Farmers Weekly NZ October 5 2026

RAM SALES SHOWCASE INSIDE Page 1 inside

Vol 24 No 39 | October 5, 2026

View online at farmersweekly.co.nz

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RAM SALES SHOWCASE INSIDE

Vol 24 No 39 | October 5, 2026

View online at farmersweekly.co.nz

$5.25 Incl GST

Fiery debate as parties court sector POLITICS

A

Elections

GRICULTURE and Trade Minister Todd McClay has denied New Zealand is backing away from its climate commitments in its free trade agreement with the European Union. He made the denial in a heated exchange with Green Party agriculture spokesperson Steve Abel during a debate convened by Federated Farmers at Mystery Creek last week. The exchange started when moderator Heather du PlessisAllan asked Abel if the Green Party was behind a complaint to the European Commission that New Zealand is not complying with climate rules within the agreement. Dutch NGO Both ENDS, with support from New Zealand climate activists and environmental organisations, complained to the European Commission that NZ has failed to comply with climate and sustainability clauses in the FTA. “No we didn’t [make the complaint] but we flagged for some time that there was a risk of a complaint because New Zealand has failed in its obligations in the EU agreement to not backtrack on its environmental commitments,” Abel said. He denied that the Green Party’s highlighting of this had led to

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the complaint, saying a lot of environmental advocates have been saying this. McClay said Green Party coleader Chlöe Swarbrick had earlier written to the European Parliament asking it to investigate the issue. “You are using the people in this room for your own political gain and I think that’s disgraceful,” McClay said. Abel said in reply that there was a time where New Zealanders were lauded for standing on their own independent foreign policy and fighting for causes as part of global humanity. The biggest challenge at this time is climate change, he said, asking McClay if he was backing away from the country’s climate commitments – “and if not, what have you got to be afraid of?” McClay said he is “absolutely not” backing away. “It is for the NZ parliament and government to decide how to meet our obligations, not you and your mates overseas who don’t care about NZ exporters.” Abel said that was garbage and “we are dreaming” if we think the rest of the world does not care whether NZ plays its part in combating climate change. McClay told him he was putting NZ farmers at risk. “We are within our obligations; we take our obligations seriously.” The Rural Issues Debate saw Continued page 5

Rural voters share poll position Farmers Weekly reporters are out taking the pulse of rural New Zealand ahead of November’s election. This week we’re in Otautau, Southland and Lawrence in Otago. Otautau-based Rabco Ag contractors John Clarke and Eddie Rabbitt fear a change of government could see anti-farming sentiment take hold.

ROAD TO THE ELECTION 10-11

Cropping farmers reap top award

S FOECT CU OR S

Gerald Piddock

Mid Canterbury cropping farmers Eric and Maxine Watson have always aimed for excellence in their farming operation, but they never expected to be honoured in the Arable Hall of Fame.

SEED & GRAIN 18 Generation Z wants protein-plus on its plate.

Glyphosate alternative unlikely to land in NZ.

Balancing tradition and progress in NZ agriculture.

NEWS 5

NEWS 9

OPINION 17

The weight of the lambs coming off SOVGOLD is incredible!

You can’t go wrong with SOVGOLD.

SOVGOLD has a good amount of leaf on it, good stem size.

Hamish Knowles Spar Bush, Southland

Kerry Neal Pleasant Point, South Canterbury

Kyle Thorburn Otapuri Gorge, Southland

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4 Contents

New Zealand’s most trusted source of agricultural news and information

Get in touch

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EDITORIAL

SALES CONTACTS

Bryan Gibson | 06 323 1519 Managing Editor bryan.gibson@agrihq.co.nz

Andy Whitson | 027 626 2269 Sales & Marketing Manager andy.whitson@agrihq.co.nz

Craig Page | 03 470 2469 Editor craig.page@agrihq.co.nz Claire Robertson Sub-Editor claire.robertson@agrihq.co.nz Neal Wallace | 03 474 9240 Journalist neal.wallace@agrihq.co.nz

Janine Aish | 027 300 5990 Auckland/Northland Partnership Manager janine.aish@agrihq.co.nz Jody Anderson | 027 474 6094 Waikato/Bay of Plenty Partnership Manager jody.anderson@agrihq.co.nz

Gerald Piddock | 027 486 8346 Journalist gerald.piddock@agrihq.co.nz

Palak Arora | 027 474 6095 Lower North Island Partnership Manager palak.arora@agrihq.co.nz

Annette Scott | 021 908 400 Journalist annette.scott@agrihq.co.nz

Andy Whitson | 027 626 2269 South Island Partnership Manager andy.whitson@agrihq.co.nz

Hugh Stringleman | 027 474 4003 Journalist stringleman@outlook.co.nz Richard Rennie | 027 475 4256 Journalist richard.rennie@agrihq.co.nz Gerhard Uys | 027 239 4388 Journalist gerhard.uys@agrihq.co.nz Rebecca Greaves | 027 320 9111 Journalist rebecca.greaves@agrihq.co.nz Nigel Stirling | 021 136 5570 Journalist nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com Isabella Beale | 027 299 0596 Multimedia Journalist isabella.beale@agrihq.co.nz

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Contents News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Sector Focus . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Rural Women . . . . . . . . . . 19 Federated Farmers . 20-23 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 24-33 Marketplace . . . . . . . 34-36 Livestock . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . 38-41 Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

The strong wool market continued to reflect the mid-winter price spike at the national auction in Christchurch recently. PGG Wrightson Wool national auction manager Dave Burridge said the Strong Wool Indicator dropped 30 cents with just 69% of the wool offering sold.

Ravensdown roles Jane Montgomery and Kate Acland have been elected to the Ravensdown board for three-year terms. Montgomery co-owns a dairy grazing and horticulture property in North Canterbury and, with her husband, operates a sheep and beef farm in South Otago. Acland, chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board, is a farmer, business owner and experienced director.

Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is heading to Kaikōura for a free leadership and resilience community event. Westpac NZ and North Canterbury Rural Support Trust are bringing Beyond the Game: Leadership and Resilience with McCaw to the Kaikōura Memorial Centre on October 20, 2026. McCaw will share stories and lessons from his rugby career and life beyond the game.

Real Estate | 0800 85 25 80 realestate@agrihq.co.nz Word Only Advertising | 0800 85 25 80 Marketplace wordads@agrihq.co.nz

PUBLISHERS

Carpet access

Dean and Cushla Williamson Phone: 027 323 9407 dean.williamson@agrihq.co.nz cushla.williamson@agrihq.co.nz

ISSN 2463-6002 (Print) ISSN 2463-6010 (Online)

Wool stalls

McCaw fronts up

Andrea Mansfield | 027 602 4925 National Livestock Manager livestock@agrihq.co.nz

Farmers Weekly is Published by AgriHQ PO Box 529, Feilding 4740, New Zealand Phone: 0800 85 25 80 Website: www.farmersweekly.co.nz

News in brief

HARM: Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends says the US decision to wipe tariffs off 300,000 tonnes of imported beef will do more harm than good. STORY P7

Farmer-owned Wools of New Zealand has launched a direct-to-consumer wool carpet service through Laneve. The website supports customers through online browsing, samples delivered to the door, an indicative supply-and-install quote, and a free in-home installer visit. Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter said the service is a practical step towards growing demand, improving wool’s value proposition and giving consumers a simpler way to buy wool carpet.

News 5

News

5

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Gen Z looks for protein-plus on its plate Neal Wallace in London

E U RO P E: T RAC K I N G TO M O R ROW ’S FOOD TRENDS

MARKETS

T

Trends

HE world still wants protein, but the formulation in which consumers seek it has changed, according to United Kingdom food futurologist Dr Morgaine Gaye. Gaye works with food companies determining consumer trends and new product opportunities. She said people still want protein, due to its ability to repair the body and boost immunity. But consumers want protein to include products that enhance health and mental wellbeing. Gaye said covid unleashed an upheaval in consumer trends away from highly processed foods and towards natural products, a sixyear trend she said has only just started. “Covid enabled us to have that little break to go, oh, well. What matters here? What’s going on?” People used the time to evaluate their lives, started reading ingredient labels and ate better quality food which optimised their functionality. Growing demand for protein has

underpinned rising global dairy and meat prices but Gaye said consumers now want products other than just protein that enhance their health. There has been an increase in demand for creatine, an amino acid that helps in perimenopause or menopause, collagen that supports skin, bones, tendons, and connective tissues, and tryptophan, an essential amino acid that aids sleep.

Fat is no longer the bad guy. Dr Morgaine Gaye Food futurologist This was part of a trend towards authentic and real food, and a return to diets our ancestors ate, she said. Meat consumers are also looking for real food, but they want to know the truth about how the animal lived, how it was raised and how it was killed.

Gaye said producers should be transparent and not hide the truth from consumers or they risk a backlash. She noted a publicity campaign by animal rights groups currently running in London, questioning the ethics of gassing pigs. “It’s about the quality of life, and it’s much more realistic than it’s ever been before,” she said. Generation Z consumers, born in 1997-2012, are making value judgements when buying meat, which favours chicken. “It’s like chicken doesn’t feel as bad. They’d rather kill a bird than a beast.” The mental health issues of younger generations are also driving diets towards natural products. Generation X, born in 19651980, are increasingly active and seeking food that enhances their performance, their health and brain function, and that includes consuming red meat. Gaye said a growing backlash against seed oils is prompting UK consumers to reject oat milk and return to dairy. “Fat is no longer the bad guy. “It’s about the quality of the milk and we’re moving to regenerative, grass-fed, organic, full-cream milk Continued from page 1

SQUARING OFF: Agriculture spokespeople from New Zealand’s main political parties square off in a debate at Mystery Creek ahead of this year’s general election, from left, the National Party’s Todd McClay, Labour’s Jo Luxton, NZ First’s Mark Patterson, ACT’s Andrew Hoggard and the Green Party’s Steve Abel.

the rural spokespeople square off against each other in front of a packed crowd of 400. The debate covered taxes, freshwater rules, the Gene Tech Bill, the Paris Agreement, rural connectivity, the ETS, synthetic nitrogen limits and the India FTA. Labour agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton was asked if she would further alter freshwater rules. She said Labour would not bring back the rules introduced in 2020, but they will be used as a starting point to take to the select committee.

PROTEING: The demand wave for protein has just begun, says food futurologist Dr Morgaine Gaye. better? How do I switch my brain on? How do I get my muscles through? How do I get that extra 5%.” Gaye said those consumers seek products that enhance the way they feel about themselves and brands they feel are invested in them.

in its purest form, as close to the animal as possible.” Some critics believe seed-based oils are difficult for the body to absorb and do not have the health benefits of animal fats. Having dipped during covid, consumption of meat and dairy is rising again on the back of consumers seeking authentic food, the ingredients of which they can recognise. The primary driver for consumers is, “What is good for me and what will improve my functionality?” “It’s optimising your functionality, how do I function

MORE:

On taxes, Luxton said that family farms and homes would be exempt from the party’s proposed capital gains tax. It would target commercial and investment properties. “Nine out of 10 people will not be impacted.” McClay interrupted, saying capital gains taxes are never simple and would have to be changed once the parties promoting it get into power. “They are coming after New Zealanders’ money with a capital gains tax,” he said. Luxton replied: “It’s a targeted, simple capital gains tax. Farms and family homes are exempted. It will

be ring-fenced for health.” NZ First MP Mark Patterson was grilled on party leader Winston Peters’ policy to change the DIRA, forcing Fonterra to massively increase the amount of raw milk it supplies to other processors. Paterson said it is a procompetition measure after Fonterra sold off its consumer brands earlier this year. Du Plessis-Allan asked Patterson why NZ First is promoting such a “crazy idea” after none of the other politicians on the stage supported it. “National adopted most of our other policies so there’s still hope,” he said.

Meeting the Market has the support of grants from Beef + Lamb NZ, Nedap, Silver Fern Farms, Deer Industry New Zealand, Alliance / Dawn Meats, the Meat Industry Association, Rabobank and the European Commission.

National is fixing the basics and building the future for rural New Zealand

National keeps its promises to farmers •

Scrapped the Ute Tax

•

Replaced the RMA

•

Delivered the UAE, Gulf Cooperation Council, and India FTAs

•

Removed unworkable winter grazing, stock exclusion and SNA rules

•

Created Investment Boost – tax deductions on assets to turbocharge your productivity

•

Tackling wilding pines and pests across the country

•

Banned farm-to-forestry conversions

•

Removed Agriculture from the ETS

Authorised by J de Joux, ps@national.org.nz

national.org.nz/farming

See page 6

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

News

Add-on implements the next big ag tech thing Neal Wallace in London

TECHNOLOGY

T

Machinery

RACTORS will no longer be the top dog in an autonomous farm machinery world, with that role taken by implements, according to a panel of experts at the World Agri-Tech conference. But that hierarchical change requires manufacturers to ensure farm implements are interoperable with tractors, a panel discussion at the London conference concluded. The impact from growing geopolitical risks, the push to use fewer pesticides and herbicides, and difficulties in finding staff are encouraging farmers to buy autonomous tractors. Mark Durno, a partner in Scottish venture capital company NourishTech, recounted how an exacerbated farming friend opted to buy an autonomous tractor

having employed 12 drivers in 12 months. Peter van der Vlugt, the managing director of strategic partnerships at Kubota Europe, said demand for autonomous tractors is growing but so is demand for implements the machines can use. Belinda Clare from Agri-TechE, an entity that connects farmers and growers with scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs, agreed. “Farmers want something that will make their life easier, especially for low level-tasks, which will have a big impact,” she said. A robot that shifts product around a storage facility, a lowlevel but vital role, would be useful while improving productivity. Marc Hanheide, a Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Interactive Systems at the University of Lincoln, predicted individual farms will make a wholesale switch to autonomous

E U RO P E: T RAC K I N G TO M O R ROW ’S FOOD TRENDS

vehicles and robots, rather than just buy one. The speed with which that happens is determined by the interoperability of brands and implements. Norbert Schlingmann, who heads the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation, a global body that encourages cooperation in agricultural electronics, said not having interoperable implements is holding back the uptake of autonomous machinery. “The tractor is no longer the king. The implement is the king.” Startup companies that develop autonomous or robot technology have a role but Durno said the pressure from investing, manufacturing, finding suppliers, marketing, and scaling can take a heavy toll. He suggested startups work with

DEMAND: Peter van der Vlugt, the managing director of strategic partnerships at Kubota Europe, says demand for autonomous tractors is growing but so is demand for implements the machines can use. Photo: Dreamstime partners or contractors and leasing companies so farmers can try the machines and develop trust. “They have to partner up if they want scale as they can bring working capital and networks.” Hanheide said another issue to be resolved is the ownership and potential sharing of the data generated by this technology and also its secure storage.

Autonomous vehicles and robots generate a suite of information and data from the tasks performed, and this has a value not only to the farmer, but also the manufacturer. Meeting the Market has the support of grants from Beef + Lamb NZ, Nedap, Silver Fern Farms, Deer Industry New Zealand, Alliance / Dawn Meats, the Meat Industry Association, Rabobank and the European Commission.

Global trade sails on through geopolitical turmoil Neal Wallace in London

MARKETS

Trade

GLOBAL trade has been tested by a prolonged period of geopolitical turmoil to emerge largely unaffected, says a leading UK trade expert. David Henig, a director of the UK Trade Policy Project, said global exporters have shown robustness in the face of tariffs, growing protectionism and military conflict disrupting shipping routes and fuel supplies. He said tariffs imposed by United States President Donald Trump

have had minimal impact on global trade, while shipping has adjusted to disruption to the Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal sea-lanes. “World trade systems have been hugely tested in the last year, but by and large they are working.” He attributed this to the interconnectedness of trade, the large size of exporting companies responsible for most of world trade, and the network of logistical and administrative experts who ensure the process operates smoothly. Henig believed the US and China would step back from a trade war, saying global trade is too entwined, and conflict would be

too costly. Countries are becoming increasingly protective of their markets, he said. Until three or four of the large trading blocs agree, a return to a rules-based global trading system or a refurbished World Trade Organisation is unlikely, he said. “I’m unconvinced that is going to happen in the next 10 years. “We have to come to realise there are benefits from a rulesbased global trading system.” Exporters are finding ways around trade barriers. “The mood and sentiment is moving away from open trade in the last few years, but that is not playing through to disrupted trade.

“Currently governments are throwing up barriers, but trade is working around them. “We’ll see that continue in the next few years.” India has recently signed free trade agreements with New Zealand, the European Union and

World trade systems have been hugely tested in the last year, but by and large they are working. David Henig UK trade expert

United Kingdom, and given the size of that market, Henig said, it should provide tangible benefits. “It’s a big market and FTAs will certainly reduce tariffs. But will the outcome result in numerous other barriers that India will put in place? Time will tell.” Henig said large trade issues loom. Trump has signed deals with several trading partners to avoid paying tariffs, but Henig said these are still to be ratified by the US government. “That needs to be unravelled.” He said the EU seems to be drifting economically and as an entity which will impact trading partners.

7

News

7

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

NZ in prime spot to fill beef appetite Bryan Gibson

MARKETS

D

Red meat

ONALD Trump’s trade policy is doing little to bolster the United States red meat sector, according to a US industry analyst. Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends told the Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington that the decision to wipe tariffs off 300,000 tonnes of imported beef will do more harm than good. “President Trump had said this beef will be sold at 25% below current market prices,” he said. “The deal will reduce prices for Americans, while giving space for the great American beef herd to grow again. What this

really shows is a complete lack of understanding of our industry and what we need in the US. “If we want to grow our beef herd, we need prices to go as high as they can to create the incentive to grow the herd.” Not only that, Stuart said, it wouldn’t even lower beef prices for US consumers as there is no mechanism to translate the lower price into lower retail prices.

What this really shows is a complete lack of understanding of our industry. Brett Stuart Global AgriTrends

“This idea that beef’s going to be 25% cheaper absolutely is not happening.” Stuart’s colleague Simon Quilty, who is based in Australia, said the only winners are Paraguay and Brazil. Australia still has a supply shortage, and processors are losing AU$250 a head on cows, and that problem will continue for the next 12-18 months. If the global beef herd adheres to traditional cycles, it will be at its lowest next year and rebuild through until about 2031. “New Zealand has a comparative advantage because it is forecasting next year to be up 7.8 %, with all the various categories increasing,” Quilty said. “And it’s because of the uniqueness of your relationship

with the dairy herd that you can turn around the rebuild so quickly. So as tightening occurs New Zealand is in a situation to take advantage of that.” Demand is rising sharply, with beef separating itself from pork and chicken as a preferred protein. “Beef is not competing with pork, it’s not competing with chicken. “Why is the demand so high? It may have started with the covid stimulus, but it’s moved beyond that. The GLP-1 drug diets promote high density protein. “We’ve got 20-year-olds in America that are dumping buckets of protein powder on everything they eat. Everyone is chasing protein.” The improved quality and safety of US beef over the years is also a factor, Stuart said.

HARM: Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends says the US decision to wipe tariffs off 300,000 tonnes of imported beef will do more harm than good.

