Good morning everyone – from Wellington!
We have come down just for a couple of days – to baby sit our grandsons whilst their dad (a pilot) is flying, and their mum (in the air force) is in Japan. We fly back this afternoon, and have enjoyed the couple of days off the farm.
Having said that, the weather at the farm has been spectacular over the last week – beautifully clear winters days. There are not many more special places around the world than at Lake Farm! Lol – Wellington is a lot cooler.
On the Farm:
Baleage: To allow us to leave the farm I laid out two silage bales a day for a few days in a row. That is about 3 hours each day, and 2400kgs to load and unload. By the end of the winter I reckon I should enter into the “Mr Universe” competition (lol).
In fact, I will keep checking the grass growth and as soon as I feel the animals don’t need the extra feed I will stop. That’s not because of the work load! I am worried what will happen on the farm with the “super El-Nino” weather coming. It is supposed to be drier and windier, so the farm might dry out quite quickly. I want as much feed put aside as I can to cover this period. I might even buy some more silage in, as some extra cover (and early – to be safe).
Fencing: The fencers have gone to some other jobs. They have got behind because of the work they had to do here. We do still have one strip beside the house they need to do, as well as the modifications to the cattle yards. The yards are the most important, so that the cattle handing (weighing, drenching etc.) is easier.
Here is a photo of part if our farm, with the fencing done. What you may notice is the huge boulders which came from the Maungatautari eruption, thousands of years ago. It is mostly only featured on our farm which sort of makes it a bit unique.
There were a lot of random (and large) barberry bushes over the farm, which have all been removed, along with all the Barberry hedging. This clearance has highlighted the rocks.
Willow Trees: We have planted 14 Weeping Willows in the tree bays that have been built into all the new fence lines. They really are “thin and spindly” but, hopefully they will leaf up and thicken out over the spring and summer, as long as we can keep them watered through the El Nino.
Spotlight on:
Today we would like to spotlight our first Angus cow (Sylvia) and her heifer calf (also called Sylvia).
Whilst we highlighted Sylvia before, we are spotlighting her again, for a significant reason. We have “retired” Sylvia (who is not quite 19 years old). We are retaining Sylvia Junior as her replacement.
Sylvia can stay here for as long as we are here, provided that she is enjoying a reasonable standard of health, and well being. Recently, though, we notice her struggling a little, physically. The moment we feel it is too hard for her, and she is not enjoying life, we might have to change tack. We love her too much to see her suffer. Lol – getting old is not for sissies!
Sylvia junior will hold a very special place here! We are SO proud of Sylvia.
As always we really do like feedback. Any comments are always welcome!
Colin and Keryn