A rollercoaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
The Waikato Regional Council says it's keeping a close watch on dry conditions in the region.
"Soil moisture levels in the region are down on normal for this time of year, so we're keeping an eye on how things go given the potential for any ongoing dry weather to affect farming and other activities," says chairman Peter Buckley, a north Waikato dairy farmer.
"The conditions this summer were predicted and we're not hearing any widespread reports of dry weather-related stress amongst the Waikato farming community or elsewhere at this point.
"But, in liaison with other agencies such as the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Rural Support Trust, we'll continue to keep track of soil moisture and waterway levels, and monitor how the rural community in particular is faring.
"I encourage people to use water wisely given the current conditions."
Several times in recent years, the regional council has been involved with establishing a multi-agency regional drought committee to coordinate responses to summer drought situations.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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