Long time no see

It has been a while since I have sat down to update the blog.  A guess a lot has been happening and have largely got side tracked with life.

In a nutshell what has happened ...

• we have had yet another drought!
• we have a new expansive deck, which is great.
• we acquired a tractor at the end of last year and it has been a lifesaver when it came to feeding out all that silage over summer/autumn.
• we have shorn and scanned our ewes.  Results a little disappointing in the younger stock but MA have done well.  Overall we are 100 lambs down, which considering the drought and ewe condition we are relatively pleased.
• we have a steady turnover of our own cattle now and knuckling down into a consistent pattern.
• our sheep yards a still a work in progress.
• plans for cattle yards next priority as current ones are less than satisfactory.
• Alice won the 5-6 yr Masterchef competition at school - which we are proud of.
• Alice completed her first year at Pony Club successfully and has the ribbons to prove it.
• I'm back playing hockey after a 24 year break.  Took the muscles a bit of adjustment but have now completed my first 5km run in about that time also.
• Mal is back at the gym and bulking up.

Will endeavour if time allows to expand and update on these events over the next week or two.  It is now school holidays and I have great intentions of organising myself while Alice is at hockey camp for 3 days.

Family day out

We are in the midst of a drought, but on the whole farmers are dealing with things.  As this is at least our 4th drought in 6 years, we are getting better and better at preparing ourselves.  The officials and researchers keep telling farmers that they need to be resilient and change their systems to fit the changing climatic conditions.  In part we have done that, but what is so different from last years drought is that it is a very small part of NZ in drought conditions, therefore there are options to sell and buy in feed that wasn't there last year.  Still, the drought has cost us as a business - we have had to buy in more feed - all up we have bought 120 bales of silage, dairy farmer has supplied 40 bales of silage, dairy heifers are going home 1 month early which means reduced income for us, and means our dairy farmer has to dry off and also forfeit income.  Some stock condition has suffered, but we have managed to at least hold things.

At times like this, it is important to get off farm and talk and do other things.  Our family day out yesterday was to partake in a horse trek, on the neighbours farm. The day turned out beautiful - clear blue sky, not a breath of wind (not what farmers are asking for!).  The three of us headed off on horse back with 21 others.  This was Alice's first ever horse-trek, Mal's first ride in 3 years, and my first time on a horse in a year.

Alice on Cosmo, and Amelia who lead Alice around.  Big thanks!

Clear blue skies and views north, west and south from the top.

Quick break by the creek with Mal and Alice in the middle

3 of us on horse back - me on PJ, Mal on Farts and Alice on Cosmo

Needless to say we all survived the adventure and no sore muscles to report!  The after function BBQ and refreshment was enjoyable too.  Now we need to find a nice quiet horse for us to ride and lead Alice on!  Any offers.

Port Waikato, Ram Sale and Pavlova!

Yesterday we headed to Port Waikato (after we had done the stock moves).  Not the nicest of days to spend at the beach with a cool westerly blowing.  We drove north up the coast road via Waikaretu, pass Limestone Downs and through to Port Waikato. 

We decided to take a stroll down the beach, pose for photos, search the rock pools and draw in the sand.  The rock pools were fairly barren of life, but Simon did find a fish head and a live crab!




Alice, Urezza and Simon at Port Waikato




Alice busy drawing things in the sand while mum and Urezza
look on at Port Waikato



Me and Simon on the rocks at Port Waikato



Urezza, Alice, Simon and Malcolm scouring the rock pools



Alice, Urezza and Simon enjoying a picnic lunch at Port Waikato



On the jetty at Port Waikato -
Urezza, Simon, Alice, Malcolm and Sally












After our adventure down the beach everyone had worked up a bit of an appetite so we enjoyed a simple picnic lunch before heading down to the estuary and a stroll on the jetty overlooking the Waikato River.






















