July 17, 2026 • 46 mins
Andy Muir talks to Morgan Mitchell, Don Morrison, Roy Sloan, Matt Ward and Julie Edwards.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Last night. A very good morning and welcome into the
best of the Muster, a collaboration of interviews that took
our attention during a busy week here at Hakanu e
hq I meany mure thanks to your company. We're starting
off the l by catching it with Morgan, Mitchell, South
and Stags rugby legend. He's all finished up now he
threw the boots in the bin after the gal Braves
Shield final and Morgan tells us why it's time to
(00:26):
look for life after rugby from his perspective. Don Morrison
farms at Willow Bank and he got into politics this
week now. Howie tells us why he's no fan of
the current government. All bets are on the table for
him when he looks at his vote for the election
and why that even includes a left leaning coalition. Roy
(00:46):
Sloane is based up in the Fjordland Basin. Now the
Whoppity has been made a herd of special interest and
Roy comes on the show. He's particularly passionate about this
and he tells us why this is one of the
good news stories for your goodland. Matt Ward as well
farming at Morton Mains and tells us all about his
wintering pad there for his cattle going great guns, some
(01:08):
really good weight gains, and Matt says, well it makes
life easier in winter and when it's about maintaining weight
for a lot of people at this time of year
on cattle. He tells us why he's forging ahead, and
Julie Edwards as well out of Sheerwell UK, we catch
up with Alan McClair in a regular basis. Well, we're
catching up with Julie from a UK perspective. See how
the farming landscape's been so Without further ado, we'll start
(01:32):
the l next with Morgan Mitchell. You're listening to the
best of the buster Dom Morrison Farms at Willowbank and
(01:53):
catch us off this afternoon on the muster. How we
we had no frost here? It sounds as I was
the opposite out of Wallowbank.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
I cured an Andy, Yeah it was. We had a
really good frost this morning. I loved those frosts and
now it's a great afternoon with a blue sky.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Coincidentally, Cheap Trek, you're a great fan of the music today.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I was back in an era, Andy that you should
have grew up with some of that music. I think
it was cheap trick Live at Budakhan was a was
a big album back at the time.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Butteracan where's that?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
See? I don't even know. I'm justessing. Is it somewhere
in Hungry there'd be a good someone can maybe calling
with the answer.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Come on, how you need your answers on this show.
You can't come to a gunfight out in them.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I know that, I know the album. I've just don't
know where Budakan is.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Anyway, we'll continue on. So it's just winter, big winter.
What's been the focus lately?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Well, we scanned last week, which can the earlies earlier,
and then just head scanning. So very happy with the
results in the one nineties. We were back a couple
of ascent on last year, but still in that one nineties,
which is where we want to be. And just a
handful of dries so we got rid of them yesterday
so we'll see what they kill out at. But really
(03:07):
just this stay through the one till we can get
a bit more bit more confident on that feed program
right till the end of the winter, you know, virtually
halfway through now, so we can count rows and start
elevating allocation to a few of the mobs. We took
any light to use out. We've got a small handful
of light to use out on grass which we're able
(03:27):
to take out at scanning time. So everything on the
crops in a really good condition and we can start
elevating that feed now that we're getting a bit of
confidence into the winter.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Scanning numbers on par with previous seasons.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
We were back about three or four percent maybe just
a bit of a reflection of that season use went
into went to the ram in you know, okay, condition
they've picked up a lot since then. We're over the
mating process, but am I suspect that they're going to
be back a it so only to be a few
percent back we're pretty happy with. And as I say,
Andy's still in that you know one nineties, So that's
(04:03):
where we want to be every year anyway.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
The Indian the Free Trade Agreement, how we it's been
the point of contention for certain members of the coalition government.
So John Key coming out this morning and seeing anyone
opposing this FTA is clown. Pretty strong words from the
former Prime minister if we're honest about it. Look, you've
been over to India, you've been involved with Alliance. We
just can't underestimate what this FTA means.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Look, I totally totally support what john Key said, and
you've had once them coming out completely with his xenophobic politicking,
and you know, it's actually ugly, it's unnecessary and it's
completely stupid. I mean, that's the scale of that opportunity
in India, not only for red meat, for every every
(04:49):
single importer is absolutely huge. And you know, even I
know from the red meat when when I was over
there with Alliance, you know, forty eight percent tariff over
our Australian counterparts. I mean, meet the opportunity now to
be playing at a at a level playing field is
is you know, pretty pretty fantastic. And look, it's not
going to open up straight away. I think some of
(05:11):
our other markets certainly high high paying than India at
the moment. But the point being that you know, there's
this massive you know, one out of six of the
world's population lives in India. Why would we not want
to be selling to them. And also if you look
at some of the other markets with red meat, where
you know, you take China, so comparative comparative population two
(05:32):
thirds of their red meat consumption as beef and only
one third is ovine or goat, where once you move
to India it's one hundred percent goat or ovine. So
you know, it's it's an absolute massive opportunity. So yeah, look,
I just don't get one. I know what he's doing.
He's just politicking with his little with his little supporter base.
(05:54):
And I'm certainly not part of that supporter base, as
you can Twlandy, Well.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
That's a water base, I'll be honest. How are we
going by the poles?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Is not that little Oh look there's hey, it's what
we get in politics now. And with the m MP,
we've got a we've got two centrist parties Labor and National,
you know, both struggling to hold relevance as your as
your extreme right and your extreme left, you know, pick
up that ten percent with each party, you know. So
it's it's the problem with m MP. We swing between
(06:24):
left and right, which I think is there's an inevitability
in it, and then that whatever's in power is unfortunately
dominated a little bit by their two extreme partners. So yeah,
hard hard to really know who to vote for at
the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Andy interesting though, Mark Petterson's over there as Associate administer
talking about will in India, yet New Zealand first comes
into it. And Petty Simmons talked about this yesterday and
she was like waxing lyrical about the situation.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, well that Mark's always had a very good well
the farm himself. He's been very passionate about different, you know,
different activities and he certainly has a great feel for agriculture.
So certainly when you see him as an undersecretary in
the government, you know, I'd certainly do rate Mark. And
once again when he's able to go off and do that,
(07:14):
that you have his his leader talking about, you know,
the evils of the FTA, then it's you know, doesn't
quite make sense to that.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
How do you think Christopher Laxon's gone?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
My honest opinion is, I don't think there's much leadership
I've seen in the last three years. He's probably a
nice person. I hear from a lot of people that
he's a very good person, but has you know, I've
been frustrated with the coalition's policy for so many things
over the last three years, and that you know, it's
why I'm probably one of those Center's voters that doesn't
(07:46):
really know where to vote. You know, I find I've
found the whole treaty and the and the depowering the
devoice of Maldi completely unconsciousible to me, which would make
me not want to vote for that coalition again. And
you know, they've alienated a big percent of the population,
not only the Mili percent, but those of us who
still actually recognize the treaty is a founding document. And
(08:10):
so they've alienated a lot of people and for not
one cent back to the Back to the economy or GDP.
But do you know there a lot of people out
there with a different view to me. But I still
look at that treaty as a founding document. And if
you've got a legal document, one party can't change it.
You've got to have agreement from both to do it.
So it's as simple as that.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
But could we really stomach the Greens being in there
at the moment, given what they want to do regarding
nitugen and the likes. Their economics doesn't make sense regarding texts.
I mean, that's the case of the devil, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yeah, Look, it's a really interesting thing the Greens, because
if they could actually be a center as Greens, I
think they get a lot more support. You know that,
that's absolutely you know again, how could you support a
party that wants to ban synthetic fertilized yea, And it's
just ows a clear understanding, misunderstanding of what our productive
sector is in New Zealand. But at the same time,
(09:02):
I actually liked their I actually liked their tax policy.
I thought it was completely fair graduated tax rates as
you move up in come brackets and their capital gains tax. Hey, look,
we need a capital gains tax in New Zealand, Andy
because we think get a capital gains or a wealth
tax or an inheritance tax, and two of those are
(09:22):
completely unpalatable, and one of them is completely fair. Most
countries in the OECD have it. I read articles on
stuff of you know, a proud article of some Australian
that's come over and invested in seven mental properties in
New Zealand, you know, and yet we're complaining about the
profit of housing and their kids can't afford a health
And you know, we've got to We've got to change
(09:44):
the behaviors around investment to a yield based to a
yield based price rather than a speculative price based on
the capital gain.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
You're going to make good on you how we better
leave it there, enjoy the afternoon.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
All good Andy, Welcome back to the muster.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
A pretty yep. A game of football unfolded over the
weekend with the Eastern Northern Barbarians beating Pirates Old Boys
forty twenty eight in one hundred hundred minute extravaganza of
rugby union. Morgan Mitchell, captain of the bar Bars, joins
us in studio this afternoon. Morgan, good afternoon, and firstly,
(10:31):
a mess of congratulations.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Hey, no, I thank you very much for that. He's
pretty special to get that ticked off. Yeah, let the
celebration continue in Yeah, it's been a hell of avoid
in the last couple of days. So that's what it's
all about now.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
I was speaking to you on Saturday evening briefly and
you reckon it wouldn't have been till yesterday when you
guys gathered and that's when it really started to kick in.
The achievement of what.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Had occurred sort of felt like that last time when
we first won. You know, yeah, that Saturday night's just
a Saturday night, you know. Yeah, we've got the shield.
But yeah, that's Sunday when you're getting in and the
shed all together as a team. When that shield come
through at that first study, that really since it on.
You know, we are the Gebo winners, you know what
(11:21):
I mean. So yeah, so that's when I think, well,
that's when it kicked in for me. But I think
it would have kept down a few people as well.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
So, yeah, now you have won two Gilbrow Shields, now,
is it right?
