Tuesday, 25 October 2016 11:23

Farmers walloped by the wet

Written by  Peter Burke
Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei president James Stewart. Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei president James Stewart.

Dairy farmers in most North Island regions are hard hit by rain which is hindering pasture utilisation and causing milk production to drop.

DairyNZ’s general manager for extension, Andrew Reid, says the problems with the wet extend from Northland to Waikato, Manawatu, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty. He says even the pumice country in the central North Island has been challenged by the wet.

Reid says few regions in the North Island haven’t received much higher rainfall than normal for the last two-three months.

But in contrast, the South Island has had a reasonable start to the season, except for Canterbury which is still affected by drought.

In the North Island, damage to paddocks is hindering pasture utilisation: farmers are unable to get enough pasture into cows.

“North Island pasture residuals have been higher than ideal because they can’t physically graze low enough to get feed into the stock, and supplement use has been justified even though we have passed balance date on most farms.

“Milk production is down for that reason and because many farmers have reduced cow numbers based on what the milk price was doing last season, so it is a combination of both,” Reid says.

The higher forecast milk price has given farmers confidence to use supplementary feed as an option.

But despite the optimism in the market the sector is not out of the woods yet.

“Mating is the focus of attention now, to ensure cows’ energy levels are good; at the moment these are ok but not startling.

“DairyNZ has been focusing on a pasture-first message and encouraging farmers to utilise pasture as best they can. That has been challenging given the mud lying around paddocks; then of course there is the need to watch the cost of production. When you are forced to buy supplement it doesn’t help, but hopefully this is just a short term issue.”

More like this

Dairy power

OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.

Another win

OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers, have had another win - for now, at least - getting a court decision granting a 'stay' on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until changes can be made to section 70 of the RMA by central goverment, somtheing they clearly signaled after the election.

Featured

Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors

For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.

National

Machinery & Products

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

A true Kiwi ingenuity

The King Cobra raingun continues to have a huge following in the New Zealand market and is also exported to…

Data crucial to managing water

Watermetrics was formed as a water data collector and currently supplies and services modern technology such as flow meters, soil…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Dairy power

OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter