"Early single.....late twin......early twin.....early twin....." Steve calls from his little seat, tucked low behind the screen, as his right arm reaches under another round ewe belly. There is the occasional unwelcome pronouncement of "dry", a few "triplet" and even "quads". No dogs bark, no music plays and the only sounds are hundreds of hooves clattering across the grating as sheep move through the pens.The shed is calm and quiet as everyone focuses on their job, complete with their own spot on the rails to lean on.
Sometimes there is conversation, but too much noise means that Jock doesn't hear that important call as he stands by the drafting gate at the end of the race with can of red spray raddle in his hand . Johnie musters mobs from the paddocks, Len brings them out of muddy yards and up the ramp, and Malcolm keeps them flowing through the race .So goes scanning for over a day , with me providing food at 2 hourly breaks, till the last of the expectant mothers have been drafted into their appropriate new mobs. 3234 ewes go one by one through a special crate with hydraulic doors and are squirted with warm water under their tummy creating a connection for the probe on to the skin. Steve's experienced eyes see the black and white images of ribs, placenta with floating cork-like things called cotyledons, beating hearts, skulls, bladders and moving legs. Among all that anatomy he diagnoses how many bodies he can identify, if any. The sex of each lamb remains a secret and his machine is not quite as sophisticated as the human version, but it is amazing technology and huge advance for farm management . For some years I operated a scanner and know what it is like to sit beside a race for hours peering at that screen, not wanting to make mistakes and looking forward to that lucky last lady walking up the race. I have the utmost admiration for the skills and stamina involved in the job.
When Steve's gear is water-blasted and packed back on his ute he heads to the next farm leaving us to study the figures he gives us. 84 dry ewes to be sent to the works or put in the homekill mob, 1147 single bearing ewes which go on to the larger, rougher paddocks, 1880 twinning ewes, 121 carrying triplets and 2 quads. That makes a total of 5278 embryonic lambs on board and we are thankful for every one. Each little life is a wonderful miracle. As in any population there will , unfortunately, be losses before, during and after birth and we pray for good spring weather to aid survival. Our early lambing mob are due to start on August 20th so my maternity unit will be ready soon. We uplift one lamb from each set of triplets to bring home because the remaining 2 lambs grow better on Mum's 2 tit milkbar. Attached on the back of our quad bikes is a yellow plastic "lambulance" to transport orphans home. It's a warm place to be but often a bumpy ride . Years ago my Dad carried lambs home in a sack on his horse. Some things have changed but my love of lambs, boxes by the fire, lambs escaping in the lounge, bleating in the middle of the night and all the clean up and washing are still the same. I look forward to lambing starting, and then to when it is over. That lovely rich smell of warm, wet new born lamb wool, the first poo called meconium which is like green/black jelly that sticks on everything, the satisfaction of reviving a comatose hypothermic wee body, the frustration of a lamb that just won't suck, mixing volumes of milk powder and scrubbing bottles are all lasting memories of spring . Then when a mob of lambs comes running when I call there's that same joy I experienced as a kid with a pet lamb.
Once upon a time there was a little farming family. They lived together in a beautiful place and worked hard. They planted crops, fenced, sprayed weeds, and season after season managed their farm carefully. Their main source of income was from their Sustainable Humane Environmentally-friendly Edible Product flock . The farmers raised meat and shore wool from these S.he.e.e.p, which was sent all over the world to feed people and keep them warm. The products exported were not highly valued so the little farming family had a modest income, but they were happy and didn't change land use by planting forests, building lodges and sheds , or creating subdivisions. Farms were passed from one generation to another and still the families were satisfied in their lives and labour. Unlike the Little Red Hen they never asked "Who will help?", and they continued improving their farm with good land management and increasing efficiency of their S.h.e.e.p flock. There were many other similar little families next door and down the road running S.h.e.e.p farm businesses with the same pride and diligence and care for land and stock.
