Early Bird I Monday October 7th 2024

Government extends lifeline to southern farmers, Tatua’s value-added strategy pays off with record revenues, and veteran’s determination pays off in emotional Merino Shears victory. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Government extends lifeline to southern farmers The government has announced extra aid for farmers and growers in Southland and Otago, as challenging weather conditions continue to impact the region. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson have revealed additional funding of up to $50,000 to tackle what has now been classified as a medium-scale adverse event. Torrential rain has exacerbated already waterlogged land, with some areas of Southland receiving more than double the average rainfall for September. This comes at a time when rural communities are already grappling with a difficult year. The new funding aims to bolster local recovery efforts and wellbeing initiatives.  The adverse event classification covers all of Southland and the Clutha District in Otago. However, officials continue to monitor conditions in neighbouring areas closely. Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson indicated that further aid might be forthcoming as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer in the weeks ahead. Farmers and growers in need of assistance are encouraged to reach out to their local Rural Support Trust. Various industry organisations, including DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, and Federated Farmers, also offer helplines for those requiring guidance or support, contact details will be in this episode's description.DairyNZ: 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 432 479 69) Beef + Lamb New Zealand: 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) Federated Farmers: 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) And for wellbeing support contact wellbeing support can contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 RURAL HELP or 0800 787 254 Tatua’s value-added strategy pays off with record revenues Tatua Co-operative has announced a healthy payout of $10.50 per kilogram of milk solids for the 2023-2024 season, reflecting a year of solid performance despite early challenges. The Waikato-based dairy company reported total earnings of $12.20 per kilogram before retentions, with $497 million in income and $184 million available for payout. Chief Executive Brendhan Greaney described the results as "good and robust in a normal year." The co-op retained $1.70 per kilogram, totaling $26 million, for reinvestment in the business. Tatua has set an indicative cash payout forecast of $9 per kilogram for the current season. This comes after a year that began with challenging weather conditions but improved as the season progressed. Greaney noted that while bulk ingredient revenues declined due to a normalisation of protein commodity prices, the company's value-added business segments achieved record-breaking results. The combined revenue from specialised nutritional products, foods, and flavours divisions reached an all-time high, continuing a decade-long growth trend. In response to increasing demand, Tatua is undertaking a significant expansion of its food plant capacity. The $85 million project, set to double the plant's capacity, is expected to be operational by August next year. This growth will allow Tatua to more effectively utilise its existing milk supply without adding new shareholders. For the upcoming season, Tatua anticipates strong commodity prices, steady growth in nutritional powders, and increased capacity in its flavours business. This multi-faceted approach underscores Tatua's commitment to maximising returns for its 101 shareholders while adapting to market demands. EU Deforestation Rule delay a win for Kiwi exporters Exporters have received a welcome reprieve as the European Commission proposes a 12-month delay in implementing its Deforestation Regulation. Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has lauded the decision, calling it a pragmatic move that will provide much-needed certainty for our exporters. The delay means over $200 million worth of current exports can continue to enter the European market unaffected, alleviating pressure on our primary producers.  The Government has been actively working to mitigate the potential trade consequences of the EU Deforestation Regulation. Earlier this year, Minister McClay wrote to the EU Commissioner requesting an exemption for New Zealand exports and has continued to advocate for our interests in various international forums. Without changes, the regulation threatened to make it too costly for many Kiwi exporters to continue supplying the EU market. This comes at a time when New Zealand aims to grow trade through the benefits of the NZ-EU Trade Agreement, rather than face additional barriers. The proposed delay provides an opportunity for continued engagement with the European Commission. The goal is to ensure the regulation achieves its objectives without creating unfair trade barriers or imposing unnecessary costs on New Zealand exporters. Fonterra Announces 2024 Election Candidates Fonterra has announced its candidates for the upcoming 2024 elections. The announcement covers the Board of Directors, Directors' Remuneration Committee, and Co-operative Council positions. For the Board of Directors, two candidates are vying for two available seats. Incumbent Directors Peter McBride and John Nicholls have been named as Independently Assessed Candidates. Despite being uncontested, they must still secure more than 50% of votes cast to retain their positions. The Directors' Remuneration Committee election has concluded without the need for a vote. Mike Pavletich and Richard Stalker have been automatically elected to the two open positions. The Co-operative Council elections present a mixed picture. Two wards will hold contested elections: In Ward 16, Central Districts West, Megan Cushnahan and Hamish Easton are competing for the seat. Ward 17, Hawke's Bay, sees Charlotte Lawn and William White vying for the position. Eight other wards have only one nomination each, negating the need for elections.  Voting for the contested positions will start on Tuesday, October 22nd. Eligible shareholders will receive voting packs from Monday, 21st October, with options to cast their votes online or via post. The voting period finishes at 10:30 am on Tuesday, November 12, with results expected later that day. Veteran’s determination pays off in emotional Merino Shears victory In a remarkable display of skill and determination, 56-year-old Chris Vickers from Shag Point, Otago, has claimed victory in the 63rd New Zealand Merino Shears Open final in Alexandra. This triumph marks only the third win in Vickers' 37-year shearing career and secures him a coveted place in the Shearing Sports New Zealand team for the upcoming trans tasman test in Katanning, Western Australia. Vickers' win came against formidable opposition, including four Master Shearers and a young Australian hopeful. The victory holds deep personal significance for Vickers, who began his Australian shearing career at age 20 near Katanning. He wore a memorial singlet under his competition gear in honour of his late cousin, Chris Iles, adding an emotional layer to his performance. The veteran shearer's journey to this moment has been long and challenging. He recalled his early days in Australia when reaching the 100-sheep milestone took three weeks of hard work. Now, decades later, Vickers has proven his endurance and skill at the highest level of competition. As Vickers prepares to represent New Zealand in the transtasman test, his win serves as an inspiration to shearers of all ages and a reminder of the strong tradition of shearing excellence in rural New Zealand. The action continues this  weekend with the Waimate Shears New Zealand Spring Shearing and Woolhandling Championships. This two-day event kicks off on  Friday and Saturday, showcasing top talent from across the country. Looking further ahead, October 19th sees a double-header that day with the Gisborne Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the Poverty Bay A and P Show, and the Ellesmere A and P Show will host shearing-only competitions at Leeston, just south of Christchurch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.