December 16, 2025 • 7 mins
Steve Henderson is ready for the lead up to Christmas and he talks about sharing the farming workload over the busy season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This interview is brought to you by Center South branches
in Lawnville, Cromwell, Milton, and Renfurley. Drop by your local
Agri Center South branch today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Steve Henison joins us this afternoon from our ROA good afternoon, Steve.
Are you yelling at someone at the background? Hopefully your
cow hasn't escaped?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Just well, some people don't call it there, but just
babysitting kids from school.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
That yeah, yeah, they're learning about discipline and what they
need to do and what they don't do.
Speaker 5 (00:34):
Nothing like farm life in December.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Now it's not there.
Speaker 6 (00:38):
Retire about an I go.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
They want to go home.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
But so what do you got them doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Around and throwing the tools and settings? So now they
earning the keep, they're going to earn.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
The cape, throwing mad at the kels, painting the kels
of mud, that'll be one of their jobs.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah, and we even jump made to fill the happening.
There's no broaken bones. So now now they're following in
the day too bad?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So how would you help's things looking in the lead
up to Christmas? Are you up up of the play? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (01:06):
I think we are. We're we're in a better situation
than last year, And yeah, timing wise getting new grasses
and we're probably a little bit behind schedule, but winter crops,
we've only got four hectes left to go and hopefully
the st afternoon.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Get a dry So now there's a hard way up
to play.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Done what they should have done for mating, we'll skin
next week.
Speaker 6 (01:29):
And yeah, of.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
All the years, we're actually looking pretty good down and
nothing pushing that needs to be down anyway.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
We had a real downpour and gore about half hours
five yesterday. Did you guys given you moisture over the
past three four hours?
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Of note?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah or not really?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Of no, No, We've got maybe three mels out of
that stuff yesterday, which is funny.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
I spend ten meals and you go, that was just
a drizzle. And now getting into summer, every milk counts.
You think you've had a hell of rain, but you
want to spective changes when you started a little bit
dry and looking for water.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
So how would you say your situation is? Overall?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
We're just holding our own is what it is.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
We grew forty seven last week, so we need about that.
With your pedix out and just just looking at the
forecast and sawmus to keep dropping away.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
So we've actually jumped on to a thirty day round.
Yesterday we made the call and we're going to put
about two or three kilos a peaking and the cause
to try and push that round out just to make
the most of what we've got now, rather than waiting
to January and go and keep were dry, which would
have started earlier. So yeah, you know, it's all it's
all added cost and whatnot. But hopefully I can put
the photographs in front of us and it'll work out.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
How would you say the last twelve months have gone
compared to previous years.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
I think I think there's been plenty of opportunity and
things have panned out pretty well for the well for
our end, for the dairy sector as a whole, weatherwise,
exactly the same as the year before. It's not a
little bit worse.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I think the whole.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Was good, with especially red meat prices in the sheep
industry going gag busters finally, which is good for those guys.
And there's still will be still a bit of free
caseh out there on the dery famous side. Yeah, looking heads,
that'll be a bit of.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Plant replacement and that irony that hasn't been getting done.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
We'll finally get done.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Because we look your head to next year's Southern Field
Days coming up in February. You're you're well involved with that.
Obviously there'll be a real gauge of how the mood
is out there.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Spending wise, definitely will Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I know year that the last few days there was
clearly of inquiry and that not much follows through with
actual purchases. So hopefully this year the choir obediary and
those will feed a lot of purchases out of that
because they need them, and it flows on what's through
the region and right through the country.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
So yeah, time will tell. But at the moment, the
fever is looking pretty good.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
So what's your main porter called them before Christmas?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Just a bit of track to work to go, but
generally you're pretty much up to speed then, so you're
in a good space.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Here we are, Yeah, and you know, we've obviously got
staff running around, so just making sure the rosters all
fit and we're trying to get what they want to
do and when they can do it. So yeah, we've
got a couple they are going to milk Christmas and
they're not going to milk New Year's and vice versa.