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It How is that compared to the first time back
in twenty sixteen, of course yourself, Brenton Howd and Lockey
McCall survivors from ten years ago.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, But the funny one is, so the first one
was just good to get the monkey off the back,
and then it's secret one. You had to go one
hundred minutes to get that game to win that one.
So I remember that first one. We were down seventeen
(12:00):
in the first twenty minutes and yeah, yeah, me and
the boys learned from that and I said to the
boys in this second one, you know, just control your emotions,
control your game, control everything, and we've got it. And
I think we did that.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Yeah, So it was a case on Saturday of keeping
emotions in check because a lot of the younger players,
Let's be honest, you're at the Big Dance.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yeah, yeah, it's probably wrong with me saying it. He's
just got to play. It's another game, because that's how
you play the game, you know what I mean? Yeah,
it is the final. You just keep getting Becky heat.
But you know, you don't have to be a hero
to be in the final. It takes twenty three players
to win the finals. So and we did that.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah, So what was different than the build up because,
like you say, you treat it like another game, but
ultimately there's a lot at stake as well.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Oh yeah there was. There was a lot going on.
There was, yeah, a few miskicks and a few penalties
going against us and whatnot. So you know, the build
up was good. Everything was the same. So that's just final.
You know, Final's funny, that's what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
How would that rank for you? You've won the Renfrilly
Shield before more. You know a lot of people can
say the Round, the Renfrely Shield and the Gale Brave Shield.
What's the difference for you? I mean different goals in
mind with winning each trophy, but what's stood up for you?
Can when you compare the two.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
No, I wouldn't say there's not a lot of difference,
because a shield means, you know, the Gebot shield, it's
awesome to the Southland, it's awesome for a weird community,
it's a northern community. And then that rain Fully shield,
it was awesome for Southland, for the province. You know,
I never really got to experience rad and fully shield
experience until we got it, and that was different. Whereas
(13:45):
a Gabou shield, I've experienced it, so I knew what
was coming. So they're both very special shields. In ye,
it's good. The way to wrap it off a lot that.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah, Now from your perspective, that's it. The play days
are over and done with. The boots are in the bin.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Were absolutely bagged. I had probably the whole role of
strapping tape to hold them up.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So you threw them in the bin after the game.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Yeah, now after of the boys who keep them, I said, no,
look at them.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Somebody would check them on train or you make a
bit of money.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
They were they were no good. They were bagged. So yeah,
the ben was the best post for them.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
And from your angle, again, do you look back at
your playing career with no regrets.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. Yeah, nothing
really comes to my mind. I wish I'd done that
and done that.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
No, I think.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I had no regrets. Yeah, you're what. Yeah, I'm happy
with everything. How it's all folded out. Yeah, and you.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Look at the club competition and general likes of Premier
Yere Rugby, the Barbers stood out this year. You guys
only dropped the one game before the semi final. There
seems to be a competition though, and yes, is a
lot of teams involved. We've talked about this before, mate,
but regarding the finals format, it certainly just brought it
to brings everything to the foe and everybody just focuses
(15:09):
on what that shield means.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Yes, hope. See, well in that round robin, we're struggling
for numbers. That first round we couldn't. We only hit
one prop preserved, you know what I mean. There's just
limited players around and limited numbers. And when we got
around to that second second round, everyone was back and
that's when we're starting to pull the strength and you know,
(15:32):
making the results. And yeah, we did lose to Woodlands,
and credit to them, I think we got a lot
of learnings out of that game. That's probably what set
us up to the final and everything. So yeah, I
guess every game plays plays a part to the final.
You know, we're down twenty twenty odd points at Maris
(15:55):
and we still come back and won that. So I
think that both built the team character and we could
believe in it. So look, yeah, we got it done
in that one hundredth minutes. So yeah, all those week
games that we played throughout the season did help us
to get wasn't that final. I think we'll.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Talk about Pirates old boys, your opposition on Saturday. They've
been to the Big Dance three times in a row.
Now they beat you guys three years ago. Aigably one
of the best club players in Southern club rugby, Greg Dyer.
He just he knows how to roll the game.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Yes, he's very talented player, great boat, great rugby mind.
You know you look at pob'd I've been in the
final so many times. Yeah, credit to him to drive
that team around everywhere. Yeah, it's great special payer.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Now, as far as the celebrations from your perspective, who's
been based on park for that who's really still out
over the last twenty four.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Hours a lot say it was me, but ah, I'll
probably have to say Jacob Cocklan's he's just keeps taking away.
He's got the shield with him. He's been able to
say I'll give it to him.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
He's got free milkshake just last.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Almost at that one. But hopefully we'll get a three
three three beers off them today.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
So yeah, So for you now you're working for rural livestock,
you're a stock agent. How's that going? You'll be enjoying it.
I'd say it's life after rugby for you.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
Yeah, absolutely loving a It's just it's like a game,
you know, you're trying to beat the other agents to
make a deal. Yeah, I love it. Yeah, the farmers
are awesome. Yeah, that's what actually gets me out of bed.
Now I've got a new passion for stock agents. So yeah,
(17:51):
I love it. A yeah, that's probably what sort of
called quits on. I've been focused on work and family
and that's what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
So of next year pre season AJ calls up, mate,
we need someone we're in a front Ralph for a game.
That's it, no chance.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
I've told him plenty of times, so you've got plenty
of time to go find plenty of props, so so
he knows. Also, yeah, we'll just leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Absolutely hate Good on your mortgie to Thanks for taking
time out of your busy schedule today. We know you've
got things to go and do with the team to
celebrate moments like this because they don't come around all
that often. Thanks once again for coming into the mustard,
having a yarn into the barbers. Congratulations, and you've brought
the shield back down to the country. Good on you.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Yeah, hey, thank you very much having me on. And
I really do appreciate all the support you guys have
and it's been special couple of days and we'll see
what the next couple of days too, So thank you
very much for having me, This says the.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Master on how can we Roy Slane joins us next.
I meant to stay in the base and used today
with Jordan Wappaty being designated New Zealand's first Herd of
Special Interest or hosey as being the acronym.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Now.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Roy Sloane is a general manager of the Fjerland Wappady Foundation,
joins us this afternoon to put into context what this
will means. Roy, Welcome to the master House. Eggs.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Yeah, good, thank you, good on a good rainy day.
It's it's it's winter.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
It's winter, that's what it's about. It really might be
cold outside, but there's a few warm cockled hearts out
there due to this announcement yesterday. Regarding for Jordland, wappaty.
From your perspective, what does this mean?
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Yeah, I mean it's a and it gets to put
it into perspective. You know, this is the first bit
of legislation that's ever been put in New Zealand before
managing deer. With other legislations around killing deer, we don't
have any around managing deer. So this is the first
in the history of this country.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
So to big day, a number is a concern in
the basin.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean deer like everything, you know, it's it's
not about the deer, it's about the numbers are dead.
And certainly there's certainly deer running around back of stations,
back of farms. But you're to look at for Field
and National Park one point two million.
Speaker 6 (20:18):
Hea theres.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
There's certainly in areas there's over populations are deer due
to how expensive it is to manage deer and Field
distric Park for the wop of the area where we
managed the two hundred thousand heac dear the numbers there
are lower than the rest of the park as dudial
management we've undertake.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
In there, So yeah, I mean numbers when you're looking
at the size of lands like that. A couple of
hundred thousand hecks here is for goodness sake, it's a
case of Rome wasn't built in a day.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Yeah, I mean a couple of hundred thousand hecteggs and
that's based on flat heat Diggs and you know, we're
talking about sea level to five and a half thousand feet,
so it's probably triple that and certainly rain wasn't built
in a day. But we've been at this for twenty
five years. So we've been managing there in the twenty
five years, and it's recognized internationally it's probably the best
(21:14):
private not private, hunter led conservation project on the planet.
So this is not new. The legislation's new.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Why would you say it has taken so long for
it to be recognized.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
We're kind of been left alone to doing business, you know,
as been gone for twenty five years, so we've been
needed legislation. People have recognized people in the right space,
have recognized the work that we've done and supported that
work that we've done. But all of a sudden, we
have we have a group of people who challenged the
(21:47):
legalities of what we do and forced a very expensive
lobbying projects to get a legislation change to support we do.
So really, really, that's the basis of it. We had
a we had a legal challenge from a group of
(22:07):
people who made us go out and lobby the government
to change the law to enable us continue what we're doing.
And we're doing the same as what we did yesterday
as we are today. And it was just a big
waste of money, a big waste of time.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
But here we are.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Is there Forrest and Bird you're referring.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
To as far as bird that I'm referring to, Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Just quickly I read what they're saying about it here
Farrest and Bird are strongly opposing the decision, arguing that
introduced browsing pests should be eradicated from national parks rather
than granted legislative protections, and they worry that prioritizing hunting
values could ultimately undermine native native ecosystems.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
What do you make of that skim mongering. It's what
they what they've bought their empire on, is ske mongering.
And it's the pretty pretty said existence. To be fair,
if you look at the legislation, this legislation of herds
of special interest, if the green sector truly believed that
deer are doing the demons that they're doing and need
(23:09):
to do something about it, they would be supporting situation.
Because what means is that we ever heard in deer
that are heard of deer and field, and that's been
managed by hunters and no expense to this government. You know,
we we just don't manage it as hunters. We actually
professionally manage it with helicopters, reducing their numbers to a
point that that protects their natural bidiversity of the area.
(23:35):
And what I heard of special interests means that all
of a sudden, that herd has more scrutiny than any
other deer I heard in New Zealand. So in the
history of this country, Wapiti, now we have more scrutiny
than any deer that's on this land in New Zealand
and Caman. It's bad for conservation, Actually it's not.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
It's good for conservation, Hunting and fashioning Minister James Mere
saying that'll be strong environments are over sight of regular monitoring,
ecological targets and reporting, as well as a review every
five years, docs on board, local EV's on board as well.