Today dawned with misty drizzle.  We all walked down the drive to see Alice onto the bus.  Today she got to sit up front because of her broken arm.  Then Urezza and Malcolm set off to do all the cattle shifts.  When all the jobs were done, we headed to Tuakau to the Nikau Coopworth Ram Sale.

There was a reasonable turnout of buyers and good money paid for rams in the first 5 - 8 pens (we didn't stay longer for the other pens).  Urezza and Simon were given instructions not to wave or nod or to buy a ram!  We managed to buy our number 1 marked ram, and this will be added to our Kaahu Rams. 

Nikau Coopworth Ram Sale at Tuakau Saleyards

After the sale we went to collect the rental car on the outskirts of Pukekohe before heading back in to catch up with my brother for a coffee.  Warren first met Simon's parents in about 1990 after trying to hitchhike out of Brienz.  Then Karin and Martin visited NZ.  I then visited Karin and Martin in Switzerland in 1991-92, and now Simon is here.  The deal now, is that Alice will visit them in Switzerland.

Warren, Urezza, Simon and Malcolm enjoying a coffee

 We decided for their last dinner, that we better have a Pavlova for dessert but unfortunately we have to confess that we didn't make this one! but it did taste nice.

 

What was left of the Pavlova!

Tomorrow, Urezza and Simon start there tour around NZ.  They head to the Nikau Caves first for a tour through the caves before heading to Hamilton/Cambridge.  We have packed up a box of things they might need, a list of possible places to visit and some people to see over the next three months.  Hope they enjoy themselves and create a lot of memories.

Lambs, heifers, visitors, Pony Club and broken arms

We have had a busy week. 

This week saw the start of our pre-weaning lamb drenching regime, with the start of weaning and planned for 10 days time.  The focus last week was on our terminal lambs (Suffolk rams to our B flock ewes).

Some of the first pick lambs hopefully!

Set of terminal triplets

Set of terminal twins



We have sent away the first of our heifers to the works
 getting 227 kg CW/hd average.  In the last fortnight,
 the heifers had been doing 2kg+/hd/day.



Hereford Heifers



 



Some of the dairy heifers returning to their paddock after a B12
 injection with skies darkening in the background.

 

A different mob of dairy heifers.
 

Pet Day Activities

Our school Pet day was held at the end of last term on 29th September, where all of our 31 children take part in a number of activities.  The activities are broken down into Indoor and Outdoor Activities.

Leading up to Pet Day the children work towards preparing their art work to be displayed and judged.  The day before Pet Day, they bring flowers and vegetables to make the last of the activities.  All Indoor Activities are judged that afternoon after school.

The next day, Saturday, the children bring their pets to school.  We have four categories, which are all broken down into Junior and Senior:
* Lambs
* Calves
* Dogs
* Indoor Pets

For Lambs, Calves and Dogs, the get judged on calling,  rearing and leading/agility.  For the Indoor Pet they get judged on presentation and care. 

Our day starts at 9.45am with the judging of the pets.  This where the children get to show off the pets that they have cared for and reared over the last 4 - 8 weeks.

Range of Unusual Vases from the Junior Classroom

Junior Unusual Vases - Alice's was the big watering can

Junior Class Vegetable Animals.  Alice won first for her Rabbit (3rd from bottom on right side)

 In addition, the Junior Class did a sand saucer, aboriginal bark art, puppy art and 1 other piece of art.

Senior Dogs

Senior lambs

Junior lambs

 Alice got third for calling and third for leading.

Junior Calves

Grand Parade

As part of our Pet Day, there is a selection of Fathers Cakes.  These are judged on presentation and taste and at the end of the Outdoor Activities these are auctioned off.  The whole day is finished off with a BBQ.  The day was a huge success, being supported by the local community in the form of judges, stewards, family supports and observers.

