September 22, 2025 • 7 mins
Our South Otago correspondent says lambing has been a case of so far, so good.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Niger Whitehead fans in South Otago between Bell Clother and
Milton joins us once again from the Lambing Beat. Good afternoon, Nidge.
How's it going.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Afternoon, Eddy? Oh, well, it's not raining, so I'll take that.
But it's pretty nippy.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
How's it been over the last couple of weeks?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
In general?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
We're hearing likes of Riverton horrific rainfall figures of nine
inches a week ago for only for the middle of September.
How are you coping?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We're gone? We're gone? Not too bad? Ye're not too bad. Yeah,
last week was a bit rough. There some rough days
and it was it was a but average. But yeah,
like at the moment we took along nicely. It's it's
cold today, but at least it's not raining.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So the landing's going to plan.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
No, No, it seems seems to be a right even
last week at the rough weather. Yeah, like if lambs
were borne up on top of the her out of
the shelter, it was a bit hard on them, but
there was you know, there was nasty shellers would come
through and then we'd get a break, so you know,
like those newborn lambs would get a chance to stand
up and have a feed, and then you know if
(01:17):
another nasty shower would come through either and would sit
down and hunk it down. So we lost a handful.
But you know it wasn't you know, it wasn't real bad.
It wasn't catastrophe by any means. And yeah, so we're
looking looking pretty good. Actually I think covers are all right.
Jup Peddick's Yeah. I mean, you would love fifteen degrees
(01:39):
of sunshine every day, but they ain't going to happen,
so we'll just take what comes.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
How far through would you be?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh? Halfway? Yeah? Yeah, easy, halfway. I think we would
do to start on the eleventh, so what's that twelve
days ago? So you will be easy halfway? Easy halfway now,
Like you know, some of those first ten days packs
are either done or only got one or two using
(02:06):
them left, and there's not many not many sheep for
the next second half the first cycle seat stocks. So yeah,
well we probably could be two thirds away through.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Actually yeah, now straight Hi, I won between bell Cloth
and Milton is notorious for some pretty narly wins. Now
where you're farming there, what's the wind situation being? Like,
are you reasonably shouted.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Oh are we here as well, So those those sort
of spots, but just just north of Bewer closer here,
the wind whistles up those galleyes and across State Hallway
one will wear sort of you know, if you carry
on follow the wind direction. We're on the other side
of the lake over there. So yeah, we cop it
a bit here too, but their panics with good shelter,
(02:52):
either from hedges or pine tree blocks handle it not
too bad. But we've got some exposed ridges out of
the fact that that came that can pop up. But
around like you know, mom, Mum and Dad talk about
when we were little kids walking across the our yard
and getting blown over in the wind gaft, so they
(03:12):
planted some trees, you know, on the on the windward
side of the yard and like. So we've never had
anything like that with our kids. So you shelter and
in forestry made a big difference to help' it is
around the farm here.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
So when your appearance did the landing beat Was it
a case of the old freggie trector or something putting
around the farm or perhaps a two wheeler with the
trailer in toe with kids as well as everything else.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Uh No, no, I when we came here dead. I
think we had a trick when we came here, and
that soon got traded in for for a big beer Yamaha,
big beer, four wheeler, two wheel drive.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
You had the bull frog, didn't you. You had the
bull frog, the three wheel bull frog, the yellow.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Ye the death trick, and yeah with it because Mum
and Dad came here from from the Tyrey planes where
it was pretty much flat, so the truck was fine,
but coming here that wasn't much good. So yeah, I
always had a full or pretty much always had a
full wheeler. But yeah, like she was, she was pretty
(04:22):
full on. Back then they talked about I think mom
talks about mothering on one hundred and eighty years one year,
just as the US were rubbish mums. And yeah, they
had to do everything you could keep every lamb alive
to play the bills when they weren't worth so much.
So yeah, things are a wee bit different these days.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Well, you'd like to think genetics has kind of a
long way massively.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, he Actually I don't even take a trailer with
me on the lembing beak. Now. I had I had
actually had two us of dead lambs. On my first
couple of peddocks this morning. One had two lambs coming
at once, so that was just yeah, but unfortunate. So
we'll I think we'll find a the mother onto one
of them anyway, but I think there'll be the third
year we've mothered on this season, so we might we'll
(05:06):
probably get through with only lemon on half mothering on
half a dozen. So yeah, it's you know sheeper, Yeah,
being bred for that mothering ability. You know, we've got
a bit of shelter. Fences are in the right place
so sheep can get over over the hill out of
the out of the weather, and the user in pretty
(05:27):
good nick this year, which makes a messive difference. Then
we've got not big covers, but we've got antiquate feed
covers pretty much over the whole farm. So all of
those things all work together to help that mothering ability.
That's all pretty important.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Red meat prices, what are your thoughts around the season.
At the moment, they're up above ten dollars, but they
always corrects itself. Nonetheless, it's looking pretty rosy as you'd expect.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, that was good. We I think I spoke to
the other while ago, I made a call and August
I killed half my ulembs and bought a hand for
yous to a place them. Yeah, like I just we
killed the last of them last week, And yeah, I
think it's good. I wanted I really wanted to turn
a dollar cheap. Yeah, we're not going to quite get that.
(06:13):
There'll be one hundred and ninety something dollars. But I
was just yelling to a mate this morning who I
think he was talking teen dollars fifty, So yeah, it's
there's there's big money, big money. But yeah, it's good.
We'll take it while it's there. Be interesting to see
what weird it was that mid season. I think I
(06:34):
put eight dollars in my budget or eight been eight
dollars for de se Virginuay and seven for later on,
just trying to be reasonably conservative because you know, one
of these days it will fall. And when it gets
as high as it is, the price is teen to
four like a stone. So hopefully it's better than that,
but you know, the budget still steps up at that,
so we'll we'll we'll work on that for now, and
(06:55):
anything more next a bonus.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It'll probably fall at some stage, but none the least
A man for re meat protein around the world. It's
got to work in New Zealand's favor, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oh percent in your It's on us as business meant
to make the most an opportunity while it's there, because
we've all seen high prices before and plenty of people
have been burnt by thinking the high price is going
to carry on long than they do. So yeah, I
don't know. I reckon. Yeah, We've probably got another year
or so in it and then we'll see what happens
(07:28):
after that. But like I said, I always try and
take the take a conservative approach and then anything above
that's a bonus and seems to work all right.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Good on your Nige, will let you get back to
the trenches. Appreciate your time as always.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Good as thanks any.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Nigel. One head farming in the south of Tago. This
is the master from one part of a Tago to
another part. Granted is as McMaster at closer in station.
We catch up next
Niger Whitehead fans in South Otago between Bell Clother and
Milton joins us once again from the Lambing Beat. Good afternoon, Nidge.
How's it going.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Afternoon, Eddy? Oh, well, it's not raining, so I'll take that.
But it's pretty nippy.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
How's it been over the last couple of weeks?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
In general?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
We're hearing likes of Riverton horrific rainfall figures of nine
inches a week ago for only for the middle of September.
How are you coping?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
We're gone? We're gone? Not too bad? Ye're not too bad. Yeah,
last week was a bit rough. There some rough days
and it was it was a but average. But yeah,
like at the moment we took along nicely. It's it's
cold today, but at least it's not raining.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So the landing's going to plan.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
No, No, it seems seems to be a right even
last week at the rough weather. Yeah, like if lambs
were borne up on top of the her out of
the shelter, it was a bit hard on them, but
there was you know, there was nasty shellers would come
through and then we'd get a break, so you know,
like those newborn lambs would get a chance to stand
up and have a feed, and then you know if
(01:17):
another nasty shower would come through either and would sit
down and hunk it down. So we lost a handful.
But you know it wasn't you know, it wasn't real bad.
It wasn't catastrophe by any means. And yeah, so we're
looking looking pretty good. Actually I think covers are all right.
