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FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U PR EN E
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Volume 46 I March 8th, 2021 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz
CLEARING UP HOW FOG IS MADE STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 Grant’s path to owning his own farm has varied. What jobs has he held over the years? 2 Who encouraged Grant early on to stay on and succeed at school and then at University? 3 Due to The Dashers high altitude it can be cold and wet, with snow capping the hill tops all winter. How do they farm their sheep taking these conditions into account? What do they have to do differently to farmers at lower altitudes?
Have a go:
Fog is simply cloud that forms on the ground. Autumn is the perfect time to start producing fog as it loves mild days and long cool nights to help it form. By the end of March the nights will be longer than the days and with sea surface temperatures at the highest for the year that also contributes to fog. In New Zealand fog can form in any region but fog that lingers longest tends to especially love inland valleys or low lying areas (known as basins). Which North Island and South Island regions are most likely to get fog that lingers all day? Only one location in each island is correct.
4 Grant believes that “To be environmentally sustainable you have got to be economically sustainable”. How are they doing this?
1 Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz 2 Find and watch the OnFarmStory of Grant McNaughton “We want to be here for hundreds of years” and read the article “Our attitude determines our altitude”.
5 What level and type of stock units do they carry annually on the farm? 6 What improvements have they made since they have taken on The Dasher Station?
3 Where is The Dasher Station? 4 How old is the property?
Thomas and Jack Dawkins showing us how to be easily seen on the farm and keeping themselves safe while doing the things that they love.
OF N E R AFE , N I W BE S “ THE E SEEN”ON I B ETIT P M CO
Fog in NZ usually occurs overnight in calm, high pressure, set ups. Fog is simply tiny droplets of water or ice suspended in the air near the ground when humidity is up to around 100%, showing the air is saturated. Sometimes after a foggy morning the sun burns it off but then we see big afternoon cloud build up develop, some even with thunderstorms and downpours. When it’s windy, fog is less likely to occur at sea level in New Zealand (but can form in the mountains in windy weather). Lower down though, calm conditions are a key component. In this map, which island is most exposed to low level fog?
This graph shows monthly NZ lamb exports for this season, last season and the fiveyear average to all countries.
Have a go: 1) How does January lamb exports compare to January last season and the five-year average? 2) Looking at the graph, when could we expect export volumes to peak? 3) Which month could we expect export volumes to be at their lowest? NZ lamb exports (thous. tonnes)
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1) Exports to China have been above year-ago levels from November to January. Which annual celebration has just happened in China that has driven demand for NZ lamb? 2) W hile demand and values of NZ lamb to China are strong, the strengthening NZ dollar is eroding processor margins. What is the current NZD-USD exchange rate? 3) A weaker domestic currency stimulates exports and makes imports more expensive; while a strong domestic currency makes imports cheaper. What might a high NZ dollar do to overseas NZ sheep and beef export demand?
One of the foggiest places on earth is Newfoundland, Canada. They get 200 days a year of fog!! Roughly how many days a year of fog do you get where you live?