New Zealand’s beleaguered health system is always under scrutiny and, despite plenty of talking and promises by politicians, there appears no immediate solution in sight.

Concerns are regularly raised throughout the country about staff shortages – both doctors and nurses – and the burnout among those staff left to carry the load. Patients voice concerns about a lack of service and, at times, the lengthy delays in getting critical treatment. 

Health was a political football leading up to last year’s general election and the coalition government has moved to try to address the problems. Te Whatu Ora’s board was fired and new commissioner, Lester Levy, appointed to sort out the issues, including health overspending.

Now it is the veterinary industry – our healthcare system for animals – in the spotlight after a report highlighted that vital support is needed to retain and attract staff.

Pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim’s research shows fewer than half of veterinarians intend to stay in the profession until retirement. 

The report, Taking animal health forward, said that from more than 600 veterinary professionals surveyed across New Zealand, only 40% of vets and 26% of vet nurses expected to remain in the profession until retirement. 

“Burnout and mental health pressures are driving many out of the field – 43% of clinic decision-makers report difficulties in hiring skilled staff,” the report says. 

Staff shortages, a lack of investment in training, lower wages than other sectors and a misconception of the value of veterinary services are other issues the sector faces, the study says.

A shortage of vets has been an ongoing problem and it is not just confined to this country.

Australia is in a similar position and in the United States a lack of veterinarians has contributed to mental health issues among veterinary staff. There are warnings the shortage could leave the country at risk in terms of food safety and public health.

That situation is mirrored in New Zealand. Some veterinary practices have had to close, or merge, because of a lack of staff, and others are refusing to take on new clients because they don’t have the resources to cater for them.

Like most things relating to healthcare, funding is at the root of the problem. Massey University’s head Professor Jon Huxley, head of Tāwharau Ora, the School of Veterinary Science, warned more money is needed to address the shortage. About 300 domestic applications are received each year to train as vets, but government funding restrictions mean just 125 students can be accepted.

One solution being touted is to allow allied veterinary professionals – which include veterinary nurses, technicians, and technologists – to take on more clinical work, such as routine procedures, which would free up vets for other tasks. It is much the same principle as a practice nurse at health clinics taking over some roles that were previously the domain of doctors.

It is clear something needs to be done quickly to ensure veterinary staff feel inspired and valued. As the report says: “The strength of the domestic economy depends largely on the health and welfare of our production animal population.”

Four farmers have been killed in quad bike roll-over accidents in the past three weeks, promoting WorkSafe to “sound the alarm” over the dangers the vehicles can pose.

WorkSafe said the fatalities coincided with the start of the lambing and calving season and it is urging rural New Zealand to focus on the risks associated with quad bikes.

WorkSafe principal inspector Graham Bates said all four fatalities are under investigation. 

The first occurred on July 18 in Wairarapa. It was followed by another on July 22 in Canterbury, one on July 26 in Southland, and most recently in Northland on  July 30. 

 “Our sympathy is with every family and community mourning these sudden deaths,” said Bates.

“Although our investigations are in their early stages, the trend is worrying enough for us to sound the alarm already.” 

He said carrying out a risk assessment of terrain and tasks should be the top priority for farmers before getting on a quad bike.

“This is a time of year when we are experiencing variable weather and growth, and variable ground conditions. Sloped surfaces and steep terrain can be especially problematic and have sadly been a factor in some of the recent cases.”

Farm vehicle incidents are one of the top two causes of workplace deaths in New Zealand, which is why agriculture is a priority sector under WorkSafe’s new strategy.

Bates said WorkSafe is targeting the biggest risks and working with the sector to improve health and safety in agriculture.

“Farming consists of a never-ending list of tasks and constant reprioritisation. However, we cannot let those challenges contribute to loss of life or injury. The people with the most power to influence this are those on the ground each day doing the work,”  said Bates.

 Safer Farms chair and Farm Without Harm ambassador Lindy Nelson said it is “heartbreaking” to learn of the deaths.

“These people are all farming partners who didn’t come home. This has a massive impact on families, communities and the industry. We don’t want to lose our great people.”

Nelson said farmers often think their experience will keep them safe but it is vital they have a “fail safe” strategy in place for when things go wrong.

Safer Farms is pushing for farmers to use engineering control, effectively safety equipment “designed to take the harm out of our system”. 

Crush protection or roll bars on quad bikes are one option.

A programme aimed at encouraging farmers to install crush protection devices on their quad bikes was recently launched and attracted strong interest.

