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A webcam image taken this morning of Milford Road on SH94. Photo: NZTA Otago/Southland @NZTAOS on Twitter.
Significant rainfall battered parts of the South Island overnight, prompting some farmers to share videos on social media.
The rainfall was especially heavy overnight in Westland, causing power disruptions and forcing some roads to close, reports West Coast Emergency Management.
The New Zealand Transport Agency Otago/Southland @NZTAOS also reports heavy rain in Fiordland, with Milford Road on SH94 now closed.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM
— NZTA Otago/Southland (@NZTAOS) February 2, 2020
SH94 Milford Rd is expected to remain CLOSED until Tuesday as heavy rain is not expected to ease, An update is expected at 1 pm. ^JPhttps://t.co/3e7GuGJNGd pic.twitter.com/zMoydncBQb
An up-to-date report of road closures can be found here.
The bad weather is set to continue, with MetService issuing a heavy rain warning for Westland, Fiordland, Southland and Clutha, and parts of Canterbury and Otago.
Some farmers have shared the extent of the rain on Twitter.
In one video, Southland farmer Bruce @fairleigh_ag reveals a large pond that developed on his farm within just one hour.
She's a bit #moist pic.twitter.com/u9kHgAEk1j
— ?? Bruce ?? (@fairleigh_ag) February 2, 2020
In another one, West Coast farmer and Federated Farmers president, Katie Milne @ktmilne6 reveals the high humidity the region is experiencing from the rain.
— Katie Milne (@ktmilne6) February 2, 2020
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.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes a recent court decision which granted a stay on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by government.
Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says the present weather conditions remain challenging for farmers.
While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.
Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick says farmers are prepared for winter grazing every year.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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