Meat exports rise but global volatility continues Staff reporter

MARKETS

Red meat

NEW Zealand’s red meat and fifth-quarter exports reached $867 million in August, up 23% on the same month last year, as stronger returns lifted earnings across all major markets. Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby said the result underlines the value the sector continues to generate for the country. “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, one month’s data should be viewed in context, given the global volatility and cost of

VALUE: Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby says the sector continues to generate value for the country.

living pressures that may push some consumers towards lowervalue proteins.” The release of the export data coincided with the annual Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington last week. 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 United States remained the leading market at $155m, up 30%, while China rose 12% to $79m and Canada increased 55% to $18m. Fifthquarter exports were worth $156m, an increase of 13%.

“The August result builds on the returns for the 2025-26 financial year (ending June 30), 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,” Beeby said. The red meat sector is a New Zealand success story in doing more with less. “Despite a smaller livestock base, the sector has increased export revenue over time through higher global prices, strong demand for premium cuts and a sustained shift towards processed, chilled and frozen products. “Around 97% of exported product is now high-value chilled or frozen cuts, supported by valuable co-products and a diversified global trading network. Frozen carcases now account for just 3% of trade. “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.”

Around 97% of exported product is now high-value chilled or frozen cuts. Nick Beeby Meat Industry Association

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

NZ not on radar for new Bayer weed control Richard Rennie

TECHNOLOGY

N

Weeds

EW Zealand is not on Bayer’s radar in the immediate future as a launch market for a new weed control active developed by the company using AI and claimed to be an alternative to glyphosate. Icafolin -methyl is touted by Bayer as playing a pivotal role in knockdown applications, alleviating resistance that is developing to glyphosate treatment. The company applied for registration in Australia in late July. It is also seeking approval for its launch in Brazil, the United States and Canada. Claimed as a new chemistry by the company, Bayer’s AI-driven R&D system CropKey played a critical role in developing the new compound. It is intended to be used as a post-emergent weed control active for broadacre crops, and acts by disrupting the function of microtubules in plants, the tissue essential for plant cell division and growth.

Bayer Group confirmed Bayer does not currently have plans to seek registration of icafolinmethyl in New Zealand. “Our current registration and launch activities are focused on other priority markets including Australia, where an application for registration has been submitted to the APVMA [Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority].

Our current registration and launch activities are focused on other priority markets, including Australia. Spokesperson Bayer “Any potential launch in Australia remains subject to regulatory approval,” the company said in a written statement to Farmers Weekly. The development of icafolinmethyl to deal with rising glyphosate resistance in Australian broad acre cropping was part of a partnership between the agrichem company and Australia’s

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). Bayer Crop Science’s AustraliaNZ MD Warren Inwood said the herbicide innovation partnership between Bayer and GRDC enabled earlier testing under Australian conditions, aiming to accelerate the timeline for Australian growers to access a new non-selective knockdown herbicide. Trials of the compound indicate a good efficacy rate against glyphosate-resistant rye grasses, a problem in both Australia and parts of NZ. It has also exhibited good knockdown of water hemp and amaranth, both major problem weeds in the US. Success was reported at 30g of the active per hectare, a particularly low concentration. The independent and respected Hertfordshire University pesticide properties database (PPDB) states icafolin-methyl is a post emergent herbicide for controlling annual weeds at this stage of development, in contrast to Bayer’s work also testing against perennials. Overall, icafolin-methyl appears to be strongest on annual grasses and selected annual broadleaves at very low application rates, with

OPTIONS: Bayer’s icafolin-methyl active may provide farmers with a useful additional option when dealing with glyphosate-resistant weeds. less effectiveness against sedges and perennial weeds. Bayer has said icafolin-methyl is effective against blackgrass and ryegrass populations already resistant to herbicides. The company presents it as a useful tool for farmers dealing with resistance management, rather than a singular solution to the resistance problem. The PPDB also notes a lack of environmental data at this point on issues including soil mobility, aquatic impacts and impacts on bees and earthworms. The availability of an alternative to glyphosate has been welcomed by Canterbury farmer and Nuffield Scholar Hamish Marr, who

completed his 2020 paper on the use and rising resistance of weeds to glyphosate. “I think globally there is definitely a need for some alternatives, we are dealing with resistance everywhere. “The proof will be in three areas: How broad spectrum is it? Does it have no residual like glyphosate? Does it have zero plant back period between crops?” He said NZ’s glyphosate resistance issues lie in areas like vineyards in Marlborough and pockets of arable farming areas including South Canterbury, where crop rotations are short and repeated year in, year out, increasing resistance risk.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Southland’s forgotten towns under the pump Gerhard Uys

POLITICS

Road to the Election

Otautau Location – western Southland Population – 3020 Industry – agriculture, forestry

P

OLITICIANS need to go to the coalface and ask rural townspeople what they can do to make small-town life better, says chair of the Wallace Takitimu Community Board Tony Philpott. Although Otautau is doing well, he said, communities in surrounding towns like Ohai and Nightcaps, where he lives, are taking strain. No representative from any political party has ever attended a town meeting. Cabinet minister and MP for

Invercargill Penny Simmonds has been an asset to Southland, he said, and having people with her enthusiasm for regions helps. “But no one seems to come here and ask, ‘What do we actually need to do here to make this place better?’ “National came in with a hiss and a roar, but they haven’t done much, have they? [They say they] cut red tape, but they put up yellow tape. “I’d almost call us the forgotten towns.” Rates are a real negative, said Philpott. “People just can’t afford it, they’re paying $5000 for rates.” The government said it is going to cap rates at 4%, but Philpott said that’s false advertising because stormwater and water supply will be removed from rates and be a separate bill. Nightcaps specifically is in dire straits. The coal mine that has for decades employed people,

sponsored community initiatives and helped the local marae is shutting down and businesses are already feeling the pain. Mine workers and external contractors who stop for a pie, or hit the pub for a Friday beer, will no longer be around. Philpotts’s own business, Nightcaps Contracting, which does primarily forestry roading, used to cut a lot of rock for the mine, but that business is now gone. “You just don’t know what’s ahead. We’d love another industry to come into this area.” Forestry is part of the region’s economy, but he said everyone loved it until rules changed and entire farms were being planted. It

COALFACE: Politicians need to go to the coalface and ask rural townspeople what they can do to make small-town life better, says chair of the Wallace Takitimu Community Board, Tony Philpott. doesn’t create long-term work. “There’s a lot of places that shouldn’t have gone into trees.” Towns on the outskirts of Otautau could do with roading and footpath funding. And the other day when someone called an ambulance to Nightcaps, none came. There just wasn’t one around, he said. Luckily there was a helicopter. Philpott believes Nightcaps will recover, it just needs to find an

industry that will buy in. House prices are low, and just like in Otautau, families move in and commute to work in larger towns or to farms. A conversation with a local policeman also showed him the town has good people, with the cop saying no one in the surrounding communities was on his radar as someone to watch. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, but it’s hard going.”

Anxious eye on election polls with Otautau on the up Gerhard Uys

POLITICS

Road to the Election IT’LL be a scary first week of November if right-leaning parties aren’t voted back in, says John Clarke of Rabco Ag in Otautau, Southland. He foresees increased compliance costs, regulations and red tape if a left-leaning party is the next government. Clarke owns Rabco Ag, an agricultural contracting business, with Eddie Rabbitt. The business, which has been running since 2008, has 30 people on the payroll through winter, with that number going up to about 60 during summer when foreign staff help out. Rabbitt echoes Clarke’s perspective, saying if a leftleaning government is elected, anti-farming sentiment will take

hold, just like it did under the previous government. “It doesn’t give you confidence to grow,” Rabbit said. Too much compliance means farm projects are often put into the too-hard basket, although compliance sometimes means additional work for contractors. Clarke said although the coalition partners talk about getting rid of excessive compliance, there isn’t less yet. Increased fuel prices also create hesitation to start some projects. But, said Clarke, fuel increases are the result of international politics and can’t be blamed on any New Zealand governments. With a population of about 3000, Otautau rates are high, with Rabbitt saying high rates would be less of a concern if the money was ploughed back into the community for local infrastructure development.

The cost of infrastructure seems to skyrocket when the government gets involved. Otautau sits on routes tourists take to Fiordland or to the Great Hikes, and although tourism seems to be back, Rabbit believes fringe areas like the Southland coast aren’t getting the numbers yet, with tourists likely affected by increasing costs in their countries and cuts to holiday time. What should an incoming government focus on? Prioritise business growth and make compliance easier, support the primary industries and focus on changing land use towards higher cash-flow type land uses. Clarke said the government should concentrate on interest rates and less on internationally driven inflation. Interest rates should be used to stem internal inflation, he said, and when it’s internationally

POSITIVE: Under the current government there is a positive feeling in Otautau. driven, you should just ride it. Despite these challenges they said Otautau is reinventing itself and thriving. Both said growth in Otautau is to some extent driven by the decline of surrounding smaller towns, with Otautau becoming a hub for business. Under the current government there is a positive feeling in the

province and town. The area has seen a significant lift in rural land values, well over 10% in the past 12 months, with Rabbitt saying Otautau property prices increased about 7% in town, and a home recently selling within a week of being listed. New builds would attract more families, he said. “There aren’t many towns left where you can buy a house, rent it out, and the rent just about covers the mortgage,” said Clarke. The town’s water has been upgraded. Dairy conversion, especially from grain, which has high nitrogen inputs, is being considered in the area, coming off the back of confirmed dairy conversions in Canterbury. Rabbitt said Otautau residents seem to see themselves as a cohesive group, something that wasn’t always the case in the past.

Rising and falling with farming fortunes Gerhard Uys

POLITICS

Road to the Election

BAKE: Otautau baker Sharon Ladds says the politics and economics that affect farmers and small towns in the region directly impact her.

BAKER and owner-operator of Country Crust bakery in Otautau Sharon Ladds says she doesn’t pay much attention to politics, but political and economic decisions that affect rural towns impact her business. Ladds has run her own bakery for nearly two years. Sourdough bread is her passion, but in a country town, pies, cookies and some catering are essential to stay afloat. The ebb and flow of the surrounding farm community affect her directly. When farmers have a bad

year from flood or drought, her business takes a hit, because they buy less, rather spending on fencing or feed. Farmers are the bulk of her clients, often coming through for something specific, like sourdough bread. Next July, she said, she will take a holiday, because in winter fewer farmers come to town. “You don’t get the foot traffic that you’d get in Invercargill or a big town. You rely on people coming to town to do the shopping, sometimes all on the same day. The rest of the week you’re real quiet.” In summer tourists come knocking. When fuel prices recently went

up, food service provider Goodman Fielder pushed up prices on milk, cream, ham and other products. In turn she had to put up the prices of her goods. The government seems to be ignoring small businesses, she said. When she started out she couldn’t figure out how to get assistance from a government website, so she sold a house bus, later taking out a loan. Government needs to help small businesses, she said. When high winds hit Southland in October last year, the local council was nowhere to be found. No one came into the bakery to update her, with the only communications a sign on the

street giving a number to phone in case you needed help, but phone networks were down. But, said Ladds, despite challenges, Otautau is growing. New faces in town are often families who’ve realised house prices in Otautau are lower than in Winton and Invercargill, so they buy here and commute to work. A new campground may open soon, and a local laundry is on the cards.

You don’t get the foot traffic. Sharon Ladds Country Crust

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Provinces need people and service provision Neal Wallace

POLITICS

Road to the Election

Lawrence Location – South Otago Population – 550 Industry – farming, forestry, tourism

G

ABRIEL Read’s 1861 discovery of gold near Lawrence in Otago provided the country with its first economic boom. As New Zealand heads into the 2026 General Election 165 years later, all the community wants from politicians is a fair go. The key issues they hope politicians will address are access to health services and funding, reducing the impact of changing land use to forestry, greater pest control, and less centralisation of services. David Robertson, a local farmer and business owner, estimates 5000 hectares of farmland in the immediate Lawrence area have been planted in trees, displacing livestock and families, and changing the face of the community.

He said income from the Emissions Trading Scheme artificially incentivised afforestation at the expense of livestock, citing the loss of about 700 cows from several recently converted neighbouring farms. “Across the country productive pastoral land continues to disappear beneath an endless march of pine trees, driven in large part by the financial incentives associated with carbon credits,” he said. Robertson’s ancestors arrived in the area before 1861 and he, as they did over the decades, has innovated to stay relevant and viable. His farm merchandise business now stocks more general hardware products, due to declining demand from farms converted to forestry. Robertson wants greater protection for pastoral production, saying once planted in trees, there are no other land use options. Land use change and

COMMUNITY STRENGTH: The Lawrence community makes things happen instead of waiting for officials to provide them, say café owners Steve and Hilary Crow. centralisation of services have robbed Lawrence of young people, as forestry contractors tend come from other centres. Local farmer Warwick Howie has similar reservations, saying the influx of pests from newly planted forestry is a growing problem and could compromise the area’s Tbfree status. Three neighbouring farms have been planted in trees, and he wonders where the money for pest control will come from.

He is also concerned at the lack of rural community input from the continued centralisation of businesses and government agencies. “They talk nicely to the provinces, and whether it is promises of finance or people coming back to us, it does not happen. “You’ve got to have people living in the provinces.” An example is ambulance service. It took two hours for an

ambulance to arrive and attend to a boy injured at a recent schoolboy rugby game at Kaitangata. “I don’t understand why it’s not top of the public’s agenda It is horribly underfunded and undermanned,” said Howie. The owners of the Prospector Café, Hilary and Steve Crow, rely on traffic travelling between Dunedin and Central Otago for a significant part of their income, and said high fuel prices have impacted their business. “Instead of people coming in and buying food, they’ll buy a coffee and food but share the food,” said Hilary Crow. Recent arrivals to Lawrence, the Crows were impressed with the community’s can-do attitude, which has funded infrastructure and services such as a general practitioner, medical centre and rest home. “If they want anything, the community will fundraise for it, and they work hard to keep it,” said Crow. Proceeds from a recent golf tournament went to renovating an historic Chinese gold miner’s camp. Crow said it was increasingly common to see wild pigs and deer on roads at night, an example of the explosion in pests.

A community that’s ready to take care of business Neal Wallace

POLITICS

Road to the Election HAVING access to a general practitioner sounds fundamental in a developed nation, but for many in rural NZ it is not a given. The south Otago community of Lawrence not only has a GP, but a community-owned and -governed medical centre that also provides multiple health services, respite care, a rest home and a retirement village. It relies on community support to keep operating. The manager of Tuapeka

Community Health Company, Allana Wallis, said sustainable long-term funding and certainty about how much money Health NZ provides are top of her wish list for political parties. That funding needs to take account of rising costs and compliance and the challenge of providing rural services, and recognise the essential role performed by community-owned providers. That includes versatile medical professionals, where qualified nursing staff often attend incidents when St John Ambulance responders are unable to do so.

“You just adapt, it’s what you do. It provides very good support for our community.” Running a community-owned integrated rural health service is complex. “We want and need funding and policy decisions that recognise the true cost and complexity of delivering health care in rural communities.” Policy decisions need to take account of rural workforce challenges such as the recruitment and retention of doctors, nurses and health professionals, and catering for an ageing population. “The trend is for people not to

come to the rest home as early as before, but to be cared for in their home.” But this has consequences. “Rural providers are increasingly supporting people with more complex health needs,” she said. Funding and government policy need to also reflect service delivery requirements, patient access, community need and socioeconomic factors. While the community owns the 164-year-old building that houses the medical centre and rest home, maintaining it is costly. The community recently raised funds to repaint it. Any profit is

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reinvested back into health care and community services. The health company has 1200 people on its books and Wallis said managing the work-life balance of key staff is important. The GP works for four days a week and on the fifth day they use an Auckland-based locum who links remotely, assisted by a locally based nurse. They are fortunate the GP’s wife is a physiotherapist.

MORE:

Farmers Weekly’s Road to the Election 2026 continues next week.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

News

Growth focus adds shine to solar buy-in Richard Rennie

NEWS

T

Energy

HE public offering for a solar energy company may signal a switch in how investors view the sector and their expectations for its growth prospects as an investment, says the CEO of New Zealand Shareholders Association, Oliver Mander. Lodestone Energy has announced that it is seeking to raise up to $100 million through an initial public offering, the first new offer on the NZ stock exchange in five years. The company is backed by some of the country’s highest profile investors and entrepreneurs, including Trade Me founder Sam Morgan, Warehouse founder Sir Stephen Tindall and billionaire tech founder Rod Drury. Lodestone has five solar generation sites on farmland across NZ and has a project near

BURNING: NZ’s burgeoning electricity needs mean the demand for renewables, and the cash to finance them, is only going to grow, says the CEO of the NZ Shareholders Association, Oliver Mander. Lake Benmore, approved for fasttrack processing, that is likely to cover 320ha on Haldon Station. “This initial public listing by Lodestone is absolutely the right decision for raising capital. NZ requires about $30 billion of additional investment into electricity generation thanks to

the move to electric vehicles, decarbonisation and growth in AI data centres. “That $30 billion has to come from somewhere,” said Mander. But he also said the introduction of a new player to the generation sector focused on growth is likely to shift investors’ view of the

sector away from simply being a good source of dividend income generation. “The big gentailers are part owned by government, and dividend income is pretty much expected. “But Lodestone signals growth as a unique NZ startup, and there is also plenty of other investment coming into the sector. There’s now a tension there between dividend payments and growth opportunities, which is a shift.” He also pointed to the likes of publicly listed infrastructure company Infratil embarking on joint energy ventures in the United States through the Super Fund. “They are bringing in the generation capacity of Mercury every year for the next five years, largely due to demand for energy from AI.” He said NZ is sitting on a natural gift of renewable energy with multiple options many countries could only wish for. Wellington-based energy

consultant Dr Chris McKeown of NZ Energy Consultants said if NZ is committed to decarbonisation and increased renewable energy in the form of wind and solar, such capital raising is likely to become more common. But he said the bigger surprise for many landowners will be the scale of such projects once installed. “The rubber really meets the road when people rock up and see vast forests of wind turbines and solar panels. “They need to be aware that these projects really do have an impact on people in communities. That can all be good if you are receiving income from the project, not so good if you are next door.” However, he said in contrast to the likes of most extractive industries where land may be significantly changed, projects like solar panel farms often involve only leasing private farmland and provide landowners with another income source.

Families in Auckland and Italy partner for Chathams service Richard Rennie

NEWS

Transport

BROTHERHOOD: Twin Oaks W033, by sire Blacknight 657, made $17,000 in the knockout yearling bull sale. Photo Twin Oaks.

Angus yearling bulls pick up the pace Hugh Stringleman

MARKETS

Livestock

DEMAND for yearling beef bulls was sustained through Angus stud early spring auctions in the last week of September, with more to come in October. Twin Oaks Angus at Te Akau, northern Waikato, had a clearance of 59 out of 60 and a fine average of $10,850, which was nearly $3000 more than in 2025. Top price was $42,000 for Lot 27, Twin Oaks W263, bought by Craig Davie-Martin of MVP Genetics in Northland. His sire was Blacknight 657 out of Twin Oak Rona S216. Other stud transfers were Lot 3 to Kaingaroa Angus, Kaitaia for $20,000 and Lot 2 to Rockley Angus, Balfour, Southland for $15,000. Both were sired by Blacknight. Koanui Polled Hereford, Havelock North, sold 22 from 30 offered with an average of $645 and a top price of $10,500.

