December 18, 2025 • 7 mins
Nigel Woodhead thinks the recent rainfall will set the season up nicely for lamb feed on his farm.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
That says the master on Hakanui. Remember and get those
entries in Sheerwe out of five double o nine with
your details thanks to Allen McCleary and the team, a
couple of oils con vests to give away and some
other sheerwell goodies. We're going to draw that before the
end of the hour as we catch up once again
with Nigel Woodhead farming in South Otago between Balcluther and Milton.
Good afternoon, Nige.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
A bit of rain, Yeah, afternoon, Andy afternoon listeners. Yep,
there's raining steadily so I don't know if you can
hear in the background, but I'm hiding in my workshop
today because it's obviously. Yeah, we eaten the weave at chili,
so I get some workshop jobs done. Yeah, good opportunity
to get there, something them tidied up.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
You'll be lapping this rain up on imagine.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I loving it, loving it. Yeah. Well, I think I
tipped out twelve this morning or somewhere thereabouts, which takes
us to fifty for the week. Yep, fifty odd meals.
So yeah, we took a long life. See, I think
I said to someone last night we had some thunderstorms.
A couple of days ago, and my parents are only
(01:11):
five minutes away. They got thirty meals at about half
an hour, so I think by yesterday morning my parents
had had seventy odd meals. So yeah, the odd thunderstorms
gave a few people with an extra weird drink as well.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
We got that on Wednesday night here and gore but
very localized about thirty meals in no time. The drains
got and compete and there was hail fully at the
same time. It was actually pretty surreal to watch.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, well I just happened. We were actually doing having
OURFAP audit and I went for a drive with the
auditor and you could see all the hills around us
were white with snow, not snow with hail. Sorry, And
we had just been sort of raining steadily here. But
you know, we've got neighbors with young grass washed out
and bits and pieces. It's a few few crop peedicks
(01:58):
and young grass peddicks with runs and them around the place,
which is a shame. But yeah, we we we sort
of we got some rain out of it, but we
missed all the damage, which was good for us. But
it's that time of year. You in November December, you
can get thunderstorms, so we'll take the moisture.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So what are you looking at? What are you doing
farm wise? And the lead up for the next week
before the Santa clause occurs.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I basically just got I drenched a couple of mobs
yesterday of lambs, and I've got probably yeah, four bobs
still to go. So you two thirds of the lambs
still to drink, which is only if I get my
a energy. It's only one decent day, so I'll probably
split split it over Saturday Sunday or Sunday Monday or something.
(02:44):
Just to take the pressure off. I'll get out this
afternoon and get some some of the mobs mustered up
out of gullies and things, just push them a bit
closer to the house, just to take the pressure off.
So yeah, just these jobs to be done, but try
not make it, try not stress out too much.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Was the time of year about now? You normally take
a look back in the year and think, yeah, another
year down, done in, dusted, and look at your goals,
if your goal sitting, and just be satisfied before.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You're at yeah, I think yeah, as farmer as we
tend to think about things in the farming year, right,
which is sort of winter to winter. Yeah, obviously the
previous financial year and get finished in this past winter
wasn't too bad. But yeah, like it's it's sort of
(03:32):
all positive at the moment. We killed lambs last week
one hundred and eighty odd dollars killed some news one
hundred and sixty odds, so it's yeah, it's fantastic. It's
was sort of there's going to be a bit more
money floating around the industry and around the local communities
economies and the autumn once and cash comes in. Well,
(03:55):
you've had worse. It's good to see.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
You would have had worse lamb sheets, let's to be honest.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I've probably only ever
had one better lamb sheet and that was a hand
for Hoggitts I killed in the spring this year. So yeah,
we'll take it. And like they weren't ju je are
only sixteen point eight, but your relative to the number
of years we've got now there'll be our best winning
draft and year to use the user. Really, I think
(04:21):
they're twenty seven, twenty six, twenty seven kilos or something,
which isn't all bad. You know, the old the old
types don't know us much now, so that's yeah, it's good.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So when you look ahead into twenty twenty six, what
are you thinking with your farming leans on?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
For me, it's about you know, making the most of
a good of some good prices and a good season
hopefully coming around the corner. You know, we were like
getting some the summer cropping and there's sort of been
two strikes because it was a bit dry. We've got
but we've got heats, you twenty heat years of summer cropping.
