After three months working in shearing gangs across New Zealand, four Mongolian sheep herders will soon return to their homeland with new knowledge and skills that have the potential to change their lives and reshape the shearing scene in their native country.
The four Mongolians herders – Budee, Baaska, Ama and Khanda – arrived in New Zealand in early January having done all their previous shearing using scissors, a time-consuming practice which limits the number of sheep that can be shorn in a day to about 30. With their trip wrapping up shortly, each of the herders is now shearing competently using an electronic handpiece and all four have achieved shearing personal bests of more than 250 sheep in a day – a feat which has previously only been achieved by one other Mongolian.
The visit to New Zealand was undertaken as part of the Share Mongolia programme – an initiative to introduce modern shearing techniques and equipment into Mongolia that took flight following a chance encounter between Rabobank agribusiness manager Paul Brough and local Mongolian farmers in 2019.
“While I was trekking through Mongolia in 2019, I came across a group of farmers who were shearing a herd of about 900 using scissors and they told me it would take them about a month to complete the job,” Mr Brough said. . .
Furry plague warning – Hamish Maclean :
Five government organisations have been issued work orders in the past eight months as the Otago Regional Council responds to reported “plagues” of rabbits in parts of the region.
Environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell said yesterday the council could not name the five government organisations that received “request for work” notices because the compliance process was under way.
However, she confirmed city or district councils were among those found to be non-compliant.
More broadly, Mrs Caldwell said in the 11 months between February last year and January this year 184 rural properties were inspected and 61 properties were found to be non-compliant. . .
Peter O’Connor crowned Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year :
Peter O’Connor, 24, is Farm Manager on a 400-cow dairy farm operation near Methven and has been crowned the Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
He spent the day competing in a range of agricultural-based challenges at the Ashburton A&P Showgrounds on Saturday, followed by a buzzer quiz on Saturday evening.
This Regional Final was Peter’s fourth attempt at a Grand Final position, and he was over the moon to take out the top spot.
“It’s pretty satisfying to get the win, particularly after my brother got through the other weekend – it’s a relief to join him at the Grand Final!” he said. . .
Subsurface drip irrigation trial gains momentum :
Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson have advanced their Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) trial with positive feedback from farmers following field days at trial blocks in North Canterbury and Central Otago. The system is also being installed at Linwood Park in Christchurch.
Gary and Penny are participating in Next Generation Farming; a project that aims to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like the Robinsons are using innovation and demonstrating its productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.
Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.
SDI’s low-pressure system saves water and power and improves crop yields by eliminating surface water evaporation and reducing the incidence of weeds and disease. Water is applied directly to the root zone of the crop and not to the soil surface. . .
New Zealand Rural Land Company completes Manawatu-Whanganui forestry purchase :
New Zealand Rural Land Company Limited (NZX.NZL) has successfully completed the acquisition of a forestry estate located in Manawatu-Whanganui in the North Island.
The estate comprises five individual properties with a total area of approximately 2,400 hectares, and was purchased at an acquisition cost of approximately $63 million. The entire estate has been leased to New Zealand Forest Leasing (NZFL) for a period of 20 years, with the first year’s payment being approximately $5m. The lease then has annual CPI-linked rental adjustments.
Co-founder and New Zealand Rural Land Management director Richard Milsom said the purchase was funded using a combination of debt and equity. Debt has been provided through an increase in borrowings from Rabobank of $25.2m.
“The equity component has been funded from the proceeds of NZL’s recent capital raise offer and from the proceeds of a $12m convertible note issued to an entity associated with NZFL. . .
Tullibigeal to restore Bedford fire truck that inspired women’s brigade, helped save town in 1990s – Hugh Hogan:
By all accounts, it was a typical hot December day in 1991, when all the firefighters of Tullibigeal raced from the town with their firefighting equipment in tow.
“We had a big bushfire out of town on a farm and all of our men were out there with a bushfire truck,” local Maxine Imrie said.
Ms Imrie vividly remembers that dry and windy day, as another grassfire started on the edge of the tiny town in central-west NSW while its fire fighters were away.
Ms Imrie remembers “a very senior gentleman, Mr Tom Glasgow” — a local mechanic — arriving with an old Bedford fire truck. . .
Homepaddock 