Editorial: Drought dilemma

The government declaration unlocks around $125,000 for rural support groups in the provinces. It also unlocks tax relief for farmers and growers and enables the Ministry of Social Development to consider rural assistance payments.

While many farmers are still milking – feeding cows silage and supplements, all eyes will be on the coming weeks and months. If March stays dry, it doesn’t set up farmers well for winter in the five affected provinces.

Parts of Taranaki – Manaia, Hawera and Kakaramea – are some of the worst affected areas. The lack of any decent rain for several months, compounding a year and a half of much lower than usual rainfall, is causing huge stress for farmers. According to Federated Farmers Taranaki president Leedom Gibbs, these areas have never seen it so extremely dry, so early.

Water tables are very low, meaning wells and bores have dried up and farmers have had to truck in water as well as feed. Gibbs says getting enough water and feed for the animals they feel a huge duty of care for, weighs on their mind.

“Finances are under pressure too, and whether or not you’re in business, you can understand the stress that adds.”

For dairy farmers, the coming weeks will be testing – with pasture turning brown, relying on supplements like maize could also be dicey.

Maize crops may look good, but with insufficient water, they’re putting on minimal cob and come harvest time they’ll have very little feed value. Dairy farmers relying on maize for supplementary feed are going to come unstuck quickly.

Ballance Agri Nutrients science strategy manager Warwick Catto points out that the challenge is what comes in autumn.

Unless the clouds open the dry weather will cast a long shadow over what is shaping up to be a record milk price season.