🐱 Kiwi Farming Mega Thread - Epic stories of farmers in NZ

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CatParty
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/new-water-treatment-system-hailed-giant-leap-kiwi-farms


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Cleartech, created by Ravensdown, gives farmers the ability to separate waste from dairy shed runoff, allowing them to re-use the water.

With an average of 10,000 litres being recycled every milking it could mean a major difference for water use on farms and with public scrutiny at an all-time high, it's a welcome change.


"The customers asking for that, the community is asking for that, central government is asking for that. We as citizens of New Zealand want a better more sustainable country," says Mike Manning, Ravensdown's general manager of innovation and strategy.

The left over effluent can be used as a nutrient fertiliser for paddocks in summer weather.

The product is set to hit the market later this year at a cost of around $50,000
 
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Sorry but it's the only way to keep them in line
 
Kiwi farmers best paid in the world

New Zealand farmers are getting paid much more than their counterparts overseas and it's all thanks to the co-op model, says a corporate farmer and former Fonterra director.

Corporate farmer Earl Rattray, a former Fonterra director with farming interests in NZ and overseas, says the co-op model is working wonders for New Zealand farmers, who get paid much more for their milk than farmers in the other big milk producing and exporting countries.

Rattray points out that with Fonterra's forecast milk price of $7/kgMS for this season, NZ farmers are getting about US41c/L for milk. Farmers in the US get 34c/L, in Europe US37c/L and in Australia US34c/L.

“It’s a good example of the co-op working well for farmers; it’s a milk price no one can argue with,” he told Dairy News.

“Around the world, farmers are arguing about the milk price, wondering why theirs is going down, while in NZ its going up.

“But in NZ, no one can argue with the Fonterra milk price because it is set from externally verifiable prices, set by the market every two weeks at auction.

“NZ farmers can see what their milk is earning; it means it’s a milk price Fonterra has to pay farmers before it makes a profit and that puts us in a unique position.”

Transparency also means Fonterra is unable to quietly take into the milk price such market write-downs as its loss on Beingmate.

Rattray says in days gone by few farmers ever knew of such write-downs.

“Today, it is exposed for what it is; such losses are taken out of the profit rather than the value of milk.”

He also applauded Fonterra’s ability to switch its milksolids between different earning streams, maximising the value of milk.

“It’s an extraordinary situation where Fonterra is able to get the full value of milk fat, which is now worth 1.3 times more than protein. Not every farmer in the world is getting those values passed back to them but Fonterra supplying farmers are getting them. I think this shows the true value of having a farmer-owned organisation of scale with product mix flexibility and a completely independent milk price.”

Fonterra is achieving a higher payout despite not having a massive high value domestic market like EU, the US and even Australia, where the home market consumes at least 60% of production.

Rattray says customers and consumers in NZ’s export markets are willing to pay more for Fonterra’s products.

In Southeast Asia and South Asia, the milk deficit is growing; and with the cost of producing milk rising, food manufacturers are turning to reputable overseas dairy companies for reliable, affordable ingredients.

For example, Thailand’s dairy food manufacturers can buy local milk at US57c/L or buy milksolids imported as ingredients at the equivalent of US42c/L.

“For anything that requires dairy ingredients… manufacturers prefer cheaper imported inputs rather than paying high prices for local milk,” he says.

He says Fonterra, as a major supplier and dedicated exporter, has built relationships for many years with large manufacturers.

“These manufacturers don’t haggle over price as long as they know they are getting quality dairy products, and not paying more than their competitors are; such relationships help Fonterra pay the $7 milk price.”

Rattray says the NZ dairy industry must maintain sustainable farming practices.

“Today’s consumers want food produced with a soft environmental footprint and a strong ethical footprint. Tightening environment standards are a given -- that’s the price of being in business. We have to embrace it because the market values it.”

https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/dairy-news/dairy-general-news/kiwi-farmers-best-paid-in-the-world
 
Yet milk is $4 NZD for 2 litres, most rivers are full of cow shit and land that could be used for better things in areas where it isn't suitable are converted to heavy dairying.

