Miles Toyota - Hazlett Rural Limited

THE PRESS, Christchurch
Friday, August 12, 2011 FARMING A13
Apple access nears
Co-operative doubles profit
Tim Cronshaw
Major fertiliser co-operative
Ravensdown has turned around a
challenging first half year to more
than double its profit before tax at
$71.6 million for the financial year
ending May.
Ravendown’s
Australasian
operation bettered last season’s
pre-tax result of $27m and it will
distribute $57m to shareholders,
up from $17m.
Ravensdown chief executive
Rodney Green said the cooperative was happy with the
improved result after a difficult
start from storms last spring and
the Canterbury earthquakes.
‘‘The first half had a few
negatives and it was pretty ugly
because we had that cold snap and
then it came right in the second
half and that made an enormous
difference. We are expecting a
better financial effort this year and
anticipating a big spring and a
good autumn.’’
He said better prices for dairy,
lamb and wool had made it feasible
for farmers to improve their
fertiliser buying above maintenance levels.
‘‘This will be the cheapest
farmers will get fertiliser for the
returns they are getting.’’
Prices are expected to increase
‘‘moderately’’ this season by 5-10
per cent with some fertilisers
rising less.
The key nitrogen fertiliser of
urea for dairying has risen in costs
for Ravensdown by 50 per cent
Australia’s refusal to allow New
Zealand apples through its borders
for 90 years is coming to a crunch
with an Import Risk Analysis due
out next week and opening the
way for access.
The completion of the paperwork will technically mark the
lifting of a ban introduced in 1921,
with exporters able to obtain
import permits. Kiwi orchardists
are lining up to get their fruit to
the valuable Australian market, if
not this year then next season.
Until now Australia has
resisted apple imports from New
Zealand, arguing they would bring
in fire blight, a contagious disease
leaving material blackened as
though scorched by fire.
Scientists have scotched this
theory, saying mature fruit cannot
transmit the disease, and the
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
ruled Australia’s actions were
trade restrictive with a subsequent
appeal to the WTO by the
Australians lost.
The Import Risk Analysis is the
legal framework for access
requirements and is scheduled to
be released on August 17.
Pipfruit New Zealand chairman
Ian Palmer said the first import
licence could in theory be obtained
next week, but growers were
suspicious the Australians might
issue a legal challenge.
Australian growers have at
Market opening: New Zealand apples are set to re-enter the Australian market.
their disposal the ability to
challenge the import licences and
this has happened before when the
Australian pork industry objected
to the first raw pork coming from
New Zealand, he said.
Palmer said the holdup would
infuriate Kiwi growers as the fruit
could be impounded and they
might take a less disciplined
approach than planned in supplying fruit to the market. He said
Kiwi growers would prefer to view
Australia as a premium market.
However, Australian growers
seem reluctant to enter an
expensive legal battle with their
government. Apple and Pear
Australia managing director Jon
Durham said the pork industry
was still struggling to recover from
its legal challenge and few growers
had the resources to pursue legal
action and pay out costs if they
lost. He said Australian growers
were realistic about kiwi imports
entering their market.
Durham
said
Australian
growers remained unconvinced
about scientific arguments around
fire blight transmission and were
deeply concerned the disease
would enter Australia.
Australian apples typically sell
for more than in New Zealand and
a large expat Kiwi community will
supply a ready market until
Australians take to New Zealand’s
latest selection of varieties such as
jazz, envy, pacific rose and queen.
Lamb exports down on a year ago
Lamb
New Zealand’s peak lamb
production for the season occurred
in May, which saw lamb exports in
June lift above June 2010 levels.
But from October 2010, New
Zealand lamb exports are 35,000
tonnes behind the same period a
year ago. New Zealand’s biggest
market for the October season to
June is the UK, where almost
50,000 tonnes of lamb has been
sent. The second largest market is
China (including Hong Kong).
A pen of Waipara ewes made
between $140 to $170 in the prime
ewe market at livestock sales at
Canterbury Agricultural Park, in
Christchurch, this week.
Prime lambs had a strong sale,
with better lambs making $170 to
$185.
New Zealand processing
throughput is at its seasonal low
and demand from buyers in
overseas markets is light. The US
domestic market is holding up
surprisingly well. On a more
positive note for beef prices,
chicken producers are urgently
cutting back production. Once the
backlog of chicken meat clears,
and the decreased production
flows through, higher chicken
prices should eventuate. This can
only be good for beef prices. Bobby
calf processing is well under way
as calving gets into full swing.