The Safer Rides programme has had 110 farm businesses from across the country sign up to the pilot scheme, which offered a discount of up to 75% on crush protection devices (CPDs) from retailers Trax Equipment and Quadbar.

The initiative is being driven by Safer Farms in conjunction with partners Rabobank, ANZCO Foods, LIC, Craigmore Sustainables and PGG Wrightson as part of the Farm Without Harm strategy.

Nelson said they are hoping to obtain more funding to expand the programme.

“It costs to have safety equipment in place but it also costs if it’s not there.”

WorkSafe’s recommendations for reducing the risks of harm on farm include:

 • Consider installing a crush protection or rollover protection device on your quad bike.

• Choose the right vehicle for the job and ensure that the driver is competent.

• Always use your seatbelt and helmet.

• Consider undergoing quad bike training.

• Prioritise maintenance. That should cover attachments, good tyres and brakes.

• Remember, tired people make mistakes.

•Ensure that the vehicle is safely stopped and brakes are fully engaged before getting off.

• Don’t be afraid to seek assistance when you need to – neighbouring farmers are always more than willing to lend a hand.

In Focus Podcast | Making topsoil top of mind

A feature documentary film, Six Inches of Soil, has been screened in NZ cinemas recently. It follows three young British farmers through their first year of transitioning to regenerative practices.

The film has been brought here by regenerative farmer network Quorum Sense and its chair Becks Smith talks with Bryan about the network, the film and why we’ve been talking about regen the wrong way.

There has been plenty of talk about the New Zealand wool industry in recent years, most if it painting a fairly negative outlook.

So it was pleasing to last week hear of some positive steps being taken to promote the under-siege product, both here and overseas.

It started with wool carpet manufacturer Bremworth announcing it was launching a $2 million-plus marketing campaign, designed to address misconceptions about wool but, more importantly, grow exports.

NZ is the world’s third largest producer of wool, accounting for 9% of global production, but, according to Bremworth, the country’s export revenue from wool is projected to fall by 3% to $380 million over the coming year.

A series of new campaigns will be created for local and Australian markets to help lift woollen carpet’s profile.

Bremworth chief brand and product officer Rochelle Flint hopes the marketing investment will help stimulate demand for NZ wool and address the decline in domestic production.

It is interesting to note that research by Bremworth shows that despite three-quarters of homeowners saying they would prefer to have wool in their homes, they aren’t buying the product, instead opting for synthetic products, which continue to dominate the market.

The Bremworth announcement comes as Wools of New Zealand confirmed it has signed an agreement with leading Chinese rug and carpet manufacturer Yangxin Ruixin Group for the company to use Wools of New Zealand branding on its products.

It is the first time the farmer-owned company has reached a deal with a Chinese manufacturer to produce branded products.

Yangxin Ruixin can now use the Wools of New Zealand logo on its products that contain at least 60% Wools of New Zealand-supplied fibre.

The company is located in the Shandong province and produces a range of types of carpets and rugs for the commercial, hospitality and residential markets. It operates the largest hand-tufted factory in China, with 3000 employees.

Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter said an advantage of the agreement is the ability of Yangxin Ruixin to monitor any Chinese manufacturers falsely claiming to be using Wools of New Zealand wool.

“This is adding to the growing list of Wools of New Zealand partners taking the New Zealand wool story to international consumers.”

And to top off the week there was news that two new wool classing tutors have been appointed at the Southern Institute of Technology. There were fears there may no longer be formal training available in wool classing following the retirement of two long-serving tutors.

Rebecca Braddick and Emma O’Sullivan, who both found their love of wool growing up on family farms, will tutor the NZ Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4), the country’s only wool classing programme.

These announcements are unlikely to initially change much for the everyday sheep farmer, but they do show there is still passion and belief in the industry. It is going to take hard work and drive to keep wool in the spotlight, but, thankfully, there are plenty of people who think it is worth the effort.

The tragic death of one of New Zealand’s leading dog triallists in a farm-related accident is yet another stark reminder of the dangers that confront those working on the land.

Neil Evans was killed in an ATV accident on his family farm at Omihi in North Canterbury on Monday, July 22. 

The death has hit the tight-knit sheep dog trialling community particularly hard. 

Evans was a longtime, well-respected triallist and captained the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trialling team that won the Wayleggo Cup at the annual Trans-Tasman 2023 test series held at the Ashburton A&P show in October last year.

Just last year Evans and his star performer Tess won the national short head title for the second consecutive year. Evans also finished fourth in that event with a second dog, Smoke. 

The cause of Evans’s accident is under review and will be the subject of investigations by WorkSafe  and the police.

However, the accident again raises the question of workplace safety on the farm and the worrying regularity of deaths in the industry each year.

It is an issue that has been discussed at length, with all manner of safety programmes made available to farmers.

According to WorkSafe statistics, six people died in agriculture workplace accidents between December 2023 and May this year. Five of those involved vehicles.

WorkSafe has previously warned that farm machinery can cost lives and farmers need to take time to think about that they are doing, and how they are doing it.

The issue prompted Safer Farms to launch a new health and safety programme last year, Farm Without Harm, with its catchphrase Half-Arsed Stops Here.

Safer Farms chair Lindy Nelson told Farmers Weekly at the time of the launch that the new strategy aimed to work from the farm up.

It was not about compliance or other people making rules for farmers. The programme was about farmers taking  responsibility and coming together to find solutions to prevent deaths on farms.

“It’s about thinking about the big risks on farm, identifying those and going, ‘Okay, how do we mitigate those risks?’” Nelson said 

“It’s about the ability for us to fail safely. It’s about acknowledging that we’re human.” 

Nelson was adamant that the concept of health and safety needed to be reframed as it was a tainted brand. 

“You get people immediately thinking that it’s about compliance. And while we’re not backing away from that, what we’re saying is, what we have done in the past has not worked. The statistics are as bad as ever so let’s own the problem. Let’s find solutions.” Rather than thinking about compliance, the aim is to have people just thinking about doing good work, which in turn should lead to safer practices.

The sad reality is that it often takes a fatality for people to finally sit up and take serious notice.

That needs to change. Everyone deserves to get home safely and put their feet up at the end of a long day at work.

Every year the Primary Industries New Zealand Awards throw up outstanding winners.

It is testament to the hard work that goes on within the industry, much of it well away from the media spotlight.

In fact, the most difficult job for the PINZ judges must be must be deciding on who, among the many worthy candidates, deserves the awards most.

This year was no different. 

Alastair Macgregor, a retired farmer, was named the Rural Hero of the Year after demonstrating his practical skills to great effect with the Farmy Army, helping Hawke’s Bay landowners slammed by last year’s cyclone. Julian Raine, an innovator and entrepreneur in horticulture and dairy, took out the Outstanding Contribution award. 

But the most poignant award handed out in Wellington last week  – the Champion Award, sponsored by Farmers Weekly – went to someone who is no longer around to accept the accolade.

Dr Warren Parker, former chair of Pāmu, was recognised for his lifetime of dedication to the primary sector. 

Parker died suddenly in December 2023.

His award entry was submitted by Pāmu Farms of New Zealand in collaboration with a who’s who of the industry, the many people who had worked with Parker over the years.

Parker had a glittering CV, holding many key positions such as chief executive of Scion (Forest Research Institute) and Manaaki Whenua – Land Care Research, and chief operating officer of AgResearch. He held board roles on Genomics Aotearoa, Farmlands Co-operative Society and Predator Free 2050. He was chair of the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group, the NZ Conservation Authority, and had recently been appointed independent chair of Quayside Holdings.

Perhaps more importantly, away from the boardrooms Parker was held in the highest regard by those at the coalface of the sector.

“Warren knew the primary industries at all levels,” said Mark Leslie, CEO of Pāmu.

“He was a unique individual who encouraged others and worked hard on many things important to New Zealand agriculture – often the difficult tasks but also the right ones. He exemplified the Pāmu values of grounded, bold, shoulder-to-shoulder and genuine.”

Parker had an encyclopaedic agricultural knowledge and his understanding of the complex issues of carbon and emissions was second to none. He had an uncanny ability to turn confusing issues into simple explanations.

Despite his high-profile roles, those who knew Parker best said he had the rare ability to relate to anyone and everyone.

He was just as comfortable chatting with a farm manager over a cup of tea as he was advising at the highest levels of primary sector governance. 

Parker held a PhD in animal science and had previously been a professor of Agribusiness and Resource Management at Massey University, where he spent 18 years in various roles including supervising the 9000 SU Riverside Farm in Wairarapa.

Leslie said Parker will be remembered for his natural leadership, insightful brilliance, candour, conversations on-farm, and kindness. 

But Parker was perhaps best labelled as the “academic in Red Band gummies”.

