March 2025

March already! In early February I dropped my last name, and a silly amount of money to get married – but it turns out that’s not the most exciting thing on my mind for 2025 (but shhh, don’t tell hubby!).

Monday March 19th we have our first on-farm Field Day for the AgFirst Project at Temora Downs, and I am absolutely fizzing for it! Because, as you can see from the pictures we have been posting lately, the difference the cashmere goats have been making on the thistle control for this block is significant, all the while allowing clover and plantain to keep growing for the cattle, sheep and deer.

We already knew they’d do this, we have been preaching it for years, but to be able to show it so clearly in a structured project, with trusted names such as Graham Butcher, Rural Solutions Ltd, and AgFirst backing up our findings, it feels good!

Getting this project off the ground was a little bit of a labor of love for me and it will be a little of my legacy to have this completed. So please, if you are able, come and see what we are up to at the Field Day – Johnny and Jane are great farmers, it’s a privilege to be able to work alongside them on this.

Goats are moving around the country, however; we are in a bit of a tricky spot for growth. We have some large farms waiting in the wings for larger numbers of white, well-bred on stock that we currently cannot provide, with most growers having small groups of animals of 20 to move on.

We are working to correct this aiming to secure several large breeding properties, who can run 500+ does, focused just on breeding first cross animals to provide to industry. If you, or someone you know would be interested in this opportunity, please get in touch!

I’ve been enjoying running through existing and potential growers through the New Zealand Cashmere app, this tool helps us run scenarios, specific to your farm, on how many goats can be run where, what they’ll eat and what value they will add to your farm in fibre, meat/progeny sales, clover and weed control. If you’d like to run the numbers and a bit of banter, do get in touch!

It's a slight pinch period over the next couple weeks, with our Field Day, Matron of Honor and doing the flowers (homegrown) for my best friends’ wedding, Otago Anniversary and South Island Agricultural Field Days but I am looking forward to catching up with you soon! Cheers,

Liv