Analysis

Dairy farmers go bananas

Northland dairy farmer Graeme Edwards with his banana plantation one year on from planting. The expression ‘you’re driving me bananas’ has nothing to do with being frustrated or driven crazy for some forward-thinking Northland dairy farmers. Rather, they find the idea of bananas – or banana plants, to be specific – pretty appealing, either planted in stock excluded riparian zones between waterways and the fence, or plantation-style on the farm where they can be grown for harvest, or for fodder for their cows. Graeme Edwards and Alec Jack are two of the Northland dairy farmers putting bananas to the test to see whether the plant can utilise dairy effluent. While the trials are informal at present, and very much in the early days, DairyNZ’s land and water management specialist Dr Electra Kalaugher says banana plants have potential for ‘mopping up’ nutrients in largely frost-free regions like Northland. “Dairy farmers are always looking to step more lightly on the land, and they’re enthusiastic and innovative in seeking solutions. “The banana plant’s appetite for nitrogen and potassium is well-known in traditional banana growing countries. We’re very keen to see how these plantings progress.” She adds that harvested fruit might eventually make for an additional revenue stream for some farmers, and the banana plant foliage may also provide another source of supplementary feed that is palatable to cows. Mr Edwards, who has farmed for nearly 40 years at Pakotai, just off SH 15 on the way from Whangarei to Kaikohe, planted 70 Misi Luki bananas a year ago. Already some of the plants are over two metres tall. This variety is especially disease resistant, grows to between three and four metres tall, producing a smaller fruit that is reported to be particularly tasty. “We are now looking for some funding and expert assistance […]

Milk from NZ dairy cows: sustainable, nutrient-dense, tasty too

By Dr Tim Mackle Chief Executive, DairyNZ As Kiwi families and friends sit down at the table this summer and plan picnics at the beach, they can be confident the dairy products from our New Zealand cows are both highly sustainable and one of the best sources of human nutrition on the planet. When deciding what food to eat, I’m a firm believer people need accurate, science-based information grounded in the New Zealand context, and aimed at ensuring we know what’s healthy – and sustainable. To mark the holidays when most of us will be celebrating with delicious food, I’m plating up some of the wealth of evidence being offered independently by scientists that New Zealand cows’ milk is both highly sustainable and nutritious – and, of course, makes for some tasty tucker too. My intent is to help you with informed decision-making about what to eat that’s best for human health and wellbeing, as well as what’s best for the planet – and equip anyone wishing to get involved in conversation about food and the environment. New Zealand is already world-leading in sustainable nutrient-dense dairy products. As identified by the International Dairy Federation New Zealand Committee, if all dairy producers were as efficient as we are, more than half the global emissions from dairy production could be eliminated. The sustainability and nutritional value of the food we’re eating is on the minds of many people, an ongoing topic of conversation on social media feeds, and hitting the headlines in mainstream media. Among recent coverage are in depth articles in two notable New Zealand magazines – North & South (December 2019) and NZ Listener (October 5-11 2019). With due recognition of these publications, their writers and the food scientists they interviewed – and to avoid any risk of the more […]

DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand welcome sector-wide vision

DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand welcome today’s launch of a shared sector-wide vision to be world leaders in the sustainable production of high-quality food and fibre. “We are supportive of the Primary Sector Council’s broad vision of having a coordinated approach across sectors and Government that will help us develop our international brand and deliver more value for farmers,” Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Chair Andrew Morrison said. “New Zealand farmers are constantly having to adapt to shifting consumer demands in order to compete internationally and achieve a premium in the global marketplace. Increasingly consumers are asking for assurances that the product is both sustainably and ethically produced. “We believe that our farmers are already world leaders when it comes to the production of high-quality, pasture-based products with a low environmental impact – but that doesn’t mean we can get complacent. We are always striving to improve” DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel added. “Sustainable farming has a critical role to play in New Zealand’s future prosperity and wellbeing. If we all work together to embrace change, adapt and thrive, Kiwi farmers have a bright future ahead. The Primary Sector Council’s vision – Fit for a Better World – aligns with work that is already underway from both DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand in the form of both Dairy Tomorrow and Taste Pure Nature. Dairy Tomorrow is our dairy sector strategy to ensure dairy farming is sustainable and profitable into the future. It includes six key commitments: • We will protect and nurture the environment for future generations; • We will build the world’s most competitive and resilient dairy farming businesses; • We will produce the highest quality and most valued dairy nutrition; • We will be world leading in on-farm animal care; • We will […]

