University of Waikato research reveals 2050 drought threats
New research could help farmers prepare for a future where summer rainfall is increasingly unpredictable and where drought risk is rising, no matter what.
Top dressing today is pretty much at the same level as it was pre-Covid, according to the Agricultural Aviation Association (AAA).
However, AAA chair Tony Michelle says that while fertiliser is still being spread on hill properties around the country, there is sense of cautiousness among farmers.
"Everybody I have spoken to in the last few months has said: 'We've got work on' - although it's not coming out of their ears," he told Rural News. "They still have got work and I don't think there is any significant downturn in the year."
Michelle says two things that are having an impact on his industry are the current drought and the sale of good farmland to be turned into forestry.
He says while the agricultural aviation industry is surviving moderately well, operators who run an air transport business are struggling more because of Covid and the lack of international tourists.
"It's fair to say that farmers want to keep the land going and also the Government has invested in weed and pest control on Crown land," he adds. "That has obviously benefited the helicopter guys doing the work in the wilding pine space."
However, Michelle reckons the drought will be the biggest thing for the industry to cope with during the next 12 months.
On the east coast of the North Island, Andrew Hogarth is managing director of Farmers Air, based out of Gisborne. His fleet of four PAC 750 aircraft service farms in the region, from roughly Wairoa to the East Cape. He says the drought has had some impact on his business.
"This has had a little bit of an impact on our work flows," Hogarth told Rural News. "I wouldn't say it's been a hectic autumn, but the dry had been isolated and patchy with some areas dry and some not too bad."
But he detects a cautious mood among farmers, saying uncertainty with prices, international markets and logistical issues are also starting to play on their minds. Hogarth believes this is leading some farmers to be conservative about putting on fertiliser.
However, driving around the east coast – and into Hawkes Bay – there are aircraft busily topdressing, which would indicate that the industry is at least ticking over.
OPINION: Public pressure has led to Canterbury Police rightly rolling back its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.
When I interview Rachel Cox, she is driving - on her way to her next meeting.
With Fonterra's UHT plant at its Edendale site less than a year from completion, demand continues to grow for products the plant will produce, such as Anchor Whipping Cream.
A new $50,000 scholarship fund designed to support and empower women in the New Zealand dairy industry through leadership development has been launched.
Many farmers around the country are taking advantage of the high dairy payout to get maximum production out of their cows.
In 2015, the signing of a joint venture between St Peter's School, Cambridge, and Lincoln University saw the start of an exciting new chapter for Owl Farm as the first demonstration dairy farm in the North Island. Ten years on, the joint venture is still going strong.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…