So it sounds that a lot of boxes have been
tacked regarding it.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Yeah, a lot of boxes. They have been tacked. And
you know, if you look at their job and you know,
we've changed the management space in New Zealand, We've changed
the management space on this planet, and that that's what
really has been recognized. And if you if you look
at that forest and bird or a green seat, who
(24:37):
who believe that we shouldn't have any indiduced species on
this planet? In fact, I think I hear them say
that we wren't New Zealand back prehuman. So that's that's
a quite a quite a big call. That's achievable. But
what we're doing is actually realistic. It's managing the impacts
of the infield and in it's miserable. So but the
(25:00):
best we've got.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Roy, how would you describe the state of biodiversity and
field the National Park?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Yeah, I mean he is a good one. People should
talk about is that if you look at we've got
one point two million heats in there, that's flat. It's
a massive bit of country. And you know, we just
had thirty international biologists down here shown them what we do,
and there are gobs back about undertaking management in that country.
(25:30):
But the point being what I'm saying is that if
you look at a field and outside the Whopping area,
it's in a bad state of affairs. Their numbers are
really really poor. But in the Whopper area there's more
gets shot in that two hundred thousand heats than the
rest million put together. I mean, you look at the
(25:52):
Wappi Foundation, we're looking at a project called a field
and project where we want to build it again some plants,
you now, so we can actually take are good work
outside the Whopping area and that's hunt lead. So I
think Forrest and Brew want to do a little bit
of work they should do. Notice some money to build
that venison plant the best thing they could do.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
It's a bit of a shame that venison plant closed
down in mosmur in a few years ago.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Yeah, when we've looked at that too, and it's we
used to send here there. But there's a big, big
white elephant there there, So you know when we're looking
at being a modern one, we've got already raised two
point eight million dollars towards that. And so let's hunter
lead conservation for you. And no one else is standing
(26:37):
up and trying to fix the problem in fjording, so
whap the foundation hunters are really probably the ones who
are putting their hand on their heart and actually acknowledging
that there is problems out there and trying to do
something about it.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
So where would you hope to have these venos and
works up and running, Roy, Do you have a days
in mind? By chance?
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Yeah, we own a section, we've got a building permit
through and we want it to be a community project,
so we're ready. We're over thirty businesses in New Zealand
who are supporting it, so the whole thing is going
to it's a charitable trust, so the whole thing's going
to be funded through sponsorship and funding. So we've almost
(27:16):
got all the materials in the labor to build the place.
We're at the end of this month, we're about to
go on to do a crowdfunding project and goal there
is to raise a million dollars for that and hopefully
we're building before the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Good o Roy, thanks for your time. Congratulations, thank you.
Speaker 5 (27:38):
The muster on the farm with Southland District Council working
together for a beta South London.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Matt Moore joins us this afternoon, based at Marton Mainz
with cheap and Beef down that way. Matt, good afternoon.
It's well, it's a reasonably pleasant afternoon, I imagine.
Speaker 6 (28:00):
Yeah, get it. And yet it's pretty good to be
fear with not much to complain about today. We share
first thing this morning. But yeah, as we're said in
right now, it's just your normal typical south and winter's day,
isn't it nice and mild? Pretty good getting used to
these days.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
They stuck above ground on the crops.
Speaker 6 (28:17):
Yeah they are, Yeah, no they are. They definitely got
a wee bit pugged up there ten days ago and
we got that good chair come through. But yeah, I
think crops, crops are holding on where sheep are above ground,
and I think utilization has been pretty well through the
roof too. Changed up my swedes this year and drink
drilled them. I said last time I saw in to
(28:37):
you and Jesus made a difference that the bobs are
just sitting on top of the ground and yeah, there's
not much getting left behind. Just yeah, it's pleasant to see.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
So before, no, tell how did you put them on
the ground.
Speaker 6 (28:48):
There's full cultivation, full like plow, pair of hair and
then precision drink drill, precision drill. Sorry, and now this
year I just sprayed in precision drink drilled them and
yeah it's been been chalk and cheese. We I actually
met with my agronomists yesterday and it was I think
we worked down it was like five hundred and fifty
(29:10):
dollars a hecta saving with the precision direct planter. We
probably jupidized a yield a ton of yield, but we
were making up for it in the utilization. So for me,
it was a no brainer. And it's just easy. It's
the easier for me. Left contract is coming up the driveway,
and yeah, that's definitely paid its way this year and
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
So what would you say that every yield will be every.
Speaker 6 (29:34):
So over the whole all my swedes where it was
fifteen ton normally I'm about sixteen tons, so and we
sort of knew going into it that we were gonna
lose a ton, but we put an extra hectar in two,
which in hindsight like it's good to have that up
the sleeve in case we had something go wrong. But
at this stage I went into the winter with a
surplus and I'm just still sitting in a surplus like
(29:57):
I'm opening we use up to try and need as
many swedes they can, and I'm still sitting with probably
the hectare and a half two hicctor is left over
by the time that you start coming off onto onto
grass in a couple of weeks time. But the joys
of having my kettle and the wintering shed I can
I can let them out onto the swedes and they
can go chew on bobs for the months and they
(30:17):
don't really enjoy it coming out of the shed and
going on to crop, but at least they're there, so
there's no real pressure to be leaving too much behind.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Well, it's like having a cab on the bike then
someone taking it off in the middle of the winter.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
Yeah, and that's I think that's exactly what it is like.
Even this morning I went over there and when we
were having their share of rain, and you turn up
in the tractor and you don't see anything like there's
no kettle there. They're all sitting in this in the shed,
happy airs, chewing their cud from yesterday, and yeah, you
go chuck them on a swede petic and sort of
sort of makes you realize how lucky I am to
have the shed there for them to be hunkered down
(30:50):
and for the most of the winter.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
So how long since you went to the wintering system?
Just can't pee you a bit of an update because
it's intriguing.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
Uh yeah, So we when I first came out, we've
had a wintering shed here for since I was a kid,
and it used to be so it's like a six
bay by two bay deep lean to shed with a
clay floor and we fill it up with barkship and
then the same size again as a big concrete while
it was a big concrete bunker. And it used to
(31:18):
be a south feat solid pit. And when I first
came home, sort of done the measurements in the south
feat solish pit. I was only I wasn't going to
be able to get enough kettle in there for long
enough through winters. So we've taken the bunker down and
now I've got it side just feed feed two bales
out in front of the shed each day and kettle
(31:39):
just come through, put the head through a head bail
and have a bit of a feed. And it's worked
where it's taken me just my fourth fourth winter doing
it and we're still like, you're still fine tuning.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
It gone away.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
When I first started doing it, we're pumping the heaps
of oats balage into them, trying to get heap of
protein and it was going right through them and we couldn't.
We could never really get the baylage right. So now
putting in I've got about fourteen to fifteen hec years
of hybrid grass with about ten eleven kilos of clover
mixed through it just to try and get that quality
(32:14):
bailage into them. So they're pretty much on milk and
quality bailage right through and that's made all the difference.
Like they're sitting at the moment about eight hundred eight
hundred grams a day too, Like and talk to the
I've just been weighing in this morning. They're sitting averaging
eight hundred grams a day on about six and a
half kilos of dry meta. So they're yeah, they're chugging
(32:34):
along pretty good. And I think the biggest key to
it is the same with o Sweet, like that Utilizationally,
I reckon there would be like ninety five percent utilization,
Like there's not that much bailage get wasted. Yeah, just
because you can control what they're eating.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Basically, that's exceptional numbers. You've got to be chuffed with that.
Speaker 6 (32:55):
Yeah, No, it is, it is. I'm I am happy
with him. It's it has been a bit of a
slow burn. Like each year you're slowly getting things better,
and like even this year is better than last year.
I know, Like I'm starting to your airline busy dipping
them today because they're just starting to get a wee
bit lousy. That's one thing I'm still learning. Like I
dip them on the way in into the shed, and
(33:16):
then about week six a week seven, once it's worn off,
they start getting a bit scratchy again, especially with these
mild winters. Like so, yeah, another dip today, But I
just realized today it's probably the last week or ten
days of them being Lowsies just dropped them awave, it
dropped their growth rates a bit. Yes, hopefully the next
six weeks they'll kick in the gear again and should
(33:37):
be good again, hopefully, how it's getting go good good?
Now everything went through one hundred and ninety eight percent,
which is like, it's good. It's sort of what I
well to be fair, I sort of expect it, like
I don't. We have it. We've had a good autumn,
use went to the RAM in a good condition. They
(33:58):
all got flushed, so if they didn't scan where I
would have been scratching my head the issue, Like I
thought of, my goal was to scan one hundred and
eighty percent because anything over that is more wastage and
I'm not a big fan of wastage. And another goal
was sort of runner, is to keep my tudos within
ten percent of the mixed stage US, which Turtos went
(34:18):
through it one ninety four so which I achieved that.
Now it's just the issue of got like twenty twenty
seven twenty eight percent of my user triplets. So it's
just trying to work out how to do with the end.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
Yeah, I know, which I'm not a fan of. I'm
not an intensive lemmo. Like yes, I was brought up
down here, but I spent ten years up in Monica
and we didn't do a lemming bee, so that many
triplets sort of keep me awake at night.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
To be fair, you're not tempted to set up a
set of pratt leaves and have them feeding on an
ad libble system or something like that.
Speaker 6 (34:51):
Yeah, I haven't in the past, Andy, to be fair,
like I've turned my nose at it because I think
by the time you put in that milk powder into
them and your time, especially at lemon, I lamb by myself,
so that's it's the time's probably my most important thing.
