March 15, 2026 • 9 mins
Bruce Eade looks at what rising fuel prices has meant for his farming operation.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Bruce Seed of Calso gets us underway in the Sergeant
Dan Farming Roundup thanks to Sergeant Dan Stock, Food's based
here and Gore. Good afternoon, Bruce. The song is called Sweat,
which was a bit of sweating last time we had
you on the radio. So in case we have another
faux path from you, I've got this at the ready.
So anything you say or do that I think is
(00:28):
a bit of an issue, I'm just going to because
I don't know what the hell's going to come out
of your mouth. That's the last time you're a disgrace.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I'm awfully concerned myself. Yes, I'm obviously back off report,
so I'm allowed back. It's good to be back. But
the one good thing is Andy that I can tell
you that the muster goes far and ward because I've
had a lot of feedback from a lot of people
who heard it. So yeah, there's not just ten people listening.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh that's good to know. Hey, how's everything at Calso
beautiful today?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Isn't it like? Sun's out? Not a brie the wind
here at the moment, and we've got ten meals of
rain there end of last week, which is very much appreciated.
But of a sunder plump. I think it might have
been Saturday night, Friday or Saturday night. And yeah, the
last couple of days have been pretty good really, so
just to keep things kicking on. But what we said
(01:18):
it before as well, and truly here she's dark, dark
in the mornings and dark early at night. I think
last night half eight lights were on and machinery, so
it's coming.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Are you one of these people that just wishes we'll
get daylight saving over and done with and go into
winter moight?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I just doesn't worry meither way. There's lights on tractors
for a reason, but now we just roll on and
change the clocks accordingly. I don't really know when it
is until I hear it on the radio or see
it on the paper telling you that Saturday is when
it's got to change. So I hear it's coming up.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So you're not too far away, So product your boys,
that's going pretty well?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, no, okay, they're hanging in there pretty good. We're
not blessed with an abundance of fee, but we've got
enough to get through and if we can ever, you know,
a good week of sunshine and heat without some wind,
and that you know, after that we sprinkle a rain,
will we should be able to kick on.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Hey, interesting you he's coming out this morning or surprising?
I suppose Miles Harrell stepping down as chief executive of
Frontier after eight years at the helm, and I think
it's fair to say he's done a good job, very
good job.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, and he's done an awesome job. I think he's
been in the company one way or another for twenty
five years. I think I read. But yeah, that was
certainly a shock for me. I don't know if there's
any signs that that was coming. But you know, when
you look back on it, he's turned the ship around
and it's gone great guns at the moment, and they've
made a lot of good decisions along the way. So
twenty five years is a nice round number, I guess.
(02:43):
And then they got the Sailor Mainland and all that through,
so that was the big job ticked off for this year.
So he's probably thought, you know, now's the time to
pass it on to someone while everything's in good well,
everything's in goodstead. So no, I couldn't say bad worried
about the guy. I think he's done an amazing job. Yeah,
I was quite shocked when I got the email this
morning from Fonterira and it's sad to see him go,
(03:06):
but watch him all the best for the future. He's
certainly he's certainly been a great a great front man
for the company. And yeah, thanks very much, Miles. If
you're listening.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Fontira selling its brands, you're going to benefit from this.
But are you a fan of an occurring?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I think so. I mean there was a big talk
and who when we're selling off to the brands, household
names and all that sort of thing, and people are
going to boycott those brands because of it, But I
think the way the world has all that sort of
things being forgotten in a millisecond and people are still
going to buy them. Still, his brand association and the
milk is still coming from New Zealand cares to fill
(03:49):
those brands. So I'm happy enough with the decision.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Well, there's an auction coming up again on Wednesday morning,
New Zealand time going for five and a raw dear
I say it, but look anyway you look at the
dairying situation at the moment in the Kiwi landscape, it's
just pulling his way, no end.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, I guess you know. I look at it from
the scenario, it's going great guns at the moment. The
way the world is volatility and all that sort of thing.
It can change, and this could be the start of
the decline, this coming auction that I hope I'm wrong.