If interested, children can then take there pet lamb, goat or calf onto Group Day.  This year Alice did this with her lamb - Plum.  This was held at Te Kauwhata Domain on 24th October.  Alice competed in the Pre-Junior Section (5 & 6 year olds).  She was judged on the following:

• Calling:

Calling

4th = Calling

•  Leading

Leading

2nd Leading

•  Rearing

Rearing

3rd Rearing

Plum and Alice with their ribbons at Group Day 2013

 There were 12 competitors in her group and to come away with a ribbon in each section for the first time Alice had competed was well done.

Plum is now out in the paddock with some Ewe Hoggets for company.  She is down to 1 feed of 500 mls a day, and from tomorrow will get a bottle of water every 2nd day for a week, then nothing. 

We always look forward to pet day and Alice has already named next years lamb, although we have no idea what it will be.  Look out for postings on 'Lemon' next year!

Nearly finished docking

We seemed to have got through lambing without too many hitches, and now we are in the throws of docking, although the weather hasn't been totally playing ball, with the exception of today being perfect.  Different from yesterday - cold and windy.

This year we have had a reduced team to go docking, with just Mal and I doing a portion, with the odd helping hand.  Then Lou, who is from Germany, arrived.  We managed to get in a couple of days of docking, with Lou before she moved on.  She was given the job of station marking and did a great job.

Maternal lambs in the docking pen

Lou earmarking

Terminal Ewes and lambs

Putting the ewes and lambs away

Lou earmarking, Mal on pick up

Morning tea - hunkering out of the wind

 

Lou at the trig at the top of the farm

Kevin has been out helping us also.  As of today, we have two paddocks to go, totalling around 400 lambs. 

 

Standing for the Waikato District Health Board

It is time for local body elections and I have decided to stand for the Waikato District Health Board.  There are 20 people standing for 7 elected positions.

The Waikato District Health Board covers a large area, with it being more rural than New Zealand, with 60% of its population living outside main urban areas.  Currently, on the board, there is only 1 elected board member representing those outside of Hamilton.  I believe it is important to have rural communities fairly represented on the board.

Living and working in rural Waikato, I have a passion for ensuring health care services are available to those that live in rural communities in a way that is sustainable - financially and socially.

If elected my 6 main priorities are:

1.   Ensure rural health services to rural families and communities meet their needs and are sustainable.

2.   Finding innovative ways to make efficiency gains across all aspects of the DHBs operations and services.  With both costs and population rising the need to find innovative ways to meet budget and population needs will increase. 

3.      Integration to ensure primary care needs match the diverseness of our people.  Our population is made up of 24% in low socio-economic (up 4% on the national average), 22% Maori, 3% Pacific, 7% Asian, 15% older than 65 and 36% younger than 24%. Going forward we are expecting an increase in the Maori and elderly population.

4.     Promotion of collaboration with neighbouring DHBs to provide care to parts of the region.  In order for Waikato DHB to achieve outcomes, collaboration is a fundamental way forward.

5.     To ensure there is a focus on quality and safety of the services offered.  Key performance indicators that allow us to monitor this on an on-going basis.

6.  Preventative health and eduction being fundamental.

My husband and I run a drystock (sheep & beef) hill country equity farming operation on 500 ha in West Waikato.  I have worked for 16 years in agri-business, more recently as an Agricultural Consultant for the Waikato/King Country area.

I have a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (first class honours) and have undertaken governance training through the Institute of Directors, of which I am a current member.  Recently, I was a finalist in the Waikato 2013 Aspiring Director Award.  I have a good understanding of finance and strategic planning, strong team work and communication skills, able to critique situations, ask questions and progress to an end point.

Whilst I have not worked directly in the Health Sector, I believe this enables me to provide an independent view point, and is not tainted by any involvement as many of the others have.  In saying that, it is important for an effective board to have a diverse range of skill. 

I am a mother of 1 and am on the Te Akau School Board of Trustees.

A vote for Sally Lee is a vote for independence, professionalism and a female, rural perspective.