I didn't see the margin in it when I could
be getting to weaning time and buying in a store
lamb and getting that same margin for not as much work.
(35:14):
But if we're forecasting like two hundred and thirty two
hundred and forty dollars lamb, I think I should really
be pulling finger and trying to do as much as
I can to keep the little buggers alive come lemmings.
So yeah, I'm just starting to figure out a few
options of whether I get an automatic feeder or just
get some get some cow's milk and just wish them luck. Yeah,
(35:37):
I'm just still trying to work that out.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Just finally, aiden Dale. You've got Pioneer and the one
semis season's gone quick, But you guys will be happy
with where you're at.
Speaker 6 (35:48):
Yeah, we are, we are, and we we set a
goal at the start of the year, like we wanted
to have a home semi final, and a couple of
weeks ago we really thought Pioneer had taken that off
us when they beat us at home. So it's nice
that we've we've managed to sneak in. We had a
good training last last night, but still yeah, still a
few things to work on, and we know Pioneer will
(36:08):
be coming they'd have lost the vikings on on the weekend,
so they'll be coming in pretty red hot to make
that wrong right as well. So it's gonna be a
good game. Really looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Well, chance are better of the Bridge version three?
Speaker 6 (36:22):
I'd love it, Yeah, I reckon they'd be quite exciting,
to be fair, and we'd it'd be Yeah, it'd be
good to go down there again and give them another
another challenge. Are bloody top team, like jeez, are our
top side and they've got a way of winning finals,
which sort of excites us to go down Like if
we get the chance to go down there and challenge them.
But yeah, we really got to pull their socks up
(36:44):
for this weekend because we know Pioneer they're pretty sharp.
So you've got a bit of work to do yet.
But hopefully we'll yeah, come, we'll thirty on on Saturday.
Hopefully we're on the right side of it.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
Good on your mate, Thanks for chatting.
Speaker 6 (36:57):
Yeah, I think you and it will put your ladder.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
This is the muster on Hakanui, ace of based the sign.
The theme today is nineteen ninety four as we head
over to the other side of the world to catch
up with Julie Edwards out of Sheerwell, UK. Now you
know the chance we do with Alan McCleary on a
monthly paces Here on the muster Well, we're catching up
with Julie. Now Sheerwell is a massive mess of company
based over in the UK and we're catching up with
(37:30):
Julie just to see how the farming vibers over in
England at the moment. Julie, thanks for chatting on the muster.
Speaker 7 (37:38):
Thanks Andy, great to join you. Great piece of music
as well, that brings back good.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Memories from me, brings back a lot of good memories.
I think I was like nineteen when that song come out.
For goodness sake, without reminiscing too much.
Speaker 7 (37:50):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I think we're about the same age.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Then, firstly, how's the farming mood over in the UK.
It sounds as though you've had a heat wave after
heat wave to continue with and it's about talking about
your heat wave milk warmer.
Speaker 7 (38:04):
Yeah, absolutely, So this is our third heat wave of
the year, so we're only into early July and already
you know, we've had temperatures of over thirty five degrees,
which is unheard of in the UK, and you know,
had a massive impact for the livestock and the arable sector.
You know, we I think what it has demonstrated is
that moving forward we are going to have to think
(38:27):
about installing fans in our sheds. I think, you know,
definitely planting a more trees. Cuchede is so important. You know,
we alongside working for Sheerwell, I also have a farm
with my husband, so we've got suckercos and sheep and
pigs and you know, it's been hard to see how
they've struggled. You know, we've done our best to keep
(38:48):
everything cool, but yeah, unprecedented times, you know, We've gone
from cold, wet winter into very hot and you know,
certainly at the moment on our farm it's very burnt up.
The long term forecast looks like we're not going to
get any rain, probably any significant rain until the middle
of August, which I know, you know, for a lot
(39:10):
of people is fairly short term, but for us it's
had a significant impact. We've got wild fires as well
over a UK at the moment, I think there's three
that they're trying to deal with. So you know, changing times,
I guess environmentally and certainly making us think about how
we farm and what we need to do to prepare
for the future.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
Yeah, because you're hearing about the harvest coming up and
a lot of concerns around the fire risk as well.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
Yeah. Absolutely, you know, we're already seen on social media,
you know a number of farmers that have lost significant
acreages of wheat and barley, you know, and I think
that it's having an impact on the maize as well,
so you know, just for the maize crop, not enough water,
so the kernels were you know, there's just nothing, there's
(39:56):
no moisture there. But yeah, it's unprecedent, as I say,
and quite a concern. I think, you know, the animals,
you know, whether it's a dairy sector with the cows,
they're suffering from heat stress. We've had animals at home
that we've had to bring in, particularly younger calves that
just can't cope with the heat. Yeah, and it's it's
(40:16):
a summer like we've never known before, and I guess
potentially moving forward, this could be the norm. So as
a consequence, we're going to plan, have to plan for
the future and put some significant changes in place on
the farm.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
So Hail's farmers seem to me at the moment gerally,
given the weather has been like that. But on the
other side as well, prices have been pretty buoyant.
Speaker 7 (40:35):
Absolutely. You know, we've probably for several well certainly this
is a second year at Leaf where we've seen some
really significantly good prices for lamb and for beef, you know,
whether it's whether it's ween lamb or finish lambs, and
the same with the cattle sector. The store prices and
the finished prices have been phenomenal. But having said that,
(40:58):
that's where they should have been for some signals time,
and I think, you know, there has been a disconnect
between what farmers have been paid historically and what you know,
in terms of the prices that we're seeing in the supermarket,
and I think perhaps sometimes, you know, consumers don't recognize
their significance and the importance of the food that we're producing,
(41:19):
you know, the whole the whole story around field or
fork to field to fork is so is so significant,
and I think, you know, we perhaps need to put
more emphasis on making people aware of how and where
their food is produced, you know. And it's not as
easy as just going into a supermarket and picking up
a product. It's making them think about actually how it's
(41:39):
being produced and the value of that food, the nutritional value,
and the costs of production as well. Because obviously, with
everything that's going on at the moment, you know, with
the blockades in the straits of hor Moos and fuel
and everything, input prices are rising, so prices have to
be good because you know, the knock on effect further
down the line is is significant.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Now, Julie, we were talking off fear, it sounds as
over the UK is facing the same issues as New Zealand,
whether it's reural connectivity or whatever. Across the board, there
are a lot of similarities between the two economies.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Oh.
Speaker 7 (42:13):
Absolutely. You know quite often when I've listened to you
interviewing Allan historically, you know, I think we may have
different phrases for things, but actually the sentiment is the same.
And you know, I think that although different times of year,
I think New Zealand farmers and farmers in the UK
will have the same challenges and the same struggles, you know,
(42:36):
whether as you just said, you highlighted rural connectivity, you know,
which is key. You know, if you're farming in a
fairly isolated area, you know, we are totally reliant on
having that connectivity available to us and that's an area
where we are sadly lacking in the UK at the moment,
and there needs to be some significant investments. But you know,
(42:57):
I think farmers are resilient, so they'll find a way,
you know, certainly from Shearwell perspective. We produce products like
our software. You know, you can use it and work
offline and then as soon as you come back in
to signal you can it automatically ut sate. So yeah,
we've we've got around that problem, but it is a
challenge that needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
Now you talk about sheer well, like you say, I
talked to l on a regular basis about sheep tags,
kettle tags. But coming up to landing time, the heat
waves milkwarmer talking to farmers on the show this week
and they're having a lot of truplets and the use
and all of a sudden it becomes pretty well realistic,
economical or worth it to put on the heat wave
milk warmer system as such.
Speaker 7 (43:41):
Absolutely, you know, So the heat wave I think, you know,
in terms of its price, it is pitched at a
really good price, and I think it's it's one of
those products that it's multi purpose, so you can use
it for rearing lambs, so you can rear up to
fifty lambs on it or thirty calves, and you know,
we use it on our farm at home. You know,
in terms of production quite often, you know, if you're
(44:03):
feeding bottle lambs, you may not finish quite the finish
that you'd want, but certainly with a heat wave, when
you're rearing them on that, they automatically just help themselves.
So it's a bit like them going to their mums normally,
so they're drinking regularly and performance is exceptional. So we
see a lot of really good lambs and cars performing
(44:23):
really well on it, and we get really good feedback
from customers that are using it. And I think you know,
the thing to say about the heat wave is there's
really only two things. Once you've set it up, just
regularly check that there is water in the water bas
and that you clean it regularly like you would babies
bottles because all the way you know it with milk,
it can it can get built up in there. So
it's a really straightforward product.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
To use something else that's relevant at the moment or
coming onto the market that's going to make life a
lot easier for farmers. To the speedy tagger.
Speaker 7 (44:51):
Absolutely, So that's the product that I think, you know,
people have been waiting to arrive.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
So it's.
Speaker 7 (44:58):
It basically has a cartridge that hold a strip of
ten set tags, whether they're just visual or eed tags,
and you know, you put a strip of ten in
rather than having to individually load each individual tag. This
makes things a lot quicker. So you know, if you're slaughter,
if you're tagging slaughter lambs or whatever, you can just
go down through the line tag everything and it's a job.
(45:20):
It probably halves the time. So yeah, very very popular
with people. You know, it's lightweight and it's effortless really
in terms of how people will use it, and you
can use it if you're left or right handed as well.
So it also comes with five cartridges, so you know
you can sit in the evening and just load them
(45:41):
and it makes life very easy for everybody.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
It's fine and you said Julie Edwards of sheer wel
Uk ripping up the bits of the master and enjoy
the weekend. My name's Andy Muller. Take a bit of
a chance to get off, go for a coffee or
something soft, and then, because you deserve it, see you Monday.