A worthy champion and a recognition that Parker’s family, friends and colleagues should be proud of.

In Focus Podcast: Full Show | 5 July

We have a different type of episode this week.

Bryan moderated some of the panel discussions at the 2024 Primary Industries Summit in Wellington. One of them was on the future of wool and brought together some of the leaders in an industry that is struggling to return fair value to growers. How can we turn this around?

Join Bryan as he discusses the way forward with Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams; Minister for Rural Communities Mark Cameron; farmer and agri-advocate Heather Gee-Taylor; and Devold NZ general manager and Campaign for Wool trustee Craig Smith.

All eyes will be on Parliament next week when Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveils the coalition government’s first Budget.

Budgets have historically been something of a lottery. 

Vast sums of money are traditionally thrown at health, education, housing and crime, but many would argue at times there have been few tangible results from the cash windfalls.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has already announced $140 million will allocated in the Budget as new funding for 1500 new social housing places to be provided by Community Housing Providers, not Kāinga Ora. 

Much of the pre-Budget talk this year has predictably been about tax cuts, although questions remain how they will be funded given Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has vowed to get the country’s “books back in order”.

Luxon reaffirmed his commitment to tax cuts in his pre-Budget speech earlier this month, saying the government would provide cost of living support to “low- and middle-income families”. 

The tax cuts come as significant reductions have already been made in the public service, which has resulted in hundreds of job losses.

“I acknowledge that the savings programme has been difficult for those affected,” Luxon said of those cuts.  

“But, above all else, the first priority of government must be to achieve the best possible outcomes for the money we collectively spend on behalf of taxpayers – the best hospitals, the best schools and the safest streets. 

“This year, we will deliver income tax relief to low- and middle-income working New Zealanders for the first time in 14 years. I’m proud of that,” he said.  

While tax cuts will inevitably hog the headlines come Thursday, there will be plenty of interest in where else the government throws its financial support.

From a rural perspective, rural health funding, regional roading and biosecurity are just some of the areas that need attention.

Smaller groups and organisations whose very survival relies on continued government funding will also be keeping a close eye on the Budget.

Farmers Weekly recently spoke to catchment group advocate Mandy Bell, who is involved in attempts to form a national Aotearoa NZ Catchment Community group and give a more unified voice to the initiative.

It’s a nervous time for several catchment groups, who soon face an end to their funding. 

Since 2022 the government has contributed more than $47m to groups throughout the country. Some of the larger groups have funding confirmed until  2026, but most are running out of cash, with funding expected to stop in June. Bell said their future is dependent upon how the government’s Budget allowances play out. 

A report on New Zealand land use by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, cites catchment groups as a good local institute to put control of central government policy into. However, he also noted they are not a panacea, and they need to be well resourced.

In the lead-up to last year’s election, National made its play to win back the rural vote by vowing to get Wellington out of farming and empower farmers to chart their own course.

Thursday would be the perfect time to start that process.

In Focus Podcast: Sustainable farm loans fuel weather impact resilience

It’s been almost a year since Westpac introduced its Sustainable Farm Loan to the market, which gives farmers a discount on their interest rate in return for meeting certain standards.

Head of Agribusiness Tim Henshaw joins Bryan to discuss the types of work borrowers are undertaking. Flood protection, drought resilience and emissions reductions are the three prominent areas he’s seen.

A visit to a local A & P show during the hot summer months is a rite of passage for New Zealand children.

Candy floss is a must, as is a tomato sauce-slathered hot dog while you join the lengthy queues for the merry-go-round or dodgem cars. For the townies, it is a chance to get up close and personal with sheep, cattle and horses – to smell what rural living is all about.  

News that Christchurch’s New Zealand Agricultural Show will be postponed this year will have come as a shock to many. On the plus side, livestock judging and competitions will still be held, but it won’t be the show many people are used to.

The three-day event is considered the créme de la créme of A & P shows in this country. From humble beginnings in 1863, it has morphed into a show stopper, with hundreds of exhibitors and more than 100,000 visitors attending each year.

But with size come increased costs and demands, and those tasked with organising the event are well aware of the rising financial risk hosting such an event now carries.

Increased competition for sponsorship dollars and a rise in the cost of living raises questions over how well the event will be supported by spectators and exhibitors. There are also increased wages and rising compliance costs to take into account, all eating into the bottom line.

From an exhibitor perspective, there are now more options to display their wares through the various field days and events such as Agfest. The marketing dollar can only stretch so far. 

