Calving is well underway across the country. Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Northland farmers say it's been one of the kindest winters in living memory. There's been less rain than usual for this time of year. The markets are in good shape, with strong returns for store cattle. Calving has also been going well. Our agent contact says farmers, across both beef and dairy, are happier and more confident.
Weather conditions continue to be mild in Pukekohe as winter draws to a close. Strong supplies of fresh vegetables have benefited the consumer but growers have generally taken big financial losses. Later crops are looking good.
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Waikato dairy farmers are in the middle of "changeable" spring weather as they near the end of calving. Good pasture growth means most farms are "ahead of target", with supplementary feed reserves still high. Cow condition is good across the district and milk production is "significantly up". Farmers are pooped from calving but otherwise positive.
Conditions are wet in King Country. Despite a drenching over recent weeks it's been a "brilliant" winter - dry most of the way through. Our farmer contact's "hard into lambing" and has just sold some yearling cattle for a pretty price. Feed levels aren't too bad, though everyone's looking forward to more sun and a return to stronger pasture growth rates.
Many Bay of Plenty growers have been busy at the horticulture conference held there this week. Many are talking about what a great winter it's been. Spring always brings variable weather but it's a case of so far so good. The avocado harvest is just beginning and returns from the kiwifruit season are just starting to roll through.
The avocado harvest has begun in Bay of Plenty. Photo: 123RF
A hose from the heavens has been turned on Taranaki in recent weeks, especially this week. Those in the south are still quite dry though and lower water table levels will be a worry leading up to summer. It's been a good winter for grass growth and feed is pretty plentiful. The warmer weather has brought bugs and bacteria growth which has made calving a bit more challenging. Most dairy farmers are right in the thick of it. It's been a mixed bag for heifer replacements but cattle prices are strong.
East Coast-Te Tai Rāwhiti farmers are feeling more positive after a few sunny days. It's the first time many have been able to get out on farm and do maintenance and cultivation jobs after the wet winter. Most farmers are ready for lambing with stock in "good order" and a "reasonable amount of feed". The drop in Interest rates is also good news, though commodity prices and the high cost of sheep farming is still a worry for many.
It's starting to feel like Spring in Hawke's Bay. Grass is starting to grow again and crops are going into the ground. Some are well into lambing though others have yet to start. Pregnancy scanning rates were down, especially in triplets, but those that have lambed did so easily and have had good survival rates. Every lamb will be important. Stone fruit is starting to flower and there are plenty of daffodils about. Helicopters have been out already to protect young vines during frosts.
Daffodils have started to bloom. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life
There's been a bit of surface flooding across Manawatū-Rangitikei following heavy rain in recent days, but it's disappearing as the ground is still dry from the autumn drought. An ag consultant told us it's been an "easy winter", with most farmers "comfortable" about feed levels. Calving is underway. Hill country ewes have yet to start lambing. Store cattle remain very expensive. People are not expecting to make much from crops like wheat and barley this coming season.
Wairarapa has had a big turnaround after an autumn dry. A farmer based near the Tararua Range in South Wairarapa says he's had about 135mm of rain in the last month. Overall it's been a "kind winter" for growing grass and most farmers are in a better feed position than expected. He's not sure it this is just due to warmer temperatures or if it's as a result of a delayed autumn. Many are still "under pressure" though from poor returns on sheep and beef. It's a combination of depressed prices and high costs.
Growers around Horowhenua have had "miles too much rain" this winter, with north of 100mm falling this last week. A grower says milder temperatures have been good for growth but dull days have meant lesser quality. It's all go picking crops like broccoli, spinach and cabbage at the moment. Market conditions are "very testy" for growers though. For consumers, vegetables are probably the best value he's seen for a long time.
Growers are busy harvesting greens like broccoli, cabbage and spinach. Photo: 123rf
Across Cook Strait -Te Moana-o-Raukawa - to Whakatū-Tasman where it has been mild with some good rainfall. Lambs are being born and have a flush of feed to help them get a good start. Dairy herds are well through calving. Things are busy at a Tapawera hop garden. They've been putting up the strings needed for the bines to climb up. The hop grower is expecting lower demand this year so he's leaving some parts of the garden fallow, that'll save effort and having to return unwanted crop to compost. Speaking of composting, there was a good turnout for a workshop in the area this week showing how to produce high quality compost 'on site'.
Calves and lambs in the Marlborough Sounds have been experiencing a mixed bag of weather, from severe winds and rain to sunny, calm days. A farmer at Waitui says they have fence repairs, track maintenance and scrub and weed control on the to-do list. Sounds residents are enjoying the road improvements, but there's still a lot more upgrading to do in time for the busy Christmas period.
On the West Coast, a dairy farmer at Lake Brunner says the weather's been atrocious this week, with rain, hail and even thunder. In just one day the rain gauge recorded 105 millimetres. It's not cold though so grass is growing well. Calving started about three weeks ago and is well over the half way point. All the cows calve in a dry wintering barn. It's a lot easier for cattle and staff.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
And weather's also been mixed in Canterbury over the past month. Windy nor'west conditions pushed up temperatures and chillier southerlies brought welcome rain across the plains. Our contact at Hororata says farmers are hopeful they'll get a good spring to counter the dry summer and autumn, which cleaned out supplementary feed stocks and forced many to buy feed in and source grazing. Milk pricing seems to be heading in the right direction. Lamb pricing needs to do the same as he says "it's truly in the doldrums".
A Central Otago farmer in Ida Valley was busy fencing when we called. He's had 25mm of rain on Sunday which kickstarted grass growth. It was sorely needed as there's not much balage, silage or grain left to feed out to stock. Merino and crossbred sheep are being shorn pre-lambing. Some farmers are continuing to dump coarser wool because strong-wool prices are so low. That's the wool used in carpets, upholstery and the like. It's just not worth bagging, pressing and sending away.
Everyone's "head down, bum up" in Southland. Lambing's underway. Calving on dairy farms is in full swing. Ground conditions are soggy after a good dose of rain last week, but once things dry out, farmers will look at getting winter paddocks turned over and spring crops in the ground.
