Woow what a start to the season this has been. The heifers returned home at an average liveweight of 484 kg and condition scored at a 5.5 and going into calving our cows were at a 5 average. This season’s start has really tested our management skills as farmers, not only financially, with a drop […]
Spring Part 1. Well, this has been a start to spring that will go down in the farm diary for years to come. Winter in comparison was quite mild, according to our own rain collection data June, July and August were on par with previous years. I guess it’s all about the timing of it […]
With the busyness and frenetic activity of the Christmas season upon us, it’s nice to take a bit of time out and tap a few thoughts on the keyboard. My last blog seems like just the other day, but I’ve just checked, and it was way back in September. So Christmas music on in background, […]
With the mid-winter (or should I say mid-summer in European terms) holiday now a distant memory and the spring rush on farm now winding down, it’s time to reflect on the calving period and look forward in anticipation to the huge spring flush that is about to happen…. well the signs are certainly there, that’s […]
At the moment I’m sitting in a motel in Queenstown on holiday. We have been to the Catlins for a memorial dedication to my sister and then visited friends who farm in Southland. The days were hot and sunny, although their grass doesn’t seem to have gone as stalky as ours. Everybody was saying how […]
When you suddenly find yourself going from minimal debt to a large debt, stress is where it’s at. It was good to have some friends who listened and commiserated. But in the end, it was up to me to find my way out. I chose to go out and learn how to dance, because it […]
The sun is shining, daylight saving is here, Winston is keeping us guessing, and Sam is now happily married to Alice! Plus, I had a birthday, Bev had a birthday, growth rates are well over 60-70 kg/ha/day, Mr Pig is almost ready to go, and our Fonterra loan is partly repaid! Welcome to my mid-October […]
Last month I wrote about the joys of getting to November and being over the big rush on the farm, with calving, mating and cropping being behind us, leading to a much more carefree and relaxed period in the farming calendar. I also wrote of summer coming, and swimming and bbqs looming. Hmmm, as I […]