Editorial - Lending a helping hand

Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty are officially in drought.

One-third of New Zealand’s export receipts come from dairy. So, economists are already talking about a severe blow to our economy.

Northland milk production during February 2013 was 20% lower than February 2012. In the wider Waikato, production for the same month was down 15%. Dairy farmers in Northland will have $13 million less income from milk produced in the month of February 2013 than in the same month a year ago. About $8 million of this cut results from lower milk production, the remainder from lower milk prices.

The world is now also taking notice of our weather woes. Global Dairy Trade prices rose 10%, the biggest rise since June last year.

Farmers in drought-affected regions are drying off cows and keeping a close eye on cow condition.

And there’s more to it than looking after animals: there’s the financial and psychological strain on farmers. The Government’s drought declarations have triggered action by Rural Support Trust chapters in affected regions. 

Farmers are not necessarily asking for financial assistance; what they need is someone to turn to. The best help can be a neighbour’s listening ear and his recounting of what he and others are doing to cope. DairyNZ is facilitating this via its farmer networks. 

Dairy farmers are a resilient lot. They will work through this as through previous droughts, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes  But they need all the support industry partners and communities can provide.

DairyNZ’s advice:

Look after yourself and talk with other farmers in your area

Monitor and record your cow body condition. Make sure you know how to do this or get expert help

Focus on milking on with a core group of cows until it rains

Assess how you can destock

Have a plan for feed, financials and stock, and communicate the plan to your team (family, staff, consultant, banker). Don’t be afraid to change to Plan B if things change

Manage young stock on and off the farm

Talk to your grazier

Attend a DairyNZ dry summer field day

Make best use of your rural professionals.