December 16, 2025 • 9 mins
Kylie Fisken reviews the year in farming and what to expect for the sector in 2026.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It goes or big rockstar le bus driving fifteen girls
going there.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And the drugs go sheep. Last this is the muster
on Hakanui as I'm joined by Kylie Fiskin of Malick
McClain plus more based here and Gorge you eh Hi
here you going?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Yeah, We're good, weak to go. We're good, aren't we?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Sanda's coming, Santa's not far away. I got told off
by Chanel Perisy used today. She texted in saying, do
not call Santa the fat man coming down the chymney.
That's fat shaming.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
No, I'm getting told off for saying ho ho ho
to people.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Just go oh instead.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, it doesn't have the same effect, does it really?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Getting towards the end of the year, how's it been?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Well? We survived twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Did we? We're still here?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah, a few days ago. Things are busy. But in
town's busy, which is great, isn't it always?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is it? This time of year though? And that's what
expect for the middle of December though?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah, So twenty fourth of December is when everybody comes
in and does their Christmas shopping last minute, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
As when all the males go to the warehouse at
about five point fifty pm on a twenty fourth December.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Aren't they open to midnight that night?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
No, they're not on Christmas Eve. I think it's in
the lead up to Christmas their hours changed. KMAT might be,
But anyway.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I honestly think that you possibly should advertise that. For
those that aren't making it till the twenty fourth, I'd
hate for them to get here.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Bagger it. That's their problem. They're not organized. Let them
suffer it. Anyway.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Look, you mean to be helpful and d oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
But I'm just being better effect about the situation as well.
It is twenty twenty five, and a lot of changes,
especially in the red meat sector. Was seeing a lot
of positivity going around there. They're seeing the alliance change over,
Dawn Meats being involved the GDT though another drop overnight.
But you're saying, don't panic, kept demnoring.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Don't panic, kept him minoring. Absolutely So, when I'm saying
we survived twenty twenty five, we had some help, if
you know what I mean, in terms of our commodity prices. Finally,
a decrease in interest rates air on flum on farm.
That's really hard to say on farm inflation stability, some
(02:11):
cadiats around that though for fuel and of course those
things that we cannot control, rates and insurance. Recently, what
we're seeing is those who have wanted to leave the
industry have had an opportunity to do so with willing
buyers and willing sellers, meaning everyone gets what they want.
(02:34):
So it's been a pretty much a hive of activity
over especially over the last six weeks or.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So, there's been a lot of farms on the market.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Recently there's actually been quite a few transactions as well. Yeah,
so that's what I mean. If we've got willing buyers
willing sellers, gives us confidence in our industry, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So it's say in general though, that farming's heading into
a pretty positive space for the next twelve months. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So something else that happened in twenty twenty five head
the government bring an investment boost. So investment boost has
kickstarted conversations around productive asset investment on farm, so that's
got to be a sign of confidence. This year, we've
also done some major tax planning with our community. With
(03:18):
such an increase in profitability from twenty four to twenty five,
we've taken a position often to delay the filing of
somebody's tax return. There doesn't know you owe them money
until we tell them you owe them money. And so
therefore we're paying a twenty six provisional tax based on
twenty twenty four, deferring that cash flow through it or winter,
(03:38):
so that we can, I guess, get our best estimate
of what our final tax position for twenty twenty six
will be. On that note, the numbers have run through,
especially since we've had a dairy price reduction, don't look
too dissimilar.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
But you'd say correction over reduction.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah, cream's gone a yeah, Yeah, it's just cream. It's
the boat fund. It is probably where the flashboat fund
has gone out. I think we can still have a boat,
we just probably can't have the trim.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
And you talked a couple of months ago about this
money from Fonterra's selling their brands for farmers to go
out there and just spend it because it owes you nothing.
Do you still say that it's the thing to do
or be a bit more prudent.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
So I didn't exactly say go out and spend it.
