26 | Damage from Porina Russell Fredric RURAL PEOPLE » Hauhungaroa 2C Block A perfect storm within a perfect storm is an apt description of what the owners, management and staff of Maori-owned incorporation Hauhungaroa 2C Block Incorporation have faced during the past season. Manager Cam Brown says the effects of a porina infestation and drought in the context of the covid pandemic will be felt for some time, with the pasture damage caused by the porina caterpillar expected to impact the next two seasons. These challenges have been further heightened by other global in uences which have caused substantially higher fuel and fertiliser prices. Hauhungaroa employs three full-time staff and is a breeding and nishing property within the Lake Taupo catchment on a total of 3227 hectares. The farm winters about 4600 romney breeding ewes 250 breeding cows, plus 80 replacements which are calved as two-year-olds. “Winter wasn’t kind to us and in the spring we got hit with porina and probably 95% of the farm got affected to some degree.” Some pastures suffered about 90% damage and the timing of the infestation, which was widespread around the lower North Island, could hardly have been worse. “It pretty much started disappearing as we watched them lamb, it just decimated some areas.” When spraying thistles in August Cam realised there was a problem, but couldn’t get the appropriate chemical until early October due to the covidrelated supply shortage. While this was effective when eventually applied and pastures recovered to a degree, a lot of at weed and thistles had grown. “We thought we were away in December with all that rain we got and then it stopped raining, pretty much until early February when we got a decent dollop and we haven’t got anything since. It’s pretty noticeable the areas which were hit by porina are the worst affected now.” As a result, the focus is now strategically altering the farm system to allow pastures to recover which is expected to take two years. One thing that has stood out is the resilience of pastures that had been regrassed with Legion AR37. “It’s toxic to the caterpillar, they will eat the clover around it, but they won’t eat the grass, it wasn’t largely affected.” Cam re ects another plus was the decision to change tack on the sheep genetics seven years ago to put romney rams over the existing coopworth, texel, east friesian composite. He has no doubt they have been more resilient through the testing times than their predecessors would have been. “We select the rams for FE (facial eczema) tolerance, fertility, growth rate and wool, but also concentrate on trying to get survivability because we can be in a harsh climate in the winter; it can get pretty cold.” Keeping to pre-de ned processes and having a long-term view is helpful in dealing with the stress of such challenging times, Cam says. “I think you’ve got to stick to your principles and processes and take your highs and lows with it. You’ve still got to maximise the number of lambs you drop on the ground and what weight you can wean them or get them off the farm at. “A big part of that is the genetics, the sires you are using whether it be on the cattle or the sheep. If you stick with those principles then you know your are heading in the right direction.” “Winter wasn’t kind to us and in the spring we got hit with porina and probably 95% of the farm got affected to some degree ... it just decimated some areas.” Reihana Hunapo (general shepherd), Mitchell Brown( head shepherd), Cam Brown (manager). Two tooth ewes in the yards (right). ARAHURA GENETICS Cre8ive 9305
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