FALLING INTO AUTUMN AND WINTER

What can lifestyle block owners do to get ahead of the seasonal curve?

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As we head towards autumn and winter, both city-dwelling homeowners and lifestyle block owners alike must start planning for the months ahead. Whether it’s staying alert at the end of the dry season so the long grass on your property doesn’t light up like a Christmas tree in February, or preparing to store winter supplies for your animals, it pays dividends to start preparing now. Property owners need to look at three things: • What they need to do. • What they want to do. • What they can afford to do. Especially with lifestyle block owners, the steps taken now will set the tone of your property for the rest of year. If you’re serious about turning a part of your property into a place for profit, you need to decide whether you farm it yourself or look at the option of leasing the land out. “Do they need to spend all their time chasing after this acreage — or can they sit back and enjoy where they are and lease that land for someone to graze their animals on? “For some people, it’s a very viable option. Especially since most people are working during the week, and they want to spend time to themselves during the weekend,” Croy Lifestyle Block

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Management owner and operator, Doug Croy says. “What I strongly recommend is for lifestyle people, if they’re serious about farming the area that they’ve got, is getting a soil test done. “It basically tells you what kind of condition their soil is in. If their soil is in a poor way, it is like a human, if you’re not feeling 100 percent, you won’t be working at 100 percent efficiency – that’s exactly the same with soil,” Doug says. One of the main tests used measures the pH levels in the soil, which tells how sweet the soil is. It should be around 6.0 to 6.2, Doug says, and anything below that will stifle higher producing grasses from growing. Contrary to popular belief, soil testing is not a very dear expense. Either an independent contractor or Doug himself will come in to take soil samples from your property. What I strongly recommend is for lifestyle people, if they’re serious about farming the area that they’ve got, is to getting a soil test done. “

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From there, the samples taken are sent away to an independent soil testing outfit in Auckland, with the test results coming back within seven working days. Doug’s rate is $65 per test, with an additional rate for mileage and his time, at $35 per hour. What’s done with the results is completely up to the property owner. One option is getting custom-made fertilisers tailored to your soil’s needs with New Zealand’s Fertilisers – the cost, depending on what is needed, can be brought down to as low as $200 dollars per hectare. Other options are to buy standard blends from fertiliser companies, which have ready-made blends that may match what you require. “Coming into the autumn period, it’s an ideal time to put it on your pastures. That will set them up for the early spring period when you want the grass to grow at its best,” Doug says. Taking stock of your pasture growth is critical leading into winter, as you will need to know how much stock it will feed, and what other feed you need to conserve or purchase leading into the winter. Not only is it unethical to neglect your animals, it is very illegal.

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‘Lifestylers’ • Putting weight on animals for breeding season and a winter coat • Irrigation system installed if you’re planning to farm property • Extra fencing to prevent animals from straying • Setting up a system so you’re not spending every weekend maintaining the farm • Ensuring your stock has adequate shelter for both summer and winter.

‘Townies’ • Preparing thicker bedding in home for pets to sleep on • Aerating the lawn so it can breathe using a spade to make holes • Cleaning out gutters and drainage to prevent roof leaks • Properly storing or ‘winter proofing’ lawn and deck furniture • Adding extra insulation to doors and windows • Get an annual fireplace inspection.

In summary, if you have animals on your property you need to make sure: • Your animals have adequate water and shade, especially in these warm days • Their animal health requirements are up to date i.e. drenching, pour-on dipping and shearing • If you are going to mate animals, it is critical that they are in as good a condition as possible • You have adequate feed reserves to get them through the winter • Your soil and pasture is in as good health as you can make it • You are very vigilant around this time of total fire bans, so that your place does start a fire.

For more expert farming and lifestyle block tips, contact Doug Croy at (027) 300 0230 – with over 45 years of farming experience, you know you’re in good hands.

Croy Lifestyle Block Management 103 Sladdens Bush Road RD1 Oxford (027) 300 0230 doug@croy.co.nz www.croy.co.nz

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