It's rather a difficult blog to write this one. To be honest, the pictures say so much more than I can! We started the day off with Nuffield Scholar Roger and his wife Barbara Barton on their farm near Greytown. The farm is mainly beef and sheep, predominantly up on the high country with some low lying better quality paddocks. The farm is on the edges of the Tararua Ranges and over looks lake Wiararapa to the south west. Roger has a commercial flock and recorded flock of Romney sheep.
We had a good look aroun the farm, heading up to the highest points for some spectacular views. We talked about controlling Bovine Tuberculosis in wild populations of Possum's in New Zealand and badgers in the UK. The attitude to the issue and the way of control is poles apart between the countries. In New Zealand there is active control of poisoning and shooting to reduce Possom numbers to maintain a healthy national herd. As a result BTb cases are few and far between. We had a look around a very impressive wool shed and sheep handling system; all air over hydraulic's operated, meaning quick efficient handling of stock, backed up with a great set of working dogs, both heading and yard dogs.
By 11 it was time to say good bye and head down the road to Wellington to catch the 3pm ferry to Picton. We left the car and boarded the ferry as foot passengers before collecting a second 'chariot', I use the term loosely on the north Island. The weather was as clear as it had been all week and the views were stunning! The sea was lovely and clear, the sun shining, the sky was deep blue, lovely and warm.
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