North Canterbury News: February 24, 2022

RURAL LIFE
North Canterbury News, February 24, 2022 31
Trying out skills all part of the contest fun
AshleighFoleyenjoyed trying out some
new skillsinthe Tasman FMG Young
Farmerofthe Year regional final on
Saturday.
The Waimakariri Young Farmers’
Club(YFC) member was the sole North
Canterbury representative in the
prestigiouscompetition held at Springston.
Operating adigger, setting trapsfor pests,
using achainsaw and quad bike safety were
just some of the challenges contestants
faced duringthe day.
Ms Foleytook homethe trophy formost
pointsfor afemalecompetitor and says she
is thrilled with her resultasafirst time
finalist.
DunsandelYFC member Jonny Brown
took out the title on his fourth attempt to
qualify for his first grandfinal.
Mr Brownmanages adairyfarm for
Dairy HoldingsLtd, milking 1300 cows.
Lincoln UniversityYFC members
AndrewAllan and Archie Woodhouse
placedsecond and third respectively.
New Zealand Young Farmerschief
executive Lynda Coppersmith saysthe
stakesfor 2022are high, being the third
contest season impactedbythe global
pandemic.
‘‘Entries for FMG YoungFarmer of the
Year were up 30 percent thisyear despite
the uncertainty of Covid, whichisacredit
to all our amazing volunteers, members,
sponsors and staff who put this contest
together,’’ shesaid.
‘‘My gratitude for everyone's efforts
extends beyondwords and Iamreally
proud to see how everyone has worked
together to deliver another season, to pivot
and adapt to new challenges including the
red light framework.
‘‘The calibre of competitors at each
regional final is the highest Ihave seenit
and is an extraordinary showcase of the
skillsand knowledge needed to be involved
in the primaryindustriesinthis day and
age.’’
Full results:
Jonny Brown,Dunsandel Young
Farmers, 1; Andrew Allan,Lincoln
University Young Farmers, 2; Archie
Woodhouse, Lincoln University Young
Farmers 3.
Top points agriskills: Jonny Brown.Top
Rain creates headaches
By DAVID HILL
The wet season is creating afew
headaches for contractors as theyrush to
complete the harvest whilethe sun
shines.
Contractors spokentobyNorth
CanterburyNews say the latestseason has
been agood one for local farmers, after
last year’sdrought,but not so good for
contractors.
BA Murray Ltd owner Steve Murray
says the wet weather is holdingupthe
harvest of grainand hay, as contractors
scramble to get the workdone between
rainy days.
‘‘Novemberwas good, then December
was average, and Januarywas challenging
and now Februaryiseven worse.
‘‘Withall those rainydays, it doesn’t
give us too many windows of opportunity
to get in and get the work done.’’
Therehas been plenty of silagecut, but
Mr Murray says farmers wanting to
harvest some hay may be disappointedas
six to seven days of fine weather are
normally needed to get agood cut.
Whileplenty of wheat and barley crops
are getting harvested,MrMurray suspects
some of those cropswill need to go
through the dryer before going into
storage.
‘‘We are still trying to achievewhat we
set out to achieve, but it’s about getting
the quality of the grain in. You get maybe
one or two fine daysand then it rains
again.’’
As the pressurecomes on to get the
harvesting done,MrMurray says he has
heard there is ashortage of machinery
available for hire, as contractors appear
to be acquiringevery available machine
to speed up the harvest.
Fletcher Farms owner NigelFletcher
says he has been focusing on gettingthe
grain harvestingdone on the lighter
groundfirst, in the hopethe heavier soils
will dry out soon.
‘‘The heavier grounddoesn’t take the
machines at the moment and we can’tget
the trucksincloseenough. But you can’t
do much about nature. You’ve justgot to
get in and do the best you can.’’
As afarm owner, Mr Fletchersays
despite the harvestingchallenges, this
seasonhas beenagood one afterlast
year’sdry autumn.
The labour shortageisanother
headache for contractors and Mr Murray
says he has struggled to find enough
experienced operators this season.
‘‘We’ve had areasonablenumber of
applicants, but we are abit fussy whenit
comes to whatpeople we want.
‘‘When you’vegot $300,000 tractors and
$1 millioncombineharvesters, you want
good peoplewith experience to drive your
machines.’’
Mr Murray says he did take on one keen,
young workerthis season who has done a
good job.
But Mr Fletchersays he has been able
to get enough staff this season. He did
have one injuredworker, but was able to
find auniversitystudenttofill in.
‘‘We generally don’tuse overseas
workers, but Iunderstandit’s been hard
for other contractors.’’
Digger work ... Ashleigh Foley tries her
hand at digger work.
points agribusiness: JonnyBrown.Top
points agrisports: George Dodson. Top
points agriknowledge: ArchieWoodhouse.
Top points female competitor: Ashleigh
Foley.
2410273
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021 214 1201 or
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