Lot 2 was a transfer to Herepuru Station Herefords, Whakatane, for $10,200. Herepuru Station sold all 40 two-year-old service bulls for an average of $4842. The inaugural auction for Rotowai Angus, Mokauiti, produced 22 sales out of 27, an average price of $4486 and a top of $7200. Ranui Angus, Whanganui, had a full clearance of 31 averaging $7383 with a top price of $14,000 paid by Homackey Ridge Angus, Ruawai. Glengyle Angus, Dannevirke, sold 19 from 20, averaged $6610 and had a top price of $11,500 for Lot 10, Glengyle W52. Glen R Angus, Darfield, sold 20 from 28 two-year-old bulls with a top price of $9000 and an average of $6000. Riverrock Angus, Cambridge, sold all five yearling bulls with an average of $6600 and a top price of $8250. In the same online auction Matai Mara Angus, Cambridge, sold six from eight, averaging $4290 with a top $5000.

THE highly anticipated new vessel set to service the Chatham Islands is proving to be very much a family affair between its Kiwi and Italian partners. Auckland-based McCallum Brothers partnered with Italian shipping family Nova Marine Carriers to design and finance the replacement vessel for the aging Southern Tiare that has come to the end of its 40-year service life. “The Nova people were down in NZ and saw a couple of our vessels and came knocking on Dad’s door to see if he would be interested in a project. Dad said only if they would employ my brother Nelson to help with the new boat’s design, which they did,” said Fraser McCallum. The resulting joint venture, 44 South Shipping, was awarded the tender for the replacement of the ageing vessel and to operate the long-term Chatham and Pitt islands shipping contract through the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT). The new ship is having its first steel cut this week in a Chinese shipyard, where Nelson McCallum now works with Nova on the design. The Chatham Islands connection to the mainland has become increasingly tenuous as the Tiare aged. Working in partnership with MCERT, McCallums retrofitted their landing craft, the William Fraser, to boost interim services until the new purpose-built ship is completed in late 2027. The William Fraser was due to

AGEING: The joint venture between the McCallum family and Italy-based Nova Marine Carriers will deliver a much-needed replacement for the ageing Southern Tiare, now almost 40 years old.

It is a particularly rough, gnarly stretch of water and you can get up to 5 meter swells. Fraser McCallum McCallum Brothers arrive late last week at Waitangi on its second return voyage as it works to help clear a growing backlog of cattle on the island. In the past farmers have been compelled to cull stock on the island. At this stage the William Fraser does not have MPI approval for sheep transport. The new vessel is being constructed with an assortment of tasks required of it. Livestock transport for 1000

cattle or 4300 sheep will feature, alongside fuel-carrying capacity, refrigerated container “plugs”, a roll-on, roll-off ability, and a large crane. The replacement vessel will have nine crew and be calling at Napier, Timaru and other mainland NZ ports. McCallum said the William Fraser completes the mainlandChatham trip in two to three days, averaging about 8-10 knots, while the new ship will be capable of 12 knots. “It is a particularly rough, gnarly stretch of water and you can get up to 5 meter swells. We have worked on the design of the new ship to ensure it is well stabilised.” He said the ship will also be capable of offering services to Great Barrier Island, and, along with the William Fraser, could transport stock across Cook Strait.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Synlait pins hopes on infant formula client Gerald Piddock

NEWS

S

STABILITY: Synlait endured a difficult first half of the 2026 financial year, followed by a second half where improved operational stability flowed through to an improved financial performance.

Dairy

YNLAIT is hoping that a major new infant formula customer in the Middle East will help grow its advanced nutrition business as it looks to build on an improved second-half financial performance in the 2026 financial year. The Dunsandel-based dairy company received purchase orders from this new customer for commercial supply in 2027. Synlait CEO Leon Fung called it a significant win. Speaking while announcing the company’s financial result for the year to July 31, 2026, Fung said, “We are confident this partnership will scale up quickly.” He described the customer as a big supplier in the market that is

We are confident this partnership will scale up quickly. Leon Fung Synlait

interested in working with Synlait in a long-term partnership. “The volume we are looking at represents 18% of (FY) 2027 capacity. So, it’s quite significant.” The company also has a pipeline of customers keen to work with it; this would fill the gap left by The a2 Milk Company’s decision to internalise its English-label product. Synlait’s priorities are to grow that Middle East contract and secure infant formula opportunities in southeast Asia. The advanced nutrition -1% decrease in revenue for the year

was not representative of the real picture within the market. “We are confident that after resetting all of the fundamentals we will be back to a profitable business under nutritional business,” he said. Its other businesses also grew, with the food service business having its first profitable year, supported by 43% growth in volume and over 5000 tonnes of cheese shipped to Australia for its consumer business. Its overall financial results showed a difficult first half, followed by a second half in which

improved operational stability flowed through to improved financial performance. Synlait chair George Adams said its first-half performance was affected by the impacts and costs of the 2025 manufacturing challenges. “Achieving operational stability drove an improvement in the second half.” It reported a net loss after tax of $75.4 million with an underlying net loss after tax of $21.6m. It had a reported EBITDA of $8.1m, with underlying EBITDA of $46.3m. It has a net debt of $215m, down from $551m in 2024, largely thanks to the sale of its North Island assets. Revenue was $1.94 billion and gross profit was $37.7m. Fung said the operational and financial results for the second half show Synlait is making progress. “But we are not getting ahead of ourselves. Our focus is on working carefully to ensure Synlait’s recovery continues.” Synlait CFO Andy Liu said the next step is to translate that progress into stronger margins

and cash generation while continuing to reduce debt through disciplined execution and capital allocation. He was confident the trajectory of the business performance in the second half will continue. The second-half recovery saw manufactured in spec rise from 91% to 95% in the second half, averaging 99% in August. Plan attainment increased from 90% to 103% and that operational stability lifted the second half’s financial performance where reported EBITDA rose from a $34.7m loss in the first half to $42.8m in the second. Reported NPAT also lifted from a first half net loss after tax of $80.6m to a $5.2m net profit after tax in the second half. It confirmed its final base milk price for the 2025-2026 season of $9.69/kg MS with average incentives of $0.38 per kg MS paid on top. The total average payment to Synlait’s just under 200 farmers is $10.07/kg MS, the second highest in its history. Synlait’s forecast base milk price for the 20262027 season is $9.50/kg MS, not including incentives.

MPI defines the scope of its DIRA review Gerald Piddock

NEWS

Fonterra THE Ministry for Primary Industry’s review of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act has taken a further step with the release of an issues paper. The paper and its supporting documents outline the key issues the review will focus on. These include whether the DIRA’s regulatory framework is still appropriate for a sector that has changed significantly since 2001. “It asks whether the present market structure and regulatory

settings are likely to produce efficient and durable outcomes for farmers, processors, downstream businesses, and consumers, both with and without the current DIRA provisions,” the issues paper says. Fonterra’s share of national milk production has fallen from 96% to 77.5%, other processors have entered and expanded, and five processors now collect almost all raw milk not supplied to Fonterra. Competition remains uneven across regions, and Fonterra retains the only national collection network. The paper also looks at the impact of Fonterra’s divestment of

its domestic and global consumer businesses to Lactalis-Mainland Group, to whom Fonterra supplies raw milk. In doing so, it has moved away from the fully vertically integrated business model that underpinned its formation, it says. Several DIRA provisions have been relaxed since 2001 and the MPI’s review focuses on whether the remaining DIRA provisions continue to be necessary to promote efficient market outcomes and, if some provisions do remain necessary, whether they are fit for purpose. The review also examines the farmgate market where Fonterra

and other dairy processors compete to purchase raw milk directly from farmers, and the factory gate market where dairy processors and food manufacturers purchase raw milk from other dairy companies rather than directly from farmers. The factory gate market review will examine Fonterra’s current supply arrangements with Goodman Fielder and LactalisMainland Group. Submissions on the paper will inform the development of the MPI’s draft report on the DIRA review, which is intended to be released for consultation in early 2027.

FRAMEWORK: The MPI’s review of DIRA will examine whether the Act’s regulatory framework is still appropriate for a sector that has changed significantly since 2001.

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16 Editorial

16

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Letters of the week Power to the people Hugh Gardyne Gore

From the Editor Making your vote count Craig Page

Editor

L

ET the promises begin. The race to November’s general election is underway after the two largest political parties, National and Labour, launched their election campaigns on the same day, September 27. Both hauled out the big guns at their official opening events. For National it was Sir John Key and Labour turned to Helen Clark, no doubt hoping some of the gloss from those popular former prime ministers will rub off on their parties. There are plenty of polls around at the moment but whichever you choose to follow, it is clear the election is shaping as a close-run race to find the next government. That is why your vote matters. In this edition of Farmers Weekly, we begin our buildup to the November 7 election. As part of the coverage, our reporting team is visiting small towns throughout

the country, taking the pulse of rural New Zealand. We are speaking to local business people, community members and council representatives to find out what the current government has done for them over the past three years and what they would like to see from those next in power. The cost of living, health services, land use changes to forestry, road maintenance, greater pest control, and less centralisation of services are at the top of the list. There is also a feeling that rural folk are ignored by politicians until election time. They should, people say, be visiting rural towns more regularly and finding out about the issues they are facing. A lot of those concerns mirror Federated Farmers’ election wish list, which highlights reducing red tape among its priorities. We begin our rural roadshow in the deep South, visiting Southland’s Otautau and Lawrence, in Otago. Throughout October we will head to towns in Canterbury, Masterton, Manawatū, Waikato, Tauranga and Northland. After some lean years there is no doubt the rural sector is in a good space at the moment. Dairy and sheep and beef farmers are relishing strong returns, although those in the arable sector have had tougher times. Regular weather events and poor pricing have left many questioning if they still have a future in the industry.

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT Almost 88% of those who took the poll do not think New Zealand’s food producers will benefit from breaking up Foodstuffs co-operative’s Pak’nSave franchise. “The country is not wanting this,” said one voter. “The two outlets, Pak’nSave and New World, are very different to the average shopper. What NZers want is another firm in the mix. Those NZers who live or have lived in Australia tend to love Aldi.” Another said: “Additional costs of duplicated supply chains and associated infrastructure will be paid probably by all market participants and customers. Smaller rural communities will be the worst affected.” One voter questioned the timing of the announcement: “Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon promised they would seriously investigate whether breaking up the duopoly would change the cost of living crisis three years ago. What did they achieve? Now we have an election in 35 days they now think they have answers. Why can’t this finance minister just explain how that will result in lower food prices?” Of the 12.2% who thought it would benefit producers, one voter said it would only benefit “the smaller artisan growers and producers who want to find a path to market”.

The latest Federated Farmers confidence survey showed farm profitability may be the highest in a decade, with 72% of farmers making a profit and fewer than one in 20 making a loss. But as we know, most farmers have experienced the highs and lows of the industry throughout their time on the land and are only too aware the situation can change quickly.

The next five weeks will be a whirlwind of candidate appearances and policy sweeteners.

The survey showed confidence about the next 12 months is shaky. Nearly 30% of farmers expect conditions to worsen, compared with only 12% expecting improvement. The next five weeks will be a whirlwind of candidate appearances and policy sweeteners as political parties scrap to get current and potential new voters onside. As a voter, there is still plenty of time to work through the bluff and bluster and settle on a party that provides what is best for you, and, perhaps more importantly, the country.

Chart Title

12.2%

Last week’s question: Will breaking up the Foodstuffs co-operative’s Pak’nSave franchise benefit New Zealand’s food producers?

87.8%

I APPLAUD Lloyd Downing for his excellent letter to Farmers Weekly, “Getting the governance right” (September 21). Local government reform – from Three Waters to simplifying local government to the recent ultimatum for councils to state their positions in three months or have central government decide for them – is eclipsed by a delay until post election. Ministers Watts and Bishop have their own city-centric view on local government that is out of step with regional New Zealand. To dismantle regional councils in favour of councils of mayors is extraordinary – just the stupidity of placing responsibility on people who might have won a popular vote but bring no real-life experience or qualifications to any expanded regional role. Progress to date is being guided not by ratepayers but by councils and bureaucrats with top of mind their salary and job security. What ratepayers need to decide is what is best for them, retains their community of interest and works best as a region. Lloyd makes a good case for larger regional authorities with subordinate councils or community boards based on catchments taking care of local matters. That will retain communities of interest and protection through rating policies that ensure the burden of rates are confined to those who use or benefit from the need for expenditure. Multi-level elections can be done away with and councillors to regional authorities appointed by district or cities. Mayors should be replaced with chairmen or -women voted for by their councils. Readers need to use this election time to convey to MPs their distrust in local government reforms and let them know the clumsy options wbeing proposed are unsuitable and unaffordable. Reforms must deliver savings in staff and services, and put power back with the people through their elected councillors.

Best letter WINS a quality hiking knife Send your letter to the Editor at Farmers Weekly P.0. Box 529, Feilding or email us at farmers.weekly@agrihq.co.nz

This week’s poll question (see page 7):

Are cost of living pressures pushing you towards purchasing lowervalue proteins?

Yes No 1

2

3

Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll

Opinion

Opinion 17

17

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Setting the table for mindful change Eating the elephant

Phil Weir

Weir is an associate trustee of AGMARDT and a Beef + Lamb New Zealand farmer-elected director

A

S GENERATIONS shift and older homes are sorted through, you quickly realise how much family history is bound up in things modern life has very little room or patience for. Recently, during a family clearout, out came the boxes. Stacks of old china – Royal Doulton, intricate floral patterns, pastoral scenes, and sets depicting peaches and nectarines – sat alongside velvet-lined cases of family silver. Decades ago, these pieces represented serious capital investment, genuine pride of place, and hard-earned savings. Standing over those open boxes,

you have a moment of pure bewilderment: what on earth are we doing here? Walk through an op-shop and most people wouldn’t look twice at a porcelain saucer, yet in family homes, sets are guarded like gold bullion. We treat them as untouchable relics, terrified of a chip, while their practical value in a modern kitchen is close to zero. You can’t put gold rims in a dishwasher, and the days of 40 people dropping around for formal tea are long gone. Outside of our local school hosting a dahlia show and high-tea fundraiser, where the community brought the old sets out and everyone genuinely appreciated using them, these heirlooms spend decades locked behind glass in the dark. My birthday rolled around recently, and looking at those stacks of plates, the obvious thought surfaced: why leave them locked away? Why not actually use the stuff? If that china carried institutional memory, though, it was in for a serious cultural shock. Back when it was purchased, the menu was completely predictable: a leg of lamb or silverside carved paperthin, a puddle of thin gravy, boiled potatoes, peas, and over-stewed carrots. Our dinner looked completely different. We set the table with inherited silver spoons alongside

chopsticks, dishing up a vibrant, fragrant, Vietnamese beef dish made from our home kill. It was fresh, punchy, and loaded with herbs grown across a dynamic food economy. The flat antique rims were thoroughly tested by steaming broth, and we had our fair share of spills, but sitting there eating it was brilliant. To be fair, there is nothing wrong with a Sunday roast, it’s comforting, familiar, and has sustained rural families for generations. But to me, the truth was that this dinner was simply more exciting. It was full of flavour, and felt like an honest reflection of how our palates and our country have evolved. Sitting there with chopsticks resting on Royal Doulton, it got me thinking about how we handle tradition, progress and change in New Zealand agriculture. In farming, there is an unspoken rule that you don’t mess with a classic roast. The recipe worked, it stood the test of time, and it built the equity of the place on simple salt, pepper and hard graft. But progress often starts when the next generation tests the waters, quietly slipping a knuckle of ginger or a pinch of spice into the pot to see if the table can handle a bit of change without losing its core substance. That experiment creates a little natural friction. The older

generation wonders why the triedand-true recipe suddenly isn’t good enough, while the younger generation gets frustrated by the reluctance to try something new. But wanting to broaden the menu isn’t an insult to the roast that came before it. That meal made total sense with the knowledge, ingredients, and tools of its era. Progress isn’t about declaring the old recipe wrong. It’s recognising that the pantry has expanded, and that the next generation has different ingredients to work with. There’s a difference too, between preserving something and perpetuating it. You can preserve the Royal Doulton by wrapping it in newspaper, putting it in a box and storing it for the next generation. That doesn’t really perpetuate its value. Putting it on the table and giving it a reason to be there does. I think the same applies to a farm. Honouring the past doesn’t mean turning a working farm into a museum. The inherited foundation: our soils, climate, accumulated knowledge and production systems, still matter enormously. But the tools available to us have changed. Virtual fencing, genetics, data, automation and new approaches to grazing are simply ways of applying new thinking to

an asset we didn’t build ourselves. The plate holds firm; what we serve on it can change. This is where business transition actually happens: in the willingness to compromise. It isn’t about abandoning our heritage to eat takeaway on the couch, nor is it stubbornly sticking to the exact same routine just because that’s how it was always done. A successful transition is a merger.

Progress isn’t about declaring the old recipe wrong. It’s recognising that the pantry has expanded, and that the next generation has different ingredients to work with. The fool isn’t the generation that built the equity, nor is it the one wanting to try something new. The real mistake is leaving the asset locked away in a display cabinet, admired from a safe distance, untouchable, and ultimately serving no one because everyone is too scared to break something. After all, tastes evolve. Shanks were once what grandad fed to the dogs; a slow-cooked lamb shank massaman will be our whānau’s meat and tatties this weekend. The past built the plate. What we choose to serve on it now is entirely up to us.

Farming a growing concern for Ngāi Tahu Meaty matters

Allan Barber

Meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic.co.nz, http://allanbarber.wordpress.com

W

HEN Ngāi Tahu Farming takes over the DoC concession for the management of Molesworth Station, New Zealand’s largest farm, it will add 180,000 hectares to the farming business, more than doubling the land the iwi currently owns and leases. The expectation is that this will increase both the revenue and profitability of farming within the overall portfolio, although the latter may be challenging in the short term as Molesworth is integrated into the farming operation. In response to my question about changes envisaged to Molesworth’s farming operation, Ngāi Tahu said it is too early

in the process of negotiating the concession with DoC to speculate on operating decisions. In the meantime, the immediate priority is to understand DoC’s expectations and management objectives for the station. However, weed management and pest control are two obvious areas of importance. The 2025 annual report shows farming and forestry make up 22% of the asset base of Ngāi Tahu Holdings, of which farming operations alone constitute 16%, ranking third in importance after Ngāi Tahu Property Investments and Development (39.7%) and Ngāi Tahu Investments (26.6%). Seafood and tourism make up the balance of the portfolio. Over the past five years the net operating surplus of the whole business has increased by 70%, while the equity value has fluctuated according to market conditions and changes to accounting standards. The year 2025 was an impressive one across all business units, with farming bouncing back from a loss in 2024 to post a record profit of $39.2 million and 12% return on assets. This result was aided by a strong dairy performance, producing 4.235 million kilos of milk solids from a 4% production increase per cow. Returns from red meat improved, although dry weather at Balmoral

Station, combined with irrigation restrictions for the second year in a row, caused some challenges. Because of the increased level of interest following DoC’s decision to grant the Molesworth concession, I asked Ngāi Tahu several questions about their farming philosophy, the importance of farming as part of the portfolio and its performance, to which I received some constructive and informative answers.