Jup Peddick's Yeah. I mean, you would love fifteen degrees
(01:39):
of sunshine every day, but they ain't going to happen,
so we'll just take what comes.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
How far through would you be?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Oh? Halfway? Yeah? Yeah, easy, halfway. I think we would
do to start on the eleventh, so what's that twelve
days ago? So you will be easy halfway? Easy halfway now,
Like you know, some of those first ten days packs
are either done or only got one or two using
(02:06):
them left, and there's not many not many sheep for
the next second half the first cycle seat stocks. So yeah,
well we probably could be two thirds away through.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Actually yeah, now straight Hi, I won between bell Cloth
and Milton is notorious for some pretty narly wins. Now
where you're farming there, what's the wind situation being? Like,
are you reasonably shouted.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Oh are we here as well, So those those sort
of spots, but just just north of Bewer closer here,
the wind whistles up those galleyes and across State Hallway
one will wear sort of you know, if you carry
on follow the wind direction. We're on the other side
of the lake over there. So yeah, we cop it
a bit here too, but their panics with good shelter,
(02:52):
either from hedges or pine tree blocks handle it not
too bad. But we've got some exposed ridges out of
the fact that that came that can pop up. But
around like you know, mom, Mum and Dad talk about
when we were little kids walking across the our yard
and getting blown over in the wind gaft, so they
(03:12):
planted some trees, you know, on the on the windward
side of the yard and like. So we've never had
anything like that with our kids. So you shelter and
in forestry made a big difference to help' it is
around the farm here.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
So when your appearance did the landing beat Was it
a case of the old freggie trector or something putting
around the farm or perhaps a two wheeler with the
trailer in toe with kids as well as everything else.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Uh No, no, I when we came here dead. I
think we had a trick when we came here, and
that soon got traded in for for a big beer Yamaha,
big beer, four wheeler, two wheel drive.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
You had the bull frog, didn't you. You had the
bull frog, the three wheel bull frog, the yellow.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Ye the death trick, and yeah with it because Mum
and Dad came here from from the Tyrey planes where
it was pretty much flat, so the truck was fine,
but coming here that wasn't much good. So yeah, I
always had a full or pretty much always had a
full wheeler. But yeah, like she was, she was pretty
(04:22):
full on. Back then they talked about I think mom
talks about mothering on one hundred and eighty years one year,
just as the US were rubbish mums. And yeah, they
had to do everything you could keep every lamb alive
to play the bills when they weren't worth so much.
So yeah, things are a wee bit different these days.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Well, you'd like to think genetics has kind of a
long way massively.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, he Actually I don't even take a trailer with
me on the lembing beak. Now. I had I had
actually had two us of dead lambs. On my first
couple of peddocks this morning. One had two lambs coming
at once, so that was just yeah, but unfortunate. So
we'll I think we'll find a the mother onto one
of them anyway, but I think there'll be the third
year we've mothered on this season, so we might we'll
(05:06):
probably get through with only lemon on half mothering on
half a dozen. So yeah, it's you know sheeper, Yeah,
being bred for that mothering ability. You know, we've got
a bit of shelter. Fences are in the right place
so sheep can get over over the hill out of
the out of the weather, and the user in pretty
(05:27):
good nick this year, which makes a messive difference. Then
we've got not big covers, but we've got antiquate feed
covers pretty much over the whole farm. So all of
those things all work together to help that mothering ability.
That's all pretty important.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Red meat prices, what are your thoughts around the season.
At the moment, they're up above ten dollars, but they
always corrects itself. Nonetheless, it's looking pretty rosy as you'd expect.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, that was good. We I think I spoke to
the other while ago, I made a call and August
I killed half my ulembs and bought a hand for
yous to a place them. Yeah, like I just we
killed the last of them last week, And yeah, I
think it's good. I wanted I really wanted to turn
a dollar cheap. Yeah, we're not going to quite get that.
(06:13):
There'll be one hundred and ninety something dollars. But I
was just yelling to a mate this morning who I
think he was talking teen dollars fifty, So yeah, it's
there's there's big money, big money. But yeah, it's good.
We'll take it while it's there. Be interesting to see
what weird it was that mid season. I think I
(06:34):
put eight dollars in my budget or eight been eight
dollars for de se Virginuay and seven for later on,
just trying to be reasonably conservative because you know, one
of these days it will fall. And when it gets
as high as it is, the price is teen to
four like a stone. So hopefully it's better than that,
but you know, the budget still steps up at that,
so we'll we'll we'll work on that for now, and
(06:55):
anything more next a bonus.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It'll probably fall at some stage, but none the least
A man for re meat protein around the world. It's
got to work in New Zealand's favor, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Oh percent in your It's on us as business meant
to make the most an opportunity while it's there, because
we've all seen high prices before and plenty of people
have been burnt by thinking the high price is going
to carry on long than they do. So yeah, I
don't know. I reckon. Yeah, We've probably got another year
or so in it and then we'll see what happens
(07:28):
after that. But like I said, I always try and
take the take a conservative approach and then anything above
that's a bonus and seems to work all right.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Good on your Nige, will let you get back to
the trenches. Appreciate your time as always.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Good as thanks any.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Nigel. One head farming in the south of Tago. This
is the master from one part of a Tago to
another part. Granted is as McMaster at closer in station.
We catch up next
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