Wednesday, 02 June 2021 06:55

Trees and drought slow spread

Written by  Peter Burke

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.

More like this

Marlborough drought declaration welcomed

Marlborough Federated Farmers has got some real concern about the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families in the region because of the drought and there’s a lot of pressure starting to build.

Drought classification welcome news - Feds

Federated Farmers Marlborough Province says it welcomes the announcement yesterday that current dry weather in the top of the South Island would be classified as a medium-scale adverse event.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter