Christophers Comment September

Posted by on 9 September 2013 | 1 Comments

CHRISTOPHER'S COMMENT SEPTEMBER 2013

I was thinking that I would write this comment during a wet week in the middle of winter. Well, it is now spring on the calendar and winter has almost been a non-event. A few cold and wet days, a few frosts but far more nice days than one would have expected. In fact, it's almost been spring on and off for the last month. Many dairy farmers are saying that it has been a problem dealing with all the extra feed that has grown. And in our case it has meant that we have not had to purchase any hay to feed out over the winter or early spring. The big question is, will we pay for it at some stage?

We scanned the flock in June and as expected our potential lambing percentage dropped 20% to 174%. It will be interesting to see how we do at docking time. The lower the scanning the higher the survival rates. Lambing started in the middle of August so we are well into it now and at this stage we do not seem to have the high number of orphans that we have had in previous years which is obviously a good sign. The first paddocks will be tailed this week so it's then we will get a good idea how things are really going. We did not mate the hoggets this year as they weren't up to scratch due to the drought and the presence of the barbers pole worm. Although this will obviously affect our cash position it will certainly make for a lot quicker lambing period.

In my last comment I suggested that we may have to change the old work horse for a newer and bigger model. Well, that has happened and in case you are wondering, I am talking tractors. Yes, the old original work horse the MF135 has gone and a 2003 CASE MX100C has taken its place complete with front end loader and forks. Will I ever learn to drive it? Watch this space but I am making progress with the help of Cliff, who has taken on the role of overseeing maintenance at Taruna Farm. This new tractor will now give us the ability to feed out round silage bales at whatever time of the year they are needed; so if it's another dry summer we are far better prepared.

With Hugh now doing all the stock management it has left me a lot more time to concentrate on maintenance issues around the farm, a role I thoroughly enjoy especially on a nice fine Waikato day. And if it's wet I can always manage to find something that has to be done indoors at the house or the office.

Talking of houses, our retirement project the restoration and rebuild of the 1908 villa in Cambridge

is going very well and in fact is getting close to completion. It is very exciting and most gratifying to hear the many positive comments that people make about what we have done. It hasn't been an easy build but we have been very lucky to have had skilled builders in Marcus Grayling and his team, overseeing the project. They have been backed up by an equally skilled and competent group of sub-contractors. Painting inside and out has largely been completed and the kitchen and library are going in as we speak. Before we actually move in we would like to get some of the landscaping and fencing at least started. Privacy in such a public site is going to be an issue for these cockies who moved to town!

On the family front a lot has happened. Firstly, when we move to town it will signal a changing of the Guard/Gard (get it??) at the farmhouse. The youngest Gardner, now a Beech, will be moving into the house with her husband Cliff and their three little boys. This gives us a lot of pleasure to know there will still be family here in the family home – a family home again. Secondly, lots of birthdays....Ellen hit forty, how did that happen? I will be probably be in big trouble mentioning this fact but it is a milestone worth recording. Congratulations Ella. Harry and Tom turned six, Alex turned four and little Freddie was two. And in Australia Charlotte turned seven.

Fathers Day came and went – thank you for all your good wishes and gifts, much appreciated.