A work in progress

One of the things in farming is that we constantly remove obstacles that are stopping our profits. I wanted to show you some of the obstacles we are currently facing, as well as the other side of the coin. Please see the descriptions below at the bottom of each photo.

In our front paddock (Alpha), there were tea-tree regrowths on the very acidic peat soil (pH was 3.1). We are currently mulching in those regrowths on this and two other paddocks, reeds included. Before and after photos, + video, in a later blog.

Another view of the mulching on the acidic peat area in the front paddock. Sand pit in the foreground that we used to make a sand pad for the fertiliser shed.

Our very sandy paddock that is responding well to the lime and fertiliser. No non-wetting problems here, unlike other paddocks you will see below. Ewes hopefully in lamb will be moved into this paddock in a few days time.

The ewes hopefully in lamb (getting scanned on 10th June) that were runts, the dregs of what we bought, but are now looking much plumper. Can you see the one on her back kicking her legs in the air? Contented sheep I presume.

Ewes hopefully in lamb. Those reeds and tea-trees are about to be mulched this week to give us a few more arable hectares. And for your interest, the paleness in the kikuyu is iron deficiency. Very gutless white sand with lots of lime is making it worse. Needs an iron sulphate spray ASAP.

Our lambing mob. Many twins, some triples. Non wetting problems developing in most of the paddocks in this groups rotation.

Non-wetting problems are getting worse. This paddock is due to have the lambing ewes come in in about 2-3 days time, and feed is very tight in this paddock because of the non-wetting. It has just been seeded to clover and plantain with soil wetter in furrow. Will spray some of the worst non-wetting areas with more wetter in the next rain, hopefully. Lime and fertiliser can't work in dry soil.

And in other areas of the farm, the feed is growing really well. This 1ha paddock (ram paddock usually) has 147 skinny merino crossbreds we are fattening up to sell in a few weeks.

This mob is a 1,300 mob of skinny merino crosses to fatten up, but are on a rotation that has lots of non-wetting problems developing I need to fix.

Ultrawhite rams in the foreground, but notice the non-wetting soils in the paddock in the background. It is greatly reducing the pasture production.