Farmers dig into winter feed
Supplementary supplies being bought and dairy cows dried off as drought bites
Adry Horowhenua summer has forced farmers to dig into winter supplies and buy supplementary feed for their animals. The region is in a medium-scale drought with half the average rainfall recorded so far this year.
Horowhenua had 95.8 millilitres of rain during January, February and March. The historical average rainfall for that period is 183.2ml, according to MetService records.
The region was included when the Government expanded a mediumscale adverse event classification last week, which now covers parts of the South Island, Northland, Taranaki, Manawatu¯ -Whanganui, Horowhenua, Wairarapa and parts of the Wellington region.
Federated Farmers president Geoff Kane, who farms near Levin, said some dairy herds in Horowhenua were drying off months earlier than usual and farmers were starting to eat into winter feed stocks.
Any tradable surplus stock was being sold. One silver lining was that store market prices were stable and there was no backlog at the freezing works, he said.
“The extra feed comes at a cost and using winter feed comes at a cost. If it carries on until early May, it could affect early spring production.”
The drought came as farm expenses were increasing, the dollar was low and interest were high, hitting those farmers who had recently bought into farms particularly hard. “Farming costs have risen 16 per cent last year,” he said.
“We need rain to drop. We need interest rates to drop.”
While beef prices were holding up, sheep farmers had seen prices drop dramatically this year. Mutton that sold for $130 last year was currently fetching between $50 and $60.
Some farms were faring worse than others. The prevailing westerly wind meant coastal farms had received even less rain than those nearer to the Tararua Range.
Kane encouraged farmers to ask agencies for support if necessary and to keep talking with their neighbours. “Farmers care about their stock. “It’s just about creating an awareness that it’s not rosy out there and there is support. It’s important to have that conversation and to have that support and to help each other out.”
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson were visiting affected regions to meet farmers, growers and sector groups.
McClay said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) would continue to work closely with rural advisory groups, drought committees and Rural Support Trusts to determine if additional support was needed.
“Extremely dry and difficult conditions are affecting communities across the North Island, and conditions are not expected to improve in the short term.
“Up to $80,000 will be provided to Rural Support Trusts covering the Northland, Taranaki, Manawatu Rangitıkei, Tararua, Horowhenua and Wairarapa areas.
“The classification unlocks further support for farmers and growers, including tax relief, and it enables MSD to consider Rural Assistance Payments.
“It comes on top of the $90,000 allocated to Rural Support Trusts in the South Island to ensure extra support was available.”
Niwa meteorologist Chris Brandolino said their seasonal climate outlook for the next three months showed near-normal rainfall predictions, but it was impossible to gauge exactly when that rain would fall.
“It’s a bit like a diet. You might have a really big breakfast with a bit more for lunch and then nothing for tea, but your calorie intake for the day is the same,” he said.
MetService forecasts a fine spell for the weekend and into early next week.