Displaying items by tag: Northland

Feed issues are the big focus for dairy farmers in Northland as the region tries to recover from the double whammy of a severe drought and, latterly, major flooding.

Two weeks ago, many farmers in Northland were in drought recovery mode, now they are repairing fences and culverts washed away by flooding.

Northland farmers are starting to count the cost of one of the most severe droughts to hit the region as the cost of feed and lower prices for stock are the order of the day.

The drought is biting pretty hard in Northland now, says project manager Extension 350 (E350) Luke Beehre.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has got into the act over the drought by announcing a major new relief package in Northland.

The biggest issue facing organisers of next month’s Northland Field Days is water, says vice president Basil Cole.

Northland farmer Scott Taylor says rain is urgently needed in parts of Northland to snap the long run of hot and dry days.

Water is the central and sole focus of this year’s dry so far, says Julie Jonker of Northland Rural Support Trust.

The Government is giving $12.7 million to make Northland more resilient in the face of extreme weather.

Some Northland dairy farmers have been asked to stop irrigating because of the low river levels.