North Canterbury News: July 29, 2021

New season
challenges
By DAVIDHILL
Immigration restrictions are
continuing to be aheadache as calving
gets under way in North Canterbury.
Federated Farmers North
Canterbury senior vice­president
Rebecca Green says she has endured a
60 day wait to get afarm worker
approved by Immigration New
Zealand to work on the Cheviot farm
she contract milks with husband Blair,
after no locals applied for the position.
On the positive side, the
government’s relaxing of visa rules
means an existing farm worker has had
his visa extended from 12 to 24 months,
‘‘which is really great’’, she says.
‘‘It’s tough for alot of people. It’s just
very stressful and very hard for my
husband and our workers who are
having to carry the extra load.
‘‘A lot of farmers don’t have the
workers that they need, but we just
have to soldier on and get through.’’
Despite the drought and the recent
heavy rain events, Ms Green says the
farm is ready for calving after some
late season grass growth and the cows
are in good condition.
‘‘Calving is under way and if we don’t
get too many more adverse weather
events, we will be fine.
‘‘That second lot of rain probably hit
Hurunui worst than the (May 31) flood
event, but we have just got to try to do
the best we can.
‘‘We still care about our animals and
our people, so it’s about making sure
we are all OK.’’
Anetball injury means Ms Green is
out of action for calving, but she has
managed to find some casual workers
to step in.
‘‘But otherwise everything is looking
good.’’
While the farm is next to both the
Hurunui and Greta rivers, it has come
through the rain events without too
much damage, aside from the Greta
River flooding apump, some debris
and broken fences.
Fewer lambs expected
By DAVID HILL
Spring lamb numbers are expected to be
down around the region.
North Canterbury scanning contractor
Daniel Wheeler says scanning results
have been mixed around the region, with
the season’s drought taking its toll.
The Amberley­based contractor
pregnancy scans ewes in the North
Canterbury and Ellesmere areas.
He estimates scanning percentages are
down about 10 to 20 percent.
‘‘The results are quite mixed. Ewe
condition is pretty good, as farmers have
been feeding out for awhile and good
lamb prices are keeping farmers
optimistic,’’ Mr Wheeler says.
‘‘Overall Iwould say lambing
percentages are down 10% to 20%. Some
are down more than that and some have
seen little change.’’
Federated Farmers North Canterbury
meat and wool vice­chairman Stu Fraser
says most farmers have had reasonable
scanning results, given the dry summer.
‘‘We’ve had the same dry rate but less
triplets, which is agood thing when
there’s afeed shortage. Triplets can take
alot of extra work for very little return,
but twins are perfect.’’
While the recent rain saw the Hurunui
River in flood again, following the May 31
flood event, his farm had come through
with only minor damage.
With plenty of sunshine over the last
two months, soil temperatures have
remained at 9.5 to 10 degrees, allowing
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New season ... Early season lambing is
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for some winter grass growth and
providing some welcomed relief after the
drought.
Lambing is due to get under way in two
weeks and Mr Fraser is feeling
cautiously optimistic about the season
ahead.
‘‘It’s early days yet, but things are
looking promising. Everything else is
ticking along and it’s looking good for
beef and sheep. As long as the market
holds up, we will be right,’’ he says.
‘‘We are reliant on the weather, but as
long as we get some grass growth to
replenish our winter feed we will be
fine.’’
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The North Canterbury News, July 29, 2021
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