’ amounts of risky imports into NZ

Social development and Christian not-for-profit organisation, Tearfund New Zealand warned that companies would not scrutinise their food import supply chains for modern slavery, until it was made into law.

Head of advocacy Claire Gray said globally, horticultural products were considered “risky goods” largely due to labour concerns and the industry’s reliance on migrant workers, however New Zealand employment standards were higher than in other countries.

She said there were historical reports of forced labour in some food exports from China, and organised crime connected to tomatoes from Italy.

“A few red flags on that list, for sure,” she said.

“The level of risky goods being imported into New Zealand is exceptionally high, and it’s getting worse because as other countries have this modern slavery reporting legislation.

“And so then a country like New Zealand runs the risk of becoming a dumping ground for all of those risky goods that can’t get into other markets where there are tighter regulations.”

Gray said other markets like the United Kingdom and the European Union had anti-slavery or forced labour legislation in force, while New Zealand did not.

The previous [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/494653/government-begins-drafting-modern-slavery-supply-chain-register-law

Labour Government] committed to introducing modern slavery legislation, but she said it never got over the line, though she remained hopeful it would.

“I think New Zealanders are being put in a really difficult position because at the moment, the responsibility to make an ethical choice, if you will, is falling completely on the shoulders of consumers because we don’t have a law requiring businesses to take action in this space.”

Gray said polling research showed it was not price that was the biggest inhibitor for New Zealand shoppers buying more ethically, but a lack of available information on how to.

Choices ‘limited’ for NZ ‘eaters’

Shoppers of canned or frozen fruit and vege were encouraged to learn where the product came from.

Angela Clifford of not-for-profit organisation, Eat New Zealand, said the situation with Wattie’s pulling back local production was the result of a consolidated horticulture industry, driven by profit.

“[Kraft Heinz’] purpose is to maximise profits for their shareholders, their purpose is not to support New Zealand food growers or eaters,” she said.

“So I think it’s an indictment on where our food system is up to.

“Our choices are being really significantly limited more and more now.”

Clifford said a short, local food supply chain would better support local farmers and empower “eaters”.

“There are a whole lot of other reasons that you might choose local food, like the food is being produced in a way that the workers who are producing the food are being looked after, better environmental credentials,” she said.

“Even if you’re after the best value, then I’d really encourage people to understand about how much their local food costs.”

She said people should do their homework when shopping around.

“And don’t believe the hype that food in supermarkets from elsewhere is necessarily the cheapest food.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dairy prices have fallen again in the fortnightly global auction overnight.

The average price at the Global Dairy Trade auction fell 3 percent to US$3678 a tonne, the seventh consecutive fall.

It follows the 2.4 percent drop in the previous auction.

The GDT (Global Dairy Trade) Price Index was at its lowest level since August 2024.

The price of wholemilk powder, which strongly influences payouts for local farmers, fell 1.9 percent to US$3452 (NZ$6099) a tonne.

Butter prices fell more than 7.6 percent, while cheddar prices fell 2.7 percent, and skim milk powder fell 0.6 percent.

NZX head of dairy insights Cristina Alvarado said the auction reflected the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand globally.

“Milk availability is expected to remain solid in the near term, adding further pressure to prices if demand does not strengthen,” she said.

“Seasonally, buying interest often softens as markets approach the end of the calendar year and move into the Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Ramadan periods, with many buyers already having secured forward contracts.”

Last week the NZX lowered its 2025-26 season forecast from $9.80 to $9.68 a kilogram of milk solids.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A global trout-fishing movement for those undergoing treatment or living with cancer is providing relief for Kiwi men.

The Reel Recovery charity has recently wrapped up a retreat on the Tongariro River in the central North Island town of Tūrangi.

Fishing guides provided free one-on-one tuition in the art of fly casting over a weekend of fishing and camaraderie.

Tongariro River Motel owner Ross Baker has hosted the programme for the past five years, making a difference by forging a connection with nature.

“Paddy Walsh from Taranaki acted as the guide and took one fellow out who’d never cast a line in the river in his life,” Baker said. “By the end of the day, he’d caught six trout and was over the moon.”