Record export highs picked for primary sector

Sustained high growth in primary industry exports looks set to continue over the next two years with strong prices predicted for farmers, fishers, growers and rural communities. Minister of Agriculture and Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor today released the latest Situation and Outlook report for the Primary Industries. “This latest report shows record results, with revenue up 3.3 per cent on the previous year, forecast to reach a record $47. 9 billion for the year to June 2020. “Our horticulture sector is set to become the third largest primary sector industry by value, overtaking forestry. Kiwifruit exports alone are expected to rise by 8.6 per cent to $2.5 billon,’’ he said. The news is good for other sectors: Meat and wool exports are forecast to reach $10.4b for the year ending June 2020 – 2.5 per cent higher than the previous year. Dairy export revenue forecast to rise 8.4 per cent to $19.6b. A faster recovery in log export prices than expected last quarter has resulted in the forestry forecast being revised upwards of $190m. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash says a significant milestone has been reached for the seafood sector. “It’s a fantastic vote of confidence to see that annual seafood export earnings are expected to pass $2 billion for the first time. The growth in this industry is underpinned by an increase in export prices and rising aquaculture production. “It’s really encouraging to see sustained growth within the seafood sector, with squid and salmon helping lead the way.” During a time of change in the primary sectors, Mr O’Connor said the positive outlook was a testament to each and every person working in the sector. “Our nation’s farmers and growers produce some of the highest quality food and fibre in the world – and […]

Helping Nutripeople combat global hunger and food waste crises

It’s an uncomfortable truth that while a third of the world’s food is wasted, one in nine people do not have enough to eat. In a bid to redress this balance, a socially conscious Spanish food producer is turning Europe’s surplus fruit and vegetables into a nutritionally enriched, easy-to-digest and 100% natural foodstuff for people in need. Thanks to equipment and support from HRS Heat Exchangers, Nutripeople can now produce 42 million pouches of its products each year, helping those in developing countries to avoid hunger and malnutrition. An alternative approach to food waste Anyone associated with the food industry is aware of the global food waste crisis. Latest figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) show that approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food are lost or wasted every year – roughly one-third of all the food produced for human consumption. At the same time, 795 million people across the world do not have enough to eat, with those in developing countries being the most vulnerable. Established in 2015 as a social enterprise, Nutripeople has formed alliances with some of Spain’s leading fruit and vegetable producers to turn their surplus produce into a new foodstuff with a high nutritional value, thanks to the addition of natural additives such as vegetable proteins and vitamins. Its target customers are global organisations fighting hunger such as UNICEF and Oxfam, as well as food banks closer to home. A percentage of each sale also goes directly to social projects or NGOs dedicated to feeding those most in need. In addition to the social benefits, the project also aids the circular economy. It takes on average 963 litres of water to produce one kilogram of fruit, not to mention the associated labour and transport costs and carbon emissions. Recovering this […]

DairyNZ to Te Papa: We’re not mad, we’re just disappointed

“It’s incredibly disappointing to see our national museum Te Papa reinforcing an overly simplistic anti-farming narrative that negatively impacts the public’s perception of New Zealand farmers and the dairy sector” DairyNZ Chief Executive Dr Tim Mackle says. “The water in their display is not reflective of what your average farm stream in NZ would look like. If you don’t believe me, you just need to look at the countless videos and pictures farmers have posted to social media to correct the perception. “Farmers were right in demanding to know when and where this water was taken from. Te Papa have since confessed that the water wasn’t actually from a farm at all but was made up in a back room using brown dye. “It’s not just about the quality of the water in the bottle either” Dr Mackle added. “The imagery on the bottle of a cow standing in water defecating is highly deceptive and entirely out of step with the reality of dairy farming in New Zealand today where we are proud to have fenced off 98.3% of waterways in recent years. “Farmers who have done the right thing and voluntarily invested their time and their money to fence off waterways and plant riparian strips deserve better than this from their national museum. “Dairy farmers have fenced over 24,744km of waterways. Under the Sustainable Dairy Water Accord New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved some fantastic results: 98.3% of waterways have been fenced on dairy farms to keep cattle out, 100% of stock crossing points have bridges and culverts and 100% of farms have been assessed for effluent management practices. “The situation is all the more disappointing because it was only last week that we hosted our 7th annual Dairy Environment Leaders Forum dinner at Te Papa to celebrate the […]

DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand welcome sector-wide vision

DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand welcomes the launch of a shared sector-wide vision to be world leaders in the sustainable production of high-quality food and fibre. “We are supportive of the Primary Sector Council’s broad vision of having a coordinated approach across sectors and Government that will help us develop our international brand and deliver more value for farmers,” Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Chair Andrew Morrison said. “New Zealand farmers are constantly having to adapt to shifting consumer demands in order to compete internationally and achieve a premium in the global marketplace. Increasingly consumers are asking for assurances that the product is both sustainably and ethically produced. “We believe that our farmers are already world leaders when it comes to the production of high-quality, pasture-based products with a low environmental impact – but that doesn’t mean we can get complacent. We are always striving to improve” DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel added. “Sustainable farming has a critical role to play in New Zealand’s future prosperity and wellbeing. If we all work together to embrace change, adapt and thrive, Kiwi farmers have a bright future ahead. The Primary Sector Council’s vision – Fit for a Better World – aligns with work that is already underway from both DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand in the form of both Dairy Tomorrow and Taste Pure Nature. Dairy Tomorrow is our dairy sector strategy to ensure dairy farming is sustainable and profitable into the future. It includes six key commitments: • We will protect and nurture the environment for future generations; • We will build the world’s most competitive and resilient dairy farming businesses; • We will produce the highest quality and most valued dairy nutrition; • We will be world leading in on-farm animal care; • We will […]