Last night. A very good morning and welcome into the
best of the Muster, a collaboration of interviews that took
our attention during a busy week here at Hakanu e
hq I meany mure thanks to your company. We're starting
off the l by catching it with Morgan, Mitchell, South
and Stags rugby legend. He's all finished up now he
threw the boots in the bin after the gal Braves
Shield final and Morgan tells us why it's time to
(00:26):
look for life after rugby from his perspective. Don Morrison
farms at Willow Bank and he got into politics this
week now. Howie tells us why he's no fan of
the current government. All bets are on the table for
him when he looks at his vote for the election
and why that even includes a left leaning coalition. Roy
(00:46):
Sloane is based up in the Fjordland Basin. Now the
Whoppity has been made a herd of special interest and
Roy comes on the show. He's particularly passionate about this
and he tells us why this is one of the
good news stories for your goodland. Matt Ward as well
farming at Morton Mains and tells us all about his
wintering pad there for his cattle going great guns, some
(01:08):
really good weight gains, and Matt says, well it makes
life easier in winter and when it's about maintaining weight
for a lot of people at this time of year
on cattle. He tells us why he's forging ahead, and
Julie Edwards as well out of Sheerwell UK, we catch
up with Alan McClair in a regular basis. Well, we're
catching up with Julie from a UK perspective. See how
the farming landscape's been so Without further ado, we'll start
(01:32):
the l next with Morgan Mitchell. You're listening to the
best of the buster Dom Morrison Farms at Willowbank and
(01:53):
catch us off this afternoon on the muster. How we
we had no frost here? It sounds as I was
the opposite out of Wallowbank.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
I cured an Andy, Yeah it was. We had a
really good frost this morning. I loved those frosts and
now it's a great afternoon with a blue sky.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Coincidentally, Cheap Trek, you're a great fan of the music today.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I was back in an era, Andy that you should
have grew up with some of that music. I think
it was cheap trick Live at Budakhan was a was
a big album back at the time.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Butteracan where's that?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
See? I don't even know. I'm justessing. Is it somewhere
in Hungry there'd be a good someone can maybe calling
with the answer.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Come on, how you need your answers on this show.
You can't come to a gunfight out in them.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I know that, I know the album. I've just don't
know where Budakan is.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Anyway, we'll continue on. So it's just winter, big winter.
What's been the focus lately?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Well, we scanned last week, which can the earlies earlier,
and then just head scanning. So very happy with the
results in the one nineties. We were back a couple
of ascent on last year, but still in that one nineties,
which is where we want to be. And just a
handful of dries so we got rid of them yesterday
so we'll see what they kill out at. But really
(03:07):
just this stay through the one till we can get
a bit more bit more confident on that feed program
right till the end of the winter, you know, virtually
halfway through now, so we can count rows and start
elevating allocation to a few of the mobs. We took
any light to use out. We've got a small handful
of light to use out on grass which we're able
(03:27):
to take out at scanning time. So everything on the
crops in a really good condition and we can start
elevating that feed now that we're getting a bit of
confidence into the winter.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Scanning numbers on par with previous seasons.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
We were back about three or four percent maybe just
a bit of a reflection of that season use went
into went to the ram in you know, okay, condition
they've picked up a lot since then. We're over the
mating process, but am I suspect that they're going to
be back a it so only to be a few
percent back we're pretty happy with. And as I say,
Andy's still in that you know one nineties, So that's
(04:03):
where we want to be every year anyway.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
The Indian the Free Trade Agreement, how we it's been
the point of contention for certain members of the coalition government.
So John Key coming out this morning and seeing anyone
opposing this FTA is clown. Pretty strong words from the
former Prime minister if we're honest about it. Look, you've
been over to India, you've been involved with Alliance. We
just can't underestimate what this FTA means.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Look, I totally totally support what john Key said, and
you've had once them coming out completely with his xenophobic politicking,
and you know, it's actually ugly, it's unnecessary and it's
completely stupid. I mean, that's the scale of that opportunity
in India, not only for red meat, for every every
(04:49):
single importer is absolutely huge. And you know, even I
know from the red meat when when I was over
there with Alliance, you know, forty eight percent tariff over
our Australian counterparts. I mean, meet the opportunity now to
be playing at a at a level playing field is
is you know, pretty pretty fantastic. And look, it's not
going to open up straight away. I think some of
(05:11):
our other markets certainly high high paying than India at
the moment. But the point being that you know, there's
this massive you know, one out of six of the
world's population lives in India. Why would we not want
to be selling to them. And also if you look
at some of the other markets with red meat, where
you know, you take China, so comparative comparative population two
(05:32):
thirds of their red meat consumption as beef and only
one third is ovine or goat, where once you move
to India it's one hundred percent goat or ovine. So
you know, it's it's an absolute massive opportunity. So yeah, look,
I just don't get one. I know what he's doing.
He's just politicking with his little with his little supporter base.
(05:54):
And I'm certainly not part of that supporter base, as
you can Twlandy, Well.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
That's a water base, I'll be honest. How are we
going by the poles?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Is not that little Oh look there's hey, it's what
we get in politics now. And with the m MP,
we've got a we've got two centrist parties Labor and National,
you know, both struggling to hold relevance as your as
your extreme right and your extreme left, you know, pick
up that ten percent with each party, you know. So
it's it's the problem with m MP. We swing between
(06:24):
left and right, which I think is there's an inevitability
in it, and then that whatever's in power is unfortunately
dominated a little bit by their two extreme partners. So yeah,
hard hard to really know who to vote for at
the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Andy interesting though, Mark Petterson's over there as Associate administer
talking about will in India, yet New Zealand first comes
into it. And Petty Simmons talked about this yesterday and
she was like waxing lyrical about the situation.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, well that Mark's always had a very good well
the farm himself. He's been very passionate about different, you know,
different activities and he certainly has a great feel for agriculture.
So certainly when you see him as an undersecretary in
the government, you know, I'd certainly do rate Mark. And
once again when he's able to go off and do that,
(07:14):
that you have his his leader talking about, you know,
the evils of the FTA, then it's you know, doesn't
quite make sense to that.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
How do you think Christopher Laxon's gone?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
My honest opinion is, I don't think there's much leadership
I've seen in the last three years. He's probably a
nice person. I hear from a lot of people that
he's a very good person, but has you know, I've
been frustrated with the coalition's policy for so many things
over the last three years, and that you know, it's
why I'm probably one of those Center's voters that doesn't
(07:46):
really know where to vote. You know, I find I've
found the whole treaty and the and the depowering the
devoice of Maldi completely unconsciousible to me, which would make
me not want to vote for that coalition again. And
you know, they've alienated a big percent of the population,
not only the Mili percent, but those of us who
still actually recognize the treaty is a founding document. And
(08:10):
so they've alienated a lot of people and for not
one cent back to the Back to the economy or GDP.
But do you know there a lot of people out
there with a different view to me. But I still
look at that treaty as a founding document. And if
you've got a legal document, one party can't change it.
You've got to have agreement from both to do it.
So it's as simple as that.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
But could we really stomach the Greens being in there
at the moment, given what they want to do regarding
nitugen and the likes. Their economics doesn't make sense regarding texts.
I mean, that's the case of the devil, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yeah, Look, it's a really interesting thing the Greens, because
if they could actually be a center as Greens, I
think they get a lot more support. You know that,
that's absolutely you know again, how could you support a
party that wants to ban synthetic fertilized yea, And it's
just ows a clear understanding, misunderstanding of what our productive
sector is in New Zealand. But at the same time,
(09:02):
I actually liked their I actually liked their tax policy.
I thought it was completely fair graduated tax rates as
you move up in come brackets and their capital gains tax. Hey, look,
we need a capital gains tax in New Zealand, Andy
because we think get a capital gains or a wealth
tax or an inheritance tax, and two of those are
(09:22):
completely unpalatable, and one of them is completely fair. Most
countries in the OECD have it. I read articles on
stuff of you know, a proud article of some Australian
that's come over and invested in seven mental properties in
New Zealand, you know, and yet we're complaining about the
profit of housing and their kids can't afford a health
And you know, we've got to We've got to change
(09:44):
the behaviors around investment to a yield based to a
yield based price rather than a speculative price based on
the capital gain.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
You're going to make good on you how we better
leave it there, enjoy the afternoon.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
All good Andy, Welcome back to the muster.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
A pretty yep. A game of football unfolded over the
weekend with the Eastern Northern Barbarians beating Pirates Old Boys
forty twenty eight in one hundred hundred minute extravaganza of
rugby union. Morgan Mitchell, captain of the bar Bars, joins
us in studio this afternoon. Morgan, good afternoon, and firstly,
(10:31):
a mess of congratulations.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Hey, no, I thank you very much for that. He's
pretty special to get that ticked off. Yeah, let the
celebration continue in Yeah, it's been a hell of avoid
in the last couple of days. So that's what it's
all about now.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
I was speaking to you on Saturday evening briefly and
you reckon it wouldn't have been till yesterday when you
guys gathered and that's when it really started to kick in.
The achievement of what.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Had occurred sort of felt like that last time when
we first won. You know, yeah, that Saturday night's just
a Saturday night, you know. Yeah, we've got the shield.
But yeah, that's Sunday when you're getting in and the
shed all together as a team. When that shield come
through at that first study, that really since it on.
You know, we are the Gebo winners, you know what
(11:21):
I mean. So yeah, so that's when I think, well,
that's when it kicked in for me. But I think
it would have kept down a few people as well.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
So, yeah, now you have won two Gilbrow Shields, now,
is it right?