We take a longterm, intergenerational approach that balances commercial performance with environmental stewardship. Ngāi Tahu Farming Ngāi Tahu has been invested in farming since the years following its 1998 Treaty settlement. Farming has become an increasingly significant part of the commercial portfolio over the past two decades, with Ngāi Tahu Farming established as a dedicated business in 2015. Today, Ngāi Tahu Farming manages around 100,000ha of farming and forestry land across the South Island. The farms continue to deliver strong

productivity and production outcomes while integrating technology and farm management practices that enhance environmental performance and create long-term value for both the land and the iwi. The farms are performing well against similar benchmarks, especially considering the soils and location. The success of the environmental performance is reflected in the recognition received for the environmental management approach, including consistently achieving A-grade Farm Environment Plan audit results across the operations. In response to my question about Ngāi Tahu Farming’s philosophy and whether it differs from other corporate and familyowned farming operations, they replied, “Our philosophy is not necessarily different from other operations. There are a number of high-performing corporate and family-owned farming businesses that share our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable land management. “Our farming philosophy is grounded in whakapapa (ancestry and links to the natural world) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship, stewardship and protection). “We recognise a responsibility to care for the whenua under our management, regardless of whether it is owned or

leased. We take a long-term, intergenerational approach that balances commercial performance with environmental stewardship.” Decision-making is guided by Ngāi Tahu values, including manaakitanga (respect, generosity and care for others), kaitiakitanga, and tohungatanga (expertise and proficiency). Investment focuses on innovation, technology and environmental management practices that support both farm productivity and the longterm health of the land with the goal of building resilient, highperforming farming businesses while improving the condition of the land over the long term. There are no doubt people who wonder why DoC awarded the Molesworth concession to Ngāi Tahu rather than to Jim Ward, the previous manager, on the basis of the iwi’s experience. It is difficult to imagine anybody having more suitable experience than Ward. But Ngāi Tahu has proved its farming capability over the past 20-plus years and is definitely in it for the long haul. DoC must have made its decision for long-term strategic reasons, which will be justified by the award of the lease for the country’s biggest farm property. More of your favourite opinion pieces now online farmersweekly.co.nz/opinion

18 Sector Focus

Sector Focus

Seed & Grain

Reaping top award for services to arable Annette Scott

NEWS

The key now is to work out how to go forward and have a strong, viable arable industry.

Arable

W

HILE Eric and Maxine Watson strive for excellence in their farming operation, they have never seen themselves as famous – but at the New Zealand Arable Industry awards 2026 they “most unexpectedly” entered the Arable Hall of Fame. A prominent Mid Canterbury cropping farmer, Eric likes to get on and do what he enjoys, always challenging and quietly achieving, enjoying the satisfaction of a job well done, but never expecting accolades. “It’s what I enjoy, it’s what I know, it’s what the soils here suit, so I grow the best I can and, yes, I do like a challenge along the way, if it’s got results at the end then there’s a lot of satisfaction.” He has set two Guinness world records for wheat yield, the latest in 2020 being 17.398 tonnes per hectare. Those challenges over the years have put Watson on the global stage for his exceptional crop management and record-breaking achievements, alongside his dedication to sustainable farming and innovative practices that have earned him a global reputation in the cropping industry. Induction into the Arable Hall of Fame was totally unexpected. The Hall of Fame honours individuals who have made a significant contribution to the arable industry. “It came most unexpectedly; I

Eric Watson Mid Canterbury

DECISIONS: The biggest challenge for cropping farmers Eric and Maxine Watson is deciding what crop will make them some money. Photo: Annette Scott was a bit overcome, but feel very honoured,” Eric said. The Watsons have been specialist cropping on their 490ha farm in the Ashburton district for 34 years, producing a variety of crops including wheat, barley, grasses, clover and specialist vegetable seeds. Eric started out on the family’s mixed sheep and cropping farm near the Rangitata River in South Canterbury but with cropping his real passion it was decided to look for a property with irrigation

potential and better suited arable soils. That took 10 years and the couple have no regrets. “I am not a stock person. My way of thinking is that if something comes that you want to do and are happier doing than what was on your original farm, you may as well go and do it, and that was my farm adviser’s thoughts at the time as well.” Arable is a small but mighty industry and while not so significantly profitable when

compared with some other farming sectors, is crucial to all NZ agriculture, he said. What arable farming means is evolving as growers seek out their most profitable options. “It’s tough right now but it’s always going to be important to NZ because we do underpin NZ’s pastoral farming sector, and wider industry exports. “The key now is to work out how to go forward and have a strong, viable arable industry. “What we produce on farm here

is very much dependent on what the markets are doing season by season, and what we might be able to make some money from is the biggest challenge these days. “Seed companies need to listen to farmers and get more realistic, and genetic engineering is a must to make a difference for NZ in the future. “Yes, we could make more money doing other things, but cropping is in my DNA and I still believe there is a good future in arable. “We have to make it work. We could milk cows but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and our soils wouldn’t handle cows here. “If I retired, I would get bored so, yes, in 10 years, you’ll probably still find me here.” Meantime the Watson farm remains open to the many international farmers who visit, including from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, France and Australia. Currently on the table is an invitation to attend as a guest speaker at the global industry production conference in Ukraine in February 2027. “Given the goings-on in that region, that’s a big think at this stage.”

Farmers warned to watch out for greasy cutworm Staff reporter

NEWS

Pests

FARMERS are warned to be on the lookout for insect pests this spring after high numbers of greasy cutworm wiped out whole paddocks of summer forage and maize crops. The unusually high numbers of this insect pest meant some paddocks had to be resown. El Niño creates ideal conditions for cutworm, Bioeconomy Science Institute research associate Derrick Wilson said. “Mild winters allow more pupae to survive, leading to larger moth populations in spring. “These moths begin laying eggs earlier, and the resulting caterpillars emerge at exactly the wrong time for growers, when crops are just establishing and most vulnerable.” Maize is a favourite target, but they can also decimate chicory, turnip and forage rape seedlings. And on at least one farm in Taranaki, they removed all the

clover in a two- to three-year old pasture last season. Barenbrug pasture specialist Graham Kerr said forewarned is forearmed, and farmers, resellers and consultants planning spring-sown crops should prepare accordingly.

The trouble with cutworm is that by the time you see significant signs of feeding, the damage is already done. Graham Kerr Barenbrug “We know the risk is likely to be high. The trouble with cutworm is that by the time you see significant signs of feeding, the damage is already done. We want farmers to be on guard this season.” Having been “nailed” by cutworm in 2024-2025, Ōtorohanga dairy farmer Bruce Collinson-Smith took no chances last spring and will do the same this season.

He direct-drills about 180 hectares of maize, chicory, turnips and winter swedes a year. “Everything gets sprayed for cutworm now. “If we time it right, we only need to do it once. Generally, we find it works best when the crop seedlings are around the two-leaf stage.” The pest destroyed 40% of his turnips sown in spring 2024 in a week, and the crop had to be resown, he said. “We’d had it before, but never that bad. Anything that wants to kill a crop has got worse in the past five to seven years.” Wilson said preparation for cutworm and early action are critical under El Niño conditions this spring. “Weedy paddocks, particularly those containing plantain and dock, can favour greasy cutworm populations by providing alternative host plants. “Controlling these weeds and implementing a fallow period, where the paddock is left free of crops and weeds for at least six

GREASY: The El Niño is expected to draw high numbers of insect pests such as greasy cut worm. weeks, can help reduce cutworm numbers by removing food sources and disrupting their life cycle, lowering the risk of infestation in subsequent crops. “Using insecticide-treated seed can provide early protection during establishment and this

also helps control other pests such as black beetle and Argentine stem weevil. “Regular crop scouting is essential ... frequent monitoring allows growers to respond quickly with appropriate control measures if needed.”

Rural Women 19

‘I would do it all again in a heartbeat’ India Grigson

W

HEN Margaret Faulker joined Rural Women New Zealand as a young mother in 1966, she was looking for companionship. Living on an isolated sheep and beef farm near Tapawera, opportunities to connect with other women were few and far between. What she found through Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) was not only friendship, but a lifelong community that would shape the next six decades (and counting) of her life. Recently, Margaret was recognised for her remarkable contribution to the organisation through 60 years of membership. For someone who has spent much of her life quietly working behind the scenes, the recognition came as a surprise. “I’ve just always been really interested in Rural Women New Zealand,” Margaret said. “It’s something I’ve admired and enjoyed being part of.” She officially joined in 1966, becoming heavily involved with the Tapawera branch as a 24-yearold mother navigating the realities of rural life. “There were no other farms near our farm. We were quite isolated and unless I went out, I didn’t have other ladies’ company. “So, it was quite special to me to be able to go out and meet with others . . . I thoroughly enjoyed the company. “Our meetings were held at night, so I used to go over the hill, and I’d fill up the car up with neighbours as I went to Tapawera,” she recalled. Margaret later admitted the “hill” was actually a 3-mile saddle gravel road, with 85 corners. Before long, Margaret’s practical

nature and knack for numbers saw her taking on greater responsibility within the branch. “I quickly became the branch treasurer, and then I was very soon made their president.” It was the beginning of a lifetime of volunteering. Described as meticulous with numbers and always willing to lend a hand, Margaret is a highly awarded and much-valued life member. Over the years, she’s helped organise events, manage branch finances, and support fellow members. “I went to lots of AGM conferences in Wellington and met so many wonderful rural ladies who became friends. It was quite special really. “I met a lot of women through RWNZ who left lasting impressions on me, women I’ve looked up to.” When asked about fond memories, Margaret laughed that there was no shortage of fun. “We used to hold unity days where we would sing songs, create little skits, and have a shared lunch. I took part in a lot of those, and we had lots of fun and lots of laughter.” Later, after she and her late husband Brian sold their farm and moved to Lower Moutere, Margaret continued her involvement by taking on a secretary role under RWNZ’s Housekeeper scheme. “How it worked was if someone needed help, they would ring me, and then every branch had two advisory members who would go to the person’s place and find out exactly what help was required. I would then find a suitable person for the job and pay their wages.” Margaret covered the area from Nelson Sounds to Murchison, aiding countless rural families over many years. “I did everything as a volunteer

RECOGNITION: Top of the South Island Region Leader, Barbara McKay, presents a certificate to Margaret Faulkner for 60 years of service.

and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said. Margaret held that role right up until the turn of the 21st century, but she didn’t remain idle. “Then the Nelson Provincial asked me to be their treasurer, which I took on for the next 23 years.” “I gave that up about two years ago. By the time I got into my 80s, I thought, you know, time someone else did those tricks,” she laughed. Diane Higgins, a current member and previous president of the Brightwater branch and Nelson Provincial, has known Margaret for over 30 years. “Our meetings were held in Richmond, and Margaret would come across from Mouteka all the time. It’s a good half hour drive, but she would come with baking and everything for morning tea. She was always helping in the

background . . . you couldn’t do without her.” Diane describes Margaret as exceptionally dedicated, reliable, generous with her time and a meticulous treasurer. “She was very, very meticulous with all her book-keeping. We never had one cent out of place, ever!” Diane was present when Margaret was acknowledged for 60 years of membership and said Margaret’s first instinct was to hide. “She doesn’t like the limelight, didn’t want the fuss, but we got her up the front to take a photo. She was quite surprised and quite ‘I only did my job’. But it was definitely more than just a job. She put her whole heart and soul into it,” Diane said. Despite having taken a step back from branch operations, Margaret remains a fully committed member of RWNZ.

“I went to a meeting yesterday and that was very enlightening. It was very good that we could sit there and have open discussions on all manner of things to do with rural women.” Margaret shared. “If you can find the time and you’re able, I would most definitely say join us. You’ll get a lot of benefit from being a member and it’s a good training ground,” she said. “Joining RWNZ has shaped such a big portion of my life; the ladies I met, the opportunities I had and the people I was able to help. Gosh, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”

MORE:

Rural Women New Zealand has been advocating for, connecting and supporting rural women and communities across the country for 100 years. Visit ruralwomennz.nz and become a member today.

FEDERATED 20 Fed Farmers

FARMERS Vol 4 No 39, October 5, 2026

fedfarm.org.nz

Enough talk – time to build resilience By Richard Dawkins Federated Farmers water storage spokesperson

W

hile politicians and commentators keep arguing about emissions taxes and fractions of a percentage in methane targets, the climate debate looks rather different out on farm. For farmers, it’s about whether a culvert can handle the next downpour, whether there’s enough feed banked for the dry, and whether the road is still there when you need to get stock out. I’ve spent more than two decades watching New Zealand argue about climate policy. I still remember discussing the FART tax protests and tractors on the steps of Parliament in third-form social studies. Twenty-three years later, having learnt a lot more about farming, emissions and our economy, the whole idea of taxing agricultural emissions at the farm gate seems increasingly ridiculous. On our family farm in Marlborough, we have been adapting for years. Some of that could be called climate mitigation, although we certainly didn’t make every decision with that label attached. On our own farm, that’s meant deliberately overbuilding things: bigger culverts, higher bridges, more drainage, more supplementary feed held in reserve, better water systems, and strategic use of trees, both native and exotic – all more

than we probably need today. None of it makes for a particularly exciting climate change press release, but when the rain arrives or the season turns dry, that is what resilience actually looks like in the real world. We’ve also become more productive on our farm, using improved genetics and farm systems to produce more from fewer animals. That has lowered the emissions intensity of what we produce, while those investments in infrastructure have made the farm more resilient when the weather turns against us. Even if New Zealand met every climate target tomorrow, farmers would still need to deal with adverse weather events. That’s why adaptation and resilience deserve much greater prominence in the discussion. Resilience starts on the farm, but it cannot end there, and that means thinking differently about infrastructure. Too often, resilience is treated as something we deal with after an event. We repair the road, replace the bridge, restore the power and support the businesses that have taken a hit. I believe we need to get much better at investing before the event. New Zealand has become very good at counting emissions and writing climate strategies. But we’ve been much less effective at pouring concrete, shifting dirt and building the infrastructure that will actually help communities withstand the next drought or flood.

Water storage is perhaps the clearest example of where those ideas come together. We have talked for years about the need to build resilience, lift productivity and strengthen regional economies. Water storage is one of the few investments that can contribute to all those objectives at once. The challenge now is not to keep debating whether storage matters; it is to create the conditions that allow worthwhile projects to actually happen. That requires leadership from central government. Communities can do the groundwork, raise the money and fight their way through consenting, but projects of this scale eventually need the Government to get alongside them and help get them built. This is exactly the sort of area where New Zealand needs to think bigger. Climate resilience cannot simply mean asking farmers to keep adapting within the farm gate while the infrastructure around them struggles to keep pace. If we expect businesses and communities to prepare for a more variable climate, the country must be willing to invest in the systems that give them the ability to do so. Water storage should be one of the defining infrastructure priorities for the next government. That’s not because farmers are looking for a handout, but because resilient communities need resilient infrastructure, and well-designed,

OVERBUILDING: Richard Dawkins with his children beside one of the new culverts on their Marlborough farm, where they’ve been investing in infrastructure designed to future-proof the farm and build resilience for the next generation. multi-use water storage delivers benefits far beyond the farm gate. We’ve spent decades setting climate targets and measuring emissions. The next challenge is much more practical: what are we actually going to build?

Federated Farmers is challenging the next government to make water storage a national priority and build a generational legacy that will serve communities for decades to come. It’s time to stop talking and get on with it.

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Federated Farmers

21

fedfarm.org.nz – October 5, 2026

Faster farm products the real test

F

ederated Farmers is welcoming changes to the approvals system for agricultural products but says the real test will be if it delivers faster access for farmers and growers. The Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill passed its final reading on 23 September. Chris Dillon, Feds hazardous substances spokesperson, says farmers need more tools in the kit, and the changes are a positive step towards getting safe and effective products to them sooner. “We support the direction of these reforms and the Government’s efforts to make the approval system more proportionate, efficient and responsive. “Farmers need access to new products that can improve productivity, reduce environmental impacts and help them stay competitive. “It makes sense to make better use

of trusted international assessments rather than duplicating work that’s already been done.” Dillon says, ultimately, farmers and growers need to see that translate into change on the ground. “There’s still more work needed to make sure the system delivers on the intent of the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. “We’ll continue engaging with relevant government agencies to ensure the reforms deliver meaningful improvements for farmers and the wider agricultural sector. “We’re optimistic that as the changes are implemented, we’ll see tangible changes in the time it takes to get novel active ingredients approved.” Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says farmers, growers, and manufacturers have for too long faced delays and costs getting access to new agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines.

“That means New Zealand can miss out on products that lift productivity, reduce environmental impacts, and keep our primary sector competitive. “If a product is safe, effective, and meets New Zealand’s requirements, we shouldn’t be making people jump through more hoops than necessary.” Hoggard says the new laws will make the approvals system simpler, faster and easier to use. “This could mean dairy farmers getting new animal treatments sooner, growers accessing more targeted crop protection, and farmers adopting products that reduce nutrient losses, lower emissions, or improve resource efficiency. “For manufacturers, it means spending less time navigating regulatory hurdles and more time investing in new products and technologies for New Zealand’s primary sector.”

APPROVALS: Southland farmer Chris Dillon says farmers and growers will be looking for tangible results as the new system takes effect.

Feds celebrates new planning system

HURDLES: Feds says farmers have spent too much time and money navigating consent processes for basic infrastructure such as water storage.

Federated Farmers says new legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow our export-led economy. The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill have now passed their third reading in Parliament. Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says the new legislation is a huge 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. “The RMA has been around for more than 30 years, increasingly making it harder and more expensive for productive Kiwis to get on with doing things to grow our economy. “Farmers have spent far too much time and money navigating a system that’s been unnecessarily complex, expensive and uncertain for even the most basic everyday

activities, like building a new shed or water storage. “Meanwhile, councils and communities have also been left dealing with endless layers of bureaucratic planning rules and processes. “This marks the end of that era and the beginning of an opportunity to do things differently.” Federated Farmers has repeatedly called for the Government to get RMA reform across the line before the November election. “We’ve been clear that getting this legislation passed before the election was important, and the Government has delivered on that,” Hooper says. “Now we have a clean slate and the chance to build a planning system that’s simpler, more predictable and focused on getting good outcomes rather than generating more needless red tape. “These two new laws mark a fundamental

shift in the way New Zealand manages its natural resources. “Finally, we can restore some commonsense to the whole system and make it easier for farmers – and all New Zealanders – to get things done.” Hooper says passing the legislation is a major step in the right direction, but now the focus should turn to making sure the new system works as intended on the ground. “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. “There’s a way to go before the system is up and running, but there are things the Government could do to speed up the benefits of these reforms. “For example, they could pick up Federated Farmers’ request for 10 new national standards to make basic farming activities permitted activities.”

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October 5, 2026 – fedfarm.org.nz

Federated Farmers

Councils must stop pussy-footing on cats

C

ouncils need to toughen up on feral cats and take more responsibility for unwanted felines ending up in the countryside, Federated Farmers says. Anna Gillespie, the organisation’s Otago president, says unmanaged domestic cats are directly fuelling feral cat problems, creating significant economic and animal health risks for farmers in the region. She’s pushing Dunedin City Council to bring in mandatory cat microchipping and desexing as part of its current review of animal control bylaws. “The council needs to stop pussyfooting around this issue,” she says. “A lot of people don’t realise how serious a problem feral cats are for farmers,” she says. “Wild and wandering cats pose a massive threat to livestock because they spread toxoplasmosis, which is a major cause of ewes aborting their lambs. “Unwanted litters of town cats are being dumped out in the countryside, or they wander into

the rural fringes, creating a constant pipeline for feral cat colonies.” Gillespie says compulsory desexing would help limit unwanted kittens, while microchipping would enable biosecurity contractors and landholders to distinguish trapped pet cats from ferals. It’s not as if Dunedin would be breaking new ground with such measures. Eleven councils already require desexing, microchipping and registration, although registered breeding cats are exempt from desexing requirements. In 2023, toxoplasmosis took a devastating toll on the lambs of the late Lloyd Faulkner, who farmed at Tapawera, helping persuade Tasman and Nelson councils to bring in cat management bylaws. Faulkner lost around 120 lambs to toxoplasmosis that year, costing him at least $13,000 – despite his ewes being vaccinated. His son Ian says Lloyd passed away late last year but at age 88 was still calling on the council to take more action on the feral cat problem.

NUMBERS: Central Otago farmer Andrew Paterson, with wife Tracy, says over the last 30 years they’ve trapped and killed many thousands of feral cats on his land.

There is no official estimate of how many feral cats are in New Zealand, but some believe the tally is much higher than the often-cited number of 2.4 million. Federated Farmers’ 2026 national pest survey found feral cats are on more than 70% of New Zealand’s farms – the highest percentage behind possums and rabbits. Central Otago farmer Andrew Paterson says over the last 30 years they’ve trapped and killed many thousands of feral cats on his land. In 1995 they launched a ferrettrapping programme on Matakanui Station, when TB was running rampant through livestock. Early on they found that for every two to three ferrets they trapped, they’d also trap a cat. “Gradually, we started trapping more cats than ferrets,” he says. “For a time, we started to see cats that clearly were domestic in origin. We’d see kittens meowing for a pat, and other cats that weren’t the motley-coloured wild ones, but straight black and so on. “Alexandra is not that far away and

TOXO TABBIES: Feral cats spread toxoplasmosis to sheep and goats and need to feature in a national pest strategy and well-funded regional and catchment pest management plans, Richard Dawkins says. Photo: Supplied clearly people were driving out the back road to dump unwanted cats.” After a publicity campaign in the township, things improved, he says. “But feral cats are still everywhere and they’re really bad news. “As well as the toxoplasmosis, they’re a super predator. Fantails and the like just get hammered by them.” Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, spread through the faeces of cats. Ewes contract the disease by eating parasite-infected pasture, hay or other supplementary feed. The parasite can enter waterways from land run-off and is a confirmed cause of death in Hector’s and Māui dolphins. A 2014 report for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council estimated the region’s farmers spend about $336,000 each year vaccinating sheep against toxoplasmosis. That cost prevents an estimated $1.03 million annually in lost lamb production in that region alone. As well as compulsory cat desexing and microchipping,

Federated Farmers wants to see feral cats included in regional pest management plans. Pest control spokesperson Richard Dawkins says farmers spend a lot of money on toxoplasmosis vaccinations, but the vaccine covers only a certain number of strains. “We have a thorough vaccination programme on our farm in Marlborough but we still have dead lambs that test positive for toxoplasmosis,” Dawkins says. “Feral cat management is part of the national pest management strategy that Federated Farmers is calling for. “We want landowner responsibility and regional and catchment-scale pest control programmes restored, with long-term funding certainty.” He says Dunedin City Council – or any council yet to act – needs to get cracking on cat desexing and microchipping. “We’re with Predator Free 2050 and environmental groups on this one: unmanaged cats are a critical missing link in pest eradication efforts.”

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Federated Farmers

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fedfarm.org.nz – October 5, 2026

Safety rules get a dose of clarity

N

ew health and safety guidance will give farmers greater certainty about what is expected of them when managing risks on-farm, Federated Farmers says. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has launched two new Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) covering roles and responsibilities in agriculture and safe farm vehicle operation. Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson Greg Anderson says the organisation has worked closely with the Minister and WorkSafe throughout the development of the ACOPs. “We’ve been heavily involved in this process from the beginning to make sure farmers’ experiences and concerns were reflected. “Through webinars, direct engagement and detailed feedback, farmers have had a strong voice, and we’re proud to have played a part in getting these changes to where they are today. “This is exactly what good advocacy should look like – working with Government to get better, more workable rules for farmers.” Anderson says the finished ACOPs provide much-needed clarity around how health and safety responsibilities work in the fastchanging environment of a farm. “We all agree that farm safety is absolutely vital and that we need to

NEWS: Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has launched two new Approved Codes of Practice.

Having clearer guidance around who’s responsible for what, and how those responsibilities overlap, will give farmers a lot more confidence. Greg Anderson Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson

WORKING TOGETHER: Greg Anderson says Feds has worked closely with Government and WorkSafe to ensure the new guidance reflects the realities of farming. be doing better, but the rules also need to be grounded in fairness and common sense. “Farmers will be pleased to see these ACOPs focus on the realities of farm life and provide practical guidance they can actually use – not just vague guidelines. “Farms are dynamic workplaces,

with farmers, employees, contractors and other businesses often working together. “Having clearer guidance around who’s responsible for what, and how those responsibilities overlap, will give farmers a lot more confidence.” The Roles and Responsibilities in Agriculture ACOP provides guidance for situations where farmers, managers, workers, contractors, suppliers and others have overlapping health and safety duties. Meanwhile, the Safe Farm Vehicle Operation ACOP sets out practical ways to manage serious vehiclerelated risks, including choosing the right vehicle for the job, assessing conditions and keeping people clear of vehicle movements. “Vehicle safety is a critical part of farm safety, so having practical guidance around how to manage those risks is important,” Anderson says. “Good health and safety should be

about identifying and managing real risks, rather than farmers having to navigate unnecessary complexity or paperwork.” The ACOPs will come into effect on 1 April 2027 alongside amendments to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, including changes clarifying responsibilities for recreational activities, director duties and the compliance burden on small businesses. Federated Farmers also welcomes the potential for the ACOPs to receive safe-harbour status following the legislative changes. “This is absolutely something we’ve been calling for, because farmers need confidence that if they follow recognised guidance, they are doing what the law expects of them. “The possibility of safe-harbour status would provide another important layer of certainty and clarity for farmers. “We’ll continue working closely

with WorkSafe to make sure the guidance works in practice and reflects the realities of farming.” Anderson says Federated Farmers is happy to see the Government’s health and safety reforms progressing. “We’re proud to have played a meaningful role in helping get this reform process off the ground, and it’s good to see some of the changes farmers have been calling for now taking shape. “There’s still work to do to lift the bar on farm safety, but farmers need rules that help them manage risk effectively, rather than simply creating more compliance. “Our priority is helping farmers feel supported and confident to engage with health and safety in a way that genuinely reduces risk on-farm – not just ticks boxes.” Minister van Velden says the ACOPs are not about creating new duties. “They are about making existing health and safety duties clearer so businesses understand who needs to do what, where responsibilities overlap, and how serious risks should be managed. “While following an ACOP is not mandatory, an ACOP sets a recognised standard for compliance,” she says. “I expect that this will provide greater clarity and certainty for the farming sector, particularly if the ACOP is confirmed to provide a safe harbour following the commencement of this Government’s health and safety legislative changes.”

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24 Real Estate

ADVERTISEMENT

More buyers than sellers: A rural market a decade in the making This is the first time in 10 years we’ve had more buyers than sellers in our rural property market, ignoring the post-COVID effect of 2021, which was an artificial market supported by massive fiscal stimulus from the central government.

Given the lack of rural stock on the market, this 80% figure could rise further over the 26/27 season. Not least because a significant number of long-dated farm listings going back several seasons sold last season.

By contrast, the here and now is a straight supplyversus-demand equation, where the market is operating on a “farmer-to-farmer” basis with very limited competition from alternative land uses. There are a lot of farmers and growers currently looking to expand their businesses to take full advantage of the very favourable operating conditions; however, there are far fewer farmers and growers actually looking to sell.

“For buyers, the reality of missing an opportunity is now very real.”

We can see this playing out in real time with the level of activity around new listings nationally. Our team across the country are talking to farmers and growers every day, and this gives us a very good view of what’s happening on the ground. Buyer enquiries are coming through early, and buyers are well positioned to operate. Particularly when the right property comes to market, buyers are definitely paying attention.

For buyers, the reality of missing an opportunity is now very real. For those with a growth mindset, the opportunity cost of not securing assets to support their farming business will be a real consideration this season as buyers determine what to pay. We expect buyer demand for quality listings to continue to drive stronger sale prices nationally, and not just in the sought-after locations.

The chart below compares the number of listings for the season and the relative percentage clearance rates. Other than the peak of 20/21, the last 12 months have been the best for farms going to market and being successfully sold.

For those of us who have seen a season or two, good times don’t last forever. Buyer sentiment can shift, and while none of us expects a dip in underlying valuations over 2027/28, having more

buyers than sellers isn’t something anyone should bank on indefinitely; historically, this has been the exception, not the rule. What makes our times more unique is that nothing in the current market depends on alternative land use, foreign buyers, or Central Government largesse; it’s all about the economics of growing and farming, and how well positioned we are to take NZ Inc into the future as a primary export nation. The activity we are seeing around new listings is perhaps the clearest evidence of that confidence right now. Whether you are looking to buy or sell your farm or lifestyle property, our True Team is here to exceed your expectations. With the right balance of experience, energy, and local insight on your side, you can move forward with confidence alongside Property Brokers. Call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz. Conrad Wilkshire, GM Rural for Property Brokers Ltd

Rural listings put on the market vs number of sales each season 3000

2500

Rural Listings vs Sales Clearance Rate 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2026 (20ha+)

Number

2000

1500

1000

59%

89% 54%

48%

80%

78%

49%

51%

64% 44%

500

0

Listings

Sales Source: Realestate.co and REINZ Q036845

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Proud to be here

25

A career built one relationship at a time Chris Murdoch | Property Brokers, Ashburton

In rural communities, reputations aren’t built overnight. They’re earned through trust, knowledge and consistently delivering for people. Few careers demonstrate that better than Chris Murdoch’s. Named the 2026 REINZ Individual Rural Salesperson of the Year, Chris stands among the most accomplished and respected names in New Zealand rural real estate. The national title adds another significant milestone to an extraordinary career. Chris has sold approximately $2 billion in real estate, including around $950 million over the past 13 years alone. Few have written more rural real estate business. But behind those numbers is a story that has always been about people. Chris grew up on his family farm at Mayfield, worked on farms overseas and spent 12 years running his own agricultural contracting business before moving into real estate in 1990. Farming wasn’t a market he had to learn. It was a world he already understood.

TRUE TEAM PROMISE

That grounding has remained central to the way he works. Over more than three decades, Chris has become a trusted adviser to farming families across Mid Canterbury and beyond. Much of his success has been built on the loyalty of clients who have returned to work with him time and again. In many cases, those relationships have extended across generations, with Chris now working with the sons and daughters of people he first helped years ago. There have been major corporate transactions and complex Overseas Investment Office deals along the way, but equally important have been the countless conversations around kitchen tables and at farm gates, helping families make decisions about land, businesses and legacies.

In 2025, Property Brokers Ashburton was named REINZ Rural Office of the Year – Small for the third time. Now, Chris has added the 2026 individual national title to that proud record. And behind Chris’s career has been another constant: his family. Real estate is rarely a nine-to-five profession, and Chris is quick to acknowledge the understanding and support of his wife Leonie and their family over the years. Building a career at this level takes commitment from more than one person – and, as Chris knows, being married to a real estate agent isn’t always easy. The 2026 national title is another remarkable achievement in a career full of them. Yet perhaps the greatest measure of Chris Murdoch’s success isn’t the billions of dollars in property sold or the awards beside his name.

Chris has long believed that “knowledge is power”, and his knowledge has been earned through a lifetime immersed in farming and decades spent watching the rural property market evolve.

It’s the loyalty of generations of farming families who continue to place their trust in him, and the family who have supported him every step of the way.

His success also sits within an Ashburton office with an exceptional rural pedigree.

And in rural New Zealand, there are few accolades greater than that.

To find out more, visit pb.co.nz/REINZ-awards Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | Q036849

26

Te Aroha 5885 State Highway 26 Tender

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Dairy farm with solid infrastructure

121.52 ha

A well-established 121 ha farm in the Hauraki Plains, offering productive pasture, quality infrastructure and a strong focus on long-term farm resilience, with the option to continue with the dairy operation or transition to a large-scale runoff system. The property features a 30-as cowshed, good supporting infrastructure and clean, well-maintained pastures. Since 2022, the farm has been part of a Living Soils project, focused on building soil health and resilience through diverse pastures. This farm has operated under an OAD system year-round, milking 280 cows with no imported feed, system 1. Featured on this farm are a number of wellestablished and recently fenced off kahikatea stands with some regeneration & underplanting completed. The farm includes two recently renovated homes, both presented in good condition and providing comfortable accommodation for family or staff.

Tender closes 2.00pm, Mon 12th Oct, 2026 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers - C/- Farmlands, 127 Mangawhero Road, Matamata View Thu 8 Oct 11.00 - 12.00pm Web pb.co.nz/MAR236362 Alwin Thorne George M 027 208 1414 E alwin@pb.co.nz Ian Morgan M 027 492 5878

E ian.morgan@pb.co.nz

Marotiri 550 Puketapu Road Tender

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Lakeside Farm Lakeside Farm is a well-established dairy support and beef finishing property comprising approximately 230 ha (more or less), overlooking Lake Taupo and enjoying expansive lake and mountain views. Predominantly flat and highly productive, the farm has been completely regrassed and features established stands of lucerne, quality pastures and reliable silage production. Located at the end of a no-exit road, the property provides excellent privacy and biosecurity while remaining approximately 40 minutes west of Taupo. A reliable bore-fed water supply is reticulated throughout the farm, while a well-formed all-weather laneway provides convenient year-round access. Modern cattle yards, constructed within the past few years, feature all-weather access for efficient stock handling. Accommodation is provided by a comfortable three-bedroom home with a spacious deck and elevated rural outlook.

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

230.29 ha Tender closes 2.00pm, Wed 21st Oct, 2026 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers 5 Tarawera Road, Rotorua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/RTR232426

Phil Badger M 027 357 5704

E phil.badger@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

27

Taumarunui Cnr Whanganui River Road and Otunui South Road

Nuhaka 33 Wai Iti Road

Deadline Sale

Farm it or plant it Located approximately 16.5 km from Taumarunui, near Otunui Landing, this 93 ha ex-forestry block fronts State Highway 43. Previously planted in pine, the property has now been harvested and is ready for a new owner. The block has good tracking throughout, with established access directly from State Highway 43, and the Otunui Stream running through the property. With the forestry now harvested, the land offers potential to replant it for forestry or a change of use, including the possibility of being developed back into pasture for farming. Advances in virtual fencing and wearable livestock technology may also provide options for managing cattle across the block.

Tender

First farm opportunity

93.75 ha Deadline Sale closes Friday 23rd October, 2026 at 11.00am, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TUR237819

29.55 ha

A chance has arisen to get into that rural block you have been thinking about. This 29 ha property features a character home with wooden floors, a bespoke eucalyptus kitchen, high-stud and wood-stove-fired radiators to ward off early spring morning chills. The double garage leads out to a large 150 m2 shed with three big bays that lead through to a stable complex behind. Clean farmland, an impressive water scheme fed by spring water, and a firewood lot complete the opportunity. Well worth a look.

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

Tender closes 12.00pm, Thu 5th Nov, 2026 (unless sold prior), 132 Marine Parade, Wairoa View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WRR236261

Fenton Wilson M 027 498 4483

Aokautere 534 - 734 Fitzherbert Road East Tender

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Te Kura - Multiple purchase options Ideally located just 12 km from Palmerston North's CBD, Te Kura presents an outstanding opportunity to secure a highly productive and well-developed finishing property with flexible purchase options to suit a range of purchasers. Over the vendors' tenure, the property has undergone significant development, with extensive investment in pasture renewal, fertility, fencing and drainage. Purchasers have the flexibility to choose from a range of options, including approximately 137 ha* of highly productive flat land through to the full 182 ha* option, which includes approximately 40 ha* of easy hill country, a woolshed and a fourbedroom dwelling. Adding further recreational appeal is a centrally located 4 ha wetland, providing an excellent habitat for ducks and ample opportunity for the avid duck hunter. With its proximity to Palmerston North, productive land, significant recent development and flexible purchase options, Te Kura represents an attractive opportunity. *Subject to Survey. Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

182.7 ha Tender closes 2.00pm, Wed 28th Oct, 2026, Property Brokers, 54-56 Kimbolton Road, Feilding Web pb.co.nz/PR198862

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Blair Cottrill M 027 354 5419

E blair@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

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Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

NEW LISTING

Hillend 17 Tongue Road New Listing

Leeston 116 Andersons Road Capital efficient dairy unit with upside

352.71 ha

An opportunity to secure a well-developed dairy operation offering Deadline Sale closes Wednesday 28th October, 2026 at 12.00pm, scale, strong infrastructure, and further production upside. The (unless sold prior) farm comprises an approximately 250 ha milking platform, with View By appointment production increasing from approximately 230,000 to 250,000 Web pb.co.nz/DNR205122 kgMS in recent seasons. Significant investment and redevelopment during our vendors’ tenure has created a well-equipped and capital-efficient farming operation. The 42 ASHB dairy shed has benefited from recent upgrades. For the 2026/27 season, the operation is targeting a peak milking herd of approximately 700 cows and budgeted production of 350,000 kgMS, highlighting the Joe Latta scale and production potential of the operation. M 027 224 7112

Quality soils and low-cost water This well-located 94-hectare (more or less) property offers a productive and versatile farming opportunity, supported by fertile soils, reliable irrigation and established infrastructure. With a proven history of specialist crop production, the land is well suited to cropping, lamb finishing, cattle grazing or dairy support. Two wiper pivots and gun irrigation, backed by a reliable, lowcost water supply, support consistent production. Located near Leeston in the growing Selwyn District, the property offers easy access to local amenities and Christchurch. An excellent option as a strategic addition to an established operation or an opportunity to establish your own.

94.5798 ha Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Wed 28 Oct 2026 View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5531581

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

331 Milliken Road, Richmond Downs

Limited edition 85.60 ha Don’t get caught napping. This impressive 86-hectare dairy farm has consistently produced approximately 2100kgs/ms/ha, averaging 180,000 kgs /ms for the last 15 years. The two huge composting barns, location, contour, and presentation all add to this properties appeal. Two dwellings complete the package. The main being a beautifully presented three-bedroom brick home with sleepout.

