Southern Dairy Hub Rides Out Wet Southland Winter
Managing feed by sticking to a firm plan has helped the Southern Dairy Hub (SDH) demonstration farm survive an extremely wet winter, says the farm's acting general manager Greg Delaney.
Farmers in Southland are sharing the effects of three days of heavy rain.
The extreme weather has placed the Mataura River at risk of breaching its banks.
Residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura have been told to evacuate by Southland Civil Defence.
Further information about evacuations available here.
Tweets by Southland farmers are offering insight into the extent of the weather and damage to farms.
Contractor Jeremy Hughes @travelingfixer shared shocking images of a ute and tractor trapped in flooding.
Got sent these by a mate, his boss was moving a tractor between farms and had to do a wee rescue mission along the way. pic.twitter.com/gl7zU44qjW
— Jeremy Hughes - DTC ??? (@travelingfixer) February 4, 2020
Farm Consultant Deane Carson @deane_ag shared a thread of photos revealing flooding on farms (click through to see more photos).
Thread of Southland flood pictures pic.twitter.com/KQQ4rP0lOh
— Deane Carson (@deane_ag) February 4, 2020
Videos shared of the flooding helped to show how widespread it is.
Sharemilker Michael Prankerd @sigalasvacas shared a video of extensive flooding on a farm.
Very very very #moist pic.twitter.com/w02SM6A4cZ
— Michael Prankerd (@sigalasvacas) February 4, 2020
The weather is also being felt in surrounding regions. West Otago farmer Bruce @fairleigh_ag shared a video of a new pond that had formed on his farm.
Today's update....very #Moist pic.twitter.com/6l4dzb72K7
— ?? Bruce ?? (@fairleigh_ag) February 3, 2020
A major move is about to get underway to improve the quality and viability of dairy beef and cattle in NZ.
Veterinarians say changes to the code of welfare for dairy cattle provides a positive foundation for improved cattle welfare across the country.
Today, 15 October, is the International Day of Rural Women, which recognises rural women’s contribution to farming, communities and the environment.
Global dairy giant Lactalis has integrated its Australian operations with the Mainland Dairy consumer business it acquired from Fonterra earlier this year.
After almost two decades of sharemilking, saving and building equity, Aaron and Marcia Flay this year realised their long-held dream of settling on their first dairy farm.
Good medium to long term prospects for NZ beef, especially in the US, has heighted the focus on various initiatives to capitalise on this situation.

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