Good year forecast in Marlborough

Despite talk of the economic downturn, farmer Paul Newton says the outlook for his sheep and beef farm looks promising and he is forecasting one of his best years yet. "I haven't been farming that long, but in the time that I have, the prices have only ever dropped in February, and this year they went up." He says the decline in sheep numbers may be getting to the point where demand may exceed supply. People are not going to go back to sheep because generally they have had enough reports the Marlborough Express. "So good luck and may they stay away." Last year, his lambing percentages of 118 % were the best they had been since he bought his Havelock property in 1998. Mr Newton is working to improve stock survival on the farm's steep hills, which lambs struggle with when they are born."They (lambs) are still slippery and tend to slide a couple of metres down the hill, and the next thing they have gone over the bank. I think we lose a few like that." He says he is fortunate to have 80 hectares of flat land, on which he plants brassica to finish his lambs. "It's sort of the engine room for the place." Weather conditions this year mean the hills are green and there is plenty of feed around.He does not normally cut any hay, but the grass growth this year has been so good that he has had to to keep things under control. "The ewes are a month away from the ram and they are all really primed up and ready to go, while the cattle are looking great, the best they have for a long time." One of the major problems he is facing, however, is the high cost of fertiliser, which is uneconomical, he says. "We have to look at how we can best apply it. There are some real issues. "People are looking at different options and I'm certainly doing the same." He is considering mixing sulphur with lime to combat the problem.