Photo Gallery

A selection of rare breeds found on our farm

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Avonstour Island

4 months ago

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Avonstour Island

4 months ago

As to may last post on the giant aphid Problem .we are looking at a new live fencing post .This post can be a bit leggy and a few other problem like growing with a mind of itself .To over come these problems we have started on a program of cloning (as the rare breeds have done with the Enderby cattle .On top of that we are looking to cross pollinate with local strains to remove some of the problems .This is a start of a huge project .Please look at the next video and photos .
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Avonstour Island

4 months ago

. How we are fixing the problem of the Giant Aphid affecting our live tree fencing on Avonstour Island .

As you know we have live tree fencing on Avonstour and over the years have run a number of courses on how to and the values of each type of live tree posts can be used .The basic model is that you put tree pole cuttings in as posts staple the wires directly onto them. The poles then grow both tree fodder for stock , more poles for fencing and fire wood

We have experimented over the years with many types of trees but the best by far has been
Willows and poplars ,Willows have turned out to be the most versatile providing good growth rates to give more materials for future fencing and fodder .
With cross pollinating we have developed the perfect willow for the job .We call it the black bark post willow .A tree with good tannin to give the livestock help with internal parasite control .Long straight poles great for handles .Fire wood at up to 150 mill round giving great heat with no need for splitting. We had it sorted .

Then we here reports of the Giant Aphid that had invaded a property in the north .At this stage MPI decided that there was no need to contain it and just let it go .I believe this was a huge mistake as not only all the willow trees in the country are weekend with the Aphid parasite weakening the trees .But by far the biggest problem are the wasps that harvest the sugar filled excreta that the aphids produce .The wasp problem is huge as the number of wasps and wasp nests have exploded and when not harvesting Aphid excreta they are eating our fruit and raiding the bee hives .
With all of this farm loss and the willow trees covered in sooty black mould .Some time ‘s you just have to look away and laugh as you can do nothing else.
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