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It How is that compared to the first time back
in twenty sixteen, of course yourself, Brenton Howd and Lockey
McCall survivors from ten years ago.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Yeah, But the funny one is, so the first one
was just good to get the monkey off the back,
and then it's secret one. You had to go one
hundred minutes to get that game to win that one.
So I remember that first one. We were down seventeen
(12:00):
in the first twenty minutes and yeah, yeah, me and
the boys learned from that and I said to the
boys in this second one, you know, just control your emotions,
control your game, control everything, and we've got it. And
I think we did that.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Yeah, So it was a case on Saturday of keeping
emotions in check because a lot of the younger players,
Let's be honest, you're at the Big Dance.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yeah, yeah, it's probably wrong with me saying it. He's
just got to play. It's another game, because that's how
you play the game, you know what I mean? Yeah,
it is the final. You just keep getting Becky heat.
But you know, you don't have to be a hero
to be in the final. It takes twenty three players
to win the finals. So and we did that.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah, So what was different than the build up because,
like you say, you treat it like another game, but
ultimately there's a lot at stake as well.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Oh yeah there was. There was a lot going on.
There was, yeah, a few miskicks and a few penalties
going against us and whatnot. So you know, the build
up was good. Everything was the same. So that's just final.
You know, Final's funny, that's what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
How would that rank for you? You've won the Renfrilly
Shield before more. You know a lot of people can
say the Round, the Renfrely Shield and the Gale Brave Shield.
What's the difference for you? I mean different goals in
mind with winning each trophy, but what's stood up for you?
Can when you compare the two.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
No, I wouldn't say there's not a lot of difference,
because a shield means, you know, the Gebot shield, it's
awesome to the Southland, it's awesome for a weird community,
it's a northern community. And then that rain Fully shield,
it was awesome for Southland, for the province. You know,
I never really got to experience rad and fully shield
experience until we got it, and that was different. Whereas
(13:45):
a Gabou shield, I've experienced it, so I knew what
was coming. So they're both very special shields. In ye,
it's good. The way to wrap it off a lot that.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Yeah, Now from your perspective, that's it. The play days
are over and done with. The boots are in the bin.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Were absolutely bagged. I had probably the whole role of
strapping tape to hold them up.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So you threw them in the bin after the game.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Yeah, now after of the boys who keep them, I said, no,
look at them.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Somebody would check them on train or you make a
bit of money.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
They were they were no good. They were bagged. So yeah,
the ben was the best post for them.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
And from your angle, again, do you look back at
your playing career with no regrets.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. Yeah, nothing
really comes to my mind. I wish I'd done that
and done that.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
No, I think.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I had no regrets. Yeah, you're what. Yeah, I'm happy
with everything. How it's all folded out. Yeah, and you.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Look at the club competition and general likes of Premier
Yere Rugby, the Barbers stood out this year. You guys
only dropped the one game before the semi final. There
seems to be a competition though, and yes, is a
lot of teams involved. We've talked about this before, mate,
but regarding the finals format, it certainly just brought it
to brings everything to the foe and everybody just focuses
(15:09):
on what that shield means.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Yes, hope. See, well in that round robin, we're struggling
for numbers. That first round we couldn't. We only hit
one prop preserved, you know what I mean. There's just
limited players around and limited numbers. And when we got
around to that second second round, everyone was back and
that's when we're starting to pull the strength and you know,
(15:32):
making the results. And yeah, we did lose to Woodlands,
and credit to them, I think we got a lot
of learnings out of that game. That's probably what set
us up to the final and everything. So yeah, I
guess every game plays plays a part to the final.
You know, we're down twenty twenty odd points at Maris
(15:55):
and we still come back and won that. So I
think that both built the team character and we could
believe in it. So look, yeah, we got it done
in that one hundredth minutes. So yeah, all those week
games that we played throughout the season did help us
to get wasn't that final. I think we'll.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Talk about Pirates old boys, your opposition on Saturday. They've
been to the Big Dance three times in a row.
Now they beat you guys three years ago. Aigably one
of the best club players in Southern club rugby, Greg Dyer.
He just he knows how to roll the game.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Yes, he's very talented player, great boat, great rugby mind.
You know you look at pob'd I've been in the
final so many times. Yeah, credit to him to drive
that team around everywhere. Yeah, it's great special payer.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Now, as far as the celebrations from your perspective, who's
been based on park for that who's really still out
over the last twenty four.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Hours a lot say it was me, but ah, I'll
probably have to say Jacob Cocklan's he's just keeps taking away.
He's got the shield with him. He's been able to
say I'll give it to him.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
He's got free milkshake just last.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Almost at that one. But hopefully we'll get a three
three three beers off them today.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
So yeah, So for you now you're working for rural livestock,
you're a stock agent. How's that going? You'll be enjoying it.
I'd say it's life after rugby for you.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
Yeah, absolutely loving a It's just it's like a game,
you know, you're trying to beat the other agents to
make a deal. Yeah, I love it. Yeah, the farmers
are awesome. Yeah, that's what actually gets me out of bed.
Now I've got a new passion for stock agents. So yeah,
(17:51):
I love it. A yeah, that's probably what sort of
called quits on. I've been focused on work and family
and that's what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
So of next year pre season AJ calls up, mate,
we need someone we're in a front Ralph for a game.
That's it, no chance.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
I've told him plenty of times, so you've got plenty
of time to go find plenty of props, so so
he knows. Also, yeah, we'll just leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Absolutely hate Good on your mortgie to Thanks for taking
time out of your busy schedule today. We know you've
got things to go and do with the team to
celebrate moments like this because they don't come around all
that often. Thanks once again for coming into the mustard,
having a yarn into the barbers. Congratulations, and you've brought
the shield back down to the country. Good on you.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Yeah, hey, thank you very much having me on. And
I really do appreciate all the support you guys have
and it's been special couple of days and we'll see
what the next couple of days too, So thank you
very much for having me, This says the.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Master on how can we Roy Slane joins us next.
I meant to stay in the base and used today
with Jordan Wappaty being designated New Zealand's first Herd of
Special Interest or hosey as being the acronym.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Now.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Roy Sloane is a general manager of the Fjerland Wappady Foundation,
joins us this afternoon to put into context what this
will means. Roy, Welcome to the master House. Eggs.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Yeah, good, thank you, good on a good rainy day.
It's it's it's winter.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
It's winter, that's what it's about. It really might be
cold outside, but there's a few warm cockled hearts out
there due to this announcement yesterday. Regarding for Jordland, wappaty.
From your perspective, what does this mean?
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Yeah, I mean it's a and it gets to put
it into perspective. You know, this is the first bit
of legislation that's ever been put in New Zealand before
managing deer. With other legislations around killing deer, we don't
have any around managing deer. So this is the first
in the history of this country.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
So to big day, a number is a concern in
the basin.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean deer like everything, you know, it's it's
not about the deer, it's about the numbers are dead.
And certainly there's certainly deer running around back of stations,
back of farms. But you're to look at for Field
and National Park one point two million.
Speaker 6 (20:18):
Hea theres.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
There's certainly in areas there's over populations are deer due
to how expensive it is to manage deer and Field
distric Park for the wop of the area where we
managed the two hundred thousand heac dear the numbers there
are lower than the rest of the park as dudial
management we've undertake.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
In there, So yeah, I mean numbers when you're looking
at the size of lands like that. A couple of
hundred thousand hecks here is for goodness sake, it's a
case of Rome wasn't built in a day.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Yeah, I mean a couple of hundred thousand hecteggs and
that's based on flat heat Diggs and you know, we're
talking about sea level to five and a half thousand feet,
so it's probably triple that and certainly rain wasn't built
in a day. But we've been at this for twenty
five years. So we've been managing there in the twenty
five years, and it's recognized internationally it's probably the best
(21:14):
private not private, hunter led conservation project on the planet.
So this is not new. The legislation's new.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Why would you say it has taken so long for
it to be recognized.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
We're kind of been left alone to doing business, you know,
as been gone for twenty five years, so we've been
needed legislation. People have recognized people in the right space,
have recognized the work that we've done and supported that
work that we've done. But all of a sudden, we
have we have a group of people who challenged the
(21:47):
legalities of what we do and forced a very expensive
lobbying projects to get a legislation change to support we do.
So really, really, that's the basis of it. We had
a we had a legal challenge from a group of
(22:07):
people who made us go out and lobby the government
to change the law to enable us continue what we're doing.
And we're doing the same as what we did yesterday
as we are today. And it was just a big
waste of money, a big waste of time.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
But here we are.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Is there Forrest and Bird you're referring.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
To as far as bird that I'm referring to, Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Just quickly I read what they're saying about it here
Farrest and Bird are strongly opposing the decision, arguing that
introduced browsing pests should be eradicated from national parks rather
than granted legislative protections, and they worry that prioritizing hunting
values could ultimately undermine native native ecosystems.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
What do you make of that skim mongering. It's what
they what they've bought their empire on, is ske mongering.
And it's the pretty pretty said existence. To be fair,
if you look at the legislation, this legislation of herds
of special interest, if the green sector truly believed that
deer are doing the demons that they're doing and need
(23:09):
to do something about it, they would be supporting situation.
Because what means is that we ever heard in deer
that are heard of deer and field, and that's been
managed by hunters and no expense to this government. You know,
we we just don't manage it as hunters. We actually
professionally manage it with helicopters, reducing their numbers to a
point that that protects their natural bidiversity of the area.
(23:35):
And what I heard of special interests means that all
of a sudden, that herd has more scrutiny than any
other deer I heard in New Zealand. So in the
history of this country, Wapiti, now we have more scrutiny
than any deer that's on this land in New Zealand
and Caman. It's bad for conservation, Actually it's not.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
It's good for conservation, Hunting and fashioning Minister James Mere
saying that'll be strong environments are over sight of regular monitoring,
ecological targets and reporting, as well as a review every
five years, docs on board, local EV's on board as well.
So it sounds that a lot of boxes have been
tacked regarding it.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Yeah, a lot of boxes. They have been tacked. And
you know, if you look at their job and you know,
we've changed the management space in New Zealand, We've changed
the management space on this planet, and that that's what
really has been recognized. And if you if you look
at that forest and bird or a green seat, who
(24:37):
who believe that we shouldn't have any indiduced species on
this planet? In fact, I think I hear them say
that we wren't New Zealand back prehuman. So that's that's
a quite a quite a big call. That's achievable. But
what we're doing is actually realistic. It's managing the impacts
of the infield and in it's miserable. So but the
(25:00):
best we've got.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Roy, how would you describe the state of biodiversity and
field the National Park?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Yeah, I mean he is a good one. People should
talk about is that if you look at we've got
one point two million heats in there, that's flat. It's
a massive bit of country. And you know, we just
had thirty international biologists down here shown them what we do,
and there are gobs back about undertaking management in that country.
(25:30):
But the point being what I'm saying is that if
you look at a field and outside the Whopping area,
it's in a bad state of affairs. Their numbers are
really really poor. But in the Whopper area there's more
gets shot in that two hundred thousand heats than the
rest million put together. I mean, you look at the
(25:52):
Wappi Foundation, we're looking at a project called a field
and project where we want to build it again some plants,
you now, so we can actually take are good work
outside the Whopping area and that's hunt lead. So I
think Forrest and Brew want to do a little bit
of work they should do. Notice some money to build
that venison plant the best thing they could do.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
It's a bit of a shame that venison plant closed
down in mosmur in a few years ago.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Yeah, when we've looked at that too, and it's we
used to send here there. But there's a big, big
white elephant there there, So you know when we're looking
at being a modern one, we've got already raised two
point eight million dollars towards that. And so let's hunter
lead conservation for you. And no one else is standing
(26:37):
up and trying to fix the problem in fjording, so
whap the foundation hunters are really probably the ones who
are putting their hand on their heart and actually acknowledging
that there is problems out there and trying to do
something about it.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
So where would you hope to have these venos and
works up and running, Roy, Do you have a days
in mind? By chance?
Speaker 5 (26:54):
Yeah, we own a section, we've got a building permit
through and we want it to be a community project,
so we're ready. We're over thirty businesses in New Zealand
who are supporting it, so the whole thing is going
to it's a charitable trust, so the whole thing's going
to be funded through sponsorship and funding. So we've almost
(27:16):
got all the materials in the labor to build the place.
We're at the end of this month, we're about to
go on to do a crowdfunding project and goal there
is to raise a million dollars for that and hopefully
we're building before the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Good o Roy, thanks for your time. Congratulations, thank you.
Speaker 5 (27:38):
The muster on the farm with Southland District Council working
together for a beta South London.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Matt Moore joins us this afternoon, based at Marton Mainz
with cheap and Beef down that way. Matt, good afternoon.
It's well, it's a reasonably pleasant afternoon, I imagine.
Speaker 6 (28:00):
Yeah, get it. And yet it's pretty good to be
fear with not much to complain about today. We share
first thing this morning. But yeah, as we're said in
right now, it's just your normal typical south and winter's day,
isn't it nice and mild? Pretty good getting used to
these days.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
They stuck above ground on the crops.
Speaker 6 (28:17):
Yeah they are, Yeah, no they are. They definitely got
a wee bit pugged up there ten days ago and
we got that good chair come through. But yeah, I
think crops, crops are holding on where sheep are above ground,
and I think utilization has been pretty well through the
roof too. Changed up my swedes this year and drink
drilled them. I said last time I saw in to
(28:37):
you and Jesus made a difference that the bobs are
just sitting on top of the ground and yeah, there's
not much getting left behind. Just yeah, it's pleasant to see.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
So before, no, tell how did you put them on
the ground.
Speaker 6 (28:48):
There's full cultivation, full like plow, pair of hair and
then precision drink drill, precision drill. Sorry, and now this
year I just sprayed in precision drink drilled them and
yeah it's been been chalk and cheese. We I actually
met with my agronomists yesterday and it was I think
we worked down it was like five hundred and fifty
(29:10):
dollars a hecta saving with the precision direct planter. We
probably jupidized a yield a ton of yield, but we
were making up for it in the utilization. So for me,
it was a no brainer. And it's just easy. It's
the easier for me. Left contract is coming up the driveway,
and yeah, that's definitely paid its way this year and
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
So what would you say that every yield will be every.
Speaker 6 (29:34):
So over the whole all my swedes where it was
fifteen ton normally I'm about sixteen tons, so and we
sort of knew going into it that we were gonna
lose a ton, but we put an extra hectar in two,
which in hindsight like it's good to have that up
the sleeve in case we had something go wrong. But
at this stage I went into the winter with a
surplus and I'm just still sitting in a surplus like
(29:57):
I'm opening we use up to try and need as
many swedes they can, and I'm still sitting with probably
the hectare and a half two hicctor is left over
by the time that you start coming off onto onto
grass in a couple of weeks time. But the joys
of having my kettle and the wintering shed I can
I can let them out onto the swedes and they
can go chew on bobs for the months and they
(30:17):
don't really enjoy it coming out of the shed and
going on to crop, but at least they're there, so
there's no real pressure to be leaving too much behind.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Well, it's like having a cab on the bike then
someone taking it off in the middle of the winter.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
Yeah, and that's I think that's exactly what it is like.
Even this morning I went over there and when we
were having their share of rain, and you turn up
in the tractor and you don't see anything like there's
no kettle there. They're all sitting in this in the shed,
happy airs, chewing their cud from yesterday, and yeah, you
go chuck them on a swede petic and sort of
sort of makes you realize how lucky I am to
have the shed there for them to be hunkered down
(30:50):
and for the most of the winter.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
So how long since you went to the wintering system?
Just can't pee you a bit of an update because
it's intriguing.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
Uh yeah, So we when I first came out, we've
had a wintering shed here for since I was a kid,
and it used to be so it's like a six
bay by two bay deep lean to shed with a
clay floor and we fill it up with barkship and
then the same size again as a big concrete while
it was a big concrete bunker. And it used to
(31:18):
be a south feat solid pit. And when I first
came home, sort of done the measurements in the south
feat solish pit. I was only I wasn't going to
be able to get enough kettle in there for long
enough through winters. So we've taken the bunker down and
now I've got it side just feed feed two bales
out in front of the shed each day and kettle
(31:39):
just come through, put the head through a head bail
and have a bit of a feed. And it's worked
where it's taken me just my fourth fourth winter doing
it and we're still like, you're still fine tuning.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
It gone away.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
When I first started doing it, we're pumping the heaps
of oats balage into them, trying to get heap of
protein and it was going right through them and we couldn't.
We could never really get the baylage right. So now
putting in I've got about fourteen to fifteen hec years
of hybrid grass with about ten eleven kilos of clover
mixed through it just to try and get that quality
(32:14):
bailage into them. So they're pretty much on milk and
quality bailage right through and that's made all the difference.
Like they're sitting at the moment about eight hundred eight
hundred grams a day too, Like and talk to the
I've just been weighing in this morning. They're sitting averaging
eight hundred grams a day on about six and a
half kilos of dry meta. So they're yeah, they're chugging
(32:34):
along pretty good. And I think the biggest key to
it is the same with o Sweet, like that Utilizationally,
I reckon there would be like ninety five percent utilization,
Like there's not that much bailage get wasted. Yeah, just
because you can control what they're eating.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Basically, that's exceptional numbers. You've got to be chuffed with that.
Speaker 6 (32:55):
Yeah, No, it is, it is. I'm I am happy
with him. It's it has been a bit of a
slow burn. Like each year you're slowly getting things better,
and like even this year is better than last year.
I know, Like I'm starting to your airline busy dipping
them today because they're just starting to get a wee
bit lousy. That's one thing I'm still learning. Like I
dip them on the way in into the shed, and
(33:16):
then about week six a week seven, once it's worn off,
they start getting a bit scratchy again, especially with these
mild winters. Like so, yeah, another dip today, But I
just realized today it's probably the last week or ten
days of them being Lowsies just dropped them awave, it
dropped their growth rates a bit. Yes, hopefully the next
six weeks they'll kick in the gear again and should
(33:37):
be good again, hopefully, how it's getting go good good?
Now everything went through one hundred and ninety eight percent,
which is like, it's good. It's sort of what I
well to be fair, I sort of expect it, like
I don't. We have it. We've had a good autumn,
use went to the RAM in a good condition. They
(33:58):
all got flushed, so if they didn't scan where I
would have been scratching my head the issue, Like I
thought of, my goal was to scan one hundred and
eighty percent because anything over that is more wastage and
I'm not a big fan of wastage. And another goal
was sort of runner, is to keep my tudos within
ten percent of the mixed stage US, which Turtos went
(34:18):
through it one ninety four so which I achieved that.
Now it's just the issue of got like twenty twenty
seven twenty eight percent of my user triplets. So it's
just trying to work out how to do with the end.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
Yeah, I know, which I'm not a fan of. I'm
not an intensive lemmo. Like yes, I was brought up
down here, but I spent ten years up in Monica
and we didn't do a lemming bee, so that many
triplets sort of keep me awake at night.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
To be fair, you're not tempted to set up a
set of pratt leaves and have them feeding on an
ad libble system or something like that.
Speaker 6 (34:51):
Yeah, I haven't in the past, Andy, to be fair,
like I've turned my nose at it because I think
by the time you put in that milk powder into
them and your time, especially at lemon, I lamb by myself,
so that's it's the time's probably my most important thing.
I didn't see the margin in it when I could
be getting to weaning time and buying in a store
lamb and getting that same margin for not as much work.
(35:14):
But if we're forecasting like two hundred and thirty two
hundred and forty dollars lamb, I think I should really
be pulling finger and trying to do as much as
I can to keep the little buggers alive come lemmings.
So yeah, I'm just starting to figure out a few
options of whether I get an automatic feeder or just
get some get some cow's milk and just wish them luck. Yeah,
(35:37):
I'm just still trying to work that out.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Just finally, aiden Dale. You've got Pioneer and the one
semis season's gone quick, But you guys will be happy
with where you're at.
Speaker 6 (35:48):
Yeah, we are, we are, and we we set a
goal at the start of the year, like we wanted
to have a home semi final, and a couple of
weeks ago we really thought Pioneer had taken that off
us when they beat us at home. So it's nice
that we've we've managed to sneak in. We had a
good training last last night, but still yeah, still a
few things to work on, and we know Pioneer will
(36:08):
be coming they'd have lost the vikings on on the weekend,
so they'll be coming in pretty red hot to make
that wrong right as well. So it's gonna be a
good game. Really looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Well, chance are better of the Bridge version three?
Speaker 6 (36:22):
I'd love it, Yeah, I reckon they'd be quite exciting,
to be fair, and we'd it'd be Yeah, it'd be
good to go down there again and give them another
another challenge. Are bloody top team, like jeez, are our
top side and they've got a way of winning finals,
which sort of excites us to go down Like if
we get the chance to go down there and challenge them.
But yeah, we really got to pull their socks up
(36:44):
for this weekend because we know Pioneer they're pretty sharp.
So you've got a bit of work to do yet.
But hopefully we'll yeah, come, we'll thirty on on Saturday.
Hopefully we're on the right side of it.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
Good on your mate, Thanks for chatting.
Speaker 6 (36:57):
Yeah, I think you and it will put your ladder.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
This is the muster on Hakanui, ace of based the sign.
The theme today is nineteen ninety four as we head
over to the other side of the world to catch
up with Julie Edwards out of Sheerwell, UK. Now you
know the chance we do with Alan McCleary on a
monthly paces Here on the muster Well, we're catching up
with Julie. Now Sheerwell is a massive mess of company
based over in the UK and we're catching up with
(37:30):
Julie just to see how the farming vibers over in
England at the moment. Julie, thanks for chatting on the muster.
Speaker 7 (37:38):
Thanks Andy, great to join you. Great piece of music
as well, that brings back good.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Memories from me, brings back a lot of good memories.
I think I was like nineteen when that song come out.
For goodness sake, without reminiscing too much.
Speaker 7 (37:50):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I think we're about the same age.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Then, firstly, how's the farming mood over in the UK.
It sounds as though you've had a heat wave after
heat wave to continue with and it's about talking about
your heat wave milk warmer.
Speaker 7 (38:04):
Yeah, absolutely, So this is our third heat wave of
the year, so we're only into early July and already
you know, we've had temperatures of over thirty five degrees,
which is unheard of in the UK, and you know,
had a massive impact for the livestock and the arable sector.
You know, we I think what it has demonstrated is
that moving forward we are going to have to think
(38:27):
about installing fans in our sheds. I think, you know,
definitely planting a more trees. Cuchede is so important. You know,
we alongside working for Sheerwell, I also have a farm
with my husband, so we've got suckercos and sheep and
pigs and you know, it's been hard to see how
they've struggled. You know, we've done our best to keep
(38:48):
everything cool, but yeah, unprecedented times, you know, We've gone
from cold, wet winter into very hot and you know,
certainly at the moment on our farm it's very burnt up.
The long term forecast looks like we're not going to
get any rain, probably any significant rain until the middle
of August, which I know, you know, for a lot
(39:10):
of people is fairly short term, but for us it's
had a significant impact. We've got wild fires as well
over a UK at the moment, I think there's three
that they're trying to deal with. So you know, changing times,
I guess environmentally and certainly making us think about how
we farm and what we need to do to prepare
for the future.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
Yeah, because you're hearing about the harvest coming up and
a lot of concerns around the fire risk as well.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
Yeah. Absolutely, you know, we're already seen on social media,
you know a number of farmers that have lost significant
acreages of wheat and barley, you know, and I think
that it's having an impact on the maize as well,
so you know, just for the maize crop, not enough water,
so the kernels were you know, there's just nothing, there's
(39:56):
no moisture there. But yeah, it's unprecedent, as I say,
and quite a concern. I think, you know, the animals,
you know, whether it's a dairy sector with the cows,
they're suffering from heat stress. We've had animals at home
that we've had to bring in, particularly younger calves that
just can't cope with the heat. Yeah, and it's it's
(40:16):
a summer like we've never known before, and I guess
potentially moving forward, this could be the norm. So as
a consequence, we're going to plan, have to plan for
the future and put some significant changes in place on
the farm.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
So Hail's farmers seem to me at the moment gerally,
given the weather has been like that. But on the
other side as well, prices have been pretty buoyant.
Speaker 7 (40:35):
Absolutely. You know, we've probably for several well certainly this
is a second year at Leaf where we've seen some
really significantly good prices for lamb and for beef, you know,
whether it's whether it's ween lamb or finish lambs, and
the same with the cattle sector. The store prices and
the finished prices have been phenomenal. But having said that,
(40:58):
that's where they should have been for some signals time,
and I think, you know, there has been a disconnect
between what farmers have been paid historically and what you know,
in terms of the prices that we're seeing in the supermarket,
and I think perhaps sometimes, you know, consumers don't recognize
their significance and the importance of the food that we're producing,
(41:19):
you know, the whole the whole story around field or
fork to field to fork is so is so significant,
and I think, you know, we perhaps need to put
more emphasis on making people aware of how and where
their food is produced, you know. And it's not as
easy as just going into a supermarket and picking up
a product. It's making them think about actually how it's
(41:39):
being produced and the value of that food, the nutritional value,
and the costs of production as well. Because obviously, with
everything that's going on at the moment, you know, with
the blockades in the straits of hor Moos and fuel
and everything, input prices are rising, so prices have to
be good because you know, the knock on effect further
down the line is is significant.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Now, Julie, we were talking off fear, it sounds as
over the UK is facing the same issues as New Zealand,
whether it's reural connectivity or whatever. Across the board, there
are a lot of similarities between the two economies.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Oh.
Speaker 7 (42:13):
Absolutely. You know quite often when I've listened to you
interviewing Allan historically, you know, I think we may have
different phrases for things, but actually the sentiment is the same.
And you know, I think that although different times of year,
I think New Zealand farmers and farmers in the UK
will have the same challenges and the same struggles, you know,
(42:36):
whether as you just said, you highlighted rural connectivity, you know,
which is key. You know, if you're farming in a
fairly isolated area, you know, we are totally reliant on
having that connectivity available to us and that's an area
where we are sadly lacking in the UK at the moment,
and there needs to be some significant investments. But you know,
(42:57):
I think farmers are resilient, so they'll find a way,
you know, certainly from Shearwell perspective. We produce products like
our software. You know, you can use it and work
offline and then as soon as you come back in
to signal you can it automatically ut sate. So yeah,
we've we've got around that problem, but it is a
challenge that needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
Now you talk about sheer well, like you say, I
talked to l on a regular basis about sheep tags,
kettle tags. But coming up to landing time, the heat
waves milkwarmer talking to farmers on the show this week
and they're having a lot of truplets and the use
and all of a sudden it becomes pretty well realistic,
economical or worth it to put on the heat wave
milk warmer system as such.
Speaker 7 (43:41):
Absolutely, you know, So the heat wave I think, you know,
in terms of its price, it is pitched at a
really good price, and I think it's it's one of
those products that it's multi purpose, so you can use
it for rearing lambs, so you can rear up to
fifty lambs on it or thirty calves, and you know,
we use it on our farm at home. You know,
in terms of production quite often, you know, if you're
(44:03):
feeding bottle lambs, you may not finish quite the finish
that you'd want, but certainly with a heat wave, when
you're rearing them on that, they automatically just help themselves.
So it's a bit like them going to their mums normally,
so they're drinking regularly and performance is exceptional. So we
see a lot of really good lambs and cars performing
(44:23):
really well on it, and we get really good feedback
from customers that are using it. And I think you know,
the thing to say about the heat wave is there's
really only two things. Once you've set it up, just
regularly check that there is water in the water bas
and that you clean it regularly like you would babies
bottles because all the way you know it with milk,
it can it can get built up in there. So
it's a really straightforward product.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
To use something else that's relevant at the moment or
coming onto the market that's going to make life a
lot easier for farmers. To the speedy tagger.
Speaker 7 (44:51):
Absolutely, So that's the product that I think, you know,
people have been waiting to arrive.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
So it's.
Speaker 7 (44:58):
It basically has a cartridge that hold a strip of
ten set tags, whether they're just visual or eed tags,
and you know, you put a strip of ten in
rather than having to individually load each individual tag. This
makes things a lot quicker. So you know, if you're slaughter,
if you're tagging slaughter lambs or whatever, you can just
go down through the line tag everything and it's a job.
(45:20):
It probably halves the time. So yeah, very very popular
with people. You know, it's lightweight and it's effortless really
in terms of how people will use it, and you
can use it if you're left or right handed as well.
So it also comes with five cartridges, so you know
you can sit in the evening and just load them
(45:41):
and it makes life very easy for everybody.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
It's fine and you said Julie Edwards of sheer wel
Uk ripping up the bits of the master and enjoy
the weekend. My name's Andy Muller. Take a bit of
a chance to get off, go for a coffee or
something soft, and then, because you deserve it, see you Monday.
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