Watch out for ash
Dairy farmers affected by the Mount Tongariro eruption are encouraged to keep an eye on their stock, advises DairyNZ.
Hungry animals grazing short pastures are particularly at risk.
Fluorine is the most toxic and is present in many volcano eruptions. It attaches to the ash and can travel with the wind to farmlands around the volcano.
However rainfall will quickly help reduce the risk as the fluoride in ash is quite soluble.
DairyNZ says any dairy farmers concerned about their animals should:
• Feed good quality feed supplement that has been covered
• Shift animals to long pasture and graze at a low stocking density
• Provide plenty of uncontaminated water
• If conditions are particularly severe consider shifting animals out of the region
Current weather conditions mean that the ash from the eruption is moving eastwards with key regions being the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay. The ash is forecast to move over land out to sea by 6pm this evening.
It is important to keep up to date with information from Civil Defence, particularly via local radio.
If you have any further concerns or need extra advice, please call us on 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 4 324 7969).
