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Mark Laurence
Grass growth is fantastic in the Manawatu but production remains static.
That's the message from DairyNZ regional leader for the Lower North Island, Mark Laurence.
While the recent rains and storm caused some damage, the rain and warm temperatures have seen covers jump away.
For those that didn't get damaged, growth has been fantastic and production is holding up well.
"But this is still down by between 4% and 5% for region, which is much the same as it is right across the country. The reality is, the peak was nowhere near as good as it was last year," he says.
Laurence says the problem started last October when there wasn't the absolute flush that one woul expect at that time of the year, so milk production didn't peak as expected. He says the heavy rain in December didn't help the situation, causing a loss of pasture quality.
"But in January and February the situation stabilised and, in fact, January was amazing with the small amount of rain which set pastures going again," he says. By and large the maize crop in the region has been good, although some has been damaged by the recent winds. But Laurence says his gut feeling is that crops are in good shape.
He says the other issue is facial eczema and he warns that farmers need to closely monitor spore counts as autumn approaches.
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