I guess I said you have an opportunity to do
something with it that is meaningful. And I guess the
conversation that we're going to be having in twenty twenty
six is what is it that is meaningful you.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Talk about on farm inflation has been a big one
for a lot of people. I think the arable sector, though,
is the one They're the ones who are saying, look,
air price needs to increase, not that it's dropped, but
we're just not keeping up with inflation. That's the one
sector that's looking at.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
That is the one sector that its margin is definitely
being squeezed. We're seeing that. But it's a precious commodity, right, Yeah,
you think about what our arable sector and how it
feeds the rest of our agricultural economy. If they fail,
what happens there?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Well, it's just any sector though in a nutshell, is
it not? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
So, how many dairy conversions are going on in Canterbury
from arable to dairy.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Lots because it's easy to get consents or it was
up until this change has come through. So how would
you sum up red meat then? Looking forward?
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah, so twenty twenty five was a recovery of red meat.
Twenty twenty six is looking like we're actually going to
make some money and make some decisions around stabilizing our
balance sheet and even starting to move forward. It's not
going to be like this forever. So in the last
(05:49):
for thirty years that I've been doing this job, nearly
there has been cycles, and it's where are we in
our cycle and whereas the best place to put our
money to survive the next cycle.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Consistency with pricing across the board would be what you'd
be after.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
That'd be the key messaging of stability.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Stability, no stability.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I've always wanted stability because accountants don't have too many
tracks left in them anymore to be able to create stability.
We do have some We've got our income equalization scheme,
which isn't as popular as it used to be, our
deferring a fertilizer. But we've got to be prepared. We've
got to know what the market is saying to do that,
(06:32):
and of course our adjustments through our livestock schemes, which
our ability to do that is hampered as well.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Now what about Woll. What do you see for Woll?
We're seeing sheets.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Excitement, Yeah, excitement about time, eh, I'm a cat of
the eighties. Sheep farmer's daughter of the eighties. I remember
plucking dead sheep because wool was worth it. But yeah,
it's got a long way to go in terms of
providing actual value. But at least it's not a cost anymore.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
But you're paying and probably getting a twenty four pack
left over now once you've done the main clip. That's
the key message.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You can shout the shares.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You can shout the shares and you might need that
after a year like this, What the hell else would
you sum up the next last twelve months? Just what
would you say to that Kylie, nice new phone by
the way too.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yeah, thanks, I hate it this technology stuff. And that's
probably the summer of the twenty twenty five. We've embraced
technology on farm a lot more than we had before.
The number of new technologies that we're seeing on farm
is a sign that we didn't see ten years ago.
So is that helping us boost our productivity? What I
(07:41):
do know is that we need to be grateful of
where we live. Through our networks, we're talking to other
others further north, and it brings us back to reality
that we really are a hard working bunch who just
get on with what we've been handed And I guess
I look back to the twenty third of October and say, Wow,
(08:07):
what a community we have to rally around and get
through something I've never seen in my lifetime in terms
of the destruction of the wind. And I guess we're
still cleaning up. We still can't put a price on
it in terms of the dollar figure for air cleanup.
And I don't know if we even will get a
(08:29):
final tally of what it's cost our farming community.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Yeah, that's a good way to leave anything else on
your brand new phone there to rever.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Over the summer. We just want to say to our
clients and friends, Merry Christmas. Please have some time off
to enjoy summer, because we'll have one a We didn't
know that at five thirty last night, but we will
have summer. Eat too much, spend time with friends and family,
(09:04):
and toast to the fact that we survived twenty twenty five.
Let's look forward to twenty twenty six and make plans
to achieve those goals that affect both their businesses and
their families in a positive light.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
While we've got an opportunity now, Melot mcclaim plus more,
how do people get in.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Touch after next Thursday Tuesday. Sorry at four o'clock you
won't well not me anyway. Hello at MMCA, dot co
dot in zaid that will be monitored through most of
the summer break and between now and next Tuesday afternoon.
You can call us on three two eight five double seven.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Good on you, Kylie, you enjoy the break. Merry Christmas,
Briving fifteen Kylie Fiskin of mel at mclaim plus more
hearing Gord, this is the muster. Before we wrap up.