So you know, it's sort of a for us for
(05:02):
the next six weeks is get get through back. Sure,
lambs are in good heart and growing as much as
they can, but ready to put as many lambs as
we can on the summer crop and put as much
weight on them as we can and then start putting
weight on news ready for next year. Really, you know
one thing, my man's always sort of seed. As you
(05:22):
get to weaning and you know, nine percent of this
year's profits already set. You know, it's set by how
many lambs you weaned. You can put a few extra
kilos on, but it's just just bonus really. But the
biggest impact you can have for your future is put
weight on news now ready for next season. So you
obviously focus on lambs and finishing some lambs this year
to make the most of good schedules, but also put
(05:46):
put as much weight as we can on news getting
ready for next year. And then you know, once once
I've killed a few lambs and got a medication the
bank account, and then we'll sort of start thinking about
where we can know where some of that capital gets
gets allocated and what we're going to do, whether it's
more development or replace some gear, or payoff deat or
(06:07):
all of the above. Yeah, So it's just make the
most of a good season and try and get as
much benefitt out of a out of a reasonable year
as we can.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Good on your Nige, Thanks for your contributions on the
Muster and twenty twenty five yourself yet and the family,
have a great holiday season. We'll catch up. We've really
appreciated your thoughts on the Muster this year.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
No, no are same to you and Shannon the boys
and and all the listeners out there. Hope, I hope
he runs. I'll set up for a reasonable Christmas and yeah,
hazy ability to get some time off and spend time
with some sort of family and friends because you know
it's a busy time year. But at the same time
it's important to to be able to have a breeder
(06:54):
and reflect on the previous year, like you say, and
set up ready for the new one. Older Beast eve
Ron in Merry Christmas. We'll see in twenty twenty six Peeson.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Niger Wadhead farming in south of Targo between about Cluther
and Milton. Your very last chance to get your name
into the drawer for the Muster Christmas giveaway thanks to Shaarwell,
New Zealand two oilskin vests plus some goodies as well.
Texts Sheerwell to five double A nine with your details
and we'll draw that before the end of the hour.
(07:27):
Phil Duncle and weather Watch wraps the Muster for twenty
twenty five. He's up next.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Shoe shs Chris
That says the master on Hakanui. Remember and get those
entries in Sheerwe out of five double o nine with
your details thanks to Allen McCleary and the team, a
couple of oils con vests to give away and some
other sheerwell goodies. We're going to draw that before the
end of the hour as we catch up once again
with Nigel Woodhead farming in South Otago between Balcluther and Milton.
Good afternoon, Nige.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
A bit of rain, Yeah, afternoon, Andy afternoon listeners. Yep,
there's raining steadily so I don't know if you can
hear in the background, but I'm hiding in my workshop
today because it's obviously. Yeah, we eaten the weave at chili,
so I get some workshop jobs done. Yeah, good opportunity
to get there, something them tidied up.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
You'll be lapping this rain up on imagine.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I loving it, loving it. Yeah. Well, I think I
tipped out twelve this morning or somewhere thereabouts, which takes
us to fifty for the week. Yep, fifty odd meals.
So yeah, we took a long life. See, I think
I said to someone last night we had some thunderstorms.
A couple of days ago, and my parents are only
(01:11):
five minutes away. They got thirty meals at about half
an hour, so I think by yesterday morning my parents
had had seventy odd meals. So yeah, the odd thunderstorms
gave a few people with an extra weird drink as well.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
We got that on Wednesday night here and gore but
very localized about thirty meals in no time. The drains
got and compete and there was hail fully at the
same time. It was actually pretty surreal to watch.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, well I just happened. We were actually doing having
OURFAP audit and I went for a drive with the
auditor and you could see all the hills around us
were white with snow, not snow with hail. Sorry, And
we had just been sort of raining steadily here. But
you know, we've got neighbors with young grass washed out
and bits and pieces. It's a few few crop peedicks
(01:58):
and young grass peddicks with runs and them around the place,
which is a shame. But yeah, we we we sort
of we got some rain out of it, but we
missed all the damage, which was good for us. But
it's that time of year. You in November December, you
can get thunderstorms, so we'll take the moisture.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So what are you looking at? What are you doing
farm wise? And the lead up for the next week
before the Santa clause occurs.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I basically just got I drenched a couple of mobs
yesterday of lambs, and I've got probably yeah, four bobs
still to go. So you two thirds of the lambs
still to drink, which is only if I get my
a energy. It's only one decent day, so I'll probably
split split it over Saturday Sunday or Sunday Monday or something.
