Christophers Comment

Posted by on 31 January 2011 | 0 Comments

CHRISTOPHER’S COMMENT JANUARY 2011

Another 495 lambs away this month. Good weights. Good price. A huge relief to get those extra mouths off the property given that prior to Christmas we were heading for our fourth consecutive annual summer drought. And, as in politics, in farming too, a week or so is a long time……….suddenly the appearance on our weather radar of not one but two cyclones changed everything, for the better. In the space of one week these two weather events hit the country resulting in widespread damage and flooding to Northland, Auckland and the East Coast of the North Island. We were spared the worst of the weather and the rainfall was most welcome; 135ml of rain, then another 60mls, excellent summer rain, some of which was predicted and some not. What do these weather forecasters do all day?

I am constantly reminded that this farming game is so dependent on many factors over which we have absolutely no control, the climate being the major one.

Wool prices, following an international trend are improving every day. Those of us who stuck with rams that still produce good wool, may at last get our day in the sun.

Its holiday time in January on Taruna Farm and despite the two weather events, summer has been amazing – just how we remember the summers of our youth. Water temperatures were mild at Whangamata and the beach house was filled with friends and family for the time we were there. We had a good walk with Mark and Ross (the A team except for Andrea) up into the Parakawai Quarry in the hills above the town. It is an old horse drawn tramline with fifteen kms of excellent track, two new bridges, a swing bridge and a water fall. DOC do an amazing job in the hills. Plenty of sport to watch and tennis to play, cricket to agonise over, boxing - Sonny Bill (the next Mohammad Ali – give me strength!) and time to swim, to read, to walk and to relax.

Hugh has been away the latter part of the month for a well earned  break with his family back to his roots, in Southland.

Its raining again as I write this. Enough I think to set the farm up for summer grass growth right up until the autumn. It been pleasing too, to note that food sources have been plentiful for the resident native wood pigeon population. I saw seven at one time playing in the thermals around the house and the bush. They can, I believe have three hatchings a year if the conditions are favourable. Janet found a baby one perched on the chook house one evening. It was obviously too small to be independent. We fed it and transferred it to the lower branch of a kowhai to keep it out of harms way. It was gone by lunch time the next day, a Bill Brash protégé. I hope it is one of the seven we saw having fun.

Amy and Cliff felt an earthquake today. It was centred in Walton not far from here as the crow flies. Magnitude 3.6. Imagine those poor people in Christchurch still having earthquakes and after shocks most days.

We wish you a Happy New Year. Do we say ‘twenty eleven’ or ‘two thousand and eleven’?  However it is said, have a good one. And as I’ve heard said, every year above ground at this stage in our lives is a good one, a very good one.