But at the end of the day, we still have
to milk the caws good or bad payout. It's just
(04:27):
a job that has to be done. So if you're
in it, you're in it, if that makes any sense
to you.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
In interesting you talk about just being in control of
what you can regarding the farm gate. But let's look
at the wig. Let's look at the bigger picture around
the world, Bruce, the situation in the Middle East with
Donald Trump. Now we're seeing the flow on effect here
at the fuel pumps. For you guys, you bring a
lot of diesel, that's a given. Are you having to
deviate away from your normal plan around heavy machinery work.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I certainly made us thanks a bit of a short
and long term plan. Yeah, like you said, we do
a lot of our own work, so we do burn
a bit of diesel. And at the moment we're in
the middle of getting thirty odd hectares autumn. So on
week ready to go on the ground, we've got another
cut of soils to go. Maize is obviously coming up
(05:18):
as well, and daily we're feeding the robot cows in
the barn with the tractors. So these was a big
part of our operation, much like it is for transports
and contractors and sowth and so everybody's looking at things
and watching, wondering, trying to guess what's going to happen.
As a part of me thinks, oh, I get in
three weeks time, this will all be sorted and we'll
(05:40):
be back to normal. But there's another part of me,
probably equally as much thinking, right, what have we got
to do to plan for worst case scenario? So you know,
we usually deep ripple our wheat paddocks before we get
them ready. This year we've gone away from that just
to try and save some fuel on that side of things.
And there's two or three other options we're looking at
(06:02):
of stuff we're not gonna or participate in that we
usually do fuel wise. So yeah, it's just a case
of trying to make a good decision at the time
based on the information you've got. But that seems to
change daily. You know, like I was talking to a
local transport operator there Thursday last week, and they've done
(06:22):
the numbers that if this thing carries on and they
use the same amount of fuel as it did last month,
it's already going to cost another twenty eight and a
half thousand dollars for their fuel bill for the next month.
And that was last Thursday. The price has probably gone
up since then, and we'll go up in the future.
So you know, those guys, like everybody you're facing the squeeze.
You can't just park up all your trucks and say
we're not going to do anything until the fuel price
(06:44):
comes right, because you know there's no future in that.
So yeah, you just have to be a bit smarter
and trying, as I said, make the best decision you can.
Fuel business.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
At the time, they talk about scam mangering around the
fuel situation, but I mean that the price is only
going to can you to escalate. You do understand people
wanting to get a Jerry can full.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, well, you see, that's the other way I look
at it too, Like they put the scam angering in
and they ramped the price up, so everyone jumped in.
You know, like, what do they hear those goal stations
in Auckland ran out you know the other day because
they had a fourteen cent special you know, or fourteen
cent off special. Well I worked that out on a
fifty liter tank of fuel for a regular car. They
(07:25):
saved themselves seven dollars. Well, they probably spent more than
that idling while sitting in the in the line to
get filled up. From my point of view, the price
will be the price, unfortunately, and the machinery doesn't go
without the diesel. So my worry going forward is availability
actually as opposed to price. So there's certain people in
(07:47):
the on the fringes of the industry telling us we
should all be in solar and electric tractors in that well,
you know, now, it's not the time to start winding
us up with that sort of chat because it's not
practical at the moment. But it's not a available and
it certainly isn't going to be available in the next
two weeks. So let's just deal with what we've got.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Just on you maye, how's it looking, because we're hearing
of a few crops that have taken a hit courtesy
of the frosts.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, we've got a couple of frosts here in the
last two weeks too, to the exact, not desirable, but
it's not the end of the world. We are one
paddock there, probably a third of it at the bottom end,
which is the lowest part of the paddock, has had
a we touch up. But the lee's top couple of
leaves looking a bit crispy in that. But as far
as I'm aware, that's not going to fick the rest
of the crop going forward. But still far too early
(08:34):
for that sort of carry on. And yeah, I don't
like seeing frost on the on the forecast nowadays.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Oh yeah, well done, you've had no far parts this type.
Always appreciate your chat. Enjoy the week, mate.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Good on you, Thanks very much, Andy.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Bruceed farming at Cowco and the Sergeant Dan farming roundup.
