30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast for over 25 years
July 2026 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Protecting salmon
p7 Garden festival
p16 Farm succession
Home grown: Gladfield Malt founder Doug Michael speaking at the launch of the New Zealand Grown Grains logo in Dunsandel.
Malt maker celebrates p28 home-grown
Dairy land positive
p31
A Central Canterbury business which turns malting barley into a key ingredient in beer making has celebrated its 100 per cent New Zealand grown status with a special event.
] by Heather Chalmers Founded by Doug and Gabi Michael more than 20 years ago, Gladfield Malt near Dunsandel now supplies malt products to breweries throughout New Zealand as well as overseas. Its grower open day attracted about 300 grower-suppliers and industry people, as well as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg.
DWN CONFERENCE 2026 Bayleys was proud to have sponsored this year’s Dairy Women’s Network Conference, Success Through Innovation. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to the rural sector, supporting those who drive innovation, leadership, and resilience within the dairy industry. WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
The day also helped to promote the New Zealand Grown Grain trademark. From a fifth-generation family of barley growers, the Michaels also receive crops from about 200 contracted growers. These are processed to produce more than 50 types of malted grains ranging from base malts for ale, pilsner and lager, to roasted malts with specialty colours and flavours such as chocolate and supernova. “We started 22 years ago, and it was nev-
er meant to get as big as this,” Doug Michael said. He said the couple have complementary skills. “I made it and Gabi sold it.” The couple are proud to use 100 per cent New Zealand-grown malting barley and have signed up to a NZ Grown Grains branding initiative which makes it easier for consumers to identify domestically grown products.
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