Prime lambs
Values: A good yarding of quality lambs met a good
strong market. The best lambs made $170 to $185.
Heavy lambs made $170 to $185, medium $155 to
$170 and light $135 to $145.
Sales included: Waipuna Enterprises (Irwell) 10 lambs
at $158, GH Tallott (Rangiora) 25 lms at $165 to $166,
CJ Draper (Culverden) 113 lms at $167 to $172.50,
GW & FM Martin P/ship (Greenpark) 28 lms at $156
to $165, Geoff Martin (Leeston) 20 lms at $178 to
$181, KR Shipley (Oxford) 27 lms at $174 to $180, D
Lower dollar lifts wool prices at Chch
A lower dollar helped wool prices
rise at the Christchurch wool sale
yesterday.
Prices lifted for good style
crossbred fleece 31 to 39 microns by
1-3 per cent, poorer styles by 4 per
cent and longer second-shear fleece
2-4 per cent. Shorter second-shear
fleece was largely unchanged and
crossbred oddments were up 2-4 per
cent.
Elders Primary Wool supply
manager Roger Fuller said the
offering of crossbred fleece continued to be some of the best seen for
many years and the price reflected
the good quality.
PGG Wrightson auctioneer Dave
Burridge said a drop in the dollar at
81.2c against the greenback at the
opening of trading resulted in some
price upswing in a volatile currency.
WOOL
Grower
Desc.
Bls
Crossbred
Craigiochart Farms (Blenheim) ...................... cor/rom
9
cross
Onepunga P/ship (Amberley) ........................ cross 2th
12
Inverary Stn (Mt Somers).............................. per 2th
27
PD and JC Helps (Banks Penin)..................... per
10
Macdonald Downs (Hawarden)...................... per
26
Colenso Farming (Amberley) ......................... cor cross
48
DA Asquith (Chch)........................................ rom
6
P and M Small Trading (Central Otago) .......... rom 2th
13
JE Hart (Temuka) ......................................... rom
12
Ottrey Farms (Central Otago) ........................ cross 2th
19
Glenann Stn (Methven)................................. rom
8
Strathview Farm (Clarks Junction) ................. rom
40
Te Oka Farms (Little River) ........................... rom es
19
JS and CJ Crawford (Gleniti).......................... coopw/per 21
Calder Farming (St Bathans) ......................... rom 2shr
11
Corriedale and halfbred
Hidden Hills (Parnassus) .............................. f cor
5
Hidden Hills (Parnassus) .............................. m cor
30
Merino
P K Jihnston (Otago) .................................... f mer
6
Delargy Downs (Sth Canty) ........................... f mer
3
Mic.
Yield
Gr. c
Cl. c
31.0
80.6
576
715
33.0
35.2
34.6
33.6
34.8
36.1
37.2
35.4
38.0
38.4
39.4
37.5
39.2
39.2
81.0
80.4
77.5
80.0
72.8
72.5
85.1
74.6
76.4
82.2
78.7
83.0
79.2
81.4
547
532
512
528
479
469
550
481
493
529
505
526
501
509
675
662
661
660
658
647
646
645
645
644
642
634
633
625
28.3
29.9
71.9
74.2
595
559
827
753
16.9
17.3
72.6
68.2
2048
1900
2820
2785
the old name in new homes
from $350 a tonne to more than
$500/t since March, but the cooperative has until now managed
to hold the retail price at $760/t.
Urea supplies have tightened as
India continues to import large
amounts and China is not
exporting much because of export
taxes.
Ravensdown says the foundation of the good result in 2010-11
was the strength of the New
Zealand farming sector benefiting
for the first time for many years
from good commodity prices for
meat, wool, dairy and arable
produce.
This led to farmers investing in
fertiliser to improve production.
Total revenue increased by 12
per cent to $933 million, and sales
of fertiliser across the New
Zealand and Australian markets
increased by 14 per cent to 1.492
million tonnes, with much of the
Australian supply being manufactured in New Zealand.
Assets grew to $786 million, an
increase of $95 million on last
season. Shareholder distributions
will consist of a cash rebate of
$15.10 a tonne of fertiliser bought
and a fully imputed bonus share
issue of 18 shares a tonne valued at
$26.86.
Ravensdown’s $27m pre-tax
profit last season was hindered by
a fertiliser ship running aground
in Morocco and a loss made by its
Western Australia business.
Australian operations faced
trying trading conditions with
droughts in Western Australia and
heavy rain in Queensland.
Despite this their financial
performance improved with the
previous season’s $11.2 million loss
before tax and rebate reduced to
$1.6m.