New Zealand Agricultural Show Board chair Stewart Mitchell says the decision to postpone is disappointing, but after several challenging years it is an opportunity to rethink the event’s strategic direction.

“The association’s ongoing business model is under review to reflect the environment we now operate in, a challenge common to most businesses throughout New Zealand currently,” he says. 

“Twelve months of costs and three days of revenue is not a great business model by anyone’s analysis.”

Like most events in this country – and around the world – the show’s momentum was impacted by covid in 2020 and 2021 and it has struggled to regain that lost ground.

That prompted a review of the show’s governance model, which should be completed this year.  

But organisers can take heart from what is happening in Britain. The Guardian newspaper reported last year that agricultural shows were booming and record numbers of people were flocking to them, despite a growing number of farmers leaving the industry. 

The Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations estimates about 7 million Brits visit agricultural shows every year. It is thought YouTube farming videos and shows such as Clarkson’s Farm have sparked new interest in the sector. People see agricultural shows as a way to get their rural fix.

What is happening in Britain shows A & P shows are far from a thing of the past, even if – depending on the review outcome – we may have seen the last of the New Zealand Agricultural Show in its current format.

Perhaps a scaled-back, farm-focused event could be the future. When it comes A & P shows, maybe bigger isn’t necessarily better.

The buzz around the honey industry continues to be drowned out by the threat of varroa, more than two decades after the mite was first discovered in New Zealand.

The latest Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research survey revealed the mite contributed to almost half of last winter’s hive losses.

The survey gives a snapshot of national hive health, and results are based on responses from about 40% of NZ’s beekeepers. 

But perhaps the real concern from the data is the growing stress and pressure beekeepers are under as they go about their jobs.

This is the first time the survey looked at beekeeper wellbeing, and it clearly showed that the mite is having a wider impact on the industry. 

The pressure of trying to run a beekeeping business in tough times is taking its toll, as it is on others in the industry. 

The survey questioned both hobbyist beekeepers and commercial operators about their wellbeing. Not surprisingly it showed hobbyist beekeepers – part-time beekeepers – are happy in their work. 

But that was not the case for commercial operators, who are struggling and, according to the survey, have wellbeing lower than other primary sector producers and the general population.

There has been plenty said about the wellbeing of farmers in these tough times. In February it was reported that growing numbers of farmers and growers are seeking help from the Rural Support Trust as they grapple with weather events, compliance and economic pressures. 

The trust received 2904 calls to its 0800 number last year, 1000 more than a year earlier. 

But beekeepers have flown under the radar despite facing pressure from a drop in prices, growing regulatory demands and weather events. Sound familiar?

Varroa’s impact on hive losses has steadily increased since it was first discovered over two decades ago. This survey showed it contributed to 50% of hive losses, compared to only a 12% contribution seven years ago. 

But it is not just varroa that is decimating hives – there are also problems with queen populations and suspected starvation in hives. Then there are weather events, such as Cyclone Gabrielle, to contend with.

Earlier this year Farmers Weekly spoke to Wellington beekeeper Frank Lindsay after he was awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit award in the New Year’s honours.

The award was recognition of Lindsay’s more than 50 years of dedication to the bee industry – as a beekeeper, administrator, life member, disease expert and teacher. 

Lindsay, who now runs about 60 hives in and around Wellington, said commercial beekeepers face plenty of adversity.

The industry has experienced tough times in recent years, as overseas markets were flooded with honey.

The “mānuka gold rush” attracted plenty of people to the industry in search of a quick dollar, but many have now moved on. Recently a beekeeper had to destroy 2000 hives after going bankrupt. No one wanted to buy the hives and they can’t be left sitting around without being looked after. 

Lindsay might be an optimist, but he is adamant the good times will return for the industry. It’s just a matter of keeping faith and, most importantly, keeping an eye out for each other in tough times.

As much of the country continues to dry out, the threat of wildfire sits at the forefront of many farmers’ minds as they look to keep their properties and businesses safe.

But this week it was land owned and managed by the Department of Conservation in the North Otago area of Duntroon that raised some serious questions after fire burned through 30 hectares.

The fire threatened to spread to neighbouring properties, including a dairy runoff block belonging to Federated Farmers North Otago dairy chair Otto Dogterom.

Dogterom vented his frustration about the fire after having repeatedly aired concerns about the state of the DOC reserve. He believes the land, which has not been grazed for five years, is overgrown and a fire risk. He has offered to help keep the vegetation in check by grazing it, but DOC declined the offers.