Granted I generally try and give my money to the WDC instead.

Yay Fonterra!
 
"You want meat? We can make that possible", Taihape farmer Sarah Wells announces in a video pitching for Virgin Australia's business.

Wells and husband Tom are behind Hinterland Foods, a grouping of sheep and beef farmers in the central North Island who want the airline to buy their meat.

It follows an appeal last month by Virgin Australia to New Zealand farmers and meat producers to supply it with meat for flights to Australia.

"Calling all Kiwi meat producers. If you've got beef, we want you! It's not impossible. It's no bull!" the airline said in a cheeky riposte to Air New Zealand's earlier announcement it would serve a fake meat Impossible Foods burger on its flights from Los Angeles.

The Taihape farmers are among more than 25 Kiwis who have responded to the airline's challenge, Virgin Australia's group executive Rob Sharp said.

Hinterland's team produced a bespoke video to better acquaint Aussies with rural New Zealand life and make a case for why the company's products should be chosen.

Led by the farm's Clydesdale Polly and featuring an appearance from Fieldays rural catch 2018 winner, Mairi Whittle, the team pulls off some impressive cattle choreography, culminating in the formation of a giant "V" by a large mob of cattle.

Sarah Wells said the group had started Hinterland Foods several years ago. Their farm ran romney sheep and angus beef on 520 hectares of hill country.

They had recently launched a cooked lamb shank product into Countdown supermarkets, but expected to be offering Virgin Australia raw meat for its own chefs to cook.

"The lamb shanks are slow cooked then chilled. They only need heating for 10 minutes and they are ready to eat, they've been aimed at consumers who are too busy to cook for themselves."

"We are thrilled that Virgin Australia is supporting local farmers and we want to be part of the action. As one of the country's newest meat companies we definitely see ourselves as an underdog. A deal with the airline would be huge for us," the Wells said.

Sarah Wells said the news that the plant-based Impossible Burger would be served on Air New Zealand flights had caused a stir in local rural communities.

She acknowledged that Air New Zealand had the right to operate as it wished, and that it used a lot of New Zealand meat as well.

Sharp said it was part of Virgin Australia's policy to use produce from the locations it flew into. Agriculture was critical to New Zealand's economy.

The businesses which had contacted the airline ranged from family-owned ones through to commercial suppliers.

Recently Virgin Australia announced a new range of services for its flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Newcastle, starting October 28.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/106108187/kiwi-farmers-pitch-for-virgin-australias-business
 
Kiwi farmer loses $1.2 million in romance scam

https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-people/kiwi-farmer-loses-12-million-romance-scam

Kiwis are being warned to look out for romance scams this Valentine's Day after a farmer was conned out of $1.2 million.



Fraud education manager Bronwyn Groot said there has been a steady increase in the number of people being duped out of their life savings by people they thought cared for them.

"Unfortunately these Kiwis discover the person they thought they were talking to is in fact a sophisticated organised crime ring."

Groot said he has been helping the farmer, only referred to as Mark, whose losses included the family farm he inherited from his parents.

"This woman Connie told me her parents had been killed in a car accident. I talked to her [on Facebook] for about two or three months. And then she told me she had inherited some gold, and needed money to pay fees to have it released by the American government. And I went along with it," Mark said.

Mark sent the woman $30,000, but that was just the start.

The woman was able to convince Mark to send money to the UK, the US and Malaysia for fees, taxes and transportation that she said would allow her to bring her inheritance of gold to New Zealand.

Eventually, Mark had nothing left.

Online safety organisation Netsafe estimates that New Zealanders lost $8.7 million to romance scams between January and September 2018, compared to $1.4 million for the whole of 2017.

"The tragedy of romance scams is that people not only lose money, but also have their hearts broken. They go through a grieving process over losing someone they thought they loved, and who they thought loved them." Groot said.

