September 9, 2026 • 46 mins
Andy Muir talks to Don Moore, Geordie Eade, Donna Hamilton, Daniel O' Regan, Nathan Burdon and David Morrison.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good afternoon and welcome to the muster on Hokonui. Andy
Mui here and the show is brought to you, of course,
by Peter's Genetics.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Thanks for your company. It's overcast.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Sprawly showers have occurred throughout the south this morning. Currently,
there is a bit of sunshine, but I dare say
that is false economy. We're going to look at the
weather shortly, but, yeah, look, after a couple of days
of decent weather, about 4.30 last night, you could just
see something brewing, and it just got cooler, a bit
more rain. Phil Duncan of Weather Watch will look at
the southern forecast in depth for the next seven days.
(00:34):
Next week, it does look as though things are looking
a bit rosier. Right, straight into it now. Duran Duran,
the music for your Thursday afternoon. Great song this from 1993,
Ordinary World. This afternoon is rain with breezy westerlies and
(01:04):
a high of 9. Friday, showers of breezy westerlies, 4
and 10. Westerlies are pretty much the currency over the
next five days. Saturday, rain with breezy westerlies, 6 and 10. Sunday,
showers of breezy westerlies, 6 and 12. And Monday, this
is looking better, cloudy with breezy west nor westerlies, 8
and 16.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So temperatures to hand for a Thursday.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Heriot 6.2, Northern Southland 7.1, Riverton 9, Te Anau 6.5,
Tutoroa 8, Winton 6.4. And Woodland 7.5 as we start
the year with Don Moore farming at Kennington. Getting through
calving now. Quite a bit going on on the farm
as Don looks. He's been on that operation now for
a couple of months. Always got a bit of stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
On the go. So we just see how things are
going as calving gets through. Then not far from Kennington.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Is the Riviera of the South. Riverton, Geordie Yee joins
us to see how things are going there. Sheep, beef
and dairy farming. Donna Hamilton from Beef and Lamb New
Zealand talks lamb autopsies. Not something you talk about on
the radio every day, let's be honest, but with the
southern lens, pretty relevant to what we're seeing at the moment.
Daniel O'Regan, he is involved with AgriFutures on.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
A pretty cool thing happening at Telford.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Today for all the school kids from an agri-focused, agri-sense,
I suppose. It's like Young Farmers, a young farmer of
the year competition, but on a school-level scale, just getting
kids interested in the ag sector. And resident farming guru,
resident sporting guru, Nathan Burden, stags up against Bay of
Plenty on Sunday, and a local lad who's returning to
(02:39):
the fold. Dave Morrison of PGG writes in, gives the
rundown on stock prices from Charlton. And we'll start the
hour then with Don Moore. And to Tony from Gore
that gave me your phone call not.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
That long ago. Thanks, mate.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I appreciated the joke. I think tomorrow I'm kind of
looking at the moment. Perhaps I'm going to do an
extended laugh out loud and just do a heap of
dad jokes because it's a Friday and it's the middle
of September and because we can. I'll show on that
and see what I reckon. Anyway, we'll crank into it
next with Don Moore. Don Moore gets us underway this afternoon.
(03:20):
He's dairy farming down at Kennington. He is part of
the Fonterra Shareholders Council and he's out in the trenches.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Don, good afternoon. How's everything?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Oh, just a box of.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Fluffies, yeah. Yeah, no, the rain obviously came back in
for everyone last night at some stage and.
Made us, just reminded us again that don't enjoy that
sunshine too much. Yeah, it was a beautiful couple of days.
But yeah, I think we're back into a few days
(03:51):
of rain anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It was just a tease. 48 hours. It was just bliss.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And today we've had all these nasty showers coming through
here in Gore anyway. I mean, down there, how wet
are ground conditions?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yeah, it's just pretty wet out. Yeah, you wouldn't get
it too wet around here. around much of the paddocks
these days. But, yeah, the cows had a bit of
a reprieve in the people for a couple of days,
and this is springtime, so we'll get some more good
weather at some stage.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
It'll happen, I think, next week.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
There's a few nor'westers in there, but temperatures will be up,
so perhaps start drying this ground out, which it needs to.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Yeah, hopefully, hopefully.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, we'll sort of keep moving cows on and things, but, yeah,
that's the way it goes. We're still... Well, we're still
enjoying things, so that's good.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
That's a good way to be. You've just moved down there,
so that's always a bonus.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Yeah, I do get mentioned to me occasionally, you know, well,
you wanted to move down here.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
That'll grow pretty good grass there when the season's humming,
I'd imagine.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
Oh, yeah, it doesn't stop.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Yeah, no, it's fantastic. That's one of the reasons.
Speaker 6 (04:59):
I wanted to move here, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Fair enough. So carving, you're getting through? Yeah, we are.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yeah, we're probably about 80%, 85%. So we're not 85%.
We're not far off it. And so, yeah, no, second along,
we had a big day yesterday, which was good because
when you have a big day, when you don't have
many to go, it takes a big chunk out. So, yeah,
we're looking forward to the end of the season, to
the end of the calving season and get ready for
(05:27):
the next bit. But usually, you know, by the time
you get to the end of the calving season, you
free up your days and the sun shines out a
bit more and And you can probably have a day off.
It would be nice.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
You say it was a big day. How many cars
would you be talking?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Oh, look, I think we had about 16, 17 yesterday. Yeah.
So that's a pretty big day for this time of
the year. It's not a big day early on in
the calving season, but that's a big day for now
when you're sort of, that's over 10% of your numbers
to go.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Weather aside, and obviously the weather's a big driver in August, September.
um carving though it's gone to plant.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Yeah pretty good yeah yeah um i've uh bitten off
a bit more than i can chew i think i've
said that before with wonder projects but um but uh
yeah no it's uh i mean every day we're making
some difference and uh and making changes that that improve
the farm so uh that's that's quite you know that's
rewarding that's what helps you get up every day when
(06:27):
you're when you can go out there and notice the
thing that you changed yesterday is helping what you're doing today.
So that's bloody awesome, actually.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Well, you've got these projects on the go. When are
you hoping to have everything up and running properly? Because
it's a marathon, not a sprint with what you're doing.
Speaker 7 (06:43):
Hey, this is a farm, man.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
It'll take years.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
It's never done.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
No, no, this is when you say you bought something
at a clearing sale 20 years ago, or your old
man did, and you're finally going to get around to
using that bolt that's.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
A real odd size. It's imperial.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, come in handies, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah. Just the nature of the game. Right, as far
as the season, though, you get through August, you get
through September. Do you enjoy this time of year? Is
it enjoyable, busy, or is it pretty hectic?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Absolutely love it. Yeah, it's that opportunity to reset and
give it another crack and see if you can do better.
Every year you get that opportunity. So, no, it's bloody awesome.
And we're making so many changes and improvements on the
farm that it's hard not to sort of be invigorated
by that. even if you have the hard days and
bits and pieces like I say you're making all these
(07:33):
changes it's just enjoyable.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Moving farms, is that part of the reason you're so
invigorated as such?
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah definitely, I mean it's all the things that we
wanted to do on this farm that's invigorating and you
know we're certainly missing people up in Gore old mates
and bits and pieces and that's a bit harder but Look,
we didn't see that much at this time of the
year usually anyway. So, no, it's great fun and I've got,
(08:02):
you know, we've got farm projects, we've got house projects,
I've got shed projects and all sorts of things to do.
So there's not going to be any shortage of things
to do for the next wee while and a bit
of motivation.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
That's a good way to be. What about the staff?
How are they finding this time of year?
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, look, they're.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
Doing really well.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
We've got a new guy came on this season, started
dairy farming, and he's absolutely thriving. And our manager too.
We've got one guy, unfortunately, off at the moment with
an injury. So that's put a bit of pressure on.
But look, the systems and things that we've got in
place just allow us to keep on ticking on. It
(08:44):
probably just slows down, probably more slows down the projects
that I want to do because I've sort of got
to make sure that we're getting all the day-to-day basics done. But, no,
it's good. Yeah, they're happy.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
But at the same time, you've got a vision as
to where you, Jess, and the family want the farm
to be. And so, what, as far as goal setting,
I suppose this comes into it, you just try and
realign what you want to do.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Yeah, you've just got to sort of say to yourself, well, actually,
everything's operational. And this time of the year when things
crop up, you've just got to do the basics and
do the basics well, and that's fine. And you've got
to be okay with that. You know, sometimes you get
frustrated and you've just got to sort of recheck yourself,
(09:30):
and that's probably where I've been this week.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
As far as the payout, are you pretty optimistic it's
going to stay where it is?
Speaker 6 (09:40):
Yeah, I'm optimistic, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Yeah, I think, you know, we've got a long way
to play out, but... I think if I was to
think back on my comments and thoughts over last season,
I could see a lot more downside than upside. risk.
But I think it's probably a bit more balanced this season, actually.
(10:04):
So if that's a real positive, then if that's a positive,
then that's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
When you say there's a bit more balance, what do
you mean by that exactly?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Well, I just think we've seen some of that volatility
play out over the last 12 to 24 months.
Speaker 6 (10:21):
It's been a pretty hectic.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
World and we're still seeing relatively, you know, very good
commodity prices. And I think if this has sort of
become the norm, this volatility, then if you look at
the other drivers around, supply, demand and all those sort
of stories around global supply and bits and pieces, I'm
(10:43):
feeling quite optimistic.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Just food supply in general, something New Zealand does really
well and we talk about the figures of what Southland
does for the GDP, we don't need to go there
because we know we're more than holding our own weight.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Yeah, that's right. And look, I think ultimately I'll be wrong.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
No, you've got to back yourself in your judgement though,
you can only play what's in front of you and Jeez.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I think, like I say, I'm optimistic. Hopefully that plays out.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Hopefully it does, Don. Hey, we'll let you carry on.
All the best for the rest of the carving. We'll
catch up again, eh?
Speaker 6 (11:20):
Yeah, very good.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Cheers, Andy.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Don Moore, Positivity Plus. It's what you want at the moment.
No need for energy drinks. A lot of good stuff
going on. Great to see that positivity in the sector.
You're listening to The Muster. Just down from Kennington is Riverton,
the River Era.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Of the South. Geordie Yee, we catch up.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Welcome back to the muster, Geordie Ede Farms at the
Riviera of the South, which is Riverton. Probably a little
bit more water than they're used to around there at
the moment. Geordie, good afternoon, how's things?
