Production holding up well, dry weather starting to bite
Milk production is up nationally, despite drought conditions beginning to bite in some districts, according to the latest update from Fonterra.
Fonterra says milk collections are disrupted in Northland and the top of the South Island due to flooding.
Charles Fergusson, Fonterra Regional Head Canterbury Tasman and Marlborough, told Rural News that the co-operative is “pulling all the stops to collect the milk where we can, but it’s really important that people stay safe right now”.
Ongoing road closures mean milk collections continue to be impacted across the region, but Ferguson says tankers are reaching farms as roads open and it is safe to do so.
“While this isn’t the busiest time of year for milk collections, farmers are in the midst of calving – which is really tough with so much water on the ground,” he says.
“We’ll be looking to assess how we can support farmers as the water recedes.”
Fonterra’s Tākaka and Brightwater sites are still processing milk, but some tankers have been diverted to Darfield.
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Road closures in the region have impacted milk collections across the region. |
Rai Valley Farm Source Store closed yesterday as water levels rose, but doors opened again this morning.
Fonterra’s regional head Northland Mike Borrie says milk collections are still being disrupted by flooding in the Far North.
“The team is closely monitoring road access and will work to get tankers to farms as soon as possible,” he told Rural News.
On the edge of the hot, dry Takapau plains, Norm and Del Atkins have cultivated a small but exceptional herd of 60 Holstein Friesian cows within their mixed breed herd of 360 dairy cows.
The DairyNZ board and management are currently trying to determine whether, and to what degree, their farmer levy payers will support any increase in their levy contributions.
Milk production is up nationally, despite drought conditions beginning to bite in some districts, according to the latest update from Fonterra.
Dry conditions are widespread but worse in some places, with rain and drought affecting farms just a few kilometres away.
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