THERE will be a fair bit of fantasy in this report, which might also contain a fair bit of fortune telling at the same time, as our North West Farmer editor is supposedly doing the Kokoda Track and required this report to be compiled more than three weeks ago.
Many use an expensive crystal ball to tell the future, and it works OK, but for those of us who have a moonscape just above the ears they can just rub the precious lunar surface and await the amazing information as it comes to fruition.
I’m guessing July has been reasonably dry, but I hope I’m wrong as we need heaps over in the catchments to ensure we get a 100 per cent allocation of irrigation water and the Hume was not very full in late June (even though we got close to 20mm late that month).
Machine pruning will have been continuing through July, and there will still be plenty remaining for August.
No two ways about it, the job does get monotonous, but plenty of concentration is required so it’s 3AW from 6.30am till midday, and then a switch to the Country Hour and usually podcasts in the afternoon – and even some Nova until I call it quits for the day.
Just an update from last month’s report on the Middle Eastern side of the Chardonnay patch.
The grasshoppers apparently dug a tunnel to the base of the boxthorn bush (you’ll recall, fruit flies, iron dome defensive system) and had filled it with nuclear type gas (generously donated fox farts).
Once ignited by said ignition device, (Lizard) the boxthorn bush, and cohabitant fruit flies were last observed headed quite quickly in an upwards direction towards the sun.
Back to the crystal ball theory.
I reckon our editor will give it a fair crack up at Kokoda, we wish him all the best as he and others endure the task and remember those who had done it for us all, so many years ago.
Farming is all about challenging ourselves, laying it on the line and how we handle the stresses.
Whether its trekking in Papua-New Guinea, or our day job here, it’s all about mates, so take the time to talk to them.
