No.8 Wire: Remote location no barrier to turnout

Nuku (pictured) and Bart Hadfield during the BNZ Ahuwhenua Trophy field day at Mangaroa Station in northern Hawke's Bay last week. Photo / Supplied

The remote location of the property of BNZ Ahuwhenua Trophy Maori Excellence in sheep and beef farming finalists Bart and Nuku Hadfield was little problem as more than 200 attended their finalists field day last week at Mangaroa Station, inland between Wairoa and Gisborne.

Organisers said it was an impressive sharing of the story of how the couple and whanau acquired Mangaroa and used it as a stepping stone for other members to buy their own properties.

Bart Hadfield

After a morning welcome and presentations, visitors were were taken on a farm tour and saw first hand how the Hadfields and their family have developed their hill country property over the years.

The judges who selected Mangaroa as a finalist said they liked the clear vision and core planning that the Hadfields displayed to achieve their costs, and above-average performance for a hill country property of its type, including a 141 per cent lambing percentage.

It was one of three field days throughout the North Island presenting the star properties before the prize-giving in Whanganui next month.

It also came the day before the Silver Fern Farms Hawke's Bay Farmer of the Year field day at the property of winner Chris and Trish Sinclair, at Kohurau, west of Napier.

Young stars

The race is on to find the 10th Young Viticulturist of the Year, which will be decided in Hawke's Bay in August.

Regional competitions will take place in Hawke's Bay on July 2, Central Otago on July 17-18, Marlborough on July 24, and Martinborough on July 28.

The national final will be held in Hawke's Bay on August 27-20, the winner becoming one of six sector finalists in the New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the Year finals.

Other phases include the Hawke's Bay Young Grower of the Year, which will be a feature of the National Horticultural Fieldays at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds on June 5. The national Young Grower of the Year will be decided on August 13 in Christchurch.

The Young Horticulturist of the Year finals will be in Auckland on November 11-12.

Sheep dogs

A strong late run by Moeangiangi Station manager and veteran triallist Kevin O'Connor and dog Jo has enabled them to take a share of the Hawke's Bay Sheep Dog Trial Centre's top heading dog title for the season.

Scoring a short head run win at Taradale and being runner-up in the short head and yard at Te Aute within the last week of the Hawke's Bay clubs season took the pair to 18pts on the Merial Ancare competition table, catching Bob Bruce and Cheat, the leaders for much of the season.

The centre has confirmed president Clark Chrystal and Trix as winner of the Aerospread top huntaway title, a comfortable 7pts clear of runners-up Stu McNeill and Ranger and Tom Manson with Hank.

Many of the triallists are heading south for the South Island Championships which will be held at Leithen Valley Farm, Greenvale, northern Southland, starting on Monday.

Chemicals collection

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council's collection of unwanted or banned agrichemicals will take place on May 11-14. It excludes solid and liquid fertilisers. To register, contact Fred King at the council on 06 833 8027 or 0800 108 838.

Wool sale

Lower-than-expected wool volumes pressured the South Island auction at last week's sale, generally lifting the market about 2 per cent.

The sale offered 9265 bales, of which about 92 per cent sold.

New Zealand Wool Services general manager John Dawson said shipment pressure and a wider wool type selection than the last South Island sale added to the market strength.

Fine crossbred fleece and shears were 1 to 3 per cent dearer.

Coarse crossbred fleece, good and average style were 1 to 3 per cent dearer with poor styles 3 to 4 per cent stronger.

Longer coarse shears lifted 2 to 4 per cent with short types firm to 3 per cent dearer.