RURAL LIFE 36 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>December</strong> <strong>16</strong>, <strong>2021</strong> Built to your budget! -All types of fencing including: -deer, sheep and cattle yards -Retaining walls –Timber gates -Full range of specialised equipment for farm fencing and lifestyle blocks, offers you the complete land package. Ashley: 0274 364 776 ah: 314 8541 e: A.Duckworth@xtra.co.nz www.duckworthfencing.co.nz Post &Rail Fencing -Looks great & makes life easy for the Rural Lifestyler! 2272726 Farmers selective at ram sales By DAVID HILL Meat breeds have dominated at ram salesaround<strong>Canterbury</strong> thisseason. Strong meat priceshave given farmers more confidence to buyrams, says PGG Wrightson genetics representative Simon Eddington. Suffolk and South Suffolk rams had aparticularly successful run,with the season’s top priceof$<strong>16</strong>,500 paidfor the Suffolk ram at the <strong>Canterbury</strong> A&P Association elite ram and ewe fair last month. ‘‘Theonfarm sales have gonepretty well overall and clearances have been good,’’ Mr Eddington says. ‘‘Farmers have been looking closely at the tone of the meat,with the good lamb prices giving them abit more confidence. ‘‘The fine wool sheep have struggled abit and buyers have been very selective.’’ Last week’s Glenaffric ram saleat Waipara saw SouthSuffolk rams sell well, while demand was down for Corriedale rams, Mr Eddington says. The Gums ram saleatCheviot on <strong>December</strong>2saw Dorset Down rams producing the better result, but there was plenty of interest in the dual purpose breeds,with farmers looking closely at the micronwool. ‘‘Farmers cometoasale knowing exactly what they want.’’ Mr Eddington says the combination of strong meatprices and favourable weatherconditions bode well for the ewe fairs, which begin with the Hawarden Ewe Fair on January 28. ‘‘It looks like earlyNovember rather than mid<strong>December</strong>atthe moment, it’s still green and that gives farmers some confidence and choice to make decisions. ‘‘The good oneswill have made decisions already, butatleast they’re not beingforced into it. ‘‘There’s abit of confidence out there at the moment, so now it’s a matter of getting the ewe numbers up again. ‘‘We just hope there’s enoughewes out there for the ewe fairs.’’ Calls for new carbon farming policy APPRENTICE TRUCK DRIVER LIVESTOCK -Class 2or4 We are looking for an Apprentice Livestock driver to join our rural transport company. GVT is based in Waipara, <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> servicing local customers and travelling throughout the South Island. In return we will help you develop your skills and progress you through your truck licenses as your experience develops. Keycompetencies: •Must have a clean, full car license for at least 6months (eligible to sit class 2L) Class 4or5would be beneficial. •Live in <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> •Have some rural experience driving tractors and or animal handling •Training will be given to the successful applicant •Duties will be varied and will depend on the successful applicant’s experience If you are interested in this job please send acovering letter and your CV to marco@landline.co.nz 2443050 Farmers and environmentalists are joining forces to call for anew policy to better manage carbonfarming. Beef +Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) is adding its support to the newly formed Native Forest Coalition, which has called for changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). In its present form, the ETS is driving the largescale planting of exotic forests for carbon farming. The Native Forest Coalitionhas called for the prioritisation of native afforestation over offshore projects and the weaving of native forests into ruraland urban landscapes. The Native Forest Coalitionismade up of the EnvironmentalDefence Society, Pure Advantage, the Rod Donald Trust, the TindallFoundation, Project Crimson, Dame Anne Salmond and forestry consultant Dr Adam Forbes, who has workedwith farmers in <strong>North</strong><strong>Canterbury</strong>. Fish andGame New Zealandisalso backing thecoalition’s position. BLNZ chief executive Sam McIvor says it is getting harderfor the Governmenttodonothing aboutthe issuesthe coalitionhas raised. ‘‘There are so many voices callingfor action,’’ he says. ‘‘We need urgentsolutions now beforetoo muchmore damage is done to rural communities and so that we don’t miss real opportunitiestoprotect and enhance New Zealand’s biodiversity. ‘‘BLNZhas beencalling for some time for urgent changes to the ETS, to stop the wholesale conversion of productive sheep and beef farmland into carbon farms.’’ Mr McIvorsays the integration of trees on farms is abetteroption. ‘‘Farmers knowtheir landbest. We’re not antiforestry, exotic planting can be integratedwhereappropriate, but it’sabout planting the right treein the rightplace.’’ He says sheepand beeffarms are already home to 1.4 million hectares of nativewoody vegetation. Landuse changes overthe past 30 years have addedtwo million hectares to the country’sconservation estate, the largest private sectorcontribution to biodiversity in New Zealand. ‘‘All this despite the fact farmers can’t get recognition for muchofit under the current ETS rules,’’ Mr McIvorsays. ‘‘There are serious imbalances of incentives for planting exotics versus natives. That’s why we’ve workedso hard to get awider range of sequestration recognised under the He Wake Eke Noa primary sector climate actionpartnership options.’’ 2324043
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