46 | RURAL SERVICES » Mike Kettle Contracting Ltd Mike Kettle getting them ‘back in grass’ The recovery process is far from over with Mike estimating it will take several crop cycles. The company is advising farmers to plant crops that leave behind mulch, such as sweet corn, to help rebuild the soil’s humus content. Karen Phelps Mike Kettle Contracting has been assisting farmers hit by Cyclone Gabrielle to get their paddocks back into production again. In the wake of the disaster, company owner Mike Kettle recognised the urgent need for specialised equipment and services. “Where the floods went through with six feet high wall of water, all the rubbish that came with it and was picked up along the way, would pile up in the paddocks,” Mike explains. “The main thing was to clear the paddocks to get them back in grass as soon as possible so the farmers would have feed for winter stock.” He says the scale of destruction was unprecedented with some paddocks buried under silt and clay. “Once the silt dried out it would blow everywhere and make a mess. In some paddocks the silt was six inches deep with a lot of clay in it and you couldn’t do much until it started to dry and the cracks opened up so it could be cultivated.” Adapting to these unique conditions, Mike and his team developed a multi-step approach to land recovery. “Some sweet corn was five feet high still standing in the ground, it survived but it was full of silt so wasn’t any good for anything. We needed to mulch that as the ground wouldn’t dry underneath.” The process often required multiple passes over the same paddock due to the extent of the damage and wet conditions. After initial clearing and mulching, the team would cultivate the soil to promote drying, eventually planting grass and crops to stabilise the land so farmers had feed for their stock. One of the biggest challenges still faced by Mike Kettle Contracting is the hidden debris left behind by the cyclone. “We still have to watch out when doing work as there will still be stuff buried under the soil such as gates, fences etc so we have to be careful of our equipment.” The recovery process is far from over with Mike estimating it will take several crop cycles before the land returns to its pre-cyclone productivity. The company is advising farmers to plant crops that leave behind mulch, such as sweet corn, to help rebuild the soil’s humus content. Mike emphasises the importance of tailoring solutions to each farm’s specific needs with a collaborative approach crucial in addressing the diverse challenges faced by different farms. “We are having to work with farmers on an individual and paddock by paddock basis. Everyone is pooling ideas and helping each other to find solutions,” he says. “For example we just planted lucerne for one farmer who has 1.2m of silt across one side of the paddock. You can never clear that away as it’s such a huge job so it’s a matter of finding something that will grow on top of it and working from there. Silt can also get pulled up into crop that we are trying to harvest. If that is mixed in with the forage the stock won’t like it as they are eating something gritty in the grass. So the best way is for the stock to eat it in the paddock rather than harvest it.” The emotional toll on farmers has not gone unnoticed. “Farmers are pretty philosophical but it takes deep soul searching to think how to get out of the situation. We know we can do it but it will be a time thing and a lot of money.” Power Farming Hawkes Bay | 06 879 9998 Proud to support Mike Kettle Contracting CLAAS Harvest Centre Hawkes Bay is proud to be associated with Mike Kettle Contracting Ltd. It’s been a privilege working with Mike over the past 35 years. claasharvestcentre.com HAWKES BAY 1320–1322 Omahu Road, Hastings 06 872 1010
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=