Romance scams can start through dating websites, other social websites such as Words with Friends, unsolicited approaches through social media, by email or through apps.

"These people will move quickly, confessing their love for you within a short time of making contact.

"They will then ask for money to help a sick family member, or for airfares to come and see you. The stories become more and more elaborate," Groot said.

Tips to avoid romance scams:

Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.

If the person who approached you sends a photo of themselves, try putting it into the Google search bar to see if they've stolen it from someone else's identity.

Show any documentation they send you to someone else and get their help to verify it.

If you think you're being scammed, stop all contact. You might need to close or change your social media pages and replace the sim card in your phone.
 
https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-people/backpackers-facebook-post-farm-work-turns-ugly
Backpacker's Facebook post for farm work turns ugly
A young backpacker's innocent social media post looking for local farm work in New Zealand has taken a nasty turn.

The Finnish woman took to NZ Farming's Facebook page to post a selfie of herself in work clothes describing herself as a "hardworking farmhand/machine operator" with a farming background and looking for work.

In the post, the 28-year-old said she had been working in Australia for two years, mostly recently on the runway at Brisbane Airport and was now moving to New Zealand in two weeks' time.

"I am reliable, hardworking and fit due to my background in personal training. I am motivated and work with common sense and always up for a challenge.

"I'm great with animals and operating machinery, I have a driver's licence and will buy a car asap when I get to NZ. I'm looking to fly to Auckland but willing to move anywhere in New Zealand."

The woman listed her previous experience as machine operator, cattle work and horse grooming.

The social media post received 1600 comments, most commenting on her looks.

NZ Farming had to intervene with the moderator telling users to "get your minds out of the gutter".

"Come on guys. This was a genuine advertisement sent to our in box by an international traveller coming to our country to visit New Zealand and wanting to find some agricultural work while here," the moderator wrote.

"Get your minds out of the gutter and show some respect. If you don't have a suitable employment offer keep your comments to yourselves."

Comments ranged from mild or complimentary through to indecent and sleazy.

"Bugger New Zealand come to Scotland al give u a job," one user wrote.

"Send me a copy of your CV and I'll just quickly nip out and buy a farm," another said.

One user described the string of inappropriate comments as a "cringefest".

"Disgusting though ... no wonder there are quite a few single men in our rural communities!!"

Some users questioned why the page had published her photo in the advertisement in the first place.

"We are forever asking people to supply a photo when they are placing a listing and this just goes to show why. More eyes = more chances of being hired," the moderator said.

Amid the sea of lewd comments, the post seemed to include some genuine job offers.

NZ Farming is a general farming forum with a jobs section.
 
www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz

Trojan designed for Kiwi farms

At Fieldays will be the DR200 Trojan, a benchmark farm two-wheeler motorcycle since its introduction 23 years ago. Designed from scratch by the engine...
www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz
At Fieldays will be the DR200 Trojan, a benchmark farm two-wheeler motorcycle since its introduction 23 years ago.
Designed from scratch by the engineers at Suzuki New Zealand for the country’s unique conditions, it’s ideal for all types of NZ farms. During its development Suzuki NZ custom-built a farm-oriented version of the already robust DR200 trail bike, added features that NZ farmers needed then sent it back to Japan for final sign-off and manufacture.
A popular feature on the Trojan has always been its large 12V headlight, a bonus during early morning starts, and the quality aluminium protectors that give handlebar levers a second chance, not to mention saving knuckles from nasty skinning.
Japanese-built means a quality standard that has some competitor products looking distinctly cheap. A case in point is the four-stroke engine’s exhaust header pipe (stainless steel) and oil cooling for performance and durability.
Dual side stands are a winner on any farm and the chunky Bridgestone knobbly tyres front and rear make for great traction.
Low gearing with a quality O-ring chain allows slow speed riding without continual stalling or heavy clutch use, and the 13L fuel tank holds enough to last most farmers all week.
The Trojan is a real Kiwi farmbike.
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