DOC has good reason to protect some areas from grazing.

There are often threatened plant, animal or insect species to protect in parcels of land. In the case of the Duntroon site it is home to a limestone ecosystem and nationally critical species, one of which is only found at one other site in the country.

Any such ecosystem could be quickly damaged by stock. 

However, given the tinder-dry conditions and growing fire threat, a major blaze in the area would destroy an ecosystem within minutes.

It is not the first time issues have been raised about the potential fire risk of DOC reserves.

The most notably was after the 2020 Lake Ōhau fire, which destroyed about 20 homes and forced dozens of evacuations.

At the time, Federated Farmers High Country Committee chair Rob Stokes said he had been warning the government about this danger for 12 years.

He said the DOC closing up land for national parks meant that the ground was not grazed by sheep and cattle and therefore tussocks and grass were left to grow wild.

Just weeks ago, Dr Derrick Moot, a professor of Plant Science at Lincoln University and leader of its Dryland Pastures Research team, spoke of the need to graze excess vegetation to help prevent wild fires.

Moot was involved in investigating the biological causes of the 2017 Port Hills fire and at the time said it would happen again unless our approach changed.

In December last year he predicted 2024 would be a burn year. A wet spring had seen the grass grow tall and flower and, without suitable grazing, it had become tinder dry and a perfect fuel for wildfires.

Moot discussed the need to graze cattle higher on hill country, using virtual fencing, to eat away at the rough, flammable overgrown pasture that sheep ignore.

“Cows are the lawnmowers on commercial hill country farms. They clean up the excess vegetation in spring and summer and reduce the risk of a burn,” Moot said. 

The DOC has indicated it is keen to have a “broader conversation” about how the reserve is managed and how it can work with landowners and mana whenua to manage such sites.

It is certainly a conversation worth having. Some middle ground needs to be reached before another fire on DOC land causes even more damage.

The drench resistance “time bomb” is ticking for New Zealand’s beef and dairy industry. The question is, who is prepared to help defuse it?

In December last year, AgResearch parasitologist Dave Leathwick and colleagues released a research paper that identified triple resistance in cattle on four farms that were part of their study.

Drench effectiveness on some of those farms had dropped to be only 40-70% for levamisole, a previously effective treatment against cooperia. 

Fifteen years earlier, levamisole was touted as the most effective means of control against the worm in cattle. The news shocked many, but Leathwick admitted the only real surprise was that triple drench resistance had taken so long to surface. 

In this week’s edition of Farmers Weekly we dig deeper into the issue of drench resistance, and how it might be addressed.

Industry experts are adamant there is still time to avoid a potential disaster, provided farmers are prepared to act now. They must learn from the sheep industry, which has already suffered the consequences of drench resistance at a significant financial cost.

Since releasing his work, Leathwick has seen more resistance issues. 

“One farm we visited only the other day had taken a faecal egg count only 10 days post-drenching and it was already up at 650 eggs per gram. The drench simply had not worked,” he said

It is telling that those behind Wormwise, a national worm management strategy established in 2005, concede the programme has failed to stop the growth of drench resistance.

Wormwise was set up by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, DairyNZ, Deer Industry NZ, Animal & Plant Health NZ and the NZ Veterinary Association and funded by beef + Lamb NZ.

Wormwise manager Ginny Dodunski said for 20 years it was known drench resistance was a looming problem. That was reinforced by a 2021 review.

The bottom line is farming systems relying too heavily on drench to control parasites. Rather than lament its arrival, Dodunski sees the drench crisis as chance for farmers to address and reinvent their farming systems to offer more natural protection from parasites.

“Drench resistance is not the question. The question is ‘How do I set up my farm system so worms are not a cost to me?’” she said.

All those spoken to during our series are adamant farmers need to do more to help themselves rather than just relying on drench to solve their problems.

Dr Ian Scott, Massey University’s senior lecturer in parasitology, believes research into pastoral parasite control stopped as some animal health companies put their focus into the money-making companion animal markets. The number of companies willing to invest in the research and development of livestock drenches quickly dwindled.

Vets spoken to say cattle farmers can learn plenty from sheep farmers who have already had to deal with the perils of worm resistance. Larval challenges need to be reduced and could be done using crops, different grazing rotations or reducing the monoculture of cattle by mixing livestock types. 

It is clear the answers to toppling drench resistance are out there. Farmers need to be ready to take them on board.