Speaker 7 (11:58):
Yeah, g'day Andy, how you getting on? Yeah, she's a
bit sort of deja vu, same old story, third year
in a row really, but it might be a wee
bit earlier this year.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Is that how you'd summarise conditions to date compared to
the last two springs?
Speaker 7 (12:10):
Yeah, well, the last two springs we've got well over
250 mils pretty much for September, October. But this year
we've got 200 for August. So I'm hoping it's coming
a bit earlier and we're going to get a better
run out at the end, really, to be fair. I hope, anyway.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
You've normally got a healthy rainfall there anyway, Geordie. Whereabouts
would you be now in comparison?
Speaker 7 (12:29):
We're being on average, really. We're being on average. This
time last year we were behind average, so we always
probably knew that something was coming. So hopefully, you know,
we've been on average where, you know, that should help
some areas. Some degree, hopefully. You know, we've already had
sort of 80, over 80 mils for September. You normally
average around that 200 for September. So, you know, hopefully
we're over halfway there.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
That'd be good.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
I'll take that.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
What are you like for feed there? Because your soil
temperature is over there notoriously high compared to the rest
of the province.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I think today it's around nine degrees.
Speaker 7 (12:59):
Yeah, well, it's been a bit of a challenge. Funny
you say that, because we've probably mowed through more. I
know I've put a bit of nitrogen on for the
sheep farm here this year in the last week or so.
I haven't got as probably much as I have in
the past, and that's the first time I've had to
do that since we've taken over the dairy farm. We
haven't put any nitrogen on the dairy farm yet, just
probably from trying to, you know, when nitrogen's $ 1, 300 a tonne,
(13:19):
you sort of try to utilise its worth, really. And
so maybe in the next couple of weeks, we may
look at putting some on down there. But, you know,
we've had to speed up the round down there, just
the fact of not making pasture damage. We're still leaving
a bit of covers behind, and it's recovering pretty well. So,
you know, we're just, you know, the south and spring,
it just keeps giving, and, you know, it could be
a long road. So you sort of, you don't want
(13:40):
to be mashing it up now.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
How's calving gone on the dairy farm?
Speaker 6 (13:44):
Yeah, gone really well.
Speaker 7 (13:45):
You know, we're into the last sort of probably 15%, 20% now. So, yeah,
so the AI, I think, as of last night, there
was only about three AI cows left to calve. So
we're into the... well, AI replacement cows to calve. So
we're then on to Charolais for a couple of weeks,
which is a first try for me. And then we're
(14:05):
into short-shear stations to finish it off.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Charolais, tell us more about that. Sounds interesting.
Speaker 7 (14:10):
Yeah, well, it's sort of something that Beef and Lamb
New Zealand Deer and Deer have been working together to
put the Charolais over the dairy to get that dairy beef.
And the calf comes out all the same colour. So
it certainly creates a good market for those cows, Kiwi
Cross cows, that don't chuck out that Hereford Cross that's
(14:31):
all mottled. They chuck out a more beef calf that,
on dairy and beef and lamb stats, can keep up
with the pure beef, really. So, you know, I think
it's certainly something to look to for the future. I'm
having a bit of a dab. This is only 30-odd,
so we'll see how it goes. Yeah, go into it
and make it a bit bigger.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Well, given the way the beef market is, it's a no-brainer,
I suppose.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Yeah, it is, it is.
Speaker 7 (14:55):
Yeah, I know a few, I've got a mate in
Canterbury that's been doing it for a while, and he's
actually got contracts for those four-day-old Charolais calves to go
on to. And, you know, that's certainly something that I
think around here that would be quite lucrative for a
rearer to take these Charolais calves because there certainly could
be a good market at the other end for them.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I see.
Speaker 7 (15:13):
There's all markets out there for them as yearlings in
that there now, and it's sort of specifying Charolais, Friesian Cross.
or Dairy Cross.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So officially lambing, when is it due to get underway?
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Yeah, we spread out a couple of days ago, so
we're just winding into it. There's not much this morning,
which is quite good, because that was fairly fresh, and
winch will come through there last night. But yeah, we
sort of probably will be in the peak of it
probably early next week, I would say. And then the
hoggets kick off after that, and then we won't have
much left by the end of September, really.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah, when are the hoggets due?
Speaker 7 (15:49):
They normally kick in about the 22nd of September. I
vaccinated them yesterday and split the twins up out of them,
so the twins are now separate. So they're just sort
of fed ad-lib now. The singles are still on break,
and they'll stay on a break pretty much until they're right,
until they lamb. Try and keep the size of that
lamb down a bit.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I asked Dom Moore just previously about this time of year,
and he says he actually enjoys it because you can
just see the big plan coming together on the farm.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
How do you find it?
Speaker 7 (16:17):
Yeah, no, it's a whole year's work. And I mean,
nobody really realises that, you know, your whole plan for
a sheep farm really comes together in these next two,
three weeks. And, you know, a bit of weather and
pear shape can chuck out. But, yeah, particularly with the hoggarts,
you know, we're sort of finding out with our hoggart
group that it's all very well scanning them. there's a
(16:39):
lot more management goes into getting that lamb survived to
the tailing pen and really it's all down to getting
the survival of the twins really and that comes from
good feeding and maybe a certain ram you put over
them but particularly the great feeding and management really leads
to it to make it much easier.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Hoggarts are interesting for me, given the way that everybody's
embracing them, the way they have. I think Pete Gardine
said all those dry hoggarts, he chops their head off,
he's getting great money too into the 300s. And I've
talked about this a bit and probably continue to do
so as well. It's just fascinating that the change of
practice towards hoggarts, especially around breeding.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Yeah, well, I mean, I always had it when I
come back home to the farm 23, 24 years ago
that I wanted to get my wages out of the hoggarts.
And so that was, you know, the wages down the hoggarts,
but certainly the last three or four years have certainly
got a bit more than your wages if we've been
paid bloody well. So, yes, it's a big management thing, but,
I mean, they're quite a good money earner. And then
(17:36):
on the side, if you want to work the dry
hoggarts like we have done for about the last 15 years,
it's quite a good income coming in in August when
you need it.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I suppose it's something you're learning every year as well.
Learning is a horrible word, but truth be known, when
it comes to hoggart lambing, you're probably picking up different
little things every season.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Oh yeah, no, it's good because we've been doing it
for 25 years and apart from the group we're still
picking up something new every year. There's no doubt since
we've formed this group it's got a hell of a
lot easier because a lot of people sort of had
a go at it a while ago. I think a
big key is don't lamb them the same time as
you use because they do take a bit more time.
You get well rewarded for it but they do take
(18:16):
a bit more effort and I think it's well rewarded
in the end.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Right, there's a bit of code on this week here.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Which game has you more excited, the All Blacks playing
averted commas festival game against the Springboks in Baltimore or
the Stags looking to get their third win in just
over 365 days against Bayer Plenty on Sunday?
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Or do you have other things to worry about?
Speaker 7 (18:38):
Yeah, I don't know. I have only watched the All
Black games in bits and pieces. I don't fantasise getting
up in the middle of the night and watching them now.
The last Maybe in the middle of winter I might
have been a bit more keen, but sort of every
hour in the night is pretty precious now to get
a bit of sleep as you get into your mid-40s.
I'd like the Stags to be out of hope, but hell,
(19:00):
I always hoped that that year, but hell, yeah, they're
just sort of, I don't know. I think we need
to be still looking after more of our own homegrown players.
I mean, that's the year, I think, but I just, yeah,
I have hope, but... And, you know, being sort of
half-by involved in that set-up 20 years ago, I'd hoped
that things would have improved a bit. But no, you know,
the year of nibs and goof was a good run,
(19:22):
but we don't seem to be able to repeat it.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Woody Kirkwood starting on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
He's a guy who's had a hideous run with injuries,
but this is a good news story.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
He deserves a shot going in his lock. Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
Those are the sort of guys that are big around
there too. Jake Boglin was another one that probably had
a bit of a dab two or three years ago.
I mean, you know, there is the talent out there.
You know, the other one was probably Mark Wells. He
used to float along there. He was a good one
there to fit in along the way, but.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
yeah there's a few coming through that.
Speaker 7 (19:52):
Academy you know we've got a what are we third
or fourth year of the Southam boys doing really well
in the first 15 but we just don't seem to
be able to flow it on to the stags hopefully
you know it might be still in the future we'll
see Yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I'll just finish with this thought.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I mean, when they started this competition, there was 14
debutantes in that squad, and we're getting told that, yeah,
they need to click. It's not going to happen overnight.
But on the other hand, we're being told the MPC
is a sprint, not a marathon. It happened so quickly,
and it's finished again.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
So we can only live in hope, Geordie. That's all
we can.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Do, right?
Speaker 7 (20:27):
Yeah, they live in hope too. It just probably disappoints
me that some of those players come and you can
tell by the look of them that they're not fit. And,
I mean, you've got to hit that ground running and
you need.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
To be fit.
Speaker 7 (20:37):
You know, there's no use doing fitness this time of
the year. You need to be fit when they arrive.
And I think that's the challenge to this modern game
is being fit.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Go and get them on the lambing beat for a
couple of days and give them a dose of Southern
Life Geordie.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Always good to catch up.
Speaker 7 (20:51):
Yeah, 100%. Colin Meads Fitness. Cheers, Andy.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
G'day.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Geordie Yead, farming over at the self-proclaimed Riviera of the South,
which is Riverton. You're listening to The Muster. Donna Hamilton
is up next from Beef and Lab New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
The Muster's animal health segment with NS Vets.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Adding value through practical advice and service. No gimmicks, no potions,
total vet care. In the Beef and Lab slot this
afternoon is Donna Hamilton. We're talking about... So autopsies on
lambs and the likes.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
I mean, the reality is at this time of year,
livestock can equate to dead stock as well.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
But just why are some of these lambs dying?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I mean, yes, the weather isn't flash, but every now
and then you sit there and ponder why a lamb
just keels over for no apparent reason. So Donna's going
to give us a bit of an understanding about autopsies
on lambs and what actually we're trying to delve into
with information.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Good afternoon, Donna. Thanks for joining us again.
Speaker 8 (21:53):
Hi, Andy. Good to be back.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Lamb post-mortems, it's.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Well, you know, when lambs die, you sit there and
do ponders sometimes, and you silly bugger, you were full
last night, what's the go?
