Rural businesses band together
Rural businesses Farmlands, PGG Wrightson and FarmSource have pledged to work together during the covid-19 response.
In an open letter, the companies’ chief executives said they will harness their collective supply chain to maintain productivity.
“It is time for us all to do what we can to try and continue to support you through these challenging times,” the letter says.
Bidr to step up for farmers
Today’s stock sales at yards were the last till further notice.
All scheduled sales from tomorrow will not operate, PGG Wrightson says.
National territory manager Caitlin Rokela said her phone has been ringing off the hook since yesterday and the wheels are in motion to use online sales platform bidr though details are still being worked out.
It is likely the first special fairs on bidr will be various North Island weaner fairs next week though the regular North Island and South Island sales held on Wednesday and Thursday nights respectively will continue.
“This is still a work in progress and updates will be provided as and when available,” she said.
Fert companies remain open
The country’s two biggest fertiliser co-operatives, Ballance Agri-nutrients and Ravensdown remain open for business as most of New Zealand shuts down to stop the spread of covid-19.
Fertiliser is deemed to be an essential service for farmers, allowing the two companies to stay open. After widespread rain across large parts of the country this week many farmers were anxious to get fertiliser on the ground to ensure autumn pasture growth.
Ballance chief executive Mark Wynne said the co-op is taking every precaution to keep members, families and communities safe and healthy while helping to keep the agricultural sector running.
“We are and have been following a very strict set of protocols.
“Operating when the rest of the country is being shut down is a privilege and comes with huge responsibility. If we breach any of the strict Government protocols we will have the privilege withdrawn.”
Maize volume okay but feed still tight
The maize silage supply has shaped up better than might have been expected despite one of the driest summers on record stifling production.
Bill Webb of Bill Webb Feed Solutions near Te Puke said crops on lower, wetter country have performed better this year than last season when heavy rain washed out many crops on the same land.
Fonterra puts foot on the gas
Fonterra has made 250,000 litres of ethanol available to New Zealand companies for the production of hand sanitiser.
It is also increasing production of ethanol at one of its plants with the goal of making available a further 220,000 litres.
Usual customer Gull NZ has joined in by testing another 250,000 litres in its tanks of fuel grade ethanol to see if it is suitable for sanitisers.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell said the company was working with the Government on the priorities for frontline services.
Fonterra subsidiary Lactanol is among only a few companies in the world making ethanol alcohol from casein whey.
It sells bonded alcohol and ethanol for cleaning products and motor fuel additives.
Ethanol grades are either 96% or 99% pure and Fonterra produces 15 million litres a year in normal times.
LIC still operating
LIC has suspended on-farm visits by its agri manager team and automation sales staff but other services, including its call centre, continue but with reduced hours.
Chief executive Wayne McNee says LIC has been told by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and MPI director general Ray Smith it is considered an essential business but that could change.
That means on-farm visits by its field technicians, automation service staff and FarmWise consultants are continuing but only after calls to farmers to make sure they are comfortable with solely outdoor meetings at a distance of at least two metres.
Post-visit meeting notes will be sent electronically and staff will have hand sanitiser in their vehicles to minimise risks, along with disposable gloves if appropriate.
LIC’s herd testing service is still operating and farmers will be updated if that changes.
Any equipment used by staff on-farm will be cleaned and sanitised before and after each visit.
To look after the health and wellbeing of call centre staff, who get about 2500 calls and 700 emails a week, the centre’s hours have been shortened to 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Airlines told keep freight moving
Transport Minister Phil Twyford wants airlines to put forward proposals to keep capacity on key air freight routes for at least the next six months.
Up to $330 million will be made available to ensure the routes are maintained and to deal with any other issues that might arise in the aviation sector, Twyford said.
That’s the balance of the Government’s $600m aviation package.
A request for proposals for the first round of freight support will be released today and decisions made in the next two week. Cabinet will also fast-track immediate funding to make sure urgent services aren’t disrupted.
“The rest of the world still wants our food products like milk and meat so it’s critical that part of the economy is able to continue exporting and keep employing New Zealanders during the lock-down – maintaining freight services is essential to that,” he said.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has advice for those working in the primary sectors here:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/responding/alerts/coronavirus/
General information on the Government’s response can be found at covid19.govt.nz
