Crikey, four hours ago I was out on the tractor working up the summer feed paddock (turnips), and in that short time we’ve had 40mm of rain.
Hardly feels like the El Niño doom we’ve been warned about — winds, droughts, bushfires. My daughter says the farm grass growth rates have hit that magical 50kg of dry matter a day, meaning the animals can be 100% grassfed with little supplement. Easy peasy.
Fonterra is predicting another good payout this season, though it comes with a sting: farm costs may be about $1 per kg of milk solids higher — roughly $150,000 for the average dairy farm. Many of these rising costs are, oddly enough, of our own making. Driving land prices far beyond inflation and earning capacity is a big one. My dairy farm conversion 30 years ago cost about half of what it would today, relative to income. Overcapitalising on land is now one of farming’s biggest burdens. Urban house prices tell the same story — the ability for an average Kiwi family to buy a home has halved in the same period.
Some costs we can’t control. A day on the tractor can now burn through $400 worth of diesel — two years ago it was under $200. Bugger.
National Radio recently reported Tinui School celebrating 150 years, though its roll has halved over the past 30 years thanks to farm amalgamation, forestry and smaller families. Pirinoa has seen similar trends, though we’ve kept more farms and fewer forestry conversions. What I’ve noticed is parents choosing bigger schools for all sorts of reasons. All five of my kids loved Pirinoa School, and we’ve loved it too — it’s such an integral part of our social community. Which brings us to Lamb, Calf, Pets and Craft Day on 16 October from about 10am. It’s a hoot. All welcome.
Whakatomo Road made national news again yesterday, closed because of potential slippage. Locals are increasingly frustrated — not everyone has a fourwheel drive to cross the river. This year we’ll have to bring our freshcut grass for silage back to the milking platform across the river. Hopefully not a big problem. The aftermath of these flooding events is sour: GWRC regulatory staff arrive with the big stick. Silted drain cleanings may be classed as stop banks, blind washouts as fish passages, and lost riparian plantings (about 4ha) may need replanting inside new boundaries. I’m not a happy chappy. Bring on RMA reforms and some sense.
Local body reform discussions have been pushed to later in the year, including proposed cost recovery for roading maintenance through differential rates. Forestry blocks could face a tenfold increase. Crikey.
But don’t forget those yummy Land Girl pizzas on 14 October — three for $60. Order 0278423379.