Then, seeing what great things were happening, the 'Group Over Very Top" ( G.O.V.T) were pleased.They passed a decree down to all Controllers Over /Under Neighbours, Conservancies In Localities (C.O.U.N.C.I.Ls) dictating that every "Outstandingly Nice Landowners" , ONLs , be identified and rewarded for their fine efforts in protecting and preserving their landscapes. People who lived in towns and cities, where landscapes had been highly modified by buildings, roads, and other eyesores, all applauded these Outstandingly Nice landowners and asked "How can we help?" . The Royal Management Achievement consents ( RMAs) were introduced to give recognition and provide assistance to these ONLs .Everyone realised the great value of what these farming families had created and wanted to support them in continuing their wonderful work....and yes, the little farming family was one of those chosen Outstanding few.They were very proud, and grateful for assistance from RMA consents and humbled by the respect they were accorded from the community . They lived happily ever after still farming their flock of Sustainable Humane Environmentally-friendly Edible Product, ever hopeful that more people would wrap up warmly in wool and mmmmmmunch on mmmutton so these great products would provide improved income.
Meanwhile, in another country their G.O.V.T saw all these little farming families working hard , living in beautiful places but they had a different response with different plans. Instead of valuing the efforts of the people preserving their land ,they worried that these good folk would change their behaviour and develop into "developers". So they too passed a decree down to all C.O.U.N.C.I.Ls dictating that all "Oh, Needs Locking-up" ( ONLs) be identified,so freezing landscapes for all time just as it was. People in towns and cities were given opportunity to make submissions on how the little families should operate their farms and businesses, and sadly mistrust thrived . C.O.U.N.C.I.Ls neglected to send letters with explanation and maps to farmers with ONLs drawn over their land .There were no courtesy visits to tell them how they were affected . Risky Misunderstood Anxiety ( RMA)consents were enforced, so before farmers could undertake operations on their own land they needed to jump through many hoops, at great expense and risk to themselves . In this country there was no applauding those little farming families for their achievements creating these outstanding landscapes, and no sharing of responsibility to maintain these ONLs. The attitude was "Not I," so bureaucracy proliferated and the little families felt undervalued and not respected by the community in spite of the outstanding work they had done. They still farmed S.h.e.e.p, but the great products they generated also continued to be undervalued . Those little farming families no longer lived happily ever after, and the media published many articles highlighting serious concerns regarding mental health of farmers and rural folk , .....and people wondered why, and what could be done to help......
What fairy tale land do we inhabit now, or wish to live in together???...
"....and the seasons they go round and round....." Remembering that song from Joni Mitchell, written in the 1960's, probably dates how many seasons have gone round for me . I like the words because seasons are so much part of life on the farm although our yearly carousel is longer than painted ponies going up and down .The shortest day has passed and daylight has grown 6 minutes longer this last week . The star cluster Pleiades has risen, signalling Maori New Year which Mary and I celebrated with a Matariki afternoon at her school finishing with a delicious ,well cooked hangi.
Seasons bring changes in weather.Farmers conversations often cover that subject and I have submitted 9 columns without mentioning it once, but for 2 reasons it has been hot topic recently. At Kaihoka we live with wind and are used to it. Wild westerly's off the Tasman Sea creating trees permanently leaning . But this last week strong easterlies whistled through our windows ,howled over the hills, pummelled the paddocks and made mustering unpleasant and musterers grumpy. The calm after the storm is wonderful. Unsettled weather is even more frustrating for our friend, Lyn, kayaking around New Zealand and still waiting to paddle up the West Coast . She is staying on the farm and constantly consults weather forecasts, studies ocean conditions, walks on the beach watching waves and has waited for weeks, not always patiently !. She is one resilient, persistent lady and to keep sanity and fitness for her journey, she tries to go out for a daily paddle no matter what the weather.