Thanks of course the Sagean Dan stop foods down on
the team here and glory the smell of that molesses
this morning. Something to behold here a croiz up next
to his talk politics. You're listening to the master
Bruce Seed of Calso gets us underway in the Sergeant
Dan Farming Roundup thanks to Sergeant Dan Stock, Food's based
here and Gore. Good afternoon, Bruce. The song is called Sweat,
which was a bit of sweating last time we had
you on the radio. So in case we have another
faux path from you, I've got this at the ready.
So anything you say or do that I think is
(00:28):
a bit of an issue, I'm just going to because
I don't know what the hell's going to come out
of your mouth. That's the last time you're a disgrace.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I'm awfully concerned myself. Yes, I'm obviously back off report,
so I'm allowed back. It's good to be back. But
the one good thing is Andy that I can tell
you that the muster goes far and ward because I've
had a lot of feedback from a lot of people
who heard it. So yeah, there's not just ten people listening.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh that's good to know. Hey, how's everything at Calso
beautiful today?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Isn't it like? Sun's out? Not a brie the wind
here at the moment, and we've got ten meals of
rain there end of last week, which is very much appreciated.
But of a sunder plump. I think it might have
been Saturday night, Friday or Saturday night. And yeah, the
last couple of days have been pretty good really, so
just to keep things kicking on. But what we said
(01:18):
it before as well, and truly here she's dark, dark
in the mornings and dark early at night. I think
last night half eight lights were on and machinery, so
it's coming.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Are you one of these people that just wishes we'll
get daylight saving over and done with and go into
winter moight?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I just doesn't worry meither way. There's lights on tractors
for a reason, but now we just roll on and
change the clocks accordingly. I don't really know when it
is until I hear it on the radio or see
it on the paper telling you that Saturday is when
it's got to change. So I hear it's coming up.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So you're not too far away, So product your boys,
that's going pretty well?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, no, okay, they're hanging in there pretty good. We're
not blessed with an abundance of fee, but we've got
enough to get through and if we can ever, you know,
a good week of sunshine and heat without some wind,
and that you know, after that we sprinkle a rain,
will we should be able to kick on.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Hey, interesting you he's coming out this morning or surprising?
I suppose Miles Harrell stepping down as chief executive of
Frontier after eight years at the helm, and I think
it's fair to say he's done a good job, very
good job.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, and he's done an awesome job. I think he's
been in the company one way or another for twenty
five years. I think I read. But yeah, that was
certainly a shock for me. I don't know if there's
any signs that that was coming. But you know, when
you look back on it, he's turned the ship around
and it's gone great guns at the moment, and they've
made a lot of good decisions along the way. So
twenty five years is a nice round number, I guess.
(02:43):
And then they got the Sailor Mainland and all that through,
so that was the big job ticked off for this year.
So he's probably thought, you know, now's the time to
pass it on to someone while everything's in good well,
everything's in goodstead. So no, I couldn't say bad worried
about the guy. I think he's done an amazing job. Yeah,
I was quite shocked when I got the email this
morning from Fonterira and it's sad to see him go,
(03:06):
but watch him all the best for the future. He's
certainly he's certainly been a great a great front man
for the company. And yeah, thanks very much, Miles. If
you're listening.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Fontira selling its brands, you're going to benefit from this.
But are you a fan of an occurring?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I think so. I mean there was a big talk
and who when we're selling off to the brands, household
names and all that sort of thing, and people are
going to boycott those brands because of it, But I
think the way the world has all that sort of
things being forgotten in a millisecond and people are still
going to buy them. Still, his brand association and the
milk is still coming from New Zealand cares to fill
(03:49):
those brands. So I'm happy enough with the decision.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Well, there's an auction coming up again on Wednesday morning,
New Zealand time going for five and a raw dear
I say it, but look anyway you look at the
dairying situation at the moment in the Kiwi landscape, it's
just pulling his way, no end.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, I guess you know. I look at it from
the scenario, it's going great guns at the moment. The
way the world is volatility and all that sort of thing.
It can change, and this could be the start of
the decline, this coming auction that I hope I'm wrong.