Chairman Bill McLeod said
both regions had since bounced
back
and
the
Australian
operations were heading towards a
better financial performance in the
2012 financial year.
He said the co-operative was
building a major operation in
Australia.
‘‘Our Australian initiative is
building the base from which we
will deliver growth and financial
return for shareholders in the
longer term.’’
Green said there was still room
for Ravensdown to lift sales with
the 1.2m tonnes sold in New
Zealand in 2010-11 still lower than
1.6m tonnes in 2005.
McLeod said the shareholder
distribution was the highest in
cash and shares made in 14 years,
and reflected the continued
increase in the value of a
shareholder’s investment in
Ravensdown.
Ravensdown
investments
include $3 million to improve its
Ravensbourne works in Otago,
and the upgrading of stores in New
Zealand and Australia.
The co-operative established a
joint venture with broker partners
to form Ravensdown Shipping
Services during the year for
savings in co-ordinating cargo
traffic.
River) 55 lms at $90 to $136, Hilltop Farm
(Parnassus) 20 lms at $133.
with sales to 225c. Light heifers nade 190c/kg to
200c, and cows 133c/kg to 145c, with sales to 151c.
Sales included: J Adair (Amberley) 2 steers at $1494
to $1505, GR & Est WRT James (Amberley) 11 strs at
$967 to $1241, Thompson Trust (Kaiapoi) 2 strs at
$1084 to $1194 and 2 hfrs at $1022, DJ & SJ Wright
(Methven) 4 strs at $1215, M Kriesel (Greenpark) 2
strs at $1299 to $1472 and 1 hfr at $1171, WM Harris
(Hororata) 6 strs at $897 to $1020, KG & BA Wakelin
(Bennetts) 3 strs at $1372 to $1461, WS Hawker
(Flaxton) 3 hfrs at $1160 to $1340, AW & CM Hight
(Ladbrooks) 4 hfrs at $1017 to $1080, DC & LJ
Redmond (Rakaia) 6 strs at $1322 to $1546, MG
Hurley (Ellesmere) 3 strs at $989 to $1210 & 3 hfrs at
$832 to $1010, AS Harrison (Waiau) 5 hfrs at $861 to
$1035, MH O’Neill (Irwell) 1 cow $658.
CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL PARK LIVESTOCK SALES
Beef
NZX AGRIFAX REPORT
Tim Cronshaw
S & A S McLean (Waiau) 13 lms at $151-$164, T
Ashley (Cheviot) 21 lms at $157 to $165., Pencarrow
Farm (Homebush) 40 lms at $145 to $150, G H
Bennett (Oxford) 19 lms at $145 to $151, KC Prenter
(Greta Valley) 92 lms at $140 to $158, G A & RR
Heard (Motanau) 52 lms at $150 to $159, AB & JM
Peter (Amberley) 21 lms at $155, D & K Rowell
(Leithfeild) 52 lms at $145 to $164, JM Betts
(Yaldhurst) 19 lms at $157, Minerra Farms
(Aylesbury) 55 lms at $165 to $184, Taimate Holdings
(Ward) 38 lms at $170 to $189.
Store lambs
Values: In a smaller yarding, the best lambs made up
to $140.
Sales included: J Whelan (Parnassus) 242 mixed-sex
lambs at $112.50 to $135.50, CR Waddy (Blenheim)
62 ms lms at $119, DS Moore (Ladbrooks) 45 ms lms
at $115 to $129, Glenpark P/ship (Omihi) 29 ms lms
at $135, JRB & NB Hiatt (Parnassus) 95 lms at $118,
CR Scarlett (Waiau) 19 lms at $140, DG Trist ( Little
Prime sheep
Values: Heavy ewes made $130 to $155, with an
exceptional sale of $170, medium $110 to $125 and
lighter $80 to $105. Store ewes made $70 to $80.
Sales included: GW & FM Martin P/Ship (Greenpark) 2
first-shear ewes at $132 & 3 1shr es at $156, J
Whelan (Parnassus) 14 two-tooth es at $98 to $103 &
183 es at $94 to $129, BG & HL Lang (Waipara) 35 es
at $140 to $170, T & N Stronach (Pigeon Bay) 11 es at
$141, Greenacres Stock Feed (Clarksville) 50 es at $50
to $145, The Wattles (Charlton) 34 es at $86 to $125,
Heads Farm P/ship (Akaroa) 32 es at $116 to $120.
