Autumn Miscellaneous

There has been other things going on during March/April.  One of them was our regrassing programme.  We had sown a summer crop spring 2010.  One paddock was a plantain, chicory and clover mix, whilst the other was the same but included rape.  The paddocks proved an asset when they were in their peak, but this last summer 2011/12 they became overrun with thistles, and have largely been treated as fallow paddocks.  In February, both paddocks were sprayed out and left for a month for any regermination, of which there was plenty due to the moist, warm conditions.  They were then sprayed out the last week of March, and were resown 4th April with a diploid AR37 Alto, Tahora and Tribute white clover and plantain mix (all Super Strike coating) and DAP.  The reason that we chose this mix is that we wanted something that had a heading date between existing pastures and our new AR37 Halo paddocks, that would withstand grazing with both cattle and sheep.  AR37 was non-negotiable due to the pasture pests we have here and maximise animal health.  The crop was direct drilled and had slug bait added to the mix.

New grass 9 days after being sown ... can just see the new grass, after 29 mls of rain in preceeding 5 days.

New grass 24 days after being sown ... after 21 mls of rain.  Sorry Flo for not giving you privacy!

New edition to the team:
Early April (7th), Jen joined our team.  Jen is a 3 month old heading pup.  At the moment just lots of TLC and bonding going on.

The dog kennels - Jen is third from left

Upgrading the woolshed:

As well as building covered yards, an additional project has been to put grating in the leanto and make it waterproof. So, now our leanto is nearly finished and a good job to finish off when the rain comes. 

Still work in progress

Alice thinks it is quite a good dance floor!

Nearly there!

Section Fence:

The section fence is now complete, including gates!  Comments from the neighbours is that our section now looks big ... the fence is in exactly the same place as the old one!   Now have to work on a garden of some sort.

Possum:
Out doing pasture covers at the end of March, and taking the dogs for a walk, they discovered a possum.  Unfortunately it was too high in the tree for us to get it out so the dogs went home empty handed.

The possum

Lucy waiting patiently

Alice attempting to do the pasture cover reading with the pasture probe.  She probably just needs to be 20 cm taller!