Speaker 8 (22:05):
That's right, and sometimes, you know, you do just come
away shaking your head, thinking, I don't know why you died,
but sometimes you can gain some really good information by
having a look at those lambs and seeing what's going
on in there. So we have done a recent With
Beef and Lamb workshop at Geoff Farm the other day,
a couple of weeks ago, and there was a great
(22:27):
number of farmers turn out to find out how they
can do the postmortems themselves or see what can be
gained from doing postmortems. So yeah, there is lots to
be gained by looking at some dead lambs. So you
can do a couple of different things with, working out
which ones you're going to post-mortem. And it's worth having
(22:49):
a chat to your vet to work out what's going
to give you the best information, but also what's actually
practical for you to do. And it might just be
doing a bunch one day and then going from there.
But it certainly is worthwhile having a look in 20
to 30 lambs or more to see why they've died
and at what stage they've died. And we can gain
(23:11):
a bit of that information from that. getting a scalpel
or a knife out and some scales and having a
look at them.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Doing a post-mortem on a lamb yourself, it's just a
big lesson in.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Biology, I'd imagine.
Speaker 8 (23:24):
It is, yes, absolutely. And our farmers don't generally look
at animals like this, but they are used to doing
dog tuckers and killing the odd animal and having a
look inside them. So there might be a bit of
interest sparked then or have some kids keen to have
a look. But yes, you can have a wee look. Well,
(23:45):
we start with what's happening on the outside for a start.
So initially, first thing is that we weigh them, get
a weight on them. And you can use like the
old dial kitchen scales with the dial on them. They're
really handy. But you could use like a fish weight
weighing scale or a luggage set of scales. So we
(24:06):
get a weight on them. So recording just weights. If
that was the only thing you did, you'd actually still
gain some really useful information. So getting a weight's helpful.
Then have a look at their feet. If they've got
little slippers on, so the little membrane across their feet
comes out like a little padding over the feet. And
once they stand up, that comes off. So that's an
(24:27):
indication as to whether they've stood or not. you'd be
able to have a check for them to see if
they've got any swelling or if they've got any yellow discolouration,
which can indicate that they've taken a little bit of
time to get born, but too long, possibly. And you
can feel what's happening with their navel cord.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
A lot of hot boxes going at the moment.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
At the moment, as people try and look after those
cold lambs, hypothermic lambs, and give them that boost to
keep them alive, what's some good things to remember around this?
Speaker 8 (24:55):
Yeah, these cold lambs, the first thing they need to
do is have some energy so that they can warm up.
And so you could be actively warming them up, but
by doing that, you're just potentially using the last of
the energy. And so we would encourage people to consider
using a dextrose injection into the abdomen before they get
(25:18):
into the warming up room or into the truck, however
you like to warm them up. So giving them that
energy source before you warm them is really important. So
we did this as a demonstration at Jeff Farm last
week and the farmers who, you know, some farmers said
to me, oh, that looks heaps easier than I thought
it would be. And somebody else said, oh, that's amazing stuff.
(25:40):
It just about brings them back from dead. So it's
a form of basically sugar into the abdomen in a
form that they can use. And you don't have to be,
too precise on how you do it you just inject
it just above the navel and yeah you can you
can really bring these animals back to life by giving
(26:03):
them some energy and then warming them up and then
give them a feed of milk but you can also
use it on a cold afternoon or an evening where
you think oh gosh that little guy come out bad
timing mate because it's some horrible weather coming just pop
some in and then leave mum to look after them. And,
you know, sometimes they can result in, you know, much
(26:25):
better paddock survival when they come out the next day. So, yeah,
there's some fact sheets on Beef and Land website and
most of your clinics will have some sheets around how
to do it and sell the dextrose, which does actually
need to be diluted, but that's included in your instructions there.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
So a lot of people tube lambs. Do you recommend injecting?
Speaker 8 (26:50):
Yeah, I would give that injection initially because the tubing
is providing a food source, but the lamb's actually got
to process that, and the dextrose injection around the gut
is readily available for them to use. So you would
give the dextrose, warm them up, and then give them
(27:10):
a feed. and you can chew them if you need to, or,
you know, hopefully they might have perked up enough to
have a suckle.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Yes, hoping the weather settles down, Donna, and we can
go back to having a bit of big yellow in
the sky.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Thanks for your time, as always.
Speaker 8 (27:24):
Wouldn't that be great?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Yep.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
Good luck to everybody out there.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Thanks, Andy.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Donna Hamilton in the beef and lamb slot.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Click beeflamnz.com slash events to get the e-diary into your
inbox every Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Daniel O'Regan's up next, and before the end of the hour,
Nathan Burden.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
Thanks, yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
This is the muster on Hokanui. We're away to Telford now,
of course, just out of Balclutha. We are catching up
with Daniel O'Regan, the general manager of AgriFutures. There's a big, well,
it's like a mini Young Farmer of the Year for
school kids happening at Telford today.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Daniel, thanks for joining us on the muster. It sounds
like it's pretty busy.
Speaker 6 (28:06):
It is. Yeah, we've got about, oh, maybe about 250 kids.
It's a bit lower this year than last year, thanks
to influenza A. That's sort of ravaging our schools at
the moment. But we've still got a good number of
students coming and about 18 secondary schools from Waitaki Girls
in the North through to Fiordland College and everywhere in between.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Now Clash of the Colleges, as this has been dubbed,
what's the basis around it?
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Sure.
Speaker 6 (28:34):
We're part of the New Zealand Rural Games Trust and
many years ago we had a chair who was a
former teacher and she challenged us because we're pretty good
at rural games in Palmerston North, used to be in Queenstown,
and it's That's really good at working with families and,
you know, grandparents and kids and parents' kids, but it
wasn't too great with the youth. So she challenged us
(28:55):
to come up with a concept, and we developed the
Clash of the Colleges and started six years ago in Palmy,
and now that's moved to five, six locations around the country.
Talbot will be here three years in a row now,
and it's basically... 16 to 17 modules. Students get six
minutes at each. It's a pan sector, so it covers everything.
(29:15):
Resolution Apps has joined us this year, so they're doing
a little bit of health and safety, but also digital
paddocks as well. Silver Fern Farms put on barbecue. Fingard's amazing.
And they've also got a meat module. Thoroughbred Racing's down
from North Island, so they've got a hobby horse race
and a few questions around thoroughbred racing. And Telford's doing
(29:38):
the old handpiece thing. and quad bike tyre change. And
we've also got Zenterra here doing a fine wall module.
CRV and Salmon are doing a joint genetics module. Otago
Polytechnic's got an arborist one, you know, not tying. And
(29:59):
then the central campus has turned up and created a
Vintner one. And no, the kids don't have to drink alcohol.
They do get to make a sniff test. It's wine glasses,
but it's not wine inside them. It's just different smells
that you can have incorporated into wine and get the
(30:19):
students to identify those.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Daniel, we've seen young farmers with a real renaissance in
the past 18 to 24 months, especially down here in
the south. Do you think agriculture is becoming sexy again
for younger people?
Speaker 6 (30:35):
Yeah. We pulled this together and created it back in
the 2000s and that sort of stuff. And some audience
will know there was a lot of stuff about climate
change and all that sort of stuff, street kids' purchases.
And there was a bit of shame associated with being
in food and fibre industry. And that's where we sort
of came along. And we created this program to do
(30:55):
it in school time because we know all of us
involved grew up on farms and we all know the
pressures farming families are under. And you can't compete with
rugby and netball and drama and all that sort of stuff.
So we do it in school time and we create
modules that are relevant to the curriculum. And we also
(31:16):
create modules that teachers can use back in the classroom that, again,
relate back to the curriculum. So it's all free, thanks
to lovely sponsors, Land Based Training's in there, Rabobank's in there,
Massey University and Ford. Got me a little van that
I travel the country in and pack it up with
all my gear. And, yeah, we go from Telford, got
(31:38):
Canterbury next week, got students from Timaru through to Richmond
going to that one. So every year it just gets
a little bit bigger. We're trying to grow slow. because
there's only so much money in the budget, and every
year we try to add on a new location.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Now, you're in an area where farming is notoriously popular.
What about further up north with the denser population bases?
Are you getting buy-in in those regions?
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Yeah, so this is the best clash that we have.
The schools get it. They know it. It's taught in
every school. Where I'm from, which is sort of mid-central
North Island, around Palmerston North and Whanganui, There's very few schools.
So up there, there's Fielding High, Palmer Boys, over in Wairarapa,
there's Rathkill, and they're super houses of Agateport. But, you know,
(32:28):
all your other schools are really.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
Low on it.
Speaker 6 (32:32):
We've just got a pilot with the Ministry of Social Development,
and we're in four schools in the section north, in
Te Oti, Hachipaura, QEC, and Palmerston North Girls, and we're
doing a 10-week programme. getting these kids interested. They've got
kids there that are interested, they just can't access Ag
and Health. And what we're trying to do is prove
to the schools that there's a demand, and then we
(32:53):
hand them over to the land-based trainings, we hand them
over to the primary ITOs, build up the interest, and
then channel that interest into something, a program that they
can get credits on. Southland Otago is the powerhouse. Canterbury's
a little bit, one or two parmas north, that picks
up again, and Waikato's big, Taranaki's big, But we were
(33:14):
in South Auckland, and it's getting bigger in South Auckland.
Like the Pukakoes and the Papatoetoe, they're starting to turn up,
which is absolutely amazing. Beforehand, it was pretty much Mount
Albert Grabber was the powerhouse up there, because they've got
their own farm in the centre of Auckland, which is
just stunning but unbelievable. And now, this year, we added
(33:36):
by a plenty, and the majority of the schools came
from Waikato to take part, so... Got a little bit
of work there to get those Bay of Plenty schools.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
I suppose it's one thing getting buy-in from the students,
but it's another one getting it from the teachers as well.
Speaker 6 (33:50):
Yes, absolutely. And you're competing against a whole lot of
other stuff that's going on. But what we do is free.
Doesn't cost the schools. All they've got to do is
pay for transportation. All the module holders are here. They
are here for free. Everyone's just generous, giving time, and
we don't want any cost on farming families. We don't
(34:12):
want any cost on schools. And that's how we sort
of break into them.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
So how does the day conclude? What happens to finish up?
Speaker 6 (34:20):
So we've got Minister Andrew Hoggard, Minister Mark Patterson, and
the local MP for Tauri, Ingrid Leary, are turning up,
and they're going to help with the prize giving, as
well as the head of the farm manager here from Telford.
we have a barbecue to feed them and then Tangaroa
(34:41):
Walker is our MC and he runs the Hunger Games
and there's usually a lot of screaming involved with that
and the kids are going to have to I think
go under some jumping poles and jump poles for the
horses and then it's basically eat a cold pie drink
(35:01):
a glass of milk and turn around about 30 times
it's usually a bit.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
Of fun.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Hey, good on you, Daniel.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Thanks for your time this afternoon. St Kevin's boy done good.
Good to catch up with you, mate.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
All the best.
Speaker 6 (35:14):
I got you, man.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
Good chat.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Daniel O'Regan of AgriFutures. Great to see these events that
are going on. And like Daniel alluded there, the South
very much driving these numbers for young people. And this
is where it flows on to the young farmers movement
as well, as I keep talking about. Our resident sporting guru,
Nathan Burden, is up next. The Stags have got a
bit of local blood going in there on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 5 (35:42):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 4 (35:45):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Welcome back to the muster. Southland Rural Support Trust presents
Brunch On Us. These events are occurring over the next
couple of weeks in various locations around the province. So
take the opportunity if they're coming to your area to
take a bit of time off farm while the hard
yak is going about and go and connect with people,
have a coffee and a snag on them. So details
are on the Facebook page as well. Southland Rural Support
(36:10):
Trust doing a great job at the moment. Our resident
sporting guru is Nathan Burden. Good afternoon, Nath.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Straight off the cuff, Woody Kirkwood is back for the Stags.
This is the redemption story we want.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, just possibly, well, not possibly, definitely the unluckiest man
in Southland rugby by some margin. He had two seasons
blighted by knee injuries and he's just worked so hard
to and shown so much resilience to get himself back
into a position where the Stags can name him in
(36:43):
the starting line-up for this game against Bay of Plenty. So,
I mean, I'll have my fingers and toes and everything crossed,
hoping that he can get the debut. I guess this
will hopefully be the actual debut, get the debut that
he deserves after all the hard work that he's done.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
I'm just chuffed to see a country player starting for
the Stags.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
Yeah, it was such a great story in 2025.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
A guy that, you know, he's on the tools all day,
but he's still putting in that effort to get to
the gym early mornings, getting to trainings after work, doing
all that hard work to earn himself a contract in 2025,
and then gets injured in the pre-season game, has to
miss the whole Stags campaign. And then exactly the same
(37:27):
thing happens again. Misses and can't play any club footy.
So great that the stag's off the back of it.
A couple of what I'm hearing, some quite impressive performances
for South and Country. He's earned himself a spot in
the Marine jersey for for the game on Sunday. So, yeah,
go well, Big Woody.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, his dad, Herop, he's not the best rugby watcher,
he's told me himself. It was bad enough for the Barbers,
so he'll be doing a bit of pacing up and
down at Rugby Park. But, look, Woody, all the best.
And on the Smith the Stags as well after last week. Well,
let's be honest, the less said the better. I gave
up at half-time.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Yeah, there's no positives really to put on that performances there.
Speaker 6 (38:10):
It was a really.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Disappointing outing in Pukekohe and I think if you talked
to any of the players or any of the people
involved in the management of the team, they wouldn't be
hiding away from that. It would have been, and I
understand it was, a fairly open and frank review on
the Monday. But I guess the best thing about sport
is you only have to wait for a week to
(38:35):
turn it all around. But it is a bit of
a challenge. This is a strong Bay of Plenty team
that will be coming down. Possibly not as strong as
they have been for the last couple of years, but
definitely a talented side for all of that.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
The one thing I will say, I'll wait and skip
to the interview with Sean Withey. At the end of
the show, I was going to call it, it was
a little bit of a show in the second half,
but he looked genuinely grumpy.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
He looked really frustrated. That's what you want.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
I mean, yes, it's the Stags and we're going to struggle,
but the fact that Withey wants to, he was so
grumpy in that interview.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
That's what I liked.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
Yeah, well, I mean, Sean Withey's just one of those wholehearted.
Yeah, he just gets stuck in, doesn't he? If you
had 15 Sean Withies, then you probably wouldn't have a
performance like we had against counties. But just the mistakes
were so hard to watch, weren't they? And the Stags
actually put themselves in position. to score on numerous occasions,
(39:33):
but it just seemed like it was sort of cut
and paste. They'd get themselves into the 22 or even
within 10 metres of the goal line and just managed
to come up with a fumble or some sort of turnover.
And then on the other side of the ball, the
defence just wasn't good enough for a representative team in
the first division of the MPC, and the scoreline showed that.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
The All Blacks have got this, arguably, an exhibition game
against the Springboks in Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Are you reading much into this?
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Well, it's... You know, it's a money spinner for New
Zealand rugby and for South African rugby. It feels like
a bit of a bolt-on. Originally, this was always talked
about as a four-test series, and then all week we
were told it's actually a three-test series in South Africa
plus one game in Baltimore. It'll be interesting to see
(40:25):
how the whole thing unfolds in another attempt, I suppose,
to roll out a game in the States and get
a bit of buzz going over there so the All
Blacks need a win, let's be honest but it'll be
some sort of challenge considering some of the personnel that
they'll be missing particularly Artie Savia, there'll be quite a
(40:49):
rejig when that team gets named obviously the loose forwards,
the midfield are going to need some sort of a
rejig there. Will it be Richie Mowanger's chance to come
back into that all-black jersey? So, yeah, there'll definitely be
enough storylines to keep us interested.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
New Zealand Warriors, they're in the playoffs. They've got the
Dolphins at Mount Smart, although if their next game, because
they've got two bites of the cherry at home, qualifying second,
the next game, by the sound of it, is going
to be at Eden Park, courtesy of Peter Volandis, who
pretty much runs the NRL.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
It's all about the money.
Speaker 6 (41:21):
Yeah, two bites of the cherry.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
But, gee, they'd love to win this one and give
themselves a week off and guarantee that next home game,
wouldn't they?
Speaker 5 (41:32):
That would be a great outcome.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
The Dolphins, lots of pressure on them, their first ever
playoff game. So, yeah, this will be, I mean, the
occasion's going to be huge. Just talking to someone this
morning who was at the last round Robin game and
just buzzing about the crowd atmosphere. that they get there
at Mount Smart or Go Media. So, yeah, it is
(41:55):
a shame that they'll, you know, it almost seems inevitable
that they're going to be changing venues, but the mighty
dollar definitely plays a part in this day and age,
doesn't it?
Speaker 1 (42:06):
It's interesting the rhetoric coming out of the Australian media
claiming the Warriors are just schmuzzling all over Rugby Union
at the moment. It's not getting to that point, but
you can't argue the fact the Warriors are getting a
lot more airtime.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Yeah, definitely, and I think a lot of it is
the type of game, and the Warriors have just been
so consistent all season, haven't they? This is not a
team that in those other years that we remember where
the Warriors did make the playoffs and got into this situation,
they got there by some razzle-dazzle at the right sort
(42:39):
of times and some results going their way, but the
Warriors have well and truly earned their place in that
top two and playing just some really great, colourful football.
You don't have to be a league fan necessarily to
want to switch on and watch them each week. They're
just a great entertainment package and watching them play at
home in front of their home crowd and the way
(43:00):
they engage with their people is just a joy to watch.
It's been a great season and I'd love to see
them kick on.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
Just finally as well, we'll touch on this. I had
Murray Heath on the show yesterday. You guys had him
on your rural podcast this week.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
The Get Together, the 1970s Southland team.
Speaker 3 (43:17):
Yeah, you'd love to be a fly on the wall
for this reunion, wouldn't you? Although it'll be a big
shift over the weekend for these guys, but the stories
are going to be great, and what a joy to
bring that generation back together, probably for one last time,
and hopefully this is sort of a sign of things
to come, that the union and people who are good
(43:41):
at organising these things, like Heathie, who's just a a
legend when it comes to bringing people together. This is
something that they can continue with in the future.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
Good on you, Nathan. Enjoy the weekend. Dantlers up.
Speaker 5 (43:53):
Dantlers up, mate.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
Laugh out loud with Ag Proud, because life on the
land can be a laughing matter.
Speaker 1 (44:02):
Brought to us by Shearwell Data, working to help the
livestock farmer. Two cannibal friends were sitting together over lunch,
politely sipping their afternoon tea. One looked across the table
and asked, hey, word around the village is that you
and your boyfriend had a massive blowout argument last night.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Oh, absolutely, she nodded. It was dreadful. So where do
things stand between the two of you right now? The
woman paused.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Took a delicate sip from a teacup, smiled and replied, well,
right now, I'm just letting him stew. I reckon we
might do an extended dad joke session tomorrow because we can, right?
Speaker 2 (44:38):
That's us for the afternoon anyway. I'm Andy Muir.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
The show is brought to you by Peter's Genetics. You have,
of course, been listening to The Muster. Potty's up shortly.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
See you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
PGG writes and presents stock selling action that occurred at
the Charlton sale yard this morning.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
David Morrison's on the ground to give us a rundown
on prices. Good afternoon, Teagle. How did we go?
Speaker 5 (44:58):
Good afternoon, Andy. Yeah, it looked pretty good. Not a
big galley near today. Obviously just that time of year,
but we'll just start with the lambs. The best of
the lambs, very, very, very big lambs. 440 to 450.
The top, obviously, the very top end.
Speaker 7 (45:15):
And then into the middle end, also very good lambs.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
Sort of range from sort of 250 to 280, um,
with the light of the prime lamps around the sort
of 200 to 230. Uh, but like I said, small
yardage there today. Uh, no rams to talk about today. Uh,
into the mutton section. Mutton's very, very strong at the moment. Um, uh,
big year we used up over 300. Uh, medium use,
(45:39):
sort of early 200s. Um, and just with the lighter end,
still just around the sort of 130 to 140, but, uh,
Good demand. Unfortunately, supply is short. Store lambs, yeah, badly
near a wee bit now. Yeah, the buying power for
the lambs has dried up. The best of the store
(45:59):
lambs today, 170 to 180. Mediums for 120 to 140.
And the very, very, very poor lambs, the lambs not
really wanted at all, and it's for $ 80 to $ 90.
And that wraps it up, Andy.
Good afternoon and welcome to the muster on Hokonui. Andy
Mui here and the show is brought to you, of course,
by Peter's Genetics.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Thanks for your company. It's overcast.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Sprawly showers have occurred throughout the south this morning. Currently,
there is a bit of sunshine, but I dare say
that is false economy. We're going to look at the
weather shortly, but, yeah, look, after a couple of days
of decent weather, about 4.30 last night, you could just
see something brewing, and it just got cooler, a bit
more rain. Phil Duncan of Weather Watch will look at
the southern forecast in depth for the next seven days.
(00:34):
Next week, it does look as though things are looking
a bit rosier. Right, straight into it now. Duran Duran,
the music for your Thursday afternoon. Great song this from 1993,
Ordinary World. This afternoon is rain with breezy westerlies and
(01:04):
a high of 9. Friday, showers of breezy westerlies, 4
and 10. Westerlies are pretty much the currency over the
next five days. Saturday, rain with breezy westerlies, 6 and 10. Sunday,
showers of breezy westerlies, 6 and 12. And Monday, this
is looking better, cloudy with breezy west nor westerlies, 8
and 16.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So temperatures to hand for a Thursday.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Heriot 6.2, Northern Southland 7.1, Riverton 9, Te Anau 6.5,
Tutoroa 8, Winton 6.4. And Woodland 7.5 as we start
the year with Don Moore farming at Kennington. Getting through
calving now. Quite a bit going on on the farm
as Don looks. He's been on that operation now for
a couple of months. Always got a bit of stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
On the go. So we just see how things are
going as calving gets through. Then not far from Kennington.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Is the Riviera of the South. Riverton, Geordie Yee joins
us to see how things are going there. Sheep, beef
and dairy farming. Donna Hamilton from Beef and Lamb New
Zealand talks lamb autopsies. Not something you talk about on
the radio every day, let's be honest, but with the
southern lens, pretty relevant to what we're seeing at the moment.
Daniel O'Regan, he is involved with AgriFutures on.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
A pretty cool thing happening at Telford.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Today for all the school kids from an agri-focused, agri-sense,
I suppose. It's like Young Farmers, a young farmer of
the year competition, but on a school-level scale, just getting
kids interested in the ag sector. And resident farming guru,
resident sporting guru, Nathan Burden, stags up against Bay of
Plenty on Sunday, and a local lad who's returning to
(02:39):
the fold. Dave Morrison of PGG writes in, gives the
rundown on stock prices from Charlton. And we'll start the
hour then with Don Moore. And to Tony from Gore
that gave me your phone call not.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
That long ago. Thanks, mate.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I appreciated the joke. I think tomorrow I'm kind of
looking at the moment. Perhaps I'm going to do an
extended laugh out loud and just do a heap of
dad jokes because it's a Friday and it's the middle
of September and because we can. I'll show on that
and see what I reckon. Anyway, we'll crank into it
next with Don Moore. Don Moore gets us underway this afternoon.
(03:20):
He's dairy farming down at Kennington. He is part of
the Fonterra Shareholders Council and he's out in the trenches.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Don, good afternoon. How's everything?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Oh, just a box of.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Fluffies, yeah. Yeah, no, the rain obviously came back in
for everyone last night at some stage and.
Made us, just reminded us again that don't enjoy that
sunshine too much. Yeah, it was a beautiful couple of days.
But yeah, I think we're back into a few days
(03:51):
of rain anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It was just a tease. 48 hours. It was just bliss.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And today we've had all these nasty showers coming through
here in Gore anyway. I mean, down there, how wet
are ground conditions?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yeah, it's just pretty wet out. Yeah, you wouldn't get
it too wet around here. around much of the paddocks
these days. But, yeah, the cows had a bit of
a reprieve in the people for a couple of days,
and this is springtime, so we'll get some more good
weather at some stage.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
It'll happen, I think, next week.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
There's a few nor'westers in there, but temperatures will be up,
so perhaps start drying this ground out, which it needs to.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Yeah, hopefully, hopefully.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, we'll sort of keep moving cows on and things, but, yeah,
that's the way it goes. We're still... Well, we're still
enjoying things, so that's good.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
That's a good way to be. You've just moved down there,
so that's always a bonus.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Yeah, I do get mentioned to me occasionally, you know, well,
you wanted to move down here.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
That'll grow pretty good grass there when the season's humming,
I'd imagine.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
Oh, yeah, it doesn't stop.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Yeah, no, it's fantastic. That's one of the reasons.
Speaker 6 (04:59):
I wanted to move here, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Fair enough. So carving, you're getting through? Yeah, we are.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yeah, we're probably about 80%, 85%. So we're not 85%.
We're not far off it. And so, yeah, no, second along,
we had a big day yesterday, which was good because
when you have a big day, when you don't have
many to go, it takes a big chunk out. So, yeah,
we're looking forward to the end of the season, to
the end of the calving season and get ready for
(05:27):
the next bit. But usually, you know, by the time
you get to the end of the calving season, you
free up your days and the sun shines out a
bit more and And you can probably have a day off.
It would be nice.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
You say it was a big day. How many cars
would you be talking?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Oh, look, I think we had about 16, 17 yesterday. Yeah.
So that's a pretty big day for this time of
the year. It's not a big day early on in
the calving season, but that's a big day for now
when you're sort of, that's over 10% of your numbers
to go.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Weather aside, and obviously the weather's a big driver in August, September.
um carving though it's gone to plant.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Yeah pretty good yeah yeah um i've uh bitten off
a bit more than i can chew i think i've
said that before with wonder projects but um but uh
yeah no it's uh i mean every day we're making
some difference and uh and making changes that that improve
the farm so uh that's that's quite you know that's
rewarding that's what helps you get up every day when
(06:27):
you're when you can go out there and notice the
thing that you changed yesterday is helping what you're doing today.
So that's bloody awesome, actually.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Well, you've got these projects on the go. When are
you hoping to have everything up and running properly? Because
it's a marathon, not a sprint with what you're doing.
Speaker 7 (06:43):
Hey, this is a farm, man.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
It'll take years.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
It's never done.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
No, no, this is when you say you bought something
at a clearing sale 20 years ago, or your old
man did, and you're finally going to get around to
using that bolt that's.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
A real odd size. It's imperial.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, come in handies, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah. Just the nature of the game. Right, as far
as the season, though, you get through August, you get
through September. Do you enjoy this time of year? Is
it enjoyable, busy, or is it pretty hectic?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Absolutely love it. Yeah, it's that opportunity to reset and
give it another crack and see if you can do better.
Every year you get that opportunity. So, no, it's bloody awesome.
And we're making so many changes and improvements on the
farm that it's hard not to sort of be invigorated
by that. even if you have the hard days and
bits and pieces like I say you're making all these
(07:33):
changes it's just enjoyable.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Moving farms, is that part of the reason you're so
invigorated as such?
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah definitely, I mean it's all the things that we
wanted to do on this farm that's invigorating and you
know we're certainly missing people up in Gore old mates
and bits and pieces and that's a bit harder but Look,
we didn't see that much at this time of the
year usually anyway. So, no, it's great fun and I've got,
(08:02):
you know, we've got farm projects, we've got house projects,
I've got shed projects and all sorts of things to do.
So there's not going to be any shortage of things
to do for the next wee while and a bit
of motivation.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
That's a good way to be. What about the staff?
How are they finding this time of year?
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, look, they're.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
Doing really well.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
We've got a new guy came on this season, started
dairy farming, and he's absolutely thriving. And our manager too.
We've got one guy, unfortunately, off at the moment with
an injury. So that's put a bit of pressure on.
But look, the systems and things that we've got in
place just allow us to keep on ticking on. It
(08:44):
probably just slows down, probably more slows down the projects
that I want to do because I've sort of got
to make sure that we're getting all the day-to-day basics done. But, no,
it's good. Yeah, they're happy.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
But at the same time, you've got a vision as
to where you, Jess, and the family want the farm
to be. And so, what, as far as goal setting,
I suppose this comes into it, you just try and
realign what you want to do.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Yeah, you've just got to sort of say to yourself, well, actually,
everything's operational. And this time of the year when things
crop up, you've just got to do the basics and
do the basics well, and that's fine. And you've got
to be okay with that. You know, sometimes you get
frustrated and you've just got to sort of recheck yourself,
(09:30):
and that's probably where I've been this week.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
As far as the payout, are you pretty optimistic it's
going to stay where it is?
Speaker 6 (09:40):
Yeah, I'm optimistic, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Yeah, I think, you know, we've got a long way
to play out, but... I think if I was to
think back on my comments and thoughts over last season,
I could see a lot more downside than upside. risk.
But I think it's probably a bit more balanced this season, actually.
(10:04):
So if that's a real positive, then if that's a positive,
then that's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
When you say there's a bit more balance, what do
you mean by that exactly?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Well, I just think we've seen some of that volatility
play out over the last 12 to 24 months.
Speaker 6 (10:21):
It's been a pretty hectic.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
World and we're still seeing relatively, you know, very good
commodity prices. And I think if this has sort of
become the norm, this volatility, then if you look at
the other drivers around, supply, demand and all those sort
of stories around global supply and bits and pieces, I'm
(10:43):
feeling quite optimistic.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Just food supply in general, something New Zealand does really
well and we talk about the figures of what Southland
does for the GDP, we don't need to go there
because we know we're more than holding our own weight.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
Yeah, that's right. And look, I think ultimately I'll be wrong.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
No, you've got to back yourself in your judgement though,
you can only play what's in front of you and Jeez.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I think, like I say, I'm optimistic. Hopefully that plays out.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Hopefully it does, Don. Hey, we'll let you carry on.
All the best for the rest of the carving. We'll
catch up again, eh?
Speaker 6 (11:20):
Yeah, very good.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Cheers, Andy.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Don Moore, Positivity Plus. It's what you want at the moment.
No need for energy drinks. A lot of good stuff
going on. Great to see that positivity in the sector.
You're listening to The Muster. Just down from Kennington is Riverton,
the River Era.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Of the South. Geordie Yee, we catch up.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Welcome back to the muster, Geordie Ede Farms at the
Riviera of the South, which is Riverton. Probably a little
bit more water than they're used to around there at
the moment. Geordie, good afternoon, how's things?
Speaker 7 (11:58):
Yeah, g'day Andy, how you getting on? Yeah, she's a
bit sort of deja vu, same old story, third year
in a row really, but it might be a wee
bit earlier this year.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Is that how you'd summarise conditions to date compared to
the last two springs?
Speaker 7 (12:10):
Yeah, well, the last two springs we've got well over
250 mils pretty much for September, October. But this year
we've got 200 for August. So I'm hoping it's coming
a bit earlier and we're going to get a better
run out at the end, really, to be fair. I hope, anyway.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
You've normally got a healthy rainfall there anyway, Geordie. Whereabouts
would you be now in comparison?
Speaker 7 (12:29):
We're being on average, really. We're being on average. This
time last year we were behind average, so we always
probably knew that something was coming. So hopefully, you know,
we've been on average where, you know, that should help
some areas. Some degree, hopefully. You know, we've already had
sort of 80, over 80 mils for September. You normally
average around that 200 for September. So, you know, hopefully
we're over halfway there.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
That'd be good.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
I'll take that.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
What are you like for feed there? Because your soil
temperature is over there notoriously high compared to the rest
of the province.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I think today it's around nine degrees.
Speaker 7 (12:59):
Yeah, well, it's been a bit of a challenge. Funny
you say that, because we've probably mowed through more. I
know I've put a bit of nitrogen on for the
sheep farm here this year in the last week or so.
I haven't got as probably much as I have in
the past, and that's the first time I've had to
do that since we've taken over the dairy farm. We
haven't put any nitrogen on the dairy farm yet, just
probably from trying to, you know, when nitrogen's $ 1, 300 a tonne,
(13:19):
you sort of try to utilise its worth, really. And
so maybe in the next couple of weeks, we may
look at putting some on down there. But, you know,
we've had to speed up the round down there, just
the fact of not making pasture damage. We're still leaving
a bit of covers behind, and it's recovering pretty well. So,
you know, we're just, you know, the south and spring,
it just keeps giving, and, you know, it could be
a long road. So you sort of, you don't want
(13:40):
to be mashing it up now.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
How's calving gone on the dairy farm?
Speaker 6 (13:44):
Yeah, gone really well.
Speaker 7 (13:45):
You know, we're into the last sort of probably 15%, 20% now. So, yeah,
so the AI, I think, as of last night, there
was only about three AI cows left to calve. So
we're into the... well, AI replacement cows to calve. So
we're then on to Charolais for a couple of weeks,
which is a first try for me. And then we're
(14:05):
into short-shear stations to finish it off.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Charolais, tell us more about that. Sounds interesting.
Speaker 7 (14:10):
Yeah, well, it's sort of something that Beef and Lamb
New Zealand Deer and Deer have been working together to
put the Charolais over the dairy to get that dairy beef.
And the calf comes out all the same colour. So
it certainly creates a good market for those cows, Kiwi
Cross cows, that don't chuck out that Hereford Cross that's
(14:31):
all mottled. They chuck out a more beef calf that,
on dairy and beef and lamb stats, can keep up
with the pure beef, really. So, you know, I think
it's certainly something to look to for the future. I'm
having a bit of a dab. This is only 30-odd,
so we'll see how it goes. Yeah, go into it
and make it a bit bigger.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Well, given the way the beef market is, it's a no-brainer,
I suppose.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Yeah, it is, it is.
Speaker 7 (14:55):
Yeah, I know a few, I've got a mate in
Canterbury that's been doing it for a while, and he's
actually got contracts for those four-day-old Charolais calves to go
on to. And, you know, that's certainly something that I
think around here that would be quite lucrative for a
rearer to take these Charolais calves because there certainly could
be a good market at the other end for them.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I see.
Speaker 7 (15:13):
There's all markets out there for them as yearlings in
that there now, and it's sort of specifying Charolais, Friesian Cross.
or Dairy Cross.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So officially lambing, when is it due to get underway?
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Yeah, we spread out a couple of days ago, so
we're just winding into it. There's not much this morning,
which is quite good, because that was fairly fresh, and
winch will come through there last night. But yeah, we
sort of probably will be in the peak of it
probably early next week, I would say. And then the
hoggets kick off after that, and then we won't have
much left by the end of September, really.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah, when are the hoggets due?
Speaker 7 (15:49):
They normally kick in about the 22nd of September. I
vaccinated them yesterday and split the twins up out of them,
so the twins are now separate. So they're just sort
of fed ad-lib now. The singles are still on break,
and they'll stay on a break pretty much until they're right,
until they lamb. Try and keep the size of that
lamb down a bit.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I asked Dom Moore just previously about this time of year,
and he says he actually enjoys it because you can
just see the big plan coming together on the farm.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
How do you find it?
Speaker 7 (16:17):
Yeah, no, it's a whole year's work. And I mean,
nobody really realises that, you know, your whole plan for
a sheep farm really comes together in these next two,
three weeks. And, you know, a bit of weather and
pear shape can chuck out. But, yeah, particularly with the hoggarts,
you know, we're sort of finding out with our hoggart
group that it's all very well scanning them. there's a
(16:39):
lot more management goes into getting that lamb survived to
the tailing pen and really it's all down to getting
the survival of the twins really and that comes from
good feeding and maybe a certain ram you put over
them but particularly the great feeding and management really leads
to it to make it much easier.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Hoggarts are interesting for me, given the way that everybody's
embracing them, the way they have. I think Pete Gardine
said all those dry hoggarts, he chops their head off,
he's getting great money too into the 300s. And I've
talked about this a bit and probably continue to do
so as well. It's just fascinating that the change of
practice towards hoggarts, especially around breeding.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Yeah, well, I mean, I always had it when I
come back home to the farm 23, 24 years ago
that I wanted to get my wages out of the hoggarts.
And so that was, you know, the wages down the hoggarts,
but certainly the last three or four years have certainly
got a bit more than your wages if we've been
paid bloody well. So, yes, it's a big management thing, but,
I mean, they're quite a good money earner. And then
(17:36):
on the side, if you want to work the dry
hoggarts like we have done for about the last 15 years,
it's quite a good income coming in in August when
you need it.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I suppose it's something you're learning every year as well.
Learning is a horrible word, but truth be known, when
it comes to hoggart lambing, you're probably picking up different
little things every season.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Oh yeah, no, it's good because we've been doing it
for 25 years and apart from the group we're still
picking up something new every year. There's no doubt since
we've formed this group it's got a hell of a
lot easier because a lot of people sort of had
a go at it a while ago. I think a
big key is don't lamb them the same time as
you use because they do take a bit more time.
You get well rewarded for it but they do take
(18:16):
a bit more effort and I think it's well rewarded
in the end.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Right, there's a bit of code on this week here.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Which game has you more excited, the All Blacks playing
averted commas festival game against the Springboks in Baltimore or
the Stags looking to get their third win in just
over 365 days against Bayer Plenty on Sunday?
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Or do you have other things to worry about?
Speaker 7 (18:38):
Yeah, I don't know. I have only watched the All
Black games in bits and pieces. I don't fantasise getting
up in the middle of the night and watching them now.
The last Maybe in the middle of winter I might
have been a bit more keen, but sort of every
hour in the night is pretty precious now to get
a bit of sleep as you get into your mid-40s.
I'd like the Stags to be out of hope, but hell,
(19:00):
I always hoped that that year, but hell, yeah, they're
just sort of, I don't know. I think we need
to be still looking after more of our own homegrown players.
I mean, that's the year, I think, but I just, yeah,
I have hope, but... And, you know, being sort of
half-by involved in that set-up 20 years ago, I'd hoped
that things would have improved a bit. But no, you know,
the year of nibs and goof was a good run,
(19:22):
but we don't seem to be able to repeat it.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Woody Kirkwood starting on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
He's a guy who's had a hideous run with injuries,
but this is a good news story.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
He deserves a shot going in his lock. Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
Those are the sort of guys that are big around
there too. Jake Boglin was another one that probably had
a bit of a dab two or three years ago.
I mean, you know, there is the talent out there.
You know, the other one was probably Mark Wells. He
used to float along there. He was a good one
there to fit in along the way, but.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
yeah there's a few coming through that.
Speaker 7 (19:52):
Academy you know we've got a what are we third
or fourth year of the Southam boys doing really well
in the first 15 but we just don't seem to
be able to flow it on to the stags hopefully
you know it might be still in the future we'll
see Yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I'll just finish with this thought.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I mean, when they started this competition, there was 14
debutantes in that squad, and we're getting told that, yeah,
they need to click. It's not going to happen overnight.
But on the other hand, we're being told the MPC
is a sprint, not a marathon. It happened so quickly,
and it's finished again.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
So we can only live in hope, Geordie. That's all
we can.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Do, right?
Speaker 7 (20:27):
Yeah, they live in hope too. It just probably disappoints
me that some of those players come and you can
tell by the look of them that they're not fit. And,
I mean, you've got to hit that ground running and
you need.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
To be fit.
Speaker 7 (20:37):
You know, there's no use doing fitness this time of
the year. You need to be fit when they arrive.
And I think that's the challenge to this modern game
is being fit.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Go and get them on the lambing beat for a
couple of days and give them a dose of Southern
Life Geordie.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Always good to catch up.
Speaker 7 (20:51):
Yeah, 100%. Colin Meads Fitness. Cheers, Andy.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
G'day.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Geordie Yead, farming over at the self-proclaimed Riviera of the South,
which is Riverton. You're listening to The Muster. Donna Hamilton
is up next from Beef and Lab New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
The Muster's animal health segment with NS Vets.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Adding value through practical advice and service. No gimmicks, no potions,
total vet care. In the Beef and Lab slot this
afternoon is Donna Hamilton. We're talking about... So autopsies on
lambs and the likes.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
I mean, the reality is at this time of year,
livestock can equate to dead stock as well.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
But just why are some of these lambs dying?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I mean, yes, the weather isn't flash, but every now
and then you sit there and ponder why a lamb
just keels over for no apparent reason. So Donna's going
to give us a bit of an understanding about autopsies
on lambs and what actually we're trying to delve into
with information.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Good afternoon, Donna. Thanks for joining us again.
Speaker 8 (21:53):
Hi, Andy. Good to be back.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Lamb post-mortems, it's.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Well, you know, when lambs die, you sit there and
do ponders sometimes, and you silly bugger, you were full
last night, what's the go?
Speaker 8 (22:05):
That's right, and sometimes, you know, you do just come
away shaking your head, thinking, I don't know why you died,
but sometimes you can gain some really good information by
having a look at those lambs and seeing what's going
on in there. So we have done a recent With
Beef and Lamb workshop at Geoff Farm the other day,
a couple of weeks ago, and there was a great
(22:27):
number of farmers turn out to find out how they
can do the postmortems themselves or see what can be
gained from doing postmortems. So yeah, there is lots to
be gained by looking at some dead lambs. So you
can do a couple of different things with, working out
which ones you're going to post-mortem. And it's worth having
(22:49):
a chat to your vet to work out what's going
to give you the best information, but also what's actually
practical for you to do. And it might just be
doing a bunch one day and then going from there.
But it certainly is worthwhile having a look in 20
to 30 lambs or more to see why they've died
and at what stage they've died. And we can gain
(23:11):
a bit of that information from that. getting a scalpel
or a knife out and some scales and having a
look at them.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Doing a post-mortem on a lamb yourself, it's just a
big lesson in.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Biology, I'd imagine.
Speaker 8 (23:24):
It is, yes, absolutely. And our farmers don't generally look
at animals like this, but they are used to doing
dog tuckers and killing the odd animal and having a
look inside them. So there might be a bit of
interest sparked then or have some kids keen to have
a look. But yes, you can have a wee look. Well,
(23:45):
we start with what's happening on the outside for a start.
So initially, first thing is that we weigh them, get
a weight on them. And you can use like the
old dial kitchen scales with the dial on them. They're
really handy. But you could use like a fish weight
weighing scale or a luggage set of scales. So we
(24:06):
get a weight on them. So recording just weights. If
that was the only thing you did, you'd actually still
gain some really useful information. So getting a weight's helpful.
Then have a look at their feet. If they've got
little slippers on, so the little membrane across their feet
comes out like a little padding over the feet. And
once they stand up, that comes off. So that's an
(24:27):
indication as to whether they've stood or not. you'd be
able to have a check for them to see if
they've got any swelling or if they've got any yellow discolouration,
which can indicate that they've taken a little bit of
time to get born, but too long, possibly. And you
can feel what's happening with their navel cord.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
A lot of hot boxes going at the moment.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
At the moment, as people try and look after those
cold lambs, hypothermic lambs, and give them that boost to
keep them alive, what's some good things to remember around this?
Speaker 8 (24:55):
Yeah, these cold lambs, the first thing they need to
do is have some energy so that they can warm up.
And so you could be actively warming them up, but
by doing that, you're just potentially using the last of
the energy. And so we would encourage people to consider
using a dextrose injection into the abdomen before they get
(25:18):
into the warming up room or into the truck, however
you like to warm them up. So giving them that
energy source before you warm them is really important. So
we did this as a demonstration at Jeff Farm last
week and the farmers who, you know, some farmers said
to me, oh, that looks heaps easier than I thought
it would be. And somebody else said, oh, that's amazing stuff.
(25:40):
It just about brings them back from dead. So it's
a form of basically sugar into the abdomen in a
form that they can use. And you don't have to be,
too precise on how you do it you just inject
it just above the navel and yeah you can you
can really bring these animals back to life by giving
(26:03):
them some energy and then warming them up and then
give them a feed of milk but you can also
use it on a cold afternoon or an evening where
you think oh gosh that little guy come out bad
timing mate because it's some horrible weather coming just pop
some in and then leave mum to look after them. And,
you know, sometimes they can result in, you know, much
(26:25):
better paddock survival when they come out the next day. So, yeah,
there's some fact sheets on Beef and Land website and
most of your clinics will have some sheets around how
to do it and sell the dextrose, which does actually
need to be diluted, but that's included in your instructions there.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
So a lot of people tube lambs. Do you recommend injecting?
Speaker 8 (26:50):
Yeah, I would give that injection initially because the tubing
is providing a food source, but the lamb's actually got
to process that, and the dextrose injection around the gut
is readily available for them to use. So you would
give the dextrose, warm them up, and then give them
(27:10):
a feed. and you can chew them if you need to, or,
you know, hopefully they might have perked up enough to
have a suckle.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Yes, hoping the weather settles down, Donna, and we can
go back to having a bit of big yellow in
the sky.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Thanks for your time, as always.
Speaker 8 (27:24):
Wouldn't that be great?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Yep.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
Good luck to everybody out there.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Thanks, Andy.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Donna Hamilton in the beef and lamb slot.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Click beeflamnz.com slash events to get the e-diary into your
inbox every Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Daniel O'Regan's up next, and before the end of the hour,
Nathan Burden.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
Thanks, yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
This is the muster on Hokanui. We're away to Telford now,
of course, just out of Balclutha. We are catching up
with Daniel O'Regan, the general manager of AgriFutures. There's a big, well,
it's like a mini Young Farmer of the Year for
school kids happening at Telford today.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Daniel, thanks for joining us on the muster. It sounds
like it's pretty busy.
Speaker 6 (28:06):
It is. Yeah, we've got about, oh, maybe about 250 kids.
It's a bit lower this year than last year, thanks
to influenza A. That's sort of ravaging our schools at
the moment. But we've still got a good number of
students coming and about 18 secondary schools from Waitaki Girls
in the North through to Fiordland College and everywhere in between.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Now Clash of the Colleges, as this has been dubbed,
what's the basis around it?
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Sure.
Speaker 6 (28:34):
We're part of the New Zealand Rural Games Trust and
many years ago we had a chair who was a
former teacher and she challenged us because we're pretty good
at rural games in Palmerston North, used to be in Queenstown,
and it's That's really good at working with families and,
you know, grandparents and kids and parents' kids, but it
wasn't too great with the youth. So she challenged us
(28:55):
to come up with a concept, and we developed the
Clash of the Colleges and started six years ago in Palmy,
and now that's moved to five, six locations around the country.
Talbot will be here three years in a row now,
and it's basically... 16 to 17 modules. Students get six
minutes at each. It's a pan sector, so it covers everything.
(29:15):
Resolution Apps has joined us this year, so they're doing
a little bit of health and safety, but also digital
paddocks as well. Silver Fern Farms put on barbecue. Fingard's amazing.
And they've also got a meat module. Thoroughbred Racing's down
from North Island, so they've got a hobby horse race
and a few questions around thoroughbred racing. And Telford's doing
(29:38):
the old handpiece thing. and quad bike tyre change. And
we've also got Zenterra here doing a fine wall module.
CRV and Salmon are doing a joint genetics module. Otago
Polytechnic's got an arborist one, you know, not tying. And
(29:59):
then the central campus has turned up and created a
Vintner one. And no, the kids don't have to drink alcohol.
They do get to make a sniff test. It's wine glasses,
but it's not wine inside them. It's just different smells
that you can have incorporated into wine and get the
(30:19):
students to identify those.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Daniel, we've seen young farmers with a real renaissance in
the past 18 to 24 months, especially down here in
the south. Do you think agriculture is becoming sexy again
for younger people?
Speaker 6 (30:35):
Yeah. We pulled this together and created it back in
the 2000s and that sort of stuff. And some audience
will know there was a lot of stuff about climate
change and all that sort of stuff, street kids' purchases.
And there was a bit of shame associated with being
in food and fibre industry. And that's where we sort
of came along. And we created this program to do
(30:55):
it in school time because we know all of us
involved grew up on farms and we all know the
pressures farming families are under. And you can't compete with
rugby and netball and drama and all that sort of stuff.
So we do it in school time and we create
modules that are relevant to the curriculum. And we also
(31:16):
create modules that teachers can use back in the classroom that, again,
relate back to the curriculum. So it's all free, thanks
to lovely sponsors, Land Based Training's in there, Rabobank's in there,
Massey University and Ford. Got me a little van that
I travel the country in and pack it up with
all my gear. And, yeah, we go from Telford, got
(31:38):
Canterbury next week, got students from Timaru through to Richmond
going to that one. So every year it just gets
a little bit bigger. We're trying to grow slow. because
there's only so much money in the budget, and every
year we try to add on a new location.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Now, you're in an area where farming is notoriously popular.
What about further up north with the denser population bases?
Are you getting buy-in in those regions?
Speaker 6 (32:04):
Yeah, so this is the best clash that we have.
The schools get it. They know it. It's taught in
every school. Where I'm from, which is sort of mid-central
North Island, around Palmerston North and Whanganui, There's very few schools.
So up there, there's Fielding High, Palmer Boys, over in Wairarapa,
there's Rathkill, and they're super houses of Agateport. But, you know,
(32:28):
all your other schools are really.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
Low on it.
Speaker 6 (32:32):
We've just got a pilot with the Ministry of Social Development,
and we're in four schools in the section north, in
Te Oti, Hachipaura, QEC, and Palmerston North Girls, and we're
doing a 10-week programme. getting these kids interested. They've got
kids there that are interested, they just can't access Ag
and Health. And what we're trying to do is prove
to the schools that there's a demand, and then we
(32:53):
hand them over to the land-based trainings, we hand them
over to the primary ITOs, build up the interest, and
then channel that interest into something, a program that they
can get credits on. Southland Otago is the powerhouse. Canterbury's
a little bit, one or two parmas north, that picks
up again, and Waikato's big, Taranaki's big, But we were
(33:14):
in South Auckland, and it's getting bigger in South Auckland.
Like the Pukakoes and the Papatoetoe, they're starting to turn up,
which is absolutely amazing. Beforehand, it was pretty much Mount
Albert Grabber was the powerhouse up there, because they've got
their own farm in the centre of Auckland, which is
just stunning but unbelievable. And now, this year, we added
(33:36):
by a plenty, and the majority of the schools came
from Waikato to take part, so... Got a little bit
of work there to get those Bay of Plenty schools.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
I suppose it's one thing getting buy-in from the students,
but it's another one getting it from the teachers as well.
Speaker 6 (33:50):
Yes, absolutely. And you're competing against a whole lot of
other stuff that's going on. But what we do is free.
Doesn't cost the schools. All they've got to do is
pay for transportation. All the module holders are here. They
are here for free. Everyone's just generous, giving time, and
we don't want any cost on farming families. We don't
(34:12):
want any cost on schools. And that's how we sort
of break into them.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
So how does the day conclude? What happens to finish up?
Speaker 6 (34:20):
So we've got Minister Andrew Hoggard, Minister Mark Patterson, and
the local MP for Tauri, Ingrid Leary, are turning up,
and they're going to help with the prize giving, as
well as the head of the farm manager here from Telford.
we have a barbecue to feed them and then Tangaroa
(34:41):
Walker is our MC and he runs the Hunger Games
and there's usually a lot of screaming involved with that
and the kids are going to have to I think
go under some jumping poles and jump poles for the
horses and then it's basically eat a cold pie drink
(35:01):
a glass of milk and turn around about 30 times
it's usually a bit.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
Of fun.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Hey, good on you, Daniel.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Thanks for your time this afternoon. St Kevin's boy done good.
Good to catch up with you, mate.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
All the best.
Speaker 6 (35:14):
I got you, man.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
Good chat.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Daniel O'Regan of AgriFutures. Great to see these events that
are going on. And like Daniel alluded there, the South
very much driving these numbers for young people. And this
is where it flows on to the young farmers movement
as well, as I keep talking about. Our resident sporting guru,
Nathan Burden, is up next. The Stags have got a
bit of local blood going in there on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 5 (35:42):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 4 (35:45):
Terry Flakes!
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Welcome back to the muster. Southland Rural Support Trust presents
Brunch On Us. These events are occurring over the next
couple of weeks in various locations around the province. So
take the opportunity if they're coming to your area to
take a bit of time off farm while the hard
yak is going about and go and connect with people,
have a coffee and a snag on them. So details
are on the Facebook page as well. Southland Rural Support
(36:10):
Trust doing a great job at the moment. Our resident
sporting guru is Nathan Burden. Good afternoon, Nath.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Straight off the cuff, Woody Kirkwood is back for the Stags.
This is the redemption story we want.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, just possibly, well, not possibly, definitely the unluckiest man
in Southland rugby by some margin. He had two seasons
blighted by knee injuries and he's just worked so hard
to and shown so much resilience to get himself back
into a position where the Stags can name him in
(36:43):
the starting line-up for this game against Bay of Plenty. So,
I mean, I'll have my fingers and toes and everything crossed,
hoping that he can get the debut. I guess this
will hopefully be the actual debut, get the debut that
he deserves after all the hard work that he's done.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
I'm just chuffed to see a country player starting for
the Stags.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
Yeah, it was such a great story in 2025.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
A guy that, you know, he's on the tools all day,
but he's still putting in that effort to get to
the gym early mornings, getting to trainings after work, doing
all that hard work to earn himself a contract in 2025,
and then gets injured in the pre-season game, has to
miss the whole Stags campaign. And then exactly the same
(37:27):
thing happens again. Misses and can't play any club footy.
So great that the stag's off the back of it.
A couple of what I'm hearing, some quite impressive performances
for South and Country. He's earned himself a spot in
the Marine jersey for for the game on Sunday. So, yeah,
go well, Big Woody.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, his dad, Herop, he's not the best rugby watcher,
he's told me himself. It was bad enough for the Barbers,
so he'll be doing a bit of pacing up and
down at Rugby Park. But, look, Woody, all the best.
And on the Smith the Stags as well after last week. Well,
let's be honest, the less said the better. I gave
up at half-time.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Yeah, there's no positives really to put on that performances there.
Speaker 6 (38:10):
It was a really.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Disappointing outing in Pukekohe and I think if you talked
to any of the players or any of the people
involved in the management of the team, they wouldn't be
hiding away from that. It would have been, and I
understand it was, a fairly open and frank review on
the Monday. But I guess the best thing about sport
is you only have to wait for a week to
(38:35):
turn it all around. But it is a bit of
a challenge. This is a strong Bay of Plenty team
that will be coming down. Possibly not as strong as
they have been for the last couple of years, but
definitely a talented side for all of that.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
The one thing I will say, I'll wait and skip
to the interview with Sean Withey. At the end of
the show, I was going to call it, it was
a little bit of a show in the second half,
but he looked genuinely grumpy.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
He looked really frustrated. That's what you want.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
I mean, yes, it's the Stags and we're going to struggle,
but the fact that Withey wants to, he was so
grumpy in that interview.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
That's what I liked.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
Yeah, well, I mean, Sean Withey's just one of those wholehearted.
Yeah, he just gets stuck in, doesn't he? If you
had 15 Sean Withies, then you probably wouldn't have a
performance like we had against counties. But just the mistakes
were so hard to watch, weren't they? And the Stags
actually put themselves in position. to score on numerous occasions,
(39:33):
but it just seemed like it was sort of cut
and paste. They'd get themselves into the 22 or even
within 10 metres of the goal line and just managed
to come up with a fumble or some sort of turnover.
And then on the other side of the ball, the
defence just wasn't good enough for a representative team in
the first division of the MPC, and the scoreline showed that.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
The All Blacks have got this, arguably, an exhibition game
against the Springboks in Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Are you reading much into this?
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Well, it's... You know, it's a money spinner for New
Zealand rugby and for South African rugby. It feels like
a bit of a bolt-on. Originally, this was always talked
about as a four-test series, and then all week we
were told it's actually a three-test series in South Africa
plus one game in Baltimore. It'll be interesting to see
(40:25):
how the whole thing unfolds in another attempt, I suppose,
to roll out a game in the States and get
a bit of buzz going over there so the All
Blacks need a win, let's be honest but it'll be
some sort of challenge considering some of the personnel that
they'll be missing particularly Artie Savia, there'll be quite a
(40:49):
rejig when that team gets named obviously the loose forwards,
the midfield are going to need some sort of a
rejig there. Will it be Richie Mowanger's chance to come
back into that all-black jersey? So, yeah, there'll definitely be
enough storylines to keep us interested.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
New Zealand Warriors, they're in the playoffs. They've got the
Dolphins at Mount Smart, although if their next game, because
they've got two bites of the cherry at home, qualifying second,
the next game, by the sound of it, is going
to be at Eden Park, courtesy of Peter Volandis, who
pretty much runs the NRL.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
It's all about the money.
Speaker 6 (41:21):
Yeah, two bites of the cherry.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
But, gee, they'd love to win this one and give
themselves a week off and guarantee that next home game,
wouldn't they?
Speaker 5 (41:32):
That would be a great outcome.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
The Dolphins, lots of pressure on them, their first ever
playoff game. So, yeah, this will be, I mean, the
occasion's going to be huge. Just talking to someone this
morning who was at the last round Robin game and
just buzzing about the crowd atmosphere. that they get there
at Mount Smart or Go Media. So, yeah, it is
(41:55):
a shame that they'll, you know, it almost seems inevitable
that they're going to be changing venues, but the mighty
dollar definitely plays a part in this day and age,
doesn't it?
Speaker 1 (42:06):
It's interesting the rhetoric coming out of the Australian media
claiming the Warriors are just schmuzzling all over Rugby Union
at the moment. It's not getting to that point, but
you can't argue the fact the Warriors are getting a
lot more airtime.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Yeah, definitely, and I think a lot of it is
the type of game, and the Warriors have just been
so consistent all season, haven't they? This is not a
team that in those other years that we remember where
the Warriors did make the playoffs and got into this situation,
they got there by some razzle-dazzle at the right sort
(42:39):
of times and some results going their way, but the
Warriors have well and truly earned their place in that
top two and playing just some really great, colourful football.
You don't have to be a league fan necessarily to
want to switch on and watch them each week. They're
just a great entertainment package and watching them play at
home in front of their home crowd and the way
(43:00):
they engage with their people is just a joy to watch.
It's been a great season and I'd love to see
them kick on.
Speaker 1 (43:07):
Just finally as well, we'll touch on this. I had
Murray Heath on the show yesterday. You guys had him
on your rural podcast this week.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
The Get Together, the 1970s Southland team.
Speaker 3 (43:17):
Yeah, you'd love to be a fly on the wall
for this reunion, wouldn't you? Although it'll be a big
shift over the weekend for these guys, but the stories
are going to be great, and what a joy to
bring that generation back together, probably for one last time,
and hopefully this is sort of a sign of things
to come, that the union and people who are good
(43:41):
at organising these things, like Heathie, who's just a a
legend when it comes to bringing people together. This is
something that they can continue with in the future.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
Good on you, Nathan. Enjoy the weekend. Dantlers up.
Speaker 5 (43:53):
Dantlers up, mate.
Speaker 2 (43:56):
Laugh out loud with Ag Proud, because life on the
land can be a laughing matter.
Speaker 1 (44:02):
Brought to us by Shearwell Data, working to help the
livestock farmer. Two cannibal friends were sitting together over lunch,
politely sipping their afternoon tea. One looked across the table
and asked, hey, word around the village is that you
and your boyfriend had a massive blowout argument last night.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Oh, absolutely, she nodded. It was dreadful. So where do
things stand between the two of you right now? The
woman paused.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Took a delicate sip from a teacup, smiled and replied, well,
right now, I'm just letting him stew. I reckon we
might do an extended dad joke session tomorrow because we can, right?
Speaker 2 (44:38):
That's us for the afternoon anyway. I'm Andy Muir.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
The show is brought to you by Peter's Genetics. You have,
of course, been listening to The Muster. Potty's up shortly.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
See you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
PGG writes and presents stock selling action that occurred at
the Charlton sale yard this morning.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
David Morrison's on the ground to give us a rundown
on prices. Good afternoon, Teagle. How did we go?
Speaker 5 (44:58):
Good afternoon, Andy. Yeah, it looked pretty good. Not a
big galley near today. Obviously just that time of year,
but we'll just start with the lambs. The best of
the lambs, very, very, very big lambs. 440 to 450.
The top, obviously, the very top end.
Speaker 7 (45:15):
And then into the middle end, also very good lambs.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
Sort of range from sort of 250 to 280, um,
with the light of the prime lamps around the sort
of 200 to 230. Uh, but like I said, small
yardage there today. Uh, no rams to talk about today. Uh,
into the mutton section. Mutton's very, very strong at the moment. Um, uh,
big year we used up over 300. Uh, medium use,
(45:39):
sort of early 200s. Um, and just with the lighter end,
still just around the sort of 130 to 140, but, uh,
Good demand. Unfortunately, supply is short. Store lambs, yeah, badly
near a wee bit now. Yeah, the buying power for
the lambs has dried up. The best of the store
(45:59):
lambs today, 170 to 180. Mediums for 120 to 140.
And the very, very, very poor lambs, the lambs not
really wanted at all, and it's for $ 80 to $ 90.
And that wraps it up, Andy.
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