Exports up

Exports of dairy products, beef, and lamb, particularly to China, increased in value in October 2019, Stats NZ said today. However, the rises were partly offset by falls in logs and kiwifruit. In October 2019, the value of total goods exports rose $206 million (4.3 percent) from October 2018 to reach $5.0 billion. The rise in exports was led by milk powder, up $194 million (32 percent) from October 2018. The rise was quantity-led, but unit values were also up. “In each month at the start of the 2019/20 export season, the total value of milk powder exports was up on the same month of the previous year,” international statistics manager Darren Allan said. “These rises reflect higher export quantities and higher prices.” Exports of lamb (up $67 million or 27 percent), and beef (up $59 million or 39 percent) were the other main contributors to the rise in exports. The quantity of lamb exports rose 20 percent in October 2019 compared with October 2018, and that of beef exports rose 27 percent over the same period. Unit prices of both beef and lamb were also up on the same month in 2018. These rises were partly offset by falls in untreated logs (down $93 million), and green kiwifruit (down $47 million). “Export prices of untreated log exports in October have now increased by 11 percent since a low point was reached in July this year,” Mr Allan said. “However, the total export value of untreated logs continues to be lower than the same month of the previous year, and in October, quantities were down by 19 percent.” The monthly movements in dairy products, beef, lamb, and logs were led by exports of the respective commodities to China, New Zealand’s largest export partner. Exports to China rose $279 million in […]

Who will pick up Essential Freshwater’s $80b price tag?

Excessively stringent freshwater policies that won’t achieve significantly better water quality outcomes will cost New Zealanders more than $80 billion over the next thirty years, says DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. “The water quality limits under Essential Freshwater are so severe that the net result is a significant economic loss, both regionally and nationally, potentially without the environmental gains they are hoping for,” Dr Mackle said. “An $80 billion price tag equates to a cost of over $38,000 for every household in the country, according to independent and robust economic analysis of the Essential Freshwater proposals. “These costs are more than three times higher in Southland, Taranaki and the West Coast. Here, they rise to around $120,000 per household. “This will have a devastating impact on regional employment, too. Our analysis shows that there will be an extra 800 households in Southland and 1000 in Taranaki left with a breadwinner out of work. “These are significant costs to be borne, particularly in rural communities, and they should not be taken lightly. “These points emphasise the role of dairy farming as the economic engine of the regions where there is no guarantee another sector will replace it. “By 2050 this will be costing the country $6 billion per year – equivalent to the cost of unmitigated climate change in that year, predicted by the OECD. “Our current scientific understanding and economic modelling indicates there is a more pragmatic way to achieve similar environmental outcomes at less cost to the economy and communities,” said Dr Mackle. “To be clear, the Essential Freshwater policy isn’t all about economics or money. Healthy and swimmable waterways are important to all New Zealanders, including dairy farmers, who share the same aspirations to protect our rivers, lakes and wetlands.   “Up to twenty percent of New Zealand waterways run […]

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Meat processing sector trials ‘wearable’ technology to reduce injuries

New wearable technology designed to reduce the risk of injury is being trialled by New Zealand’s meat processing sector. The Suit-X Exoskeleton is a spring-loaded, non-mechanical device worn by workers to provide strength and support for mechanical and repetitive tasks. The suits reduce forces, cutting the risk of injury and increasing productivity, especially during periods of sustained bending and overhead reaching. The back and shoulder suits, which can be worn on their own or together, do not impede everyday tasks such as walking, driving or climbing a ladder. They do not require the use of computers or batteries. A study using surface sensors on the muscles during scaffold building demonstrated a 45 per cent reduction in muscle activity required for the task. Developed in the United States by Suit-X, the Exoskeleton technology was recently demonstrated at a series of workshops across the country by the Australian-based company Biosymm, supported by the Meat Industry Association (MIA) and WorkSafe New Zealand. Tim Ritchie, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association, says investing in technology is playing a pivotal role in the sector’s efforts to improve its health and safety performance. “We have significantly reduced the injury rates over time, with the number of ACC injury claims more than halving since 2004. However, we are committed to lifting our performance further by exploring new technologies to remove or reduce risk. “We believe good health and safety is more than compliance. We have a responsibility to look after our people to ensure they go home safe and well.” The MIA and WorkSafe New Zealand signed a Partnership Agreement in April 2018, says Mr Ritchie. “We are committed to sharing intelligence on critical harm and injury trends and issues, facilitating industry-good research to reduce injuries and illness, assisting in worker involvement, and supporting health and […]

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