HOT AND WINDY
Scattered rain bene its few farmers
Afew Manawatu¯ farmers are counting themselves lucky after getting ‘‘scattered’’ rain from thunderstorms passing over their properties.
Most of the region remains dry, with pasture and crops parched from the hot, windy weather.
Farmers are hoping forecast rain this week, will be widespread but for many the last rain they received was in October.
Federated Farmers vicepresident Andrew Hoggard, who farms at Kiwitea in Northern Manawatu¯ , said he was probably better off than most other farmers.
‘‘We got 25 millimetres of rain during those thunderstorms. And we did manage to get our maize in on time and it is looking good.’’
Hoggard does not grow other crops.
‘‘Quite frankly I’m glad I didn’t, as they would probably be burned up by now and have turned into a waste of money.
‘‘I made some silage and have some more to come in, but it has been damn dry, damn early and things are not set up well to make it through summer without some pain.’’
Hoggard said unless there was substantial rain this week, he would look to make some decisions around early culling and drying off autumn calvers.
He said that would give the best opportunity to look after the cows and make it through summer.
Manawatu¯ /Rangitı¯kei Federated Farmers dairy chairman Murray Holdaway said dairy farmers were looking at the weather forecast with added interest, hoping to see some sign of rain.
‘‘The rain last week was very well received by those that got enough. But the problem was it was so variable and scattered that some areas didn’t get any. I have heard of farmers recording 40 to 60mm, but when they have been around the farm, they have found parts only received a few millimetres.’’
He said it was frustrating ‘‘if you are the farmer who missed out while the neighbour gets some’’.
Holdaway said farmers were thinking about culling cows.
‘‘With it drying out so quickly, the damage from the months of wet are really showing. The pastures are very open and sparse compared to what they should be and what is there is now going to seed and losing quality.’’
Holdaway said most farmers had already used any stored grass or maize and the only option was palm kernel, but the high demand was causing delivery delays and an increase in price.
‘‘I am hearing more and more talk from farmers about going onto once-a-day or three times in two day milkings early this year and there are some who haven’t been able to get back onto twice a day since the spring.’’
Holdaway said Horowhenua and Eketahuna areas were the worst hit..
‘‘Their production is going to be up to 25 per cent down on expected so it would have a major effect on the finances.
‘‘Contractors have had good weather for making silage and baleage but there isn’t much to do and what there is, is only light crops, so there will be a shortage of feed to carry through into next season.’’
Sheep and beef farmer and farm forester, Denis Hocking from Bulls, said the sand country he farmed on was ‘‘horrendously dry’’ for this early in the season and was becoming rapidly worse.
He said farmers needed to consider the fire risk because of the dry conditions.
Holdaway said farmers and stock were suffering and the dry was having a major impact on farmer psyche.
‘‘All in all not a very rosy picture .As you would expect, farmers’ general confidence and mood is suffering.’’