AUCTION Thursday 29th Oct 11am (unless sold prior)

AGENTS Rex Butterworth 021 348 276 Peter Begovich 027 476 5787

VIEW Tues 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th Oct. 10 am - 2pm

AGENCY LJ Hooker Matamata Link Realty Limited Licensed Agent REA 2008

Enquire today

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NEW LISTING

Ohingaiti 208 Otara Road

Rangitīkei River flats

52.9126 ha

Exceptionally located only 2km off State Highway 1, this secluded farm with highly productive soils, gravel extraction royalties and lifestyle potential sits alongside the pristine Rangitīkei River.

Auction (will not be sold prior) 10am, Fri 13 Nov 2026 49 Manchester Street, Feilding View by appointment Pete Stratton 027 484 7078 peter.stratton@bayleys.co.nz

With its fertile river flats and exceptional soil P levels, this delightful property will finish stock at heavy weights and support maize grain or silage, rape, kale, swedes, turnips, lucerne and other crops. Build your elevated home near native trees and ferns to view the iconic Papa Cliffs and enjoy the long river boundary for fishing and swimming. The farm has three-phase power, cattle and sheep yards with all-weather access, and two units from the Hunterville water scheme reticulated throughout, providing many development opportunities. Revenue is supplemented from a gravel access agreement, with the opportunity to develop and increase.

BARTLEY REAL ESTATE MANAWATU LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5863425

Boundary lines are indicative only

Boundary lines are indicative only

Turua 55 Opua Road

Paeroa 6379 State Highway 26, Tirohia

Prime Hauraki Plains position Looking for a prime opportunity? Look no further. Offered to the market for the first time in 100 years, this 90ha (more or less) Hauraki Plains property has a proven track record of consistent performance. Flat, rectangular and well-fenced, the farm features good drainage, a centrally located 22-bale rotary cowshed and reliable metered council water. Milking 220–250 cows for Fonterra, production has averaged 78,300kgMS over the past two seasons. Accommodation includes a four-bedroom, twobathroom home with two lounges, garage and carport, plus a three-bedroom worker’s home. Close to Ngatea, Thames and Paeroa, with three primary schools nearby and Hauraki Plains College in zone. A compelling business and lifestyle opportunity.

bayleys.co.nz/2630300

90.9269 ha Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 5 Nov 2026 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 1-2pm Wed 7 Oct Karl Davis 0508 83 83 83 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz Sam Aislabie 027 429 5410 SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

A proven performer, five titles Set across approximately 97.45ha of fertile, flat Waihou silt and peat soils, this well-established dairy unit presents a proven farming opportunity in a sought-after Hauraki Plains location. Producing 110,499kgMS in 2024–25, the property features a 24-aside herringbone cowshed, 300-cow yard, extensive shedding and upgraded water reticulation with a new Grundfos pump. The spacious four-bedroom plus office main home offers quality family living, while a second three-bedroom dwelling provides excellent staff, extended family or income accommodation. Conveniently positioned between Te Aroha and Paeroa, with easy access to Hamilton, this is a productive, wellequipped operation with proven performance and versatility.

97.45 ha Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 3pm, Wed 28 Oct 2026 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Mon 5 Oct, Mon 12 Oct & Mon 19 Oct or by appointment Sam Aislabie 027 429 5410 sam.aislabie@bayleys.co.nz Karl Davis 027 496 4633 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2315222

bayleys.co.nz

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Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Accelerating Success.

AGRIBUSINESS

Scale, Nature and Opportunity

FOR SALE

For Sale

982 Herepuru Road, Manawahe Colliers Rural & Agribusiness presents 982 Herepuru Road, a substantial 358.84-hectare rural holding combining productive grazing country with extensive native bush, natural water and outstanding recreational appeal. Held by the same ownership for more than 40 years, the property offers genuine scale and privacy, with a diverse mix of open grazing, native bush, pine stands, streams and natural features. Key features:

299 HA OF POSSIBILITY - ON AUCKLAND’S DOORSTEP 77 REMIGER ROAD, PŪHOI

•

358.84ha total.

•

Established drystock operation with productive grazing country

•

Extensive areas of native bush, pine and natural waterways

•

Four-bedroom home plus storage and machinery sheds

•

Significant recreational potential for hunting, horse trekking, four-wheel driving and outdoor pursuits

•

A unique combination of open country, bush, waterways, privacy and scale

•

Potential to provide a valuable grazing support block for nearby farming operations

A substantial and naturally diverse rural holding where farming and recreation come together in one of the Manawahe district’s more distinctive properties. For Sale by Tender – closing 4pm, Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Clint Brereton 027 897 1161

Hadley Brown 027 442 3539 Waikato CR Limited Colliers Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67042506

Rarely does an opportunity of this scale and proximity to Auckland come to market. Held by the same family and offered for the first time in generations, 77 Remiger Road is approximately 299 hectares of Pūhoi hill country, an easy drive north on State Highway 1. Farmed as a sheep and beef unit, the property carries a full complement of farming amenities, spring-fed water and dual road access off Remiger and Tunnel Roads. Pasture that was largely non-forest in 1989 also opens the door to ETS afforestation alongside grazing. Almost 300 hectares offer scope for mountain biking, horse trekking, hunting or exploring. A natural stream and substantial areas of retired native forest add seclusion and character, while elevated sites open to views of Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel and west across the ranges. Ōrewa Beach and Warkworth are both around 20 minutes, the Pūhoi Pub just minutes, and the Te Araroa Trail runs along Remiger Road.

FOR SALE BY TENDER, Closing 4pm, Wednesday 4th November 2026 (unless sold prior)

Warwick Searle

George Cashmore

James Burke

Clint Brereton

021 362 778

021 0264 1362

021 824 145

027 897 1161

SEARLEAGRI.CO.NZ

COLLIERS.CO.NZ/P-NZL67042473

Waikato CR Ltd | Forestry Sales Ltd trading as Searle Agribusiness | Colliers Liscensed REAA 2008

Accelerating success.

Accelerating success.

Versatile Land Development Opportunity

Springbank Honey, “As-is, where is” Sale

For Sale

Receivership Sale

Boundary lines are indicative only

Boundary lines are indicative only

1227 Oxford Road, Cust, Waimakariri District

381 Georges Road, Waipara, Hurunui District

For Sale by Deadline closing 2pm Thursday 29th October 2026 (unless sold prior)

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty closing 2pm, Wednesday 4th November 2026 (unless sold prior).

4.0234 Ha Freehold

141.5800 ha (more or less)

12km from Amberley

Land Use Consent for Farming Activity

Two Bores with Groundwater Use Consent

Colliers, as sole agents, are proud to present 381 Georges Road, offering 141.58 hectares of predominantly flat rural land in the Broomfield area. Currently operated as a dryland sheep grazing unit, the property features good subdivision, established shelter and predominantly permanent pasture. Two bores were established in 2022 (9.4L/S & 10.2 L/S), with resource consents in place for groundwater use and farming activities. For more information please contact George Fox of Colliers today.

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67042658

George Fox 027 614 3763

Agri Realty Limited. Colliers Licensed REAA 2008

Five Bedroom Home

Large Honey Processing Facility

Warehouse/Office/Retail

A rare opportunity to secure a substantial honey processing property incorporating purpose-built infrastructure, warehousing, distribution facilities, retail premises and an executive residence. The five bedroom home is located on a natural terrace and spans approximately 318 sqm. For Sale is an established honey processing business and all associated processing plant and machinery, plus hives and various honey stocks (including manuka). All assets can be purchased together or separately.

Richard O’Sullivan 027 292 3921

George Fox 027 6143 763

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67042571

Agri Realty Limited. Colliers Licensed REAA 2008

Real Estate

31

31

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

AGRIBUSINESS

FOR SALE

DAIRY PLATFORM DELIVERS SCALE & OPPORTUNITY IN KAIPARA 455 WEST COAST ROAD, TE KŌPURU, KAIPARA, NORTHLAND A proven Northland dairy platform is coming to market at 455 West Coast Road, Te Kōpuru, comprising approximately 179.6 hectares with 175 hectares of effective dairy platform. Production reached 306,529 kgMS in 2025/26 from a 507-cow peak herd, up from 283,906 kgMS the previous season. 11.1 tDM/ha of feed grown on the milking platform, supported by an established operating system and infrastructure. Improvements include a 33-aside herringbone dairy shed, centrally located feed pad, 61 main paddocks, limestone races, three bores and two three-bedroom homes. A leased runoff block supporting wintering, young stock and supplement production is also available by negotiation. 455 West Coast Road offers an established dairy operation with a solid production base and scope for an incoming owner to build on its performance.

Clint Brereton

James Burke

Warwick Searle

George Cashmore

027 897 1161

021 824 145

021 362 778

021 0264 1362

FOR SALE BY TENDER, Closing 4pm, Wednesday 4th November 2026 (unless sold prior)

SEARLEAGRI.CO.NZ

Waikato CR Ltd | Forestry Sales Ltd trading as Searle Agribusiness | Colliers Liscensed REAA 2008

Accelerating success.

Premium Industrial - Taupō For Sale

9 Raywood Crescent, Tauhara, Taupō

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty closing 3pm Tuesday 27 October 2026 (unless sold prior)

Substantial 3,944m² freehold site

100% NBS

Returning $180,000 net pa + GST

Strategic Taupo location

9 Raywood Crescent presents a modern, fully leased industrial investment in Taupō’s Ashwood Business Park. The 1,061m² building combines showroom and reception areas, offices, workshop space and staff amenities. Three roller doors, three-phase power and drivethrough access support efficient operations, while a generous sealed yard provides parking, loading and vehicle manoeuvring. The property is leased to Nexus Optical Technologies on a six-year term commencing May 2025, returning $180,000 net per annum plus GST. Approximately 1,304m² of excess land offers scope for future expansion or development, subject to the necessary consents. With a flexible building layout, established tenant and room to grow, this is a compelling opportunity for investors seeking a quality industrial asset in an expanding commercial precinct.

Danny Blair 021 826 496

Hugh Milloy 021 901 390

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67042581

Michael Jones 027 826 2750 Tremain Commercial Limited Colliers Licensed REAA 2008

32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

1637 Parewanui Road, BULLS304.8855 HECTARES ( 753 acres) OPIAKO NEW LISTING

950 cow (peak), 246 hectare / 607 acre dairy farm located in Bulls, the heart of dairy country in the Rangitikei. • With a current lease of 80 ha, the property is 294 hectares effective. • Consented for irrigation which covers approx. 205 hectares. • 46 aside Herringbone shed with in-shed feeder. • Four houses. Invest in dairy, where GREEN is GOLD

Jerome Pitt

Rural & Lifestyle Specialist 027 242 2199 jeromep@forfarms.co.nz Licensed under the REA 2008

1480 State Highway 1, GLEN OROUA 114 hectare / 281 acre flat to easy dairy unit located at Glen Oroua, approx. 33 km Enquire Now! west of Palmerston North. • Currently milking 350 cows. Contact: For Farms (NZ) Ltd • Opiako—304.8855 hectares ( 753 acres) for Information Memorandum in place. • Arguably the most admired sheep and cattle • Irrigation consent finishing farm in the district, only 13 kms east•ofPivot irrigator and K Line. Dannevirke • 26 aside Herringbone shed. • Excellent balance of contour, fertile flats, • Four bedroom home.

A Garden Estate 30 Years in the Making South Auckland – 333 Kaipara Road, Ardmore

Some properties are purchased. Others are created over a lifetime. For the first time since it was built, 333 Kaipara Road is being offered to the market, a special lifestyle property shaped over decades by its original owners, whose nursery background helped transform the land into the remarkable garden setting it is today.

The substantial two-level residence offers excellent flexibility for family living, with generous living spaces, a spacious kitchen, additional upstairs areas and extensive garaging.

30 Mangahei Rd, Dannevirke

Property highlights:

LK0124930©

undulating easy to medium hill Call me today for more • First class improvements and facilities; four bedroom homestead, 3 stand woolshed, covered information & to book your appointment to view yards Jerome Pitt Craig Boyden Graeme Thomson • Price on Application. Rural Lifestyle M: 027 443 2738 M: 027 &450 7681 Specialist O: 06 374 4105 E: craigb@forfarms.co.nz

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Set in an elevated position amongst mature trees, sweeping lawns and established planting, the home enjoys impressive outlooks and a wonderful sense of privacy and tranquillity.

NEW LISTING

www.forfarms.co.nz - Property ID FF4204

O: 06 374 4108027 242 2199 jeromep@forfarms.co.nz E: Graemet@forfarms.co.nz Licensed under the REA 2008

www.forfarms.co.nz 06 374 4104

• 4 bedrooms • 2 full bathrooms & 2 ensuites. 6 toilets in total – one in the workshop and one washroom • Generous lounge, dining and kitchen • Upstairs rumpus and office spaces • Double garage plus additional garage/ workshop

• Town water and tank water • Exceptional established botanical-style gardens • Elevated position with impressive outlooks • Approx. 1.1013ha freehold land • 1/6 share in the adjoining 3.1826ha bush lot

Outside is where this property truly sets itself apart. Years of care and planting have created a remarkable garden environment with mature specimens, sheltered spaces and beautiful outlooks from the higher parts of the property. After many years here, the owners are moving into the next stage of their lives, creating a rare opportunity for someone new to enjoy a lifestyle property that would take decades to recreate. Team Waja Aalayya Waja: Ph 021 073 4565 - aalayya.waja@harcourts.co.nz Aadil Waja: Ph 021 979 788 - aadil.waja@harcourts.co.nz

SELLING YOUR FARM? Your agent may suggest you advertise in their brand publication. We suggest you remind them that this is the publication you, and every other farmer you know, reads. Call 0800 85 25 80 realestate@agrihq.co.nz

Real Estate

LK0125522©

32

33

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

WAIPUKURAU CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY 231 Lindsay Road

AUCTION Plus GST (if any)

Productive Bare Land Close to Town Held in three titles on both the northern and southern sides of Lindsay Road, this well positioned 110ha bare land property is located just 3.2km from the Waipukurau town centre. The land is predominantly flat, with a small area of rolling contour. All titles benefit from either direct road frontage or legal right-of-way access. The property is well fenced to a good conventional standard and is complemented by both two-bay and five-bay hay barns. Water is supplied from a reliable bore and reticulated to troughs throughout the property. An additional dam also provides supplementary water. A proven rural holding in a sought-after location, this property presents an excellent opportunity for farming, finishing, support land or future investment.

Will not be sold prior 11.00am, Fri 6 Nov Centralines, 17 Couglan Rd, Waipukurau

VIEW 11.00-12.00pm, Thursday 8 & 15 October Wills Buchanan M 027 462 9716 E wills.buchanan@pggwrightson.co.nz Paul Harper M 027 494 4854 E paul.harper@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/WPK44129

AUCTION

TE PUKE, BOP 364 Te Matai Road Talk About Dress-Circle! • • • • • • •

9.2015ha on one title at 85-105m elevation (approx) 4.09ha G3 and 1.10ha R19 all on ag-beam 18,000 plant (approx) tunnel house nursery Sheds, workshop and a concrete loadout pad Four bedroom, two bathroom double-glazed solid brick home The sale includes 2027 crop proceeds and licences No prior offers. Will not be sold prior to Auction date.

NEW LISTING

4

AUCTION

2

1

Plus GST (if any) Will not be sold prior 1pm, Thur 29 Oct, The Citizens RSA 179 Jellicoe St, Te Puke

VIEW 12.00-1.00pm, Tuesday

PUKEHINA 155 Cutwater Rd and 2 Gardiner Pl Large Scale Dairy at Pukehina Beach • • •

6, 13, 20 October

• • Tim Gallagher M 027 801 2888 E tim.gallagher@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEP44070

• •

Large scale self-contained dairy operation Milking 1,520 cows across two dairy units under System 2 management 1000 cows through a 50-bail rotary with ACR, ATS and in-shed feeding, plus a 40ASHB on the 520-cow unit with extensive accommodation 464ha (approx) support block in Te Kuiti Herd available to purchasers, featuring over 50 years of breeding and genetic development Outstanding investment opportunity rarely seen at this scale in BOP Flexible purchase options available

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm, Wednesday 11 November

VIEW As advertised online or phone for viewing times

Tim Gallagher M 027 801 2888 E tim.gallagher@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEP44081

NEW ISSUE COMING SOON RESERVE YOUR COPY PGGWRE.CO.NZ

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

34 Marketplace

Marketplace

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Silage Bales Hay Bales Cropping Fert Spreading

Contact Fred today

PH: 022 066 9868 WWW.vkzcontracing.co.nz

Sincro 16 to 93 kVA Inmesol 40 to 360 kVA

Contact Dean Shaw CALL 027 403 3960 marineindustrial.abequipment.co.nz

LET’S CUT A DEAL Your destination for quality used machinery available now for immediate delivery.

PEST CONTROL PROBLEMS?

fredsfencing.co.nz Ph: 027 22 88 190

Made in Germany

Not sure what thermal to invest in?

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS The 2026 Herbage Seed Growers’ Subsection AGM will be held on Wednesday 18 November at 3.30 pm at the Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club, Seafield Road, Ashburton.

Boeckmann 3-way tipper

Nominations are called to fill the North Canterbury representative position, following the retirement of the previous representative.

Chat to one of our experts, or visit our website

Nominations close at 4.00 pm, Monday 19 October 2026. JW0125636©

Leading Provider of Generator Sets Nationwide

LK0125491©

For a cost effective portable steel solution to your stock handling needs.

For nomination forms or further information, contact industrysupport@fedfarm.org.nz.