The "revolving years" in the song also bring seasons in our family life. Jock's lovely black trial dog, Will, collapsed and died last week so we have an empty kennel.Grandad , who is over 80 , lives on the farm with us. He helps with odd jobs like prilling thistles and taking smoko to the woolshed for shearers and we deliver him nightly "meals on wheels" . Yesterday he called up feeling sick , the doctor diagnosed pneumonia and he is now in hospital on a drip . That creates a gap in our family but with antibiotics and nursing care hopefully he will be home soon. Our son , Johnie,who is a few months off 18 now has his independence with a restricted license, a Ute and more and more work in the shearing gang. He is often away from home travelling around Golden Bay as well as down to Reef ton and St Arnaud . Although that leaves a big hole at home we are pleased he has found a career he enjoys, is gaining experience and doing well ( shearing 170 ewes a day now). Our wedding anniversary is also coming up and Al Martino's words,"Spring is summer and summer is fall, and I'm not changed at all" , don't quite ring true when looking at photos of the bride and groom 19 years ago !
And seasons come and go with farm work and stock too. 2 more truck loads of lambs have left Kaihoka. Some went to the works, although the prices are a disappointing $85 for 18 kgs lambs and the rest headed to Banks Peninsula to finish growing out there. That leaves only 200 of last year's lambs on board and so the old season ends and we move on to the new one. Next weekend is a big event in our calendar when Steve comes with his crate, machine and expertise, to scan all the ewes. With the grainy black and white images on his screen he will identify how many ewes are pregnant with singles, twins, some triplets and the occasional quad. "Dry" ewes will book a ride on the truck. To look forward to these lambs being born in spring is the beginning of another season and we remain ever the optimists, hopeful of good lambing weather and improving prices.....again in Joni's words "There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty"
Our farm at Kaihoka has wet lands and wetlands. Notice that small gap between words creating a significant difference . Gaps in my knowledge are being filled as I begin to understand how margins between "wetland" and "upland" are detected , learn new words like "obligatory" and "facultative" plants, and find out what a fen is ( and that we have plenty in our paddocks).
Using the Resource Management Act government ruled that all wetlands must be identified with responsibility for this passed to councils . Our local council used aerial and satellite images to produce detailed maps with blue lines identifying wetlands. A big white envelope arrived in our mailbox containing a wad of these maps with 37 blue line areas marked on our property. This project is not voluntary so our only choice was either to accept these areas as identified, or request a site visit to clarify accuracy of boundaries . We initiated the visit and a council botanist spent a day here talking ,walking , and GPS mapping margins. He investigated 5 sites looking at plants, soils and water, digging , taking notes , samples and photographs .This resulted in some recommended boundary modifications and he will return to continue with the other 32. Final maps will be listed on wetland database and shown on our property LIM. The scientist passes responsibility to policy makers , then rules regulate that there should be no activity "that impacts on the wetland" and so responsibility passes to the good landowner!
I understand importance of wetlands to filter sediment and nutrients, assist with flood prevention and provide natural storage maintaining water flow during dry spells. We enjoy aesthetics of our many swamps with sedges and bulrushes. We know the environment is healthy and regularly see white herons, bitterns, numerous pukeko and occasional rail. I comprehend this is a required scientific exercise to identify wetlands and advise whether it is "high value" or not, depending on presence of rare species and how many of that particular type of wetland still exist. I do understand that over the years more than 90% of New Zealand's wetlands have been "lost".
The gap in my understanding is why management has been passed down to those of us who own land with intact wetlands but no remuneration for this crucial responsibility . As one landowner at the recent meeting stated, this means that land use is now "frozen". Any drainage "must not alter the hydrology" . Pre-existing ditches may be maintained to same depth but further ditching is "precluded". Land development is a discretionary activity requiring resource consent, adding considerable cost and uncertainty . We are effectively being limited to present land use with no intensification or conversion possible . This impacts land value as diversification is restricted .