Prime cattle
Values: The market for steers and heavy heifers was
on par with the last sale and lightweight heifers and
cows were back 10c/kg. Steers made 215c/kg to
228c, with sales to 232c, and heifers 215c/kg to 220c,
Store cattle
Sales included: J McL Syme (Rangiora) 9 angus
steers at $940, BJ & RE Patchett (Springston) 4 strs at
$720.
Lamb crop
rise predicted
Jon Morgan
Early signs are a long-awaited
increase in lamb numbers will
come this year, according to Beef +
Lamb New Zealand.
The farmer body’s annual stock
survey predicts this spring’s lamb
crop will be up 1.4 million on last
year with 26.2m lambs, yielding
20.1m lambs for export.
Even so, the birth rate will be
the second-lowest in 50 years, only
beating last year’s poor result.
However, the tight supply of
lambs to world markets in the year
to June 30 meant a lift in prices.
Export earnings for sheep and
beef totalled $5.8 billion last year –
an increase of 9 per cent, Beef +
Lamb economist Rob Davison said.
The news comes as world
commodity prices for meat and
dairy appear to be resisting the
panic selling that has plagued
other commodities, according to
ASB Bank.
Meat prices fell 2-3 per cent in
the past week, which suggested
‘‘speculative activity’’ rather than
demand was driving the market,
the bank said.
Dairy prices also eased, but
commentators were picking this
was due to northern hemisphere
August holiday and Middle East
Ramadan disruptions.
They expected a rebound next
month.
Sheep, beef and wool prices are
up 27 per cent on a year ago on the
ASB’s commodity index and dairy
prices are about level.
Beef + Lamb reported sheep
numbers down 2.1 per cent to
31.9m in the year to June 30 while
the beef herd stayed almost static
at 3.9m.
Davison said the decrease in
sheep numbers flowed on from a
tough spring in 2010 that resulted
in a low supply of lambs this year.
‘‘This in turn has cut back the
supply of lambs that can be held
over as future breeding flock
replacements.’’
High export prices allowed a
higher than usual cull of poorer
producing sheep with the objective
to improve the flock quality for
future breeding seasons and this
also contributed to the sheep flock
decrease, he said.
In the year ended June 30, lamb
generated $2.7b and beef exports
$2.5b.
COALGATE LIVESTOCK SALES
Another large yarding of quality
prime lambs generated consistent
prices at livestock sales at
Coalgate last week.
Lighter and medium lambs
were in strong demand and heavy
lambs eased slightly.
Prime lambs
Values: Tops made $174-$190, medium $150- $173
and light $130-$149.
Sales included: Abilene Farm (Leeston) 72 lambs
from $170-$183, AG & GM Sutherland (Rakaia) 9
lms from $167-$187, AP Heslop (Leeston) 8 lms at
$159, HG & JM Gill (Ashburton) 16 lms from
$178-$185, HJ Boulton (Ashburton) 21 lms from
$180-$189, Huyton Farm Ltd (Cheviot) 8 lms from
$147-$165, JW Russell (West Melton) 19 lms from
$140 - $155, JWR Cooper (Darfield) 41 lms from
$140-$185, Lake Coleridge Station (Rakaia Gorge)
33 lms from $148-$149, L Ropiha (Springfield) 17
lms at $156, Manahune Partnership (Waipara) 13
lms at $130, Master Ben Miller (Rakaia Gorge) 1 lm
at $160, R Miller (Rakaia Gorge) 2 lms at $177, NC &
DM Greenwood (Ellesmere) 35 lms from $159-$160,
NR Wards (Southbridge) 7 lms at $158, One Oak
Farm (Kirwee) 3 lms at $181, PJ & RF Holmes (West
Melton) 39 lms at $139, Putiki Farm (Port Levy) 197
lms from $150-$168, RJ Middleton (Springston) 46
lms from $151-$173, SJ Sinclair (Ashburton) 22 lms
from $182-$189, Sulpher Springs Farm (Scargill
Valley) 18 lms from $137-$164, Watson Children
(Darfield) 3 lms from $136-$170, Willsiden Farm
(Southbridge) 108 lms from $153-$160, Woods
Fencing (Balcairn) 15 lms at $163, WP & MJ
Johnston (Leeston) 81 lms from $175-$181,
Wyndale Partnership (Sheffield) 6 lms at $161, LC
Gardiner Ltd (Waiau) 19 lms from $150-$184;
Morrish Farming P/Ship (Leeston) 179 lms from
$133-$147; Owenga Station (Chatham Island) 10
lms at $143; MJ & K Smith (Darfield) 6 lms at $181;
Mt Pleasant Farm (Leeston) 60 lms at $140-$163; JB
Bell (Leeston) 16 lms at $151-$178.
