Cropa For New Zealand Farmers & Rural Contractors.
Tool & Workshop Deals January and February
Machinery Deals January and February
Ute Deals January and February
Kitset Farm Shed Deals January and February
Excavator Deals January and February
Rural Contractors New Zealand in partnership with Nufarm are delighted to announce the Nufarm RCNZ Agri-Chemical Applicator of the year award. The purpose of the award is to recognise an individual who demonstrates excellence in Agri-Chemical application and innovation. Nufarm’s New Zealand Country Manager Gavin Kerr says:
“There has never been a better time to promote innovative industry leaders within the sector particularly those individuals promoting innovation related to the sustainable use of crop protection solutions. Nufarm fully backs every solution we provide and is very focused on how our solutions are applied sustainability.
Farming is unique. There are few other types of business that rely on living produce, whether it’s crops or livestock. That makes farm accounting more complex than other businesses when it comes to assets, liabilities, costs and revenue.
Accounting for all these factors is far from straightforward. But with a little thought and planning it’s possible to get into a routine of managing the finances for every aspect of your farm’s operation. Here are ten important points to bear in mind about farm accounting.
Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today raised the midpoint of the 2024/25 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price by 50 cents to $10.00 per kgMS. The new forecast range of $9.50-$10.50 per kgMS reflects the ongoing strength of the global market.
“We’re committed to providing farmers the highest sustainable milk price, so I’m pleased to announce another lift in the forecast for the season,” says Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell. “We’re seeing a recovery of demand in Greater China as domestic milk production rebalances and demand from Southeast Asia continues to be strong.
Introducing the remarkable elite model self-leveling MX Loader, equipped with an advanced flex pilot joystick for enhanced maneuverability. With only 2,564 hours of operation, this machine has been meticulously maintained and is in excellent condition, making it an exceptional addition to your fleet.
A third generation family business, Reymer Agriculture was established in the 1960s by the late John Reymer Senior. Reymer Agriculture provided farming and haymaking services to local farmers in the Tihiroa region, just 10km south of the current depot in Pirongia.
Väderstad marked 20-years of TopDown in 2024, a milestone made all the sweeter with the the prestigious Farm Machine of the Year Title at Agritechnica 2024 last November.
Väderstad’s combination cultivator, TopDown, has been a stalwart in the industry since its launch in 2004.
Renowned for its versatility, TopDown seamlessly integrates deep and shallow cultivation with reconsolidation in a single pass. Over the past two decades, the TopDown has evolved continously, setting a new standard and revolutionising agricultural practices.
At iLine Construction, we’ve been building trusted relationships and high-quality projects since 2012. Our team has the experience and know-how to deliver construction solutions that last.
We’re proud to support farmers and the rural sector across the Central North Island with medium to large-scale builds designed to meet the needs of modern farming.
We specialise in infrastructure that works as hard as you do, including wintering barns, cow barns, grain storage facilities, machinery sheds, and covered yards.
Our design and build process keeps things simple, with one team managing your project from start to finish. This streamlined approach means less stress!
Kaiwaiwai Dairies is an inspiring dairy environmental leader in Featherston, whose efforts have been recognized by a host of awards, including the Supreme Award at the 2020 Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Adding to the accolades, Aidan Bichan, Vern Brasell, and Neville Fisher of Kaiwaiwai Dairies were recently named Supreme Winner Runner-Up at this year’s 2024 Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards.
“I gather the judges ended up selecting four finalists this year, instead of the usual three,” says Aidan, who chairs Kaiwaiwai Dairies’ management team. “In such a tight field, the final results often come down to very small differences. The judges looked at sustainable irrigation management and what we were doing to optimize our system, including aspects like energy efficiency, irrigation scheduling, maintenance, monitoring, compliance practices, water efficiency, staff training, and the impact of irrigation on the farm business, as well as environmental protection and stewardship.”
Judges commended Kaiwaiwai Dairies for their exceptional community involvement and environmental stewardship, particularly their outstanding wetland restoration project. Head Judge Keri Johnston praised their passion, noting their evident love for their community and focus on people. “They understand the value of water and what it brings to their farm and business, and they’re not afraid of technology and how it can support on-farm decision-making,” she observed.
Kaiwaiwai Dairies has a farm area of 335 hectares (effective), with more than a third of that area under a three-pivot irrigation system.
The pivots are supplied from a deep bore of good water quality. With Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) installed on two of the pivots, water can be precisely applied and used only when and where needed. When operating with effluent injection, VRI also ensures correct placement. The farm’s irrigation system, which is remotely monitored and operated, is designed to reduce the risks of overwatering.
A King Country dairy farmer recovering from a serious quad bike accident last year is urging his peers to take care out on the farm this busy summer season.
Rural insurer FMG said it normally received one claim a day for quad bike roll-overs, but there was usually a spike in incidents in the lead-up to Christmas.
Michael and Susie Woodward run a 300-strong dairy herd, 250 Angora goats and other livestock at their Ōtorohanga farm south of Hamilton.
Woodward was in a serious accident in January 2023, when his quad bike flipped on steep terrain while he was moving bulls.
Farmers and rural householders are being warned about starting fires after a “crazy” seven hours for South Island firefighters tackling small rural blazes today. A spate of grass and bush fires kept firefighters on their toes all day, as the dry conditions across the Canterbury region left large swathes of the countryside tinder-dry.
Two reports of separate fires in the Oxford and South Canterbury areas shortly before 12:30 PM had the Fire Service scrambling for resources, said southern fire communications shift manager Rewai Grace.
“Thankfully, they ended up being quite small,” he said. Mr. Grace warned that people needed to be more responsible when conditions were so dry.