Ph: 03 970 0570 www.pulsarthermal.co.nz

21,000

$

2009 CLAAS LEXION 570 Christchurch

57,000

$

www.boeckmann.co.nz robert@boeckmann.co.nz 021 02255648

115,000

$

+ GST

$188,000

+ GST

2017 JCB 541-70 Waipara

64,900

$

+ GST

2019 KUHN FC 9530 D & FC 3125 Ashburton

$17,995+GST

95,000

$

+ GST

2017 Kverneland 9580C Invercargill

• Electro-hydraulic with wireless remote control • Side & rear tipping, 6t-rated ram, 3.5t GVM • Double-hinged rear flap for regulated spreading • 3.25m x 1.8m (11‘x6‘) steel deck • Removeable 350mm aluminium sidewalls • Other trailer types & sizes available to order • Germany’s #1 horse float & trailer brand • 3-year warranty

2011 AMAZONE ED 602 Waikato

+ GST

$145,000

+ GST

35,000

$

+ GST

$74,900

+ GST

2013 Kuhn SD 4000 Waikato

+ GST

$59,000

+ GST

claasharvestcentre.com

75,000

26-215—OCT

$ 2018 John Deere 750A Waikato

110,000

$

+ GST

$85,000

+ GST

2012 JCB 434 S Waikato

+ GST

49,900

$

+ GST

2014 AMAZONE EDX 6000-TC Waikato $59,900 + GST

LK0123193©

34

35

Marketplace n Ideal for shearing sheep, alpacas, goats and cow tails n Variable speed from 2600-3500rpm n Latest brushless motor technology means minimal heat build up n 1400gms means 100-200gms lighter than standard handpiece n At 2800rpm the 12v lithium battery will crutch 300-400 sheep or trim up to 400-500 cows tails n We customise cables for lifestyle shearers

t os able ere s m ri h ld va is or l er W rfu pp we cli po ed e sp

handypiece

FIELD DAYS SPECIAL

LK0123290©

Email: dave@handypiece.co.nz

LANSDOWNE FARM

CONWAY COAST SOUTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND

CONNECTING RURAL EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS

Coastal Farm with Guest Lodge Part time permanent to live on farm

Canterbury / Mid Canterbury

West Melton, Canterbury

The Opportunity We’re seeking a motivated and capable Farm Manager with a genuine passion for sheep farming and a desire to take ownership of day-today farm operations. Key responsibilities include: • Livestock and animal health management • Irrigation management (4 centre pivots) • Weed control • Tractor operation • Pasture renewal and crop establishment

About You

Guest lodge and home on Conway Flat needs our next Housekeeper / Helper. Part time, with residence available. Maintenance and groundskeeping experience ideal. Job requires integrity and reliability. Cool people stay at Lansdowne Lodge. Indeed, Conway Flat is community of cool owners, farmers and neighbours. Contract at 8-24 hours every week. Others on the Conway can add to desired work. Bill at $30/hour. Residence of own mini house at Lansdowne with Pacific view can be part of compensation. Please express interest and relevant situation in an email reply - in confidence. Include phone and email detail. Thank you. info@lansdownefarm.co.nz

You are: • A skilled stockperson • Energetic, reliable and physically fit • A strong communicator and team player • Honest, organised and driven by a positive “can-do” attitude

What We Offer

• Excellent facilities • A supportive working environment • A competitive salary package

An exciting opportunity exists for a keen and motivated individual to join the Hazlett Livestock team. We are looking for a Dairy Representative to join our expanding stock and station company. This full time position, based in Canterbury, offers the chance to work alongside experienced industry professionals while developing and growing your own client portfolio. Hazlett Limited is a family owned business that was established in 2008, whose strong culture views its people as its greatest asset. We’re committed to providing New Zealanders with top-of-the-line livestock broking services, insurance, funding and agronomy. This role will suit a candidate with exceptional relationship building skills, experience in marketing and selling livestock and an ability to grow a client base. Whilst you will receive great support from the team, the nature of this role is very independent, therefore time management, organisational skills and administrative experience will set your footing for success. Skills required: > Experience with marketing and sales of dairy livestock services to new and existing clients is preferable > Ability to grow your client base > Ability to cold call and canvas > Excellent planning and self-management > Strong communication skills > Solid technology skills and administrative nous > A full, clean and current NZ driver’s licence If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Ed Marfell on 027 462 0120. Please send applications through to emarfell@hazlett.nz by 16th October.

JW0125634©

Housekeeper and Handyman/woman - North Canterbury

JW0125637©

Call Julie Hill 027 705 7181 classifieds@agrihq.co.nz farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

Dairy Representative

Looking for your next step in farming? Join a progressive mixed farming operation just 25 minutes west of Christchurch. 140-hectare property comprising stud sheep, beef finishing, dairy grazing, and cropping, with excellent facilities and a largely irrigated, 4 centre pivots, farming system.

Receive 2 x 6 amp hour battery combination

Free call 0800 474 327

List your job with us

Wilfield Sheep Stud FARM MANAGER

View in action go to www.handypiece.co.nz

jobs

35

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

For a confidential discussion, contact Robin Wilson on 021 158 3866. Applications, including a cover letter or letter of interest, CV and references, should be sent to robin.wilfield@xtra.co.nz.

hazlett.nz

Join the team!

Join the team!

Publishing Designer

Partnership Manager Farmers Weekly

Location: Feilding head office AgriHQ is New Zealand’s leading multi-platform agricultural media and insights business. We’re looking for a talented and energetic Publishing Designer to join our Production Team, working closely with our Production Manager and playing a key role in bringing Farmers Weekly to life each week.

About Farmers Weekly Farmers Weekly is published by AgriHQ, New Zealand’s leading multi-platform agricultural media and insights business. We deliver trusted journalism, market intelligence, and storytelling to hundreds of thousands of rural New Zealanders every week.

About the role This fast-paced role is central to our operation, requiring close collaboration with our editorial, sales, digital and administration teams. You’ll be part of the team responsible for designing and producing Farmers Weekly and other titles, including laying out editorial content and creating advertisements.

About the role This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially focused and relationship-driven sales professional. As one of our Partnership Managers you will nurture a portfolio of existing advertising and subscription clients as well as prospect new ones, helping them to achieve their goals through our tailored media solutions.

About you You’re a confident, energetic and capable designer who enjoys the combination of creativity, accuracy and getting things out the door. You’ll have strong experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign and Photoshop, excellent layout, typography and visual communication skills, a meticulous eye for detail and a high standard of accuracy.

About you You are a high-achieving sales professional with a proven track-record of exceeding sales targets, bringing in new business, building relationships and working with a CRM system.

Experience in publishing, media, advertising or a production environment would be an advantage. If you’re a designer who loves great-looking work but is equally comfortable working to a deadline, solving problems collaboratively and making sure the details are right, we’d love to hear from you.

This role offers flexibility in location for the right candidate, along with regular travel throughout New Zealand. To request a full job description and company application form please email hr@agrihq.co.nz

Interested? To request the full job description and company application form, please email hr@agrihq.co.nz.

Applications close Sunday 18 October 2026, 8pm.

LK0125589©

LK0125610©

Applications close Sunday 18 October 2026 at 8pm.

36 MPlace / Lstock

Marketplace

ATTENTION FARMERS CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND FARMS. Free large game pest control. Hunters seeking access to properties with deer, pigs and other problem pests. Builder, sparky, fridgy, and police officer with farming experience. Respectful of stock, fences and farm rules. Phone Kayden 021 925 713.

DOLOMITE NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call ....

0800 436 566 90¢ BALES / 80¢ FADGES per kg for dags. Replacement woolpacks. PV Weber Wools. Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 027 458 2727. IF YOU HAVE too many deer, Northland farmer is looking for deer hunting. Mostly harvested and processed to needy families. Phone 021 283 1600. WE BUY MILK! Got rejected milk or surplus milk? Call us today on 027 871 5075. We collect within 1.5 hours drive from Te Awamutu. Farrelly Calves Limited.

DOGS WANTED GOOD HUNTAWAY dog wanted. Phone Jeff Pearse 027 214 7422.

FLOOR COATING HIGH-IMPACT POLYUREA. Seamless floor coating, chemical resistant bonds to multiple surfaces. Closedcell spray foam ideal for large sheds and warmer drier buildings. Phone 021 217 4428.

GOATS WANTED GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds. Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten. Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis. FERAL GOATS WANTED. Pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Phone Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916 or 027 363 2932.

GRAZING WANTED LOOKING FOR A trusted and reliable grazier for 150 dairy weaners from November 2026 in the Waikato or surrounding area. Please contact Xavier on 027 308 7082 to discuss.

HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

BERKSHIRE DUROC FOR SALE

BANK THE MILK OR SECURE THE COWS

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE ARVIDSON WILTSHIRES Annual ram auction Taupo Saleyards 24th November. On-farm sales available. Phone David 027 277 1556.

PERSONAL COUNTRY LADY LOOKING for love. Warm genuine and a little bit romantic, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She loves country life, beach walks, gardening, music, dancing, cooking and cosy evenings together. Looking for a caring gentleman who enjoys laughter, affection, good conversation and making memories. Could you be her special someone? Phone 0800 446 332 and quote code 61 BOOK AN AD. For only $3.30 + gst per word you can book an ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email wordads@agrihq.co.nz

PEST CONTROL

enviroMate 100TM The automatic dispensing bait station

SET AND LEAVE To lure • To safely dispense poison to possums , rodents, mustelids & wild cats. Contact Shane: 021 326 563 A/H: 09 405 1376 Email: enviromate100@gmail.com www.enviromate.co.nz

TWO-DAY HIGH INDEXED IN-MILK DAIRY SALE • Large White and Landrace • All purebred • Sows and boars are bred by USA semen • Berkshire and Duroc carry intermuscular marbling • Fat from AI boars Landrace and Large White are descendants of the Pork Board farm. Genuine enquiries only. Phone 021 166 0888

Advertise with us Call Andrea 027 602 4925

PUMPS HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz

SALE TALK A MAN’S car stalled on a country road one morning. When the man got out to fix it, a cow came along and stopped beside him. “Your trouble is probably in the carburettor,” said the cow. Startled, the man jumped back and ran down the road until he met a farmer. The amazed man told the farmer his story. “Was it a large red cow with a brown spot over the right eye?” asked the farmer. ‘Yes, yes,” the man replied. “Oh! I wouldn’t listen to Bessie,” said the farmer. “She doesn’t know a thing about cars.”

Day 2: Thursday October 15th 2026 11.30 start

• 250 x Elite Jersey & XBred Cows • 375 x Jersey & XBred Cows • 85% A2 A2 • All A2 A2 • Genomically Screened G3 Profiled • G3 Profiled • BW 299 PW 354 RA 100% • BW 201 PW 211 RA 96% A once-in-a-generation opportunity. 12 Cows currently with LIC Contract Matings. Decades of Alpha breeding have built a herd of functional, proven females with the type to match – cows trusted to produce contract-mated bulls for the dairy industry. The Herd has bred the industry renowned udder focused Stony Creek Sires. High Indexed high production cows from families of industry renowned AB Sires – Stony Creek Nonchalant Dam No. 10 Lot 27 Stony Creek Ngawi Dam No. 88 Lot 72 521060 Stony Creek Neptune. 523046 Stony Creek Ngawi. 523027 Stony Creek Nonchalant. 522068 Stony Creek Grandee. 322952 Stony Creek Salubrious. 518054 Stony Creek Excalibur. 319066 Tironui Montage. 319036 Okura Tironui Mario. 319037 Okura Tironui Marco. 516043 Arkans Boom Box. Milked on steep hill country these cows are renowned for their shifting ability. Mating will commence on 8th October Delivery from sale day to 1.2.2027 or later by prior arrangement. Open day Friday 9th October 11am Catalogues available • Sale live streamed on mylivestock Please ensure registration 48 hours prior to sale day – ph Steph Needham 07 889 1672 BUY THE COWS. BANK THE GENETICS. MAKE POSSESSION WORK FOR YOU. For further information call: NZFL Agents: Bill Sweeney 0274 515 310 & Michael Conwell 027 226 1611 Vendor: Ben Watson 027 766 6668

HIGH PRODUCING NOMINATED CRV FRIESIAN IN MILK HERD AUCTION

AgriHQ livestock reports turn market data into trusted insight.

A/c Karmel Ltd Thursday 8th October 2026 MORRINSVILLE SALE YARD DAIRY PAVILLON 11am Start

See the signals early at agrihq.co.nz

CRV Nominated for 17 Years BW 19 PW 29 RA 95% Production 593 MS/Cow 2211 MS/HA

Comprising: • 173 x Strong Frsn & FrsnX Spring Calved Cows • 84 x Capacious Frsn & FrsnX Autumn Calved Cows In calf to Hereford, calving from the 15/3/27 • 26 x Empty In milk Autumn Cows

WANTED TO BUY

Auctioneers Note: This lovely predominantly Friesian Herd is TB C10, EBL Free, Lepto Innoculated, BVD BulkTested Clear. Our Vendors focus has been on milking speed, udder confirmation, stature & temperament that is very evident in the Herd. Retiring Vendors have created this great opportunity to purchase these quality genetics.

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WANTED TO RENT OLD FARM HOUSE or cottage anywhere in the North Island. I’m a retired gardener, happy to help in the garden in exchange for reduced rent. Phone or text 027 672 6435.

Day 1: Tuesday October 13th 2026 11.30 start

You work hard to get the stock right. We help you get the timing right.

SAWN SHED TIMBER including Black Maire, Matai, Totara, Rimu, Mac, Redwood, Western Red Cedar etc. Also buying salvaged native logs. Phone Richard Uren. NZ Native Timber Supplies. Phone 027 688 2954. WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Ford, Ferguson, Hitachi, Komatsu, JD. Be it an excavator, loader or tractor, wherever it is in NZ. Don’t let it rust. We may trade in and return you a brand new bucket for your digger or cash for your pocket. Email admin@loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin 0274 426 936.

On Account: STONY CREEK GENETICS Watson Family, 711 Henry Watson Rd, Walton

SH0125592©

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

MOTIVATED FARMING COUPLE looking for lease land. Any size and area considered. Prefer over 30ha. Phone 027 392 6091.

LIVESTOCK REPORTS

Catalogue available 4/10 - after Herd Test & Vetting. Payment & Delivery: Payment 22nd October 2026. Immediate delivery or by prior arrangement cows can return to the farm to be milked until long distance trucking can be arranged. The sale will be livestreamed on mylivestock. Please register to bid at least 48 hours prior to the sale. Saleyard cafe available. All enquiries to Auctioneer/Agent: Darryl Houghton 027 451 5315

JW125625©

FLY OR LICE problem? Electrodip – the magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides. Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness. Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t ro d i p. c o m

LEASE LAND WANTED

LK0125643©

ANIMAL HANDLING

Livestock

Livestock 37

Livestock

37

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

BECKENHAM HILLS BREEDING HEIFERS 74 Angus black and white faces 33 Herefords

Key: Dairy

Due to a change in farming system these genuine capital stock heifers are now available. Beckenham Hills has been carcass scanning for 5 years and uses high genetic merit bulls including Twin Oaks, Blacknight, Grassmere and Benmore Herefords.

Cattle

Sheep

Other

Tuesday 13 October Commencing 12 noon

Tuesday 13 October 1653 Mount Nessing Road, Albury

JW0125609©

• 3000 South Down x MS Spring lambs Annual line of top quality, undrafted new season spring lambs sired by the very best of South Down Rams purchased from Turiroa, Te Mara & Mapua studs.

TUESDAY 13TH OCTOBER Ben and Caroline Murray 82 Clarence Valley Road, Kaikoura Viewing 12pm, Sale 2pm > 40 Angus Yearling Bulls Bidr® online bidding option available if you cannot attend the auction. Register at www.bidr.co.nz. Further enquiries: Ben Murray (Woodbank) 027 449 4409 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Sam Brown (Hazlett) 027 462 0118 Simon Eddington (PGGW) 027 590 8612 Ross Sutherland (PGGW) 027 434 4068

MATARIKI

• 800 Ewes – Cast for Age Contact: Neil Common 027 444 8745

COMMERCIAL HEIFERSALE Wednesday 14th October Bidr® Online Sale 7pm Start

Visit us: stortfordlodgesaleyards.com PGG Wrightson Livestock – Hawkes Bay

At Riverview Property Commencing 11am • 187 Ylg Simmental & Simmental Hereford x Steers • 92 Ylg Simmental Angus x Steers • 139 Ylg Simmental & Simmental Hereford x Heifers • 85 Ylg Simmental Angus x Heifers Followed by Opawa Property Commencing approx. 12:30pm • 85 Ylg Simmental & Simmental x Bulls • 45 Ylg Hereford x Bulls

Contact: David & Jayne Timperley 03 6855785 or 027 4375881 Greg & Liz Russel (Riverview) 027 220 3288 Rory & Charlotte Moore (Opawa) 027 782 5344 Cameron Gray (PGW) 027 494 0572

THE EXPERTS IN EVERYTHING LIVESTOCK.

Further enquiries: Sam Brown (Hazlett) 027 462 0118 Ross Sutherland (PGGW) 027 434 4068

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz

Visit pggwrightson.co.nz/livestock

Helping grow the country

Helping grow the country

3RD ANNUAL HAND-PICKED IN-MILK DAIRY AUCTION

BUY NOW & PAY LATER FOR NO UP-FRONT COSTS WITH ONESTOCK FINANCE

WITH ONESTOCK FINANCE GET: CROP INPUT FINANCE SPECIFIC TO FUNDING SEED, FERTILISER AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS PLANT & MACHINERY FINANCE ON ALL NEW AND USED PLANT OR MACHINERY LIVESTOCK FINANCE FOR ALL TRADING, FINISHING & BREEDING

CARRFIELDSLIVESTOCK.CO.NZ

www.carrfields.co.nz

A/c AGT Dairies Ltd - K & C Death Date: Thursday 8th October, 2026 Address: 376 Eltham Road, Eltham Supply No. 41217 Start time: 11.30am will be available for online bidding COMPRISING: 120x Hand-Picked, well recorded Frsn & FrsnX In-Milk Cows

GV & W ROSS LTD

CLEARING SALE TRACTORS • TRUCKS • IMPLEMENTS WEDNESDAY, 14 OCT • 1PM 1550 WAIMUMU ROAD, WAITANE, GORE BID ONLINE WITH

DETAILS: • Strict selection policy with 120 cows hand-picked from 200 cows. • All well recorded, young and sound with a majority aged 2-5 years old. • Sale will also include heifers from the vendors two capital replacement lines. • Herd tested 22/09/26 (profiles to come). Johnes tested negative. PAYMENT TERMS/DELIVERY: Payment deferred until 20th November 2026. Immediate delivery. CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENTS: Brent Espin (Vendor Agent) 027 551 3660 Daniel Hornby 027 636 2090 Jack Kiernan 027 823 2373 Daniel Crowley 027 215 3609 Tim Hurley 027 414 6756 OUR VENDORS: Kevin & Cindy Death 027 223 8254

JW0125581©

CREATE VALUE FOR FARMERS

Other

TB Status: C10. All cattle NZFAP & ABF. Bulls are tested BVD free. These bulls are suitable for both beef and dairy industries. This will be a hybrid sale with Bidr.

Entries updated on our web page or our facebook page:

> 50 Hereford Yearling Heifers > 20 Angus Yearling Heifers This is a very good opportunity to purchase well bred commercial heifers suitable for breeding. Please note: there is no on farm auction. Yearling Bulls are for sale by private treaty. To register for Bidr® please go to www.bidr.co.nz.

Sheep

OPAWA DOWNS ANNUAL ON FARM CATTLE SALE

Approximate tallies:

WOODBANK ANGUS

Cattle

WAIKAREAO ON FARM SPRING LAMB SALE

Waikareao Farm 327 Waikareao Road, Te Aute, Hawke’s Bay

For further information contact James Westgarth, Westgarth Livestock 027 777 5566

Key: Dairy

MATT MCBAIN 027 306 5807

We create value for farmers

SCAN CODE FOR PREREGISTRATION & CATALOGUE

Contact us 0800 141 545

38 Markets

Markets Store spring cattle tallies starting to creep up

Proudly sponsored by

Feed conditions and weather unknowns bring farmers and cattle to market in their numbers. Suz Bremner

MARKETS

F

Livestock

ROM one end of the country to the other spring cattle fairs are well underway, even if the weather and feed conditions still err more on the late-winter side. Among the bigger tallies of store cattle offered around the country recently was at the Wellsford MidNorth Spring Fair, and 1500km south the Palmerston Spring Cattle Fair was also held in Otago. The Wellsford Mid-North Spring Cattle Fair was a new concept introduced two years ago, as Northland sales consolidated around the more central point for buyers of Wellsford. Tallies increased by 400-head to 1210, and PGG Wrightson agent Grant Pallister said that was due to feed conditions. “There is not a lot of surplus feed around and the threat of a dry summer forced a few more local clients to offload. Many would have liked to have waited

for a grass market, but the unknown of what is to come was too risky,” he said. Dairy-beef cattle made up the largest portion of this fair, as Northland farmers are a big supporter of the local and Waikato dairy-beef feeder calf sales. Waikato farmers return the favour at this time of year, with most of the cattle going back to their home region a year later. This year’s fair expectations were high, though the main concern was how the anticipated dry conditions would impact the market. But the ability to be able to fill unit loads with big tallies of a consistent type of cattle was a major drawcard for buyers, and Pallister said the market delivered. “Prices lifted on the sale held the week before and our vendors were very happy with the results.” Values climbed at last year’s fair and continued that trajectory this year. Two-year dairy-beef steers lifted $100 per head to average $2300, $5.15/kg. Yearling dairy-

QUICK TRIP: These short-term 2-year Simmental steers from Jim and Rhonda Thomson had a quick trip to the Palmerston saleyards in Otago, simply having to cross the road to reach their destination. At 688kg, they topped the Palmerston Spring Cattle Fair at $3600, $5.23/kg. Photo: bidr.co.nz

The threat of a dry summer forced a few more local clients to offload. Grant Pallister PGG Wrightson beef steers and heifers were 25-30kg heavier this year and lifted $180-$245 per head, with steers averaging $1575, $5.86/kg, and heifers very strong at $1430, $5.77/kg. Online trading via bidr played a big part at Wellsford, and Pallister said it just makes sense for buyers to use this platform as “nobody wants to drive through Auckland if they don’t have to”. “A large portion of the buyers are from Waikato, and with fuel prices also surging again, bidr has really found its own with these buyers.”