And I'm just having those plans now that everybody knows
and not leaving it till last minute so they can
make some good decisions. And here we had wonders booked
(04:30):
a trip Dozzie just between Christmas and New Year because
they don't have to milk and they can make those
decisions in a timely manner.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
So get it.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
That's all been done, and yeah we will go on
ten and seven come next Tuesday, we'll scan the kaos
for the three week in caf right. Then what we
end up doing is splitting the herds, so we keep
our in calf chaos as a herd, and then the
theoretical not in calfs. We just put all the ball
pair with them. It's worked in the past, so yeah,
(05:00):
do that, and there's a bit of good stock work,
young stock keeping an arm. Then it traces on a
big leaking up today to see if we need to
dreach them pre Christmas though we've copper bullets, and yeah,
they'll see is quite it up by this time next
week hopefully.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
It's interesting though, when you're young and free, you want
to do the milking and Christmas Day to have new
years off, but now you're older and a bit wiser,
you'd rather have Christmas and milk New Years.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, it's definitely like that.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And the crew we've got years up, there's ones that
have done the New Year's thing and now they're all
a bit older and they, yeah, they do the Christmas
thing and vice versa, and I'm probably very similar. That
takes more than half a day to recovern nowadays when.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
You're people close to that big four O four, are
you just a path? I'll tell you a few times,
I don't feel like it.
Speaker 5 (05:46):
So you're taking getting a bit of holiday, a bit
of holiday time.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Then, yeah, well we'll click around over Christmas in New
Year there's always there's bits, some pieceings to do, and
we won't get away till but the twentieth of January.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
We get up to wonc Ah just under a week.
It's a bit of a Lincoln cruise. It's tenth Founder's
gout there, but a camping and eth.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Kids get older, they sort of look after themselves and
it gives appearance a bit more free time.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
So yeah, that's what we sort of look forward to.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
But you know, between now and then we'll make.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
The most of the opportunity to trying to get out
on the straight and get up that recreation. Remember hasn't
been hitland for the last six months.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Well you can do that when you live aside five
oh straight to suppose yep.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
If we've got a good day, we can be y
from home and onto the water within sort of twenty minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So you've just got to be ready and just.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Got to go his worst places in the world to
be Steve Henderson, You, Tracy and the family have a
fantastic break and we'll catch up with you again next year.
Thanks for all your time this year on the muster yep.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Much appreciate the Indian YEP.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
To the rest of the listeners, same thing.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Take it easy and just only do what you have
to do and then we'll see you around in.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
The new year.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Steve Henderson, this is the Muster on hockin New Are
you remembering.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Text and pitt Food to five double O nine go
in the drawer to win five hundred dollars voucher Pitt
Foo voucher. Thanks for taking pit Foods. Remembering that keyword
again pit food to five double O nine with your
details up next time.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Shallards
This interview is brought to you by Center South branches
in Lawnville, Cromwell, Milton, and Renfurley. Drop by your local
Agri Center South branch today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Steve Henison joins us this afternoon from our ROA good afternoon, Steve.
Are you yelling at someone at the background? Hopefully your
cow hasn't escaped?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Just well, some people don't call it there, but just
babysitting kids from school.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
That yeah, yeah, they're learning about discipline and what they
need to do and what they don't do.
Speaker 5 (00:34):
Nothing like farm life in December.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Now it's not there.
Speaker 6 (00:38):
Retire about an I go.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
They want to go home.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
But so what do you got them doing today?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Around and throwing the tools and settings? So now they
earning the keep, they're going to earn.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
The cape, throwing mad at the kels, painting the kels
of mud, that'll be one of their jobs.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah, and we even jump made to fill the happening.
There's no broaken bones. So now now they're following in
the day too bad?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So how would you help's things looking in the lead
up to Christmas? Are you up up of the play? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (01:06):
I think we are. We're we're in a better situation
than last year, And yeah, timing wise getting new grasses
and we're probably a little bit behind schedule, but winter crops,
we've only got four hectes left to go and hopefully
the st afternoon.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Get a dry So now there's a hard way up
to play.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Done what they should have done for mating, we'll skin
next week.
Speaker 6 (01:29):
And yeah, of.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
All the years, we're actually looking pretty good down and
nothing pushing that needs to be down anyway.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
We had a real downpour and gore about half hours
five yesterday. Did you guys given you moisture over the
past three four hours?
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Of note?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah or not really?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Of no, No, We've got maybe three mels out of
that stuff yesterday, which is funny.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
I spend ten meals and you go, that was just
a drizzle. And now getting into summer, every milk counts.
You think you've had a hell of rain, but you
want to spective changes when you started a little bit
dry and looking for water.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
So how would you say your situation is? Overall?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
We're just holding our own is what it is.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
We grew forty seven last week, so we need about that.
With your pedix out and just just looking at the
forecast and sawmus to keep dropping away.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
So we've actually jumped on to a thirty day round.
