Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
"Federated Farmers Grain & Seed can rightly be proud of the contribution our members have made in helping our North Island colleagues out," says David Clark, Federated Farmers grain & seed vice-chairperson.
"With winter upon us demand for feed is slowing right up and we don't understand why.
"Unless we get uplift in demand and soon this operation will finish within weeks. We still have shipments to complete, but this will be done by mid-May and all of that straw is already committed to farmers.
"It means Federated Farmers will have shipped some 220,000 small bale equivalents and this has been in a word, massive.
"So if the need is there, we sure can carry on our operation for a bit longer, however, we need to hear from farmers within the next few days. If there are no more requests for feed then we will be pulling the pin on operation. And once we do that; that really is it until the new season.
"Can I express Federated Farmers appreciation to Hamburg Sud and Pacifica Shipping for their shipping assistance, NZ Express Transport for packing the containers and the Ports of Lyttelton, Tauranga and Napier. Not to mention the transport and feed companies we have worked with.
"We are genuinely worried that farmers in drought hit areas are over estimating pasture recovery and underestimating winter."
This point is echoed by Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson, who says farmers need to focus on winter and not the first shoots of green appearing in pasture.
"Farmers need to ask themselves this question. Have I seriously got enough feed to ensure optimum stock condition in spring?" Leferink says.
"If the answer is no, then you have a reasonable chance of facing disaster unless you can predict with 100% accuracy it will be a benign winter. Can you do that?
"The issues right now for all livestock farmers will be the condition of their pregnant stock. Pregnancy is a huge physiological drain and is why farmers need to have ample reserves of winter feed.
"I am encouraging all farmers to speak with farm advisors to ensure they have the right quantity and quality of feed on hand. This is about making next season a success and to avoid animal welfare issues."