Jared Stockman from darien Z The cool Bars
It goes or big rockstar le bus driving fifteen girls
going there.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And the drugs go sheep. Last this is the muster
on Hakanui as I'm joined by Kylie Fiskin of Malick
McClain plus more based here and Gorge you eh Hi
here you going?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Yeah, We're good, weak to go. We're good, aren't we?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Sanda's coming, Santa's not far away. I got told off
by Chanel Perisy used today. She texted in saying, do
not call Santa the fat man coming down the chymney.
That's fat shaming.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
No, I'm getting told off for saying ho ho ho
to people.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Just go oh instead.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, it doesn't have the same effect, does it really?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Getting towards the end of the year, how's it been?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Well? We survived twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Did we? We're still here?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah, a few days ago. Things are busy. But in
town's busy, which is great, isn't it always?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is it? This time of year though? And that's what
expect for the middle of December though?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah, So twenty fourth of December is when everybody comes
in and does their Christmas shopping last minute, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
As when all the males go to the warehouse at
about five point fifty pm on a twenty fourth December.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Aren't they open to midnight that night?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
No, they're not on Christmas Eve. I think it's in
the lead up to Christmas their hours changed. KMAT might be,
But anyway.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I honestly think that you possibly should advertise that. For
those that aren't making it till the twenty fourth, I'd
hate for them to get here.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Bagger it. That's their problem. They're not organized. Let them
suffer it. Anyway.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Look, you mean to be helpful and d oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
But I'm just being better effect about the situation as well.
It is twenty twenty five, and a lot of changes,
especially in the red meat sector. Was seeing a lot
of positivity going around there. They're seeing the alliance change over,
Dawn Meats being involved the GDT though another drop overnight.
But you're saying, don't panic, kept demnoring.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Don't panic, kept him minoring. Absolutely So, when I'm saying
we survived twenty twenty five, we had some help, if
you know what I mean, in terms of our commodity prices. Finally,
a decrease in interest rates air on flum on farm.
That's really hard to say on farm inflation stability, some
(02:11):
cadiats around that though for fuel and of course those
things that we cannot control, rates and insurance. Recently, what
we're seeing is those who have wanted to leave the
industry have had an opportunity to do so with willing
buyers and willing sellers, meaning everyone gets what they want.
(02:34):
So it's been a pretty much a hive of activity
over especially over the last six weeks or.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So, there's been a lot of farms on the market.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Recently there's actually been quite a few transactions as well. Yeah,
so that's what I mean. If we've got willing buyers
willing sellers, gives us confidence in our industry, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So it's say in general though, that farming's heading into
a pretty positive space for the next twelve months. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So something else that happened in twenty twenty five head
the government bring an investment boost. So investment boost has
kickstarted conversations around productive asset investment on farm, so that's
got to be a sign of confidence. This year, we've
also done some major tax planning with our community. With
(03:18):
such an increase in profitability from twenty four to twenty five,
we've taken a position often to delay the filing of
somebody's tax return. There doesn't know you owe them money
until we tell them you owe them money. And so
therefore we're paying a twenty six provisional tax based on
twenty twenty four, deferring that cash flow through it or winter,
(03:38):
so that we can, I guess, get our best estimate
of what our final tax position for twenty twenty six
will be. On that note, the numbers have run through,
especially since we've had a dairy price reduction, don't look
too dissimilar.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
But you'd say correction over reduction.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah, cream's gone a yeah, Yeah, it's just cream. It's
the boat fund. It is probably where the flashboat fund
has gone out. I think we can still have a boat,
we just probably can't have the trim.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
And you talked a couple of months ago about this
money from Fonterra's selling their brands for farmers to go
out there and just spend it because it owes you nothing.
Do you still say that it's the thing to do
or be a bit more prudent.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
So I didn't exactly say go out and spend it.
