Ashburton Courier: June 10, 2021

RURAL
20 Ashburton Courier, June 10, 2021
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Farmers vote on industry body
SALLY.RAE
@odt.co.nz
Farmers have the future of
Beef +Lamb New Zealand in
their hands.
Every six years, farmers vote
on whether they want the
industry­good organisation to
continue to exist, funded by
compulsorylevies on
sheepmeatand beef
(including dairy­beef).
Voting opened lastweek and
all livestockfarmers
registered on B+LNZ’s
electoral roll will be sent a
votingpack. Voting will close
at noon on July 9.
Farmers are being asked to
vote on three things: the first
two questions relate to
whetherB+LNZ continues to
exist. Depending on whether
they own sheeporcattle (or
both), they are being asked
whethercompulsory levies on
sheepmeatand/or beef should
remain.
A‘‘no’’ resultoneither the
sheepmeatorbeef levy would
mean all B+LNZ activity in
that areawould stop.
If ‘‘no’’onboth, B+LNZ
would be woundup.
Sheep farmers were also
askedtosupport a5cincrease
in the sheepmeat levy rate to
75c under the current levy
order.
The future of Beef+LambNZwill be decidedbyfarmer vote which
closes on July 9.
Astatementfrom B+LNZ
said it regularlysurveyed
farmers about what it thought
the organisation’s priorities
should be. ‘‘The message is
clearthat [they]want us to
continue advocating for [their]
interests.Most recently,
advocacytopped the list of B
+LNZ’s different functions at
91%, although not at the
expense of other areasof
focus,’’ it said.
‘‘We’ve alsogot the message
that we need to work with
other industry groups to
ensure farmers’ voices are
heard.Weare, and we’re
committed to continue
building on this, while
ensuringthe perspective of
red meat producers isstrongly
represented,’’ it said.
Recently, farmer group
Groundswell New Zealand
said it was very concerned to
hear of ‘‘rumours being
circulated around farming
circles’’that it wastrying to
undermine farming levycollectingindustry
bodies.
That might have arisen with
the B+LNZ vote.
Groundswell spokesman
Bryce McKenzie said the
group was ‘‘firmly in favour’’
of the excellentwork both B
+LNZ and DairyNZ did
conveying practical
applications of innovations to
farmers. If levy votes were
lost, it could be quite
damaging to farming.
‘‘Our concern hasalways
been in the advocacy area of
all our industry bodies to the
Government and, for this to be
effective, GroundswellNZ
believes we needaunited
voice and preferablyone voice
covering all rural sectors,’’ Mr
McKenzie said.
Groundswell was not
interested in filling that
advocacy spacebut would
‘‘firmly convey the positionof
grassrootsrural people to our
rural advocacy voice’’.
Low cropyields, duetolow rainfall
Below average rainfall across
many regions was afactor in
the average 3% drop in yields
for the six mainarable crops in
the 2020/21 season.
The latest Arable Industry
Marketing Initiative (AIMI)
report, based on April 1survey
results, also foundthat the
number of hectares harvested
was down 3% (­3183ha), with the
netresult being a6%decrease
in total tonnage compared to
the previous season.
Particularly marked drops in
tonnages were seen withfeed
wheat (down 9%) andmalting
barley (down 21%) while
tonnages of milling oats and
feed oats jumped 31% and 60%
respectively.
Federated Farmers arable
vice­chairpersonfor grains
Brian Leadley saidabright
spot was that not only were
carry­over stocks (sold and
unsold)from 2020 of feedwheat
andfeed barley low, but unsold
stocks of both crops from the
current harvest werealso
The drop in yields for the six main arable crops, including wheat,
in the 2020/21 season was due to below average rainfall.
substantially down compared
to this timelast year ­down26%
for feed wheat and down 24%
for feed barley.
Unsold stocks of milling
wheat weredown 18%.
