Farming doesn’t stop for the holidays

This holiday period, spare a thought for the farmers who work through rain, wind, weekends and Christmas day - as farming doesn’t stop for the holidays.

“We have to make our silage during the holiday time, so since we are home and can’t go far, I fill in for a few different local farmers so that they can have a day off,” Murchison dairy farmer Kim Todd says.

This year on Christmas Day, Kim will be up at 4am to hop in the ute and head a few roads over to milk cows until 9am, enabling the usual dairy farmer to have Christmas morning at home.

‘Farmping’ – camping on the farm in tents - is popular with many farmers stuck on the farm over the holiday period.

Farmping is an affordable option that involves no travel and means the kids can still roast marshmallows and sleep in a tent, while the parents can work on the farm during the day and relax at night knowing all is well.

“When I grew up, my family used to camp during the holidays about half an hour away from the farm. This meant dad could still milk the cows and make silage on the farm but still join in the camping, which worked well,” Kim says.

Tapawera sheep farmer Pam Irvine says the holiday period is a very busy time of year for them.

“We are always busy making baleage and silage, as well as weaning, drenching, and weighing lambs.

“We try and get one weekend off the farm around March or April, but it’s tricky as we have animals to feed and it's just the two of us. If we have family or friends visit over the holidays, we do make a point of toasting marshmallows with the kids and that kind of thing.”

The export of agricultural commodities from our farmers is the foundation of New Zealand's economy, and that’s worth keeping in mind this holiday period as you devour cheeses, wine, cream, strawberries - or that Christmas ham.