Yesterday we made the call and we're going to put
about two or three kilos a peaking and the cause
to try and push that round out just to make
the most of what we've got now, rather than waiting
to January and go and keep were dry, which would
have started earlier. So yeah, you know, it's all it's
all added cost and whatnot. But hopefully I can put
the photographs in front of us and it'll work out.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
How would you say the last twelve months have gone
compared to previous years.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
I think I think there's been plenty of opportunity and
things have panned out pretty well for the well for
our end, for the dairy sector as a whole, weatherwise,
exactly the same as the year before. It's not a
little bit worse.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I think the whole.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Was good, with especially red meat prices in the sheep
industry going gag busters finally, which is good for those guys.
And there's still will be still a bit of free
caseh out there on the dery famous side. Yeah, looking heads,
that'll be a bit of.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Plant replacement and that irony that hasn't been getting done.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
We'll finally get done.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Because we look your head to next year's Southern Field
Days coming up in February. You're you're well involved with that.
Obviously there'll be a real gauge of how the mood
is out there.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Spending wise, definitely will Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I know year that the last few days there was
clearly of inquiry and that not much follows through with
actual purchases. So hopefully this year the choir obediary and
those will feed a lot of purchases out of that
because they need them, and it flows on what's through
the region and right through the country.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
So yeah, time will tell. But at the moment, the
fever is looking pretty good.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
So what's your main porter called them before Christmas?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Just a bit of track to work to go, but
generally you're pretty much up to speed then, so you're
in a good space.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Here we are, Yeah, and you know, we've obviously got
staff running around, so just making sure the rosters all
fit and we're trying to get what they want to
do and when they can do it. So yeah, we've
got a couple they are going to milk Christmas and
they're not going to milk New Year's and vice versa.
And I'm just having those plans now that everybody knows
and not leaving it till last minute so they can
make some good decisions. And here we had wonders booked
(04:30):
a trip Dozzie just between Christmas and New Year because
they don't have to milk and they can make those
decisions in a timely manner.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
So get it.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
That's all been done, and yeah we will go on
ten and seven come next Tuesday, we'll scan the kaos
for the three week in caf right. Then what we
end up doing is splitting the herds, so we keep
our in calf chaos as a herd, and then the
theoretical not in calfs. We just put all the ball
pair with them. It's worked in the past, so yeah,
(05:00):
do that, and there's a bit of good stock work,
young stock keeping an arm. Then it traces on a
big leaking up today to see if we need to
dreach them pre Christmas though we've copper bullets, and yeah,
they'll see is quite it up by this time next
week hopefully.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
It's interesting though, when you're young and free, you want
to do the milking and Christmas Day to have new
years off, but now you're older and a bit wiser,
you'd rather have Christmas and milk New Years.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, it's definitely like that.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And the crew we've got years up, there's ones that
have done the New Year's thing and now they're all
a bit older and they, yeah, they do the Christmas
thing and vice versa, and I'm probably very similar. That
takes more than half a day to recovern nowadays when.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
You're people close to that big four O four, are
you just a path? I'll tell you a few times,
I don't feel like it.
Speaker 5 (05:46):
So you're taking getting a bit of holiday, a bit
of holiday time.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Then, yeah, well we'll click around over Christmas in New
Year there's always there's bits, some pieceings to do, and
we won't get away till but the twentieth of January.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
We get up to wonc Ah just under a week.
It's a bit of a Lincoln cruise. It's tenth Founder's
gout there, but a camping and eth.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Kids get older, they sort of look after themselves and
it gives appearance a bit more free time.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
So yeah, that's what we sort of look forward to.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
But you know, between now and then we'll make.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
The most of the opportunity to trying to get out
on the straight and get up that recreation. Remember hasn't
been hitland for the last six months.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Well you can do that when you live aside five
oh straight to suppose yep.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
If we've got a good day, we can be y
from home and onto the water within sort of twenty minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So you've just got to be ready and just.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Got to go his worst places in the world to
be Steve Henderson, You, Tracy and the family have a
fantastic break and we'll catch up with you again next year.
Thanks for all your time this year on the muster yep.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Much appreciate the Indian YEP.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
To the rest of the listeners, same thing.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Take it easy and just only do what you have
to do and then we'll see you around in.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
The new year.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Steve Henderson, this is the Muster on hockin New Are
you remembering.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Text and pitt Food to five double O nine go
in the drawer to win five hundred dollars voucher Pitt
Foo voucher. Thanks for taking pit Foods. Remembering that keyword
again pit food to five double O nine with your
details up next time.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Shallards
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