August 2023

It’s been a busy couple of months in the North Island since the National Fieldays back in June, relocating a few goats, dealing with some unexpected early kidding, setting up for and getting on farm for shearing. All the while dealing with some rather soggy conditions under foot with the persistent rain – in saying that it has been nice to see some sunshine over the past couple of weeks, it is starting to feel like spring!

It has been an exciting time continuing to meet existing growers across the North Island, to gain an understanding of their location, situation and where they are in their journey achieving The Potential. This introduction work is helping me to better understand the grower community, identify opportunities for growers and potential synergies between growers. Amongst visits to existing growers, I have been following up expression of interest from other farmers interested in the potential of NZ Cashmere and integrating goats into their existing farm systems. I also managed to get out on farm with a professional photographer capturing the magnificent images you will see coming through on social media, on a stunning crisp Hawkes Bay winter morning.

The highlight for me though would have to be the week of the inaugural NZ Cashmere conference in Wellington earlier this month, which also included an on-farm shearing and fibre day at Jake and Jenn Short’s farm near Fielding. It was great to get the majority of our foundation flock farmers together in Wellington for the official opening of Woolyarns new scour and dehairing plant, then roll into the grower conference the next day. For the growers in attendance, it was not only and opportunity to hear from some great presenters about the journey of NZ Cashmere and pick up some practicable animal health tips, but most importantly meet and network with other growers from across New Zealand. Later in the week I also had a number of the lower North Island growers together for a practical shearing demonstration and the chance for new growers to have a go themselves, at the Short’s farm in Manawatu. This was a great opportunity for those that had shorn goats before to share tips and tricks with the new growers (and myself, as it was all new to me too!). We were also treated to a demonstration and the opportunity to experience shearing with the Handypiece, Jake’s father Dave’s invention for invention for mobile crutching and shearing where 240v power supply is not available. I personally found the Handypiece great for shearing the goats, using a head bail, as the variable speed adjustment helped minimise heat build up in the hand piece and as the whole unit is around your waist moving around the animal, shearing both sides was tangle free.

Over the next few months, I will be continuing to get around the North Island meeting new potential growers, checking on kidding and organising shipping consignments of fibre post shearing for growers. Also following very positive feedback from farmers and other rural professionals at a recent discussion group I attended I will have a stand at the upcoming Gisborne A&P show in October – so if you’re up that way pop in for a yarn.

Cheers

Duncan Steans