Janet Schultz, a dedicated and hardworking dairy farmer from the picturesque region of Taranaki, is in the process of transitioning her life as she prepares to move back to Inglewood. This decision comes after her property in New Plymouth has officially gone on the market, a necessary step prompted by changing circumstances in her life and business.
Notably, her daughter and son-in-law, Kelsey and Matt Brooks, who had been serving as contract milkers on her farm, have decided to resign from their roles.
Their choice reflects a shift in priorities as they seek to focus more on their young family during this pivotal stage in their lives.
After much consideration regarding the future of her esteemed 104-hectare farm, Janet ultimately arrived at the decision to retain the property instead of selling it. This decision has been bolstered by the successful recruitment of new contract milkers, Jason and Nicole Chesswas, a couple who come with a wealth of experience in the farming industry. They commenced their work on the farm back in June and have since built a strong and positive working relationship with Janet.
Together, they manage a productive and well-cared-for pedigree herd comprising 280 cows.
The farm itself features a carefully maintained genetic mix of 60% Friesian and 40% Jersey cattle. Janet has noted a particularly robust demand for pedigree Friesian bulls in the market, indicating the reputation and quality of her herd. In addition to her successful cattle management, Janet has taken significant strides in ensuring that her farming operations comply with environmental standards.
She recently achieved full compliance related to water and effluent management by engaging in fruitful discussions with the regional council. This proactive approach has allowed her to avoid major expenses that are often associated with compliance failures, securing not only her farm’s viability but also its sustainability for years to come.
The annual dairy statistics report for 2023/24 reveals a positive production season and a positive outlook for the current season, DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker says.
In the 2023/24 season, farmers received an average dairy co-operative payout of $8.90 per kilogram of milksolids, including dividends, from Fonterra and Tatua, an increase from $8.76 in the previous season.
When adjusted for inflation, the 2023/24 payout was $0.35 below the five-year inflation-adjusted average of $9.25 per kg of milksolids.
“As we look ahead, the outlook for the current season is positive, with increases to the forecast milk price and reducing interest rates,” Parker said.
A coroner is calling for greater awareness about the importance of farmers using lap belts in tractors, following two incidents in which men died after being thrown from their tractors.
Coroner Richard McElrea has released his findings into the deaths of Stewart Bath and George Lewis Williams, both of whom died after their tractors crashed on farms.
Mr. Bath, 59, died in an accident on his Roxburgh farm in Central Otago on November 22, 2012. He was driving a tractor with a trailer attached down steep terrain when the tractor rolled. Mr. Bath was thrown from the tractor and died from his injuries at the scene.
Then, on February 18 of last year, George Lewis Williams, 62, died when he was thrown from his tractor while navigating the tractor and trailer down a steep hill.
The big wets, the big drys, and large snows—Dairy Stock Solutions’ Dave Marsh has weathered them all in his years as a farmer and, later, as a stock agent. This season, New Zealand farmers are wrestling with highly variable weather conditions ranging from torrential rains to drought. Farmers in some areas are proactively destocking, with one Hawke’s Bay farmer disposing of 1,100 of his 1,600 ewes. With 25 years as a farmer, 15 years as a stock agent, and plenty of lived experience, it’s an approach that Ashburton-based Dave wholeheartedly supports.
“As a born and bred dairy farmer, originally from Northland with nine seasons at Mt Hutt in mid-Canterbury, I understand the droughts and the big wets. I like to think I assist farmers in making decisions by looking through their lens.
“My advice to farmers who are potentially facing drought is to be proactive. Don’t procrastinate—talk to your stock agent, who can tell you what the markets are doing.
“If you’re in a super drought, every morning get out of bed and make a decision. Now is a good time to act if your area is facing potential drought.”
Early destocking means farmers can take advantage of prevailing strong stock prices. Dave’s primary aim, he stresses, is to add value to farmers’ businesses. As an independent stock agent, his networks span the length and breadth of New Zealand.
“My networks include independents and agents from the majority of other livestock companies throughout the country, and I’m talking with them weekly,” he says.
“A lot of my deals are done with other leading livestock agents with whom I have forged strong relationships.” Currently, Dave says, the New Zealand market is in the unusual position of being quite short of big cattle, dairy beef, and Friesian bulls, so there is a challenge to find alternatives for farmers where they can still make a margin.
Dairy farmers are trending towards using sexed and more Kiwi cross semen, which means fewer bobby calves, he says, but leads to improved dairy herd genetics, allowing farmers to benefit from a consistent supply of high genetic worth heifers from their best performing cows.
“Often, the bottom percentage of their herds are now being mated to Wagyu, Charolais, and Belgian Blue to give them options for potential higher calf sale income through four-day-old and 100 kg calf sales. The results of this shift will mean that there will be fewer straight-bred Friesian bulls being bred.”
The focus for the remaining season is the buying and selling of in-calf heifers and dairy herds.
“Understanding what the customer wants and quoting them the right stock is critical,” he says. “As a stock agent, I work with buyers and sellers, so I know what the market is doing and can help them weigh up their options and make good business decisions.”
More people have opted for a slice of rural life on lifestyle properties and farm sales have increased, reflecting strong growth in New Zealand’s rural market.
The results came from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) which showed a 26.5% increase in farm sales for the three months ending September 2024 and an 11.8% increase in the sale of lifestyle properties.
For the year to September 2024, 928 farms were sold, though that was 150 less than the previous year. Fewer dairy, grazing and finishing farms were sold, but 25.6% more arable farms were sold in the year.
The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to September 2024 was $27,900, an increase of 13% from the year prior.