"Support " for wetland owners is offered in the form of some fencing materials to exclude stock , rate relief if we choose "official protection" and coordination of volunteers for planting or weed control. The significant gap created is no financial reward to celebrate landowners who have retained, protected and often enhanced that valued 10% of remaining wetlands. No compensation for direct costs of protection, or indirect costs of lowered land value and possible RMA consents.
The 90% of wetlands gone are not just to farm development. Many New Zealand cities and towns are built where wetlands once thrived. Urban expansion reclaimed estuaries and coastlines.River mouths are modified. The more that are "lost" the more valuable the remaining wetlands become .The responsibility AND cost for preserving wetlands must be shared by everyone. It is time "valuing wetlands for environment and recreation" became real, not just bureaucratic speak. Responsibility has been passed along, so now finances must come from government to councils and to landowners. Recognise and reward rather then restrict and regulate. I look forward to being offered our Swamp subsidy, Marsh money, Bog bonus, Wetland wages and fen funds.
"There are 3 faithful friends....an old wife, and old dog and ready money" is a great quote from American great , Benjamin Franklyn which is echoed in a humorous Ogden Nash poem," The dog is man's best friend, He has a tail on one end. Up front he has teeth, and four legs underneath". Our large energetic team of farm dogs certainly are valuable friends and workmates and for two reasons have been a focus recently.
On a positive, Jock has finished another season of dog trials . It starts with our local Takaka club trials in January and goes over many weekends until the NZ championships in early June. To be eligible for the NZ champs each dog has to accumulate enough points in club events and, for the 6th year in a row, Jock and his loyal black huntaway Will qualified. Zig, Chub, Kip,Jack, King and Blitz all travelled to trials but they didn't score those necessary points. As Jock philosophically says..."There is always next year". Dog trials involve skill , team work , patience and natural ability. With a sport involving 3 sheep, 1 man, 1 dog and weather , it does help to have some luck and a judge who likes your style. This year's championships held in Omarama had added challenges of snow, minus 6 temperature and merino hoggets. Considering Will is now eleven years old he performed well but not enough points for the top 7 in final run-offs. Wyllie and Will had success last year though achieving second in the straight hunt course at Tapanui. Mary and I were there to share that proud moment. Watching the finals was nerve wracking and I had my eyes shut willing 3 sheep to walk straight up that hill to the middle of the top markers. I could hear "experts" standing around judging the run , giving a commentary and finally declaring it a fine effort. Jock has the trophy and the photo and Will now heads to retirement. There is always a new pup coming along and hopes pinned on young dogs Sarge, Nick, Dude , Gus and Smash being trained up for trials as mustering and work in the yards. With 15 working dogs on the farm there is plenty of potential.
Which brings me to another, not so positive, reason dogs are on my mind....time for registration .At $30 each that adds to a significant amount . Like any business manager I consider the cost/benefit of outlaid money as I pay the bills . What do we get for $450? The explanation on the website states that these fees go towards "dog related problems, dealing with aggressive dogs, education, responding to complaints, dealing with lost and found dogs , operating the pound, and managing the national dog database...". So since we have a well behaved team, care for our dogs, none go missing and we create no problems that means no benefit for our money. A user pays system would be a far fairer idea . I am grateful that rural dogs cost less than urban ones and working dogs don't require microchipping . Fees are set by individual councils and in our case it appears to be simple revenue gathering .Other councils have lower fees and Marlborough has a sensible"property license" for 3 or more dogs making a real saving for farms.
The blurb with the forms states rules under the "Dog Control Act" covering "fouling public places, shelter, impounding and owners' responsibilities" as well as "infringements and fines." Cost for "failing to register a dog " is $300 each so that would be an expensive option ( if caught) as well as a moral dilemma for honest dog owners doing the "right thing".
So my cheque is in the post and I look forward to finding the parcel in our mail box with these very expensive little plastic tags to attach to the collars of our valuable faithful friends.
kaihokablablabla@xtrablablabla.co.nz
© Kaihoka Farmstay
