Both farmers on this week’s North-South panel are preparing for El Niño, though they treat the forecasts cautiously.

East Coast farmer Toby Williams says he is putting lines in the sand and booking extra lambs to keep minimum stock while staying ready for rain.

“I take it with a grain of salt,” Williams says.

Mid Canterbury’s Duncan Humm has sold weaners for the first time as a hedge.

Humm says the minor parties are gaining while National looks complacent, and Williams says a change of government risks new capital gains and inheritance taxes for asset-rich farmers.

The best $100 Humm has spent on the farm is a battery electric grinder.

“That was a game changer,” he says.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.