But at the end of the day, we still have
to milk the caws good or bad payout. It's just
(04:27):
a job that has to be done. So if you're
in it, you're in it, if that makes any sense
to you.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
In interesting you talk about just being in control of
what you can regarding the farm gate. But let's look
at the wig. Let's look at the bigger picture around
the world, Bruce, the situation in the Middle East with
Donald Trump. Now we're seeing the flow on effect here
at the fuel pumps. For you guys, you bring a
lot of diesel, that's a given. Are you having to
deviate away from your normal plan around heavy machinery work.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I certainly made us thanks a bit of a short
and long term plan. Yeah, like you said, we do
a lot of our own work, so we do burn
a bit of diesel. And at the moment we're in
the middle of getting thirty odd hectares autumn. So on
week ready to go on the ground, we've got another
cut of soils to go. Maize is obviously coming up
(05:18):
as well, and daily we're feeding the robot cows in
the barn with the tractors. So these was a big
part of our operation, much like it is for transports
and contractors and sowth and so everybody's looking at things
and watching, wondering, trying to guess what's going to happen.
As a part of me thinks, oh, I get in
three weeks time, this will all be sorted and we'll
(05:40):
be back to normal. But there's another part of me,
probably equally as much thinking, right, what have we got
to do to plan for worst case scenario? So you know,
we usually deep ripple our wheat paddocks before we get
them ready. This year we've gone away from that just
to try and save some fuel on that side of things.
And there's two or three other options we're looking at
(06:02):
of stuff we're not gonna or participate in that we
usually do fuel wise. So yeah, it's just a case
of trying to make a good decision at the time
based on the information you've got. But that seems to
change daily. You know, like I was talking to a
local transport operator there Thursday last week, and they've done
(06:22):
the numbers that if this thing carries on and they
use the same amount of fuel as it did last month,
it's already going to cost another twenty eight and a
half thousand dollars for their fuel bill for the next month.
And that was last Thursday. The price has probably gone
up since then, and we'll go up in the future.
So you know, those guys, like everybody you're facing the squeeze.
You can't just park up all your trucks and say
we're not going to do anything until the fuel price
(06:44):
comes right, because you know there's no future in that.
So yeah, you just have to be a bit smarter
and trying, as I said, make the best decision you can.
Fuel business.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
At the time, they talk about scam mangering around the
fuel situation, but I mean that the price is only
going to can you to escalate. You do understand people
wanting to get a Jerry can full.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, well, you see, that's the other way I look
at it too, Like they put the scam angering in
and they ramped the price up, so everyone jumped in.
You know, like, what do they hear those goal stations
in Auckland ran out you know the other day because
they had a fourteen cent special you know, or fourteen
cent off special. Well I worked that out on a
fifty liter tank of fuel for a regular car. They
(07:25):
saved themselves seven dollars. Well, they probably spent more than
that idling while sitting in the in the line to
get filled up. From my point of view, the price
will be the price, unfortunately, and the machinery doesn't go
without the diesel. So my worry going forward is availability
actually as opposed to price. So there's certain people in
(07:47):
the on the fringes of the industry telling us we
should all be in solar and electric tractors in that well,
you know, now, it's not the time to start winding
us up with that sort of chat because it's not
practical at the moment. But it's not a available and
it certainly isn't going to be available in the next
two weeks. So let's just deal with what we've got.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Just on you maye, how's it looking, because we're hearing
of a few crops that have taken a hit courtesy
of the frosts.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, we've got a couple of frosts here in the
last two weeks too, to the exact, not desirable, but
it's not the end of the world. We are one
paddock there, probably a third of it at the bottom end,
which is the lowest part of the paddock, has had
a we touch up. But the lee's top couple of
leaves looking a bit crispy in that. But as far
as I'm aware, that's not going to fick the rest
of the crop going forward. But still far too early
(08:34):
for that sort of carry on. And yeah, I don't
like seeing frost on the on the forecast nowadays.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Oh yeah, well done, you've had no far parts this type.
Always appreciate your chat. Enjoy the week, mate.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Good on you, Thanks very much, Andy.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Bruceed farming at Cowco and the Sergeant Dan farming roundup.
Thanks of course the Sagean Dan stop foods down on
the team here and glory the smell of that molesses
this morning. Something to behold here a croiz up next
to his talk politics. You're listening to the master
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