Southland farmers are having a great run of weather; it couldn't be better for lambing and calving. Bees are busy in Wairarapa's blossoms.
Photo: Susan Murray/RNZ
In Northland a sheep and beef farmer says it's been cold and wet and when it's not cold it's wet. Even with all the rain, they're probably likely to be shy of the amount needed to catch up on the last few dry years. He says they're like a coiled spring, though, ready to take off - if they can get some sunshine. In extreme weather his system of cell grazing - as if every mob has its own little farm - means the cattle are always getting a decent bite and the paddocks are better protected.
Over the weekend and into early Monday morning, Pukekohe was pummelled with strong , mainly easterly winds and a further 30 mm of rain but then turned dry and sunny. Further north in West Auckland suburbs like Kumeu, Huapai and Ranui, the weather was much worse. The slow moving system dumped more than 200 mm of rain in 14 hours which was far too much considering the region's topography. Many horticultural businesses are based there and were inundated with flood water in the valleys. Reports indicate a number of greenhouses were severely hit as the rising water swept through, destroying crops and the electrical equipment used to grow them.
A farmer in Bay of Plenty says it's been a lovely sunny week. He's 85 percent of the way through calving and is thankful to have relief staff on hand to help feed the 300 calves he's rearing. Other regions short of labour are not so lucky. He's also been able to finish off the last of his riparian planting for the year. He does a little each year as he can afford it or if funding comes available.
It's been a week of two halves in Waikato. The wet at the start slowed down man, woman and beast and the second half was glorious. Our contact says the pressure of calving has eased off a couple of notches. Having two teenagers at home during lockdown has been a great help as he's missing a couple of casual staff this year. Even help with minor jobs like shutting gates, moving stock and helping native tree planting saves him precious minutes during the day.
Photo: Susan Murray/RNZ
It has been a great drying week in King Country with at least 48 hours of clear blue skies and a couple of minor frosts. Lambs are dropping on the ground as we speak and the grass is growing nicely.
Taranaki has had variable weather. Some are getting a bit tight for feed. Calving has gone really well. The vets haven't been too busy and there's still a good amount of snow on the mountain.
On the East Coast it's that tough patch between winter and spring. Most people are pretty tight on feed which has come as a bit of a surprise as winter felt kinder and warmer than normal. It's an indication of the underlying dryness around and will have some impact on cattle condition. The region's hard out lambing.
In Hawke's Bay early variety grape vines are in bud break - that's chardonnay, pinot gris and pinot noir. Four big frosts in a row last week tested winegrowers' mettle but we're told damage was minimal. Keeping an eye on temperatures in the vineyard, and getting the last of the pruning and mulching done is keeping people busy. Some may have to turn the irrigation taps on earlier than usual as moisture is needed for a good canopy and they need more rain. Labour is a major talking point in the region with a pinchpoint coming in November when more hands are needed in both orchards and vineyards.
Manawatu has been enjoying some beautiful fine sunny days after close to zero starts. Warmth during the day is kicking off spring growth. Our contact is mid lambing. He feels fortunate he was able to recruit another casual worker before the lockdown - which isn't helping the labour shortage right across the ag sector.
Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Wairarapa has had some chilly starts and then fine, clear days later in the week that have been helping to dry things out. Lambs are enjoying the sun on their backs and bees are busy in the spring blossoms.
Across Cook Strait pruning gangs continue their work in Nelson's orchards and vineyards. In Marlborough a high country farmer says the past few weeks have been tough for his family after flooding cut the property off - and then the Covid lockdown meant they had to stay put. Most of the fencing along waterways will need to be replaced or lifted and repaired, but the bridge going up to the farm that was washed away, has been replaced. The sun's out now, but in general cattle and sheep have struggled with the cold and wet conditions. There's still time to put condition on ewes, though, as lambing doesn't start until early October.
Our contact in Barrytown on the West Coast says it's been a glorious week. The sun's been out, the washing's drying on the line and paddocks have firmed up enough to get some fert on to help pasture growth. Calving's well through and people are de-budding calves. The farmer's been collecting colostrum from his cows. The payment for the high energy milk is based on IGG (IgG) levels. IGG is the most abundant antibody in the blood and helps prevent infections.
Photo: supplied Riley Kennedy
It's been a fine and frosty week in Canterbury, but the cold nights are slowing grass growth for the early spring period. Paddocks that were in winter feed are being cultivated and re-sown. On dairy farms calving is well through.
A bit of rain has kickstarted spring growth in Central Otago, but a chilly minus seven on Wednesday night had people's fires roaring. Near Oturehua ewes are getting vaccinated for lambing, calving's well through and a bit of tractor work's underway. Half bred sheep - that's half Romney half Merino - are being shorn. Shearers are going full bore trying to get it done before lambing starts, after being held up by rain over the last fortnight.
Southland farmers are having a great run of weather and it couldn't have come at a better time for lambing and calving. A dairy farmer at Edendale still has 85 later cows to calve and he's relieved the land is finally drying out. A contractor is booked to put oats in next week if the weather holds. At the local primary school about 30 students out of 150 turned up for class this week. Most are the children of farmers who need to focus on keeping their farms running.
Photo: Michael Godfrey
