September 1, 2026 • 6 mins
Nicola Blair gives some relevant messaging around a challenging week weather-wise for the southern region.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Should I go now?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Should I stay or should I go now? The Clash
is the music for a Wednesday. You're listening to the
Maserati on Hokonui. Nicola Blair of DairyNZ joins us on
this Wednesday afternoon. Nicola, good afternoon. How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Yeah, good, Andy.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
How are you getting on?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Let's be honest. I'm sitting in here overlooking the hills.
The snow's disappeared from the tops after what we've seen yesterday,
but it's been a hell of a week.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, no, it's a much better day today, that's for sure.
I've actually got a nice warm wind, get a bit
of drying, because, yeah, gosh, it's been pretty horrendous, really,
hasn't it?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, the one positive is tomorrow, get out the sunscreen,
it's going to be 18. Yeah, rumours going. You can
go aquaplaning with your sunnies on, perhaps, in some of
the paddocks. Hey, look, we're talking about a bit of
messaging this today, too, based on what we've seen over
the past couple of days. It might sound repetitive, but
(01:04):
we just get the information out there, right?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, yeah, definitely. Like, yeah, I'm just going to keep
it really short and sweet this week, Andy. Like, it's
As we know, our farmers have had a really rough
one this week with what Mother Nature's been dishing out
to us. So, yeah, I was just going to make
a few key points around cold stress for cows.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
And, yeah, I just want to highlight before.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
I do say these points that, you know, there's never
one size fits all silver bullet when it comes to farming.
So I realise, you know, everyone's systems are different and
some can't achieve these things. And a lot of this
will seem very basic too, but sometimes when the stress
comes on, it's just good to highlight some of these things. So, yeah,
(01:53):
the first message I've got is just sort of, you know,
watch for the combination of weather conditions. You know, when
we think about cold stress in our stock, we shouldn't
just focus on the temperature alone. You know, the real
risk comes when the cold hits. Temperatures combine with the
wind and the rain and it's wet underfoot as well,
(02:15):
which most of us have obviously experienced this week. You know,
those conditions make it much harder for the cows to
maintain their body temperature. Yeah, it just increases their energy
requirements in a huge way. You know, even a well-fed cow,
she'll still struggle more if she's wet and exposed standing
(02:38):
in the mud. So yeah, just sort of keep an
eye on that. Your feed requirements, your cows are obviously
going to need more fuel in their tank just simply
to stay warm. And again, every system's different, but it's
highly likely for your herds to have a decrease in
(03:01):
feed utilisation in these weather conditions, especially out in the paddock.
They'll most likely... come into the paddock, have a quick
nibble and then huddle up in the corner with the
rest of the herd to try and stay warm. So,
you know, if you can plug some feed into them
elsewhere before they even hit the paddock, it's going to
help them out a lot. You know, whether it's getting
(03:21):
the palm kernel trailers out or feeding out some silage
or baleage, you know, turning the dial up in the
shed if you've got that option up your sleeve. Yeah,
and a good thing also is just to assess your situation.
Have you got enough feed if this weather continues? So yeah,
I guess my key message overall there is just, yeah,
(03:44):
don't just watch the thermometer. You know, watch the combination
of the weather and your feed levels and your body
condition and if you've got shelter, you know, if it's available.
You know, good planning now can make such a huge
difference to your cow welfare and calving outcomes and overall
herd performance for the season ahead. You know, we can't
(04:08):
control the weather, but we can, you know, we can
control how prepared our stock are for it. So, yeah, please,
if we can help in any way as well, give
any of us at Dairy and Dead a call. Like,
we're always here to support and help farmers. You know,
it's pretty rough out there when it behaves the way
it has this past few days. Um, so yeah, just
(04:31):
look after yourself and your team. And lastly, um, to
end on a positive note, um, the Rural Support Trust,
they're holding their Brunch on Us events currently, um, with
their first one kicking off today, actually, at Gorge Road
Country Club.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yep, that's just finished up, but they've... Sorry, I've just
got a bit in there, Nicola. I've got the list
here right in front of me and amping at the
bit to get this out. Tomorrow's at Wyndham. Mabel Bush, Drummond, Clifton, Mosburn, Willowbank, Waikai, Adipton,
all happening in the next few weeks or through the month.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yes, yeah, yeah. So, I mean, like, yeah, awesome opportunity
to just get off and have some yummy warm food.
And even just have a catch up with the people
in your district. Yeah, all the dates and details are
on the Rural Support Trust website, just under the events tab.
If you're keen to get along to any of them,
or just again, yeah, ring any of us at Derry
(05:26):
NZ and we can point you in the right direction
for them. Yeah, sometimes it's nice at this time of
the year, you're juggling a lot of balls, if you can, yeah,
get yourself a weller and break and Head along to them.
That would be really cool to support them as well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Never a better word spoken, Nicola Blair. Thanks for your
time as always.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Awesome. Thanks, Andy.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Nicola Blair of Dairy NZ. And look, here's the South
Rural Support Trust number as well, the Rural Helpline, 0800
787 254. If you do need help, Reach out to
these guys. This is what they want to do. They
want to help out. So like Nicola talked about too,
the Brunch On Us events tomorrow at Wyndham at the
(06:13):
rugby club there starting at 11am. You're listening to The Master.
Before we wrap up, Riley Kennedy of Business Desk.
Should I go now?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Should I stay or should I go now? The Clash
is the music for a Wednesday. You're listening to the
Maserati on Hokonui. Nicola Blair of DairyNZ joins us on
this Wednesday afternoon. Nicola, good afternoon. How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Yeah, good, Andy.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
How are you getting on?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Let's be honest. I'm sitting in here overlooking the hills.
The snow's disappeared from the tops after what we've seen yesterday,
but it's been a hell of a week.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, no, it's a much better day today, that's for sure.
I've actually got a nice warm wind, get a bit
of drying, because, yeah, gosh, it's been pretty horrendous, really,
hasn't it?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, the one positive is tomorrow, get out the sunscreen,
it's going to be 18. Yeah, rumours going. You can
go aquaplaning with your sunnies on, perhaps, in some of
the paddocks. Hey, look, we're talking about a bit of
messaging this today, too, based on what we've seen over
the past couple of days. It might sound repetitive, but
(01:04):
we just get the information out there, right?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, yeah, definitely. Like, yeah, I'm just going to keep
it really short and sweet this week, Andy. Like, it's
As we know, our farmers have had a really rough
one this week with what Mother Nature's been dishing out
to us. So, yeah, I was just going to make
a few key points around cold stress for cows.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
And, yeah, I just want to highlight before.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
I do say these points that, you know, there's never
one size fits all silver bullet when it comes to farming.
So I realise, you know, everyone's systems are different and
some can't achieve these things. And a lot of this
will seem very basic too, but sometimes when the stress
comes on, it's just good to highlight some of these things. So, yeah,
(01:53):
the first message I've got is just sort of, you know,
watch for the combination of weather conditions. You know, when
we think about cold stress in our stock, we shouldn't
just focus on the temperature alone. You know, the real
risk comes when the cold hits. Temperatures combine with the
wind and the rain and it's wet underfoot as well,
(02:15):
which most of us have obviously experienced this week. You know,
those conditions make it much harder for the cows to
maintain their body temperature. Yeah, it just increases their energy
requirements in a huge way. You know, even a well-fed cow,
she'll still struggle more if she's wet and exposed standing
(02:38):
in the mud. So yeah, just sort of keep an
eye on that. Your feed requirements, your cows are obviously
going to need more fuel in their tank just simply
to stay warm. And again, every system's different, but it's
highly likely for your herds to have a decrease in
(03:01):
feed utilisation in these weather conditions, especially out in the paddock.
They'll most likely... come into the paddock, have a quick
nibble and then huddle up in the corner with the
rest of the herd to try and stay warm. So,
you know, if you can plug some feed into them
elsewhere before they even hit the paddock, it's going to
help them out a lot. You know, whether it's getting
(03:21):
the palm kernel trailers out or feeding out some silage
or baleage, you know, turning the dial up in the
shed if you've got that option up your sleeve. Yeah,
and a good thing also is just to assess your situation.
Have you got enough feed if this weather continues? So yeah,
I guess my key message overall there is just, yeah,
(03:44):
don't just watch the thermometer. You know, watch the combination
of the weather and your feed levels and your body
condition and if you've got shelter, you know, if it's available.
You know, good planning now can make such a huge
difference to your cow welfare and calving outcomes and overall
herd performance for the season ahead. You know, we can't
(04:08):
control the weather, but we can, you know, we can
control how prepared our stock are for it. So, yeah, please,
if we can help in any way as well, give
any of us at Dairy and Dead a call. Like,
we're always here to support and help farmers. You know,
it's pretty rough out there when it behaves the way
it has this past few days. Um, so yeah, just
(04:31):
look after yourself and your team. And lastly, um, to
end on a positive note, um, the Rural Support Trust,
they're holding their Brunch on Us events currently, um, with
their first one kicking off today, actually, at Gorge Road
Country Club.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yep, that's just finished up, but they've... Sorry, I've just
got a bit in there, Nicola. I've got the list
here right in front of me and amping at the
bit to get this out. Tomorrow's at Wyndham. Mabel Bush, Drummond, Clifton, Mosburn, Willowbank, Waikai, Adipton,
all happening in the next few weeks or through the month.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yes, yeah, yeah. So, I mean, like, yeah, awesome opportunity
to just get off and have some yummy warm food.
And even just have a catch up with the people
in your district. Yeah, all the dates and details are
on the Rural Support Trust website, just under the events tab.
If you're keen to get along to any of them,
or just again, yeah, ring any of us at Derry
(05:26):
NZ and we can point you in the right direction
for them. Yeah, sometimes it's nice at this time of
the year, you're juggling a lot of balls, if you can, yeah,
get yourself a weller and break and Head along to them.
That would be really cool to support them as well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Never a better word spoken, Nicola Blair. Thanks for your
time as always.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Awesome. Thanks, Andy.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Nicola Blair of Dairy NZ. And look, here's the South
Rural Support Trust number as well, the Rural Helpline, 0800
787 254. If you do need help, Reach out to
these guys. This is what they want to do. They
want to help out. So like Nicola talked about too,
the Brunch On Us events tomorrow at Wyndham at the
(06:13):
rugby club there starting at 11am. You're listening to The Master.
Before we wrap up, Riley Kennedy of Business Desk.
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