Stingy Lusi leaves district thirsty
RURAL DELIVERY
Cyclone Lusi did not generally relieve the moisture deficits of our district soils.
We all experienced the winds as it passed through, but precipitation was variable – about 130ml on farms in the east and a miserly 12ml on my property in Buckland Rd.
Autumn is fast approaching, realistically 100ml is needed to restore a normal soil moisture condition.
So a few farm management challenges to set up pastoral farms for wintering through.
Ministry of Primary Industries has been proactive in getting information from Federated Farmers and levy bodies. For our region, this is the fourth extremely dry summer out of the last six.
The feedback to the minister’s office is that a few thresholds for a possible adverse event being declared are not apparent compared to those previous drought conditions, these include a good cash flow especially in the dairy sector, positive attitude of farmers in general with many putting supplementary feed to continue milking.
There is plenty of supplementary feed available due to the drought conditions of our Waikato region, whereas over the other side of the Kaimais, good quality grass is plentiful from a near normal spring and summer.
No farm employee loss of income concerns have been brought to my attention for referral to Rural Support.
The Rural Support management team will do the liaising with Work and Income New Zealand.
Waikato Regional Council, with the support of DairyNZ and Federated Farmers’ policy staff and myself contributing, convened well attended and very informative road shows in our respective catchments, so farmers could identify if they must apply for water resource consents for cowshed and domestic water takes.
These applications should have now been lodged with the regional council, so any further information required can be provided before the close-off date for the fully completed correct applications.
So once that Variation 6 obligation of the regional council is completed, be aware that a more regulated compliance to nutrient management on farm will happen.
Elected regional councillors for our district Hugh Vercoe and Stu Husband will present to the AGM of Matamata District Federated Farmers at 7.30pm on Monday, April 14, at Matamata Club.
They will discuss significant issues for farmers in the regional council’s draft plan, and what regional government may evolve into and the effect that may have to our business of farming.
The general election has been gazetted, our regional and district economy is intrinsically reliant on a buoyant agricultural and horticultural industry.
It is important that we take notice of agricultural polices presented by political parties that will make up the next MMP House of Representatives.
Over the last six months, the significance of primary agriculture exports to our economy and wellbeing has been clearly articulated.