The main talkingpoint from
the AIMI report is the
uncertainty around milling
wheat.Itfollows on from the
news that Wilmar has been
tasked with buyingmostofthe
volume for AB Mauri’s South
Island milling wheat
requirements andfor Goodman
Fielder’s mill in Timaru and
will not offer contracts
publicly, instead dealing
directly withgrowers. The
AIMI survey found autumn/
winter sowing of milling wheat
is predicted to slide by 1800
hectares to 28,303ha. However,
that prediction was based
mostly on intentions, and
across all sixcrops only 9% had
been sown by 1April. Mr
Leadley, who farms in Mid
Canterbury, said arecent
meeting in Ashburton
organisedbyFed Farmers was
packed out with more than 120
growersand had been abid to
getclarity and assuranceon
milling wheat trading going
forward.
‘‘I think it’sfair to say abit of
uncertainty remains.’’
IN BRIEF
PLOUGHING MATCH
Mid CanterburyVintage Machinery
Clubishosting itsannual ploughing
match at Robert Butterick’s farm,
ButtericksRoad, in Wakanuithis
Saturday. Ploughing starts from
10.30am,free entry for spectators,
all welcome.
MEATEXPORT
New Zealand redmeat exports
remainedsteady in Aprilwithatotal
of $863million worth of meat and
co-products exportedtoglobal
markets,accordingtothe latest
analysis from the MeatIndustry
Association (MIA). MIAchief
executive Sirma Karapeeva said
overall Aprilexport figuresshowed
an increase on April 2020levels.
There weresignificant increases in
the valueofexports of chilled meat
in April2021comparedtoApril
2020, with sheepmeatup20per
centto$65 millionand beefup48
per cent to $45 million.
SEATBELT PETITION
Apetition callingfor seat belts to be
installed on school buses has
gained 6545signatures and been
presentedtoMPs at Parliament.
Thepetition,started by Philippa
Cameron and backedbyRural
Women New Zealand,calls for the
safety of children travellingbybus to
be prioritized. There is currently no
requirementfor schoolbus to have
seatbelts at all. They travel up to
30kmtoschool at speedsof80km/
hr. Thebus driver gets to weara
seatbelt -but not their passengers.
MBOVIS TEST PATENT
Auckland-based biotech company
Pictor has filedapatentapplication
for ahighly sensitive test to detect
Mycoplasmabovis (Mbovis).The
use of multipleximmunoassay
(MIA) technology enabled highsensitive
detection of complex
diseaseswith aminimal sample.
The testisbeingdeveloped in
collaboration with theUniversity of
Melbourne and its development
funded through theMinistry for
Primary Industries, Beef+Lamb NZ
and DairyNZ as partners in the
Mbovis Programme.
BOARDCHANCE
Alliance Group shareholders are
beingoffered the chance for
boardroom experience with the
launch of an Associate Director
programme. The successful
applicant will be appointed for a
12-month termand willattend board
and committeemeetings.Theywill
also have access to induction and
mentoringprogrammes. More info
and how to apply at www.alliance.
co.nz.
MOUNTED TRIO
OVER
3000
SOLD
WORLDWIDE
CHOOSE ASOLUTION. CHOOSE SUMO.
GLSSUBSOILER
As its name suggests the Sumo Trio consists
of 3parts to help developand create an ideal
seed bed in all soil conditions.
First stage: Staggered row of subsoiler legs with a
maximum working depth of 400mm.
(both hydraulic and shear pin protection systems available)
Secondarystage: Two rows of 500mm concave discs
equipped with triple sealed bearings and Sumo’s
famous double drive system giving unrivalled
performance when working in adverse conditions.
Third stage: Sumo’s 760mm multipacker roller with
replaceable shoulders leaves aweatherproof level
finish in the most challenging soil conditions.
MADE IN THE UK
The Sumo Grassland subsoiler improves and
revitalises compacted grassland that is
suffering from the effects of continual livestock,
rainfall and heavy machinery.
• Leading row ofadjustable individually suspended discs allow
minimum disturbance on the pasture surface.
• Hydraulic Subsoiler legs with working depths from 100-350mm to suit all types of
compaction layer depths with quick change points.
• Rear flat packer roller with scrapers to leave an aerated consolidated level finish across
the full working width.
SOUTH ISLAND www.cochranes.co.nz
Call Alastair Robertson | 027 435 2642
AMBERLEY |LEESTON |ASHBURTON
TIMARU |OAMARU