(02:44):
Just to take the pressure off. I'll get out this
afternoon and get some some of the mobs mustered up
out of gullies and things, just push them a bit
closer to the house, just to take the pressure off.
So yeah, just these jobs to be done, but try
not make it, try not stress out too much.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Was the time of year about now? You normally take
a look back in the year and think, yeah, another
year down, done in, dusted, and look at your goals,
if your goal sitting, and just be satisfied before.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You're at yeah, I think yeah, as farmer as we
tend to think about things in the farming year, right,
which is sort of winter to winter. Yeah, obviously the
previous financial year and get finished in this past winter
wasn't too bad. But yeah, like it's it's sort of
(03:32):
all positive at the moment. We killed lambs last week
one hundred and eighty odd dollars killed some news one
hundred and sixty odds, so it's yeah, it's fantastic. It's
was sort of there's going to be a bit more
money floating around the industry and around the local communities
economies and the autumn once and cash comes in. Well,
(03:55):
you've had worse. It's good to see.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
You would have had worse lamb sheets, let's to be honest.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I've probably only ever
had one better lamb sheet and that was a hand
for Hoggitts I killed in the spring this year. So yeah,
we'll take it. And like they weren't ju je are
only sixteen point eight, but your relative to the number
of years we've got now there'll be our best winning
draft and year to use the user. Really, I think
(04:21):
they're twenty seven, twenty six, twenty seven kilos or something,
which isn't all bad. You know, the old the old
types don't know us much now, so that's yeah, it's good.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So when you look ahead into twenty twenty six, what
are you thinking with your farming leans on?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
For me, it's about you know, making the most of
a good of some good prices and a good season
hopefully coming around the corner. You know, we were like
getting some the summer cropping and there's sort of been
two strikes because it was a bit dry. We've got
but we've got heats, you twenty heat years of summer cropping.
So you know, it's sort of a for us for
(05:02):
the next six weeks is get get through back. Sure,
lambs are in good heart and growing as much as
they can, but ready to put as many lambs as
we can on the summer crop and put as much
weight on them as we can and then start putting
weight on news ready for next year. Really, you know
one thing, my man's always sort of seed. As you
(05:22):
get to weaning and you know, nine percent of this
year's profits already set. You know, it's set by how
many lambs you weaned. You can put a few extra
kilos on, but it's just just bonus really. But the
biggest impact you can have for your future is put
weight on news now ready for next season. So you
obviously focus on lambs and finishing some lambs this year
to make the most of good schedules, but also put
(05:46):
put as much weight as we can on news getting
ready for next year. And then you know, once once
I've killed a few lambs and got a medication the
bank account, and then we'll sort of start thinking about
where we can know where some of that capital gets
gets allocated and what we're going to do, whether it's
more development or replace some gear, or payoff deat or
(06:07):
all of the above. Yeah, So it's just make the
most of a good season and try and get as
much benefitt out of a out of a reasonable year
as we can.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Good on your Nige, Thanks for your contributions on the
Muster and twenty twenty five yourself yet and the family,
have a great holiday season. We'll catch up. We've really
appreciated your thoughts on the Muster this year.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
No, no are same to you and Shannon the boys
and and all the listeners out there. Hope, I hope
he runs. I'll set up for a reasonable Christmas and yeah,
hazy ability to get some time off and spend time
with some sort of family and friends because you know
it's a busy time year. But at the same time
it's important to to be able to have a breeder
(06:54):
and reflect on the previous year, like you say, and
set up ready for the new one. Older Beast eve
Ron in Merry Christmas. We'll see in twenty twenty six Peeson.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Niger Wadhead farming in south of Targo between about Cluther
and Milton. Your very last chance to get your name
into the drawer for the Muster Christmas giveaway thanks to Shaarwell,
New Zealand two oilskin vests plus some goodies as well.
Texts Sheerwell to five double A nine with your details
and we'll draw that before the end of the hour.
(07:27):
Phil Duncle and weather Watch wraps the Muster for twenty
twenty five. He's up next.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Shoe shs Chris
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!