Farmers urged to act as drought continues
Farmers in the drought-affected Nelson-Tasman region are being urged make plans to destock as ‘‘water availability is fast becoming a more serious issue than feed’’.
Ministry for Primary Industries animal welfare inspector Paul Soper made the comment as the State of Civil Defence Emergency for the Tasman district fire ended but the tinder-dry conditions under which it started remained.
And the possibility of water tankers in the streets is fast approaching as the drought tightens its grip.
Tasman District Council resource scientist Joseph Thomas said just 8.8mm of rain fell on the bone-dry Waimea Plains in January and February, making them the driest two months since records began 78 years ago.
The council is preparing for a ‘‘worst case’’ scenario, which could include a ban on use of water that is not for essential human needs, animal needs, and firefighting.
Also possible is water sources become unreliable or contaminated with salt water, meaning possibly tankers in the streets.
‘‘As most people will be aware, the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, classified the combined fire and drought impacts on the primary sector in the Nelson-Tasman region as a medium-scale adverse event,’’ Soper said. ‘‘This acknowledges that rural property owners may be severely affected by the broader drought across the region.’’ Animal welfare was a priority and livestock owners needed to be making plans to move stock off their properties.
‘‘It is imperative that these decisions are made early as water availability is fast becoming a more serious issue than feed,’’ Soper said. ‘‘Consideration needs to be given to all management options including sending stock away to grazing outside of the drought-affected area, selling stock or sending them to the works.’’
If the drought continued into the autumn growing season, the effects would be felt ‘‘well into the winter with feed shortages’’.
‘‘Even if we get some rain now, it would take three to four weeks before any useable pasture is available to livestock,’’ Soper said.
Tasman District Council Dry Weather Task Force convener Dennis Bush-King said the rain that fell on Sunday had a minor effect only. Most of the rivers were ‘‘back to the same very low flow levels they were at last week’’.
‘‘It also had a negligible effect on our groundwater aquifers, which continue to decline,’’ BushKing said.
A community-wide effort to save water was helping. It was clear most people – both urban and rural – were taking the need to comply with restrictions and conserve water seriously.