Much further south and the Palmerston saleyards hosted nearly 1100 cattle on Friday, September 25. PGG Wrightson agent Mark Yeates was onsite for the fair and said vendors put up a top line-up of mainly traditional cattle for buyers. “Vendors will farm to this sale and the cattle offered were a credit to them,” Yeates said. The take-home message from this fair was the buyer focus on heavier, shorter-term cattle, especially in the yearling pens. Most of the cattle sold to buyers from North Otago through to Mid Canterbury with a small number from South Otago. The very wet conditions kept Southland buyers largely out of the 2-year market, one that they would usually support. Just under half the sale were 2-year cattle and a top line of 688kg Simmental steers from Jim

When the market’s moving fast, you can’t afford to guess. AgriHQ livestock reports are your eyes and ears for clear, up-to-date insight you need to trade with confidence. Make every decision count, visit agrihq.co.nz

LIVESTOCK REPORTS

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and Rhonda Thomson reached the top per-head price of $3600 and were quickly followed by their Hereford-Friesian steers at $3060 and $2720. These cattle had a very short journey to the Palmerston yards, simply having to cross the road to get to the selling destination. The 2-year traditional heifers sold for $1920-$2420 and averaged $5.10/ kg. Yearling traditional steers reached a top price of $2350 for Angus and Angus-Hereford, and overall the steers averaged 320kg and $6/kg. Angus heifers topped the yearling heifer section at $1900, and the section averaged 265kg and $5.48/kg. The spring cattle sale season is just getting started with the next big offering at Matawhero on Tuesday, October 6, where 2600 cattle are already on the books.

39

Markets

39

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Cattle

Sheep

Deer

Beef

Sheep Meat

Venison

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Last week

Last year

North Island P2 steer (300kg)

10.00

9.20

North Island M2 bull (300kg)

9.70

8.70

North Island M cow (190kg)

7.65

7.30

South Island P2 steer (300kg)

9.90

9.00

South Island M2 bull (300kg)

9.45

8.25

South Island M cow (190kg)

7.65

7.10

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Last week

Last year

North Island AP stag (60kg)

11.45

10.10

5.40

South Island AP stag (60kg)

11.45

10.30

12.15

10.50

8.20

5.35

Fertiliser Last week

Last year

DAP

1874

1519

Potash (MoP)

947

922

Super

629

507

1334

995

NZ Log Exports (thous. tonnes)

August

Last year

China

1,620,353

1,431,567

Rest of world

248,790

192,212

Carbon price (NZ$/tonne)

Last week

Last year

51.5

57.0

Last week

Last year

North Island lamb (18kg)

12.20

10.45

North Island mutton (25kg)

8.15

South Island lamb (18kg) South Island mutton (25kg)

Fertiliser

Export markets (NZ$/kg) China lamb flaps

12.87

10.78

Wool

Export markets (NZ$/kg) US imported 95CL bull

13.33

13.08

US domestic 90CL cow

15.90

16.38

NOTE: Slaughter values are weighted average gross operating prices including premiums but excluding breed premiums for cattle.

Steer slaughter price ($/kgCW)

24-Sep

Last year

Crossbred fleece

6.69

3.66

Urea (Coated)

Crossbred 2nd shear

6.12

3.93

Forestry

Courtesy of www.fusca.co.nz

Exports

13.0 12.0

10.0

11.0

9.0

10.0

8.0

NZU

9.0

7.0 Sep

Nov Jan North Island

Mar May South Island

Jul

Sep

8.0 Sep

Source: AgriHQ

Nov

Jan

Mar

North Island

May

Jul

Sep

Source: AgriHQ

South Island

600

80

Stag Slaughter price ($/kgCW) 12.0 11.0

NZ lamb & mutton slaughter (thous. head)

NZ cattle slaughter (thous. head)

NZ average (NZ$/tonne)

(NZ$/kg clean)

Lamb slaughter price ($/kgCW)

11.0

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

10.0

500

60

9.0

400 300

40

8.0

200

20

100

0 20-Jun

20-Jul 20-Aug 5-yr ave

20-Sep This year

20-Oct

20-Nov Last year

0 20-Jun

20-Jul 20-Aug 5-yr Ave

20-Sep This year

Sep

Nov Jan North Island

20-Oct 20-Nov Last year

Mar May South Island

Jul

Sep

Source: AgriHQ

Data provided by For more visit www.agrihq.co.nz

Disclaimer: Data published on these pages is licensed and may not be redistributed, republished, or used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the data owners.

Dairy

Data provided by

Milk price futures ($/kgMS)

Grain

Listed Agri shares

Canterbury feed wheat & feed barley ($/tonne)

Company

Close

YTD High YTD Low

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.07

0.132

0.059

The a2 Milk Company Limited

8.22

11.9

6.25

Comvita Limited

0.79

0.84

0.505

Delegat Group Limited

4.39

4.78

3.6

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

8.8

8.82

6.138

Foley Wines Limited

0.585

0.63

0.43

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

1.15

1.22

1

NZ King Salmon Investments Limited

0.235

0.255

0.189

PGG Wrightson Limited

2.1

2.4

2

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.029

0.042

0.028

Sanford Limited (NS)

6.7

8.17

6.06

Scales Corporation Limited

6.87

7.5

5.59

600

10.5 10.0

550

9.5 500

9.0

450

8.5 8.0 Sep

Nov

Jan

Mar

Sep-2027

May Sep-2028

Jul

Sep

WMP SMP AMF

3640 3835 5525

Sep

Source: NZX

Nov

Jan

Mar

Feed Wheat

May Feed Barley

Jul

Sep

Source: NZX

Waikato palm kernel & maize ($/tonne)

Dairy Futures (US$/t) Nearest contract Last price*

400

Prior week

4 weeks prior

3580

3810

3735 5475

3745 5770

Butter

4550

4555

4860

Milk Price

10.00

9.81

9.95

* price as at close of business on Wednesday

600 550 500

Seeka Limited

5.15

5.55

4.4

450

Synlait Milk Limited

0.425

0.66

0.35

400

T&G Global Limited

2.18

2.79

2.16

350

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

17623

17623

15511

S&P/NZX 50 Index

13834

14013

12702

S&P/NZX 10 Index

13593

13863

12194

300 Sep

Nov

Jan PKE

Mar

May Maize

Jul

Sep

Source: NZX

40

40

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Markets

Weekly saleyard results These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports Tuakau | September 30 | 346 cattle

Kaikohe | September 30 | 501 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

$/kg or $/hd 2-year steers, 461kg

5.04

Yearling steers, 249kg

6.10

Yearling heifers, 276kg

5.15

Wellsford | September 28 | 1210 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Prime traditional steers, 635kg

5.50

Prime dairy-beef steers, 615kg

5.37

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 515kg

5.28

Boner Friesian cows, 585kg

3.88

Boner crossbred cows, 480kg

3.65

Boner Jersey cows, 410kg

3.48

Boner crossbred heifers, 385kg

3.72

2-year dairy-beef steers, 445kg

5.15

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 270kg

5.86

Yearling Friesian bulls, 305kg

5.12

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 250kg

5.77

Aut-born R2 dairy-beef steers, 395kg

5.21

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef steers, 180kg

1185

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 315kg

5.66

Aut-born weaner Friesian bulls, 135kg

970

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 290kg

5.22

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef heifers, 125kg

845

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef heifers, 150kg

865

Boner crossbred cows, 495kg

3.07

Boner Friesian cows, 525kg

3.62

$/kg or $/hd

Frankton | September 30 | 432 cattle

Pukekohe | September 26

$/kg or $/hd 2-year steers, 398kg

4.56

Yearling heifers, 248kg

5.40

Prime heifers, 519kg

4.91

Boner cows, 578kg

3.37

Prime ewes, all

Frankton | September 29 | 800 cattle

130-225

$/kg or $/hd 5.23

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef bulls, 150kg

1070

Prime dairy-beef steers, 640kg

5.28

2-year dairy-beef steers, 565kg

5.38

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 520kg

5.30

2-year exotic-beef heifers, 495kg

5.41

3.76

2-year dairy-beef heifers, 440kg

5.26

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 285kg

5.58

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 260kg

4.90

Boner Friesian cows, 545kg

Rangiuru | September 29 | 332 cattle

$/kg or $/hd $/kg or $/hd

2-year dairy-beef steers, 475kg

5.03

5.54

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 295kg

5.97

2-year dairy-beef heifers, 448kg

5.20

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 303kg

5.33

Yearling exotic-beef steers, 297kg

5.64

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef steers, 124kg

1105

Tuakau | September 28 | 550 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Te Kuiti | September 25 | 410 cattle

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 270kg

Tuakau | September 24 | 580 cattle 2-year dairy-beef steers, 451kg

WELL PRESENTED: The bulk of the store sheep sale at Stortford Lodge on Wednesday, September 30 were ewes with lambs-at-foot. These Suffolk ewes were in good condition and their lambs docked which earned them $188 all counted, on par with the top three cuts of annual draft Romney ewes and their blackface lambs.

$/kg or $/hd

Taranaki | September 30 | 311 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 280kg

5.46

2-year dairy-beef steers, 455kg

5.48

Prime dairy-beef cows, 595kg

4.05

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 230kg

5.88

Prime dairy-beef steers, 625kg

5.16

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 300kg

5.02

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 520kg

5.22

Boner Friesian cows, 575kg

3.65

Stortford Lodge | September 28 | 992 sheep

Taupo | September 28 | 412 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

$/kg or $/hd Yearling traditional steers, 210kg

7.00

Prime ewes, all

165-284

Store hoggets, most

169-196

Yearling Friesian steers, 280kg

4.16

Prime male hoggets, all

263-332

Prime ewes, most

224-230

Yearling traditional bulls, 285kg

5.84

Prime ewe hoggets, most

260-278

Prime hoggets, most

240-289

Yearling traditional heifers, 265kg

5.88

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, most

211-325

For you, the right information changes everything. AgriHQ livestock livestock reports reports keep keep you you across across store, store, slaughter, slaughter, and and export export markets, markets, AgriHQ including forecasts forecasts and and widespread widespread saleyard saleyard coverage. coverage. including Make every everydecision decision count, count,visit visit agrihq.co.nz agrihq.co.nz Make

LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK REPORTS REPORTS

41

Markets

41

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 5, 2026

Stortford Lodge | September 30 | 335 cattle, 1334 sheep

Store finewool mixed-sex hoggets, most

140-160

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, most

166-300

2-year traditional steers, 475kg

5.50

Prime hoggets, most

226-358

2-year dairy-beef steers, 435kg

5.14

Canterbury Park | September 29 | 292 cattle, 916 sheep

2-year traditional heifers, 415kg

5.21

2-year dairy-beef heifers, 395kg

4.91

2-year traditional steers, 395kg

5.20

Yearling traditional heifers, 290kg

5.93

Yearling traditional heifers, 210kg

4.79

5-year Romney ewes & lambs, all

145-188

Prime dairy-beef steers, 540kg

5.09

Mixed-age ewes & lambs, all

140-188

Prime traditional heifers, 510kg

5.13

Store hoggets, all

165-274

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 480kg

5.01

Feilding | September 25 | 2309 cattle, 1878 sheep

$/kg or $/hd 2-year traditional steers, 510kg

5.81

2-year dairy-beef steers, 485kg

5.50

2-year traditional heifers, 400kg

5.51

2-year dairy-beef heifers, 480kg

5.50

Yearling traditional steers, 290kg

6.90

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 305kg

6.09

Yearling dairy-beef bulls, 260kg

5.75

Yearling Friesian bulls, 275kg

5.53

Mixed-age ewes & lambs, all

139-194

Store male hoggets, all

158-309

Store ewe hoggets, all

189-265

Feilding | September 28 | 57 cattle, 5878 sheep

$/kg or $/hd Boner Friesian cows, 570kg

3.78

Prime ewes, all

170-290

Prime 2-tooth ewes, all

158-248

Prime cryptorchid hoggets, all

240-377

Prime male hoggets, most

272-385

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, all

171-364

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, most

160-300

Prime hoggets, all

200-402

Temuka | September 24 | 1147 cattle

$/kg or $/hd 2-year dairy-beef steers, 445kg

4.74

2-year dairy-beef heifers, 395kg

4.93

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 255kg

5.58

Yearling Friesian bulls, 310kg

4.82

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 240kg

4.66

Temuka | September 29 | 410 cattle, 3471 sheep

$/kg or $/hd Prime dairy-beef steers, 560kg

5.12

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 515kg

5.03

Boner Friesian cows, 545kg

3.23

Boner crossbred cows, 490kg

3.20

Boner Friesian heifers, 490kg

4.43

A GOOD TURNOUT: The annual Wellsford Mid-North Spring Fair offered 400-head more cattle than the same sale last year and buyers were active both in-house and online. This pen of yearling Hereford-Friesian steers averaged 249kg and fetched $6.67/kg, a premium paid for type and tally. Photo: bidr.co.nz Lorneville | September 29

$/kg or $/hd 2-year dairy-beef steers, 420kg

5.12

Yearling exotic-dairy steers, 315kg

5.23

Prime steers, 588kg

4.81

Boner cows, 450kg

2.60

Store hoggets, most

140-200

Mixed-age ewes & lambs, all

150-157

Store Halfbred mixed-sex hoggets, all

140-240

Prime ewes, most

195-300

Store Merino mixed-sex hoggets, all

146-233

Prime hoggets, most

230-380

Store mixed-sex hoggets, all

120-266

Feeder Calf Sales

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, most

200-370

Frankton | September 29, 30 | 325 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Palmerston | September 25 | 1064 cattle

Rongotea | September 29 | 133 cattle, 16 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

$/kg or $/hd

Hereford-Friesian (black) bulls, all

90-330

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 249kg

4.73

2-year traditional steers, 435kg

5.49

Charolais-dairy bulls, all

90-260

Boner dairy cows, 567kg

3.70

2-year dairy-beef steers, 525kg

5.13

Angus-dairy bulls, all

75-300

2-year traditional heifers, 425kg

5.10

Hereford-Friesian (black) heifers, all

30-220

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling traditional steers, 320kg

5.99

Angus-dairy heifers, all

100-300

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 225kg

5.12

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 250kg

4.97

Feilding | September 28 | 164 cattle

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 250kg

4.88

Yearling traditional heifers, 265kg

5.48

Prime traditional heifers, 480kg

5.18

Charlton | September 24

Boner Friesian heifers, 425kg

3.95

Mixed-age ewes & lambs, most

145-176

Store mixed-sex hoggets, most

115-182

Coalgate | September 24 | 341 cattle, 3178 sheep

$/kg or $/hd Friesian bulls, all

10-130

$/kg or $/hd

Hereford-Friesian bulls, all

120-400

Prime ewes, all

152-332

Hereford-Friesian heifers, all

80-220

Prime hoggets, all

160-525

Angus-dairy heifers, all

30-240

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42 Weather

Weather

In partnership with ruralweather.co.nz

El Niño’s drier phase looks to be arriving Philip Duncan

NEWS

Weather

W

E’RE into October, sometimes a wild month, other years a taste of summer on the way. This year October kicks off settled – especially following the windy and unsettled end to August and parts of September. As I’ve been repeating for months now, El Niño shows itself in spring and summer more than it does in the chaos of winter. Over recent weeks air pressure was above normal over southern parts of Australia and the Tasman Sea – leaving New Zealand on the edge of that, where it was windier and frequently colder. At the same time, storms over the Southern Ocean have been stormier than usual. The combination of stronger highs and stronger lows brought spring’s windy westerlies forward a bit – and now as we head into October we have lighter winds thanks to our first high-pressure belts in quite a while finally crossing the country.

That is how this week kicks off, with a high smack bang over both main islands at around 1034 hPa (hectopascals). The centre of this week’s high will not stick around (they rarely do in spring as the increased westerly momentum of the southern hemisphere pushes them eastwards), and by Wednesday this high will already be northeast of the Chatham Islands with the next one behind it southwest of Adelaide – leaving room for low pressure to develop this week over the central Tasman Sea east of Sydney. This set-up also pushes up our temperatures as subtropical air is pulled down over NZ, and also pushes into a nor’wester for many – so a double hit of warmth mid week. Later this week the big high south of Adelaide slips quickly eastwards into the South Island and merges fast with the high in the NZ area, which may well produce yet another nationwide bubble of high pressure by the end of the working week. The low in the Tasman Sea spins up, then likely gets smothered by high pressure around it (and

this is a change from winter, where the pattern was very much high pressure-low pressure-high pressure-low pressure, giving us variety). I wrote back in winter that something to look for, especially if you’re concerned about how dry El Niño might become, is to track what happens in the gaps between highs, and what we’re seeing now is the classic “summer squeeze” of those low-pressure zones as high pressure generally expands further, joins up more and becomes more sluggish. El Niño tends to put more high pressure west and north of NZ, which blocks rainfall to more regions and encourages more westerly flows. Longer range and by this weekend that high is still out over the Chatham Islands area, bringing again subtropical nor’westers to the South Island and another temperature boost – with largely dry skies, which leads us into next week with more high pressure dominating northern NZ and more nor’west winds (not necessarily strong) over the South Island. This pattern may well stick around through next week too,

DRY: Upcoming rainfall for the first half of October shows a dry forecast for many. Image: WeatherWatch.co.nz suggesting that October’s first half will be much more settled, warmer and drier than it’s been in recent weeks/months. Rainfall for the first half of October is significantly reduced across the nation, with perhaps only Fiordland and South Westland receiving rainfall above 20mm and

up to 250mm. The rest of NZ looks to have just a few mm up to 15mm. Outside of the West Coast, only western and coastal Southland and western Otago have a chance of going above 30mm. El Niño is still intensifying and won’t peak until about November, and will linger into autumn 2027.