Each course brings together about 10-12 men, fishing guides and volunteers. With all the gear provided, there’s no need to worry about buying waders, a rod or fishing licence.

It can be a slow burner for some taking part, but the clear blue water, birdsong and tranquility usually reels them in.

“Over the years, we’ve had others who have struggled, but quite a few have come back later, because they’ve just enjoyed the experience so much,” Baker said.

“They’ve realised, despite their health problems, it’s something that completely takes their mind away from their situation and it’s relief in that sense.”

The programme had its origins in the United States in the early 2000s. A group of avid Colorado fly-fishers noticed how fishing helped a friend cope with the emotional toll of cancer.

Reel Recovery facilitator Paul Klenner said, while the fishing was wonderful, it was vital for the men to acknowledge what they were going through.

He said the course was a safe place for men to heal, talk and listen, and there were benefits for family waiting at home.

“The wives and the children of these guys, when they go home, they have a new man,” Klenner said. “A different person comes back and that’s so important, because it affects community and everybody.”

The Casting for Recovery charity also helps women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Taranaki high school is training the next generation of primary industry workers.

Nearly half of the 800 students at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth take part in the school’s primary industries programme.

As part of the programme, students even run a native plant nursery and are contracted to produce 10,000 plants a year for South Taranaki District Council.

The school operates its own 20-hectare beef farm where students apply classroom learning directly on the land – from stock work and fencing to sustainability projects.

The programme, led by Aimee Watkins, spans agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and sports turf, giving students pathways beyond traditional dairy.

Watkins said many students go straight into farm jobs or some kind of related studies at university.

“Agriculture is really, really big here. It’s a really important part of the whole school and it’s massively supported.

“We have our practical stream, they’ve got stock in the yards and they’re fencing, they’re spraying, all those sorts of things and then there’s the academic stream, so the agriscience, agribusiness kids as well.

“So they come through and do different things – whether it’s investigations or environment, sustainability, and it’s all teed up through their standards that they do.

“It’s a pretty full package being able to have the farm as well, so the kids are talking about it in class and then also doing it.

“It’s pretty special. It’s a pretty unique environment really for students.”

Gerard Kalin, a former student of the college, has been the farm manager since July.

Recently the farm had Halter’s virtual fencing technology and smart cow collars installed, so Kalin had been walking students through that.

“Just last week we put the collars on 25 15-month-olds, so we’re a week into it,” he said.

“Again, we’ve integrated all the boys to put the collars on and do all the work around it, erecting the tower that was dug by the students.

“Moving forward, it’s going to be a great concept, I think. If we can integrate that knowledge or system, the boys will be a good product when they leave here.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The takeover bid for honey exporter Comvita has failed after not enough shareholders approved of the offer.

The company’s board had vigorously pushed shareholders to vote in favour of a $56 million deal with Florenz, owned by Canterbury businessman Mark Stewart.

However, the bid failed to meet key thresholds needed for the scheme to pass.

To be approved, the scheme needed to be approved by at least 75 percent of votes cast by shareholders in each interest class, and by more than 50 percent of the total votes.

In the first interest class, which included Florenz Associates, 100 percent of votes were in favour.

In the second interest class, excluding Florenz Associates, 54.29 percent voted in favour and 45.71 percent against.

In total, 54.34 percent voted in favour, and 45.66 against.

Comvita’s board said it was working with lenders and advisers to work out next steps, and “all available options” would be considered.

“The board has been working with its advisers and banking partners to evaluate a range of funding options as part of its contingency planning,” chair Bridget Coates said.

She said the board wanted to assess options to recapitalise the company.

“This work is progressing with urgency and discipline to secure a solution that stabilises the business, positions it to grow again, and reduces ongoing risk to shareholders.

“Our duty is to act in the best interests of all shareholders and to ensure the path forward is fair, transparent and well-considered.”

The bid had attracted criticism from some, including Comvita’s co-founder Alan Bougen, who pushed to veto the scheme.

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