I guess I said you have an opportunity to do
something with it that is meaningful. And I guess the
conversation that we're going to be having in twenty twenty
six is what is it that is meaningful you.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Talk about on farm inflation has been a big one
for a lot of people. I think the arable sector, though,
is the one They're the ones who are saying, look,
air price needs to increase, not that it's dropped, but
we're just not keeping up with inflation. That's the one
sector that's looking at.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
That is the one sector that its margin is definitely
being squeezed. We're seeing that. But it's a precious commodity, right, Yeah,
you think about what our arable sector and how it
feeds the rest of our agricultural economy. If they fail,
what happens there?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Well, it's just any sector though in a nutshell, is
it not? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
So, how many dairy conversions are going on in Canterbury
from arable to dairy.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Lots because it's easy to get consents or it was
up until this change has come through. So how would
you sum up red meat then? Looking forward?
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah, so twenty twenty five was a recovery of red meat.
Twenty twenty six is looking like we're actually going to
make some money and make some decisions around stabilizing our
balance sheet and even starting to move forward. It's not
going to be like this forever. So in the last
(05:49):
for thirty years that I've been doing this job, nearly
there has been cycles, and it's where are we in
our cycle and whereas the best place to put our
money to survive the next cycle.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Consistency with pricing across the board would be what you'd
be after.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
That'd be the key messaging of stability.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Stability, no stability.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I've always wanted stability because accountants don't have too many
tracks left in them anymore to be able to create stability.
We do have some We've got our income equalization scheme,
which isn't as popular as it used to be, our
deferring a fertilizer. But we've got to be prepared. We've
got to know what the market is saying to do that,
(06:32):
and of course our adjustments through our livestock schemes, which
our ability to do that is hampered as well.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Now what about Woll. What do you see for Woll?
We're seeing sheets.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Excitement, Yeah, excitement about time, eh, I'm a cat of
the eighties. Sheep farmer's daughter of the eighties. I remember
plucking dead sheep because wool was worth it. But yeah,
it's got a long way to go in terms of
providing actual value. But at least it's not a cost anymore.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
But you're paying and probably getting a twenty four pack
left over now once you've done the main clip. That's
the key message.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You can shout the shares.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You can shout the shares and you might need that
after a year like this, What the hell else would
you sum up the next last twelve months? Just what
would you say to that Kylie, nice new phone by
the way too.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yeah, thanks, I hate it this technology stuff. And that's
probably the summer of the twenty twenty five. We've embraced
technology on farm a lot more than we had before.
The number of new technologies that we're seeing on farm
is a sign that we didn't see ten years ago.
So is that helping us boost our productivity? What I
(07:41):
do know is that we need to be grateful of
where we live. Through our networks, we're talking to other
others further north, and it brings us back to reality
that we really are a hard working bunch who just
get on with what we've been handed And I guess
I look back to the twenty third of October and say, Wow,
(08:07):
what a community we have to rally around and get
through something I've never seen in my lifetime in terms
of the destruction of the wind. And I guess we're
still cleaning up. We still can't put a price on
it in terms of the dollar figure for air cleanup.
And I don't know if we even will get a
(08:29):
final tally of what it's cost our farming community.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Yeah, that's a good way to leave anything else on
your brand new phone there to rever.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Over the summer. We just want to say to our
clients and friends, Merry Christmas. Please have some time off
to enjoy summer, because we'll have one a We didn't
know that at five thirty last night, but we will
have summer. Eat too much, spend time with friends and family,
(09:04):
and toast to the fact that we survived twenty twenty five.
Let's look forward to twenty twenty six and make plans
to achieve those goals that affect both their businesses and
their families in a positive light.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
While we've got an opportunity now, Melot mcclaim plus more,
how do people get in.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Touch after next Thursday Tuesday. Sorry at four o'clock you
won't well not me anyway. Hello at MMCA, dot co
dot in zaid that will be monitored through most of
the summer break and between now and next Tuesday afternoon.
You can call us on three two eight five double seven.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Good on you, Kylie, you enjoy the break. Merry Christmas,
Briving fifteen Kylie Fiskin of mel at mclaim plus more
hearing Gord, this is the muster. Before we wrap up.
Jared Stockman from darien Z The cool Bars
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