Prime ewes
Values: Ewe numbers increased as scanning takes
place around the districts. Demand remained strong
and top ewes were pushed to as much as $171 a
head. Tops made $138-$160, medium $122-$137
and light $85 -$121.
Sales included: AG & GM Sutherland (Rakaia) 10
ewes at $171, AG Ramsay & KR Morris (Hawarden)
10 es at $129, Brooksdale Station (Springfield) 76 es
from $118-$139 & 22 1shr es at $126, Essex Farms
Ltd (Waiau) 81 es from $103-$136, Harts Creek
Farm (Leeston) 14 es from $90-$123, High Peak
Station (Rakaia Gorge) 112 es from $108-$138 &
115 1shr es from $111-$133, JW & A Shepherd
(Amberley) 47 es at $129, JWR Cooper (Darfield) 6
es at $95, Lake Coleridge Station (Rakaia Gorge) 28
es from $118-$146, Manahune Partnership
(Waipara) 76 es from $108-$153 & 19 2th es at
$125, MH Pearce Ltd (West Melton) 2 es at $70,
Minnivey Downs Partnership (Omihi) 15 1shr es at
$107, MJ Calder (West Melton) 26 es at $165, MJ
Barton (Waikari) 12 es from $120-$159, Peak Hill
Station (Rakaia Gorge) 57 es from $113-$146 & 35
1shr es from $119-$128, .
Store sheep
Values: Tops made $125-$140 and medium
$95-$124.
Sales included: BB & HL Hutchinson (Little River) 21
lambs at $112, Essex Farms Ltd (Waiau) 17 lms
from $111-$131, Harts Creek Farm (Leeston) 33 lms
at $136, HD Bethell Shellrock (Waikari) 72 in lamb
ewes at $168, DL Hazlett Farm Ltd (Ohoka) 18 in lm
es at $150, Wyndale Partnership (Sheffield) 20 lms
from $95-$119, Owenga Station (Chatham Island)
127 lms at $123; Benholm Station (Whitecliffs) 91
lms at $120-$128; MJ & K Smith (Darfield) 13 lms at
$80-$120, R & S Murray (Kekerangu) 123 annual
draft ewes at $142-$151.
Prime cattle
Values: A light yarding of prime cattle eased due to a
drop in export schedules and the volatility of the
dollar against the United States dollar. Prime steers
were back 10c/kg, while heifers were back 5c/kg.
Steers made $2.25-$2.30/kg, heifers $2.10-$2.20/kg
and cows $1.30-$1.50/kg.
Sales included: AR & J Turner (West Melton) 2
steers at $980, Brackenfield Hunt Club (Rangiora) 2
strs from $1390-$1520, D Dyer (Oxford) 10 strs
from $935-$1000, HG & EE Paget (Amberley) 2 strs
at $1565, Kelliher Farms Ltd (West Melton) 2 heifers
at $885, Meadowflower Farming Ltd (Balmoral Hill) 3
blls at $900,
Store cattle
Sales included: KW & KJ Opie (Darfield) 2 cows with
calves at foot at $400, Bridget Dillion (Leeston) 9
yearling steers at $770, 14 ylng heifers from
$695-$770.
Miles Toyota
DAMAGED PASTURES
DAMAGE THE BOTTOM LINE
With winter rains resulting in sodden paddocks,
it is important to do what you can to minimize
pasture damage. Lost pasture growth results in
lost production and lost profit. Like anything,
prevention is better than cure, but often this is
easier said than done. There are some proactive
steps you can take to help preserve your pastures.
Having high pasture covers helps to protect
against pugging. Usually this can be achieved
during the first round if cows have been wintered
off, but in round two this can be more difficult if
conditions are cold.
Keep your grazing round flexible so you can alter
it according to the conditions of the day, avoiding
grazing heavy paddocks in wet conditions.
Block grazing with back fencing can give you
good control over the paddock, helping to avoid
pugging.
The use sacrifice paddocks is another option.
Select older, poorer performing paddocks so these
can be cropped or re-grassed later in the spring.
During late winter, early spring there is likely to
be some unavoidable pasture damage. Depending
on the extent of damage, you may be able to stitch
in an Italian or perennial ryegrass to boost plant
numbers. If the paddock is unsalvageable, full
renovation will be needed using a summer crop,
winter crop or a perennial ryegrass mix.
Contact me for further information or assistance.
T
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