Tuesday, 07 March 2023 10:55

One day at a time

Written by  Peter Burke
Many dairy farmers in Northland have copped a tough year and those near the Hikurangi swamp in particular have been severely affected. Many dairy farmers in Northland have copped a tough year and those near the Hikurangi swamp in particular have been severely affected.

Be realistic about what you can in the short term - the recovery is a marathon not a sprint. That's the sage advice from one of the country's leading dairy consultants, James Allen, AgFirst.

He says those dairy farmers severely impacted by the cyclones should focus on the basics, such as making sure their fences are secure and that their stock have water.

Allen says he's aware that some farmers have had to send their stock to other properties because their water supply systems have been so badly damaged.

"They also need to start taking account of their feed supply in the immediate future and also what it might be like six or eight months out," he says.

James Allen says there is a lot of good advice available on how to deal with drying off and feed management. He says industry bodies such as DairyNZ are doing a good job getting this information out to farmers. He says farmers who have had to dry off early and who will have lost income need to communicate early with their financial advisors and banks.

"There is a lot of support out there for farmers and they shouldn't be afraid about asking for help. They need to talk to others because a problem shared is a problem halved," he says.

Allen says many dairy farmers in Northland have copped a tough year and those near the Hikurangi swamp in particular have been severely affected. Maize yields are down, summer crops have been damaged and there are instances of lameness and mastitis within herds. Farmers in east coast regions have also been badly knocked around and "my heart goes out to them", he says.

"But there are some regions which have enjoyed good rainfall and the growth conditions aren't too bad. There are parts of the Waikato, for example, which are going to see a strong end to the season with soil moisture levels good, making the grass grow well," he says.

Allen says he's just completed a feed update for the country which shows that, aside from the areas badly impacted by the cyclones, overall covers are feed reserves good. The exception he says is Southland and nearby regions that are dry.

"So we have this complete dichotomy where some areas are massively affected by storms and floods and others that are doing fine," he says.

More like this

East Coast Expo delivers two action-packed days of events

The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Featured

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.

Editorial: Making wool great again

OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.

Helping protect sheep from parasites

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.

National

Lame stories from a country vet

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s…

Machinery & Products

Amazone extends hoe range

With many European manufacturers releasing mechanical weeding systems to counter the backlash around the use and possible banning of agrochemicals,…

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…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Greenpeace a charity?

OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.

Synlait's back

OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter