Dry weather classification expands to North Island
The dry weather in some parts of the North Island has received medium-scale adverse event classification from the Government.
A warning to dairy farmers: don’t try to buy yourself out of any drought.
That’s the message from AgFirst chief executive and dairy specialist James Allen in light of warnings from Niwa that El Nino conditions could cause a significant drought in many parts of the country. Already there have been signs of the El Nino conditions hitting Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti regions with higher-thanaverage temperatures.
Allen told Dairy News that dairying areas most at risk are Northland, the Waikato – especially northern parts of the region – and possibly Bay of Plenty. He says he’s been told by colleagues further south that Manawatū may also get hit by a drought as they have in the past.
“But certainly, the further north you go, the more I get worried,” he says.
He says many regions went into winter with good levels of supplement and says they were needed. He says now one of the key things farmers need to do is to take stock of what they have got left and start building up reserves again.
Allen says the options will vary from region to region and from farm to farm, with some opting for crops while others will focus on producing as much grass silage as they can for the season ahead.
“But equally it’s important to keep the budget in mind as well, especially given the projected lower payout, and farmers need to be clear on what action is profitable and what is not. The dynamics are much different to… two or three years ago. In past drought years, farmers have tended to hold on to poor performing animals longer, but this year getting stock off early will take the pressure off the farm,” he says.
Allen says in this regard it’s important that farmers communicate frequently and well with their processors and book stock in early. He says it’s no longer possible to ring up a company one night and expect the animals to be picked up the next day.
“This doesn’t happen anymore,” he says.
Planning is therefore critical and Allen says it’s often better getting the cull cows off early to reduce the amount of feed that might have to bought in. And on this subject, Allen says that if the drought is bad, there may be a shortage of feed nationwide and it will hard and costly to buy-in feed.
“I certainly wouldn’t be budgeting on sourcing feed from the South Island,” he says.
Allen reiterates that, given the low commodity prices, the prospect of buying oneself out of the drought is fraught.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.