A maize crop in Waikato Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
Shearers are running behind in King Country because they haven't been able to get dry sheep and Marlborough winegrowers are keeping a close eye out for black spot and powdery mildew. On the Farm is a wrap of conditions on farms and orchards around the country.
A kumara grower in Northland says unbelievably it has stopped raining. Four weeks ago conditions were dire for the crop but there's been hardly any rain since 14 November and that's allowed growers to chip away and get the crop in the ground. They won't fully catch up though. Ten to 15 percent less land is likely to be planted than usual and planting may continue into early January which isn't ideal.
Pukekohe has had a dry week making it two weeks in a row without rain. It has also been sunnier, hotter and calmer than last week. Conditions are good for curing mature onions but, without irrigation, other crops will be stressed unless rain arrives next week.
The ag consultant we called in Waikato was driving through Matamata - and said he could see the grass growing in the paddocks. A bit more rain is needed and on the Hauraki Plains feed quality has deteriorated as pastures have gone to seen and milk production is down. He says dairy farmers are being sensible with their improved cash flow. They'll use it on capital expenditure, replacing machinery and will retire debt - that way the farms are in a good position if interest rates go up or the payout drops.
In the Bay of Plenty it's been hot. Kiwifruit orchardists are doing fruit counts. Green vines are a bit light on flowers but the gold is OK. There's a shortage of workers to do the hand thinning.
King Country's also been very warm - and muggy. Thursday was a scorcher. The region's also had some really good rain and we're told the grass is going nuts. Unfortunately it's good fly weather. The main shear is underway and shearers are running behind because they haven't been able to get dry sheep.
Taranaki has gone from being dry two weeks ago to having great rain which has pulled the season out of the mire. A dairy consultant has been recruiting for sharemilkers and contract milkers for next year. He says there's a very positive vibe in the sector - the best in seven or eight years - and banks are back lending to sharemilkers and first farm buyers. He says Taranaki has about 100 farms on the market. Some of them are owned by older farmers who can see compliance costs looming and, because the market looks pretty bouncy, they are trying their luck. Taranaki farms are smaller than the New Zealand average. The average herd size is 360 nationally but in Taranaki it's under 300, but land prices are some of the highest in the country.
In the Gisborne region feed levels are going through the roof . It's been hot. Surfing for Farmers is back on the calendar around the country. There are now 21 groups and each week 30 or 40 farmers turn out to most of them including to Gisborne's Midway Beach where the movement started.
Winegrowers are on the look out for black spot and powdery mildew Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Hawke's Bay has had temperatures in the mid to high 20s this week. Feed levels are good partly because of recent rain but also because there are still moderate stock numbers on farms after last summer's drought. Lambs are being weaned and store lamb prices are back a bit - $5 or $6 an animal - so the shopping's pretty good for lamb finishers.
On Monday and Tuesday Wairarapa had between 30 and 130 millimetres of rain depending where you live. Arable farmers are absolutely delighted. It's given crops a really good drink and some crops that have been in the ground since early October and hadn't germinated will now get a wriggle on. We're told sheep and beef farmers are also stoked. They were starting to worry about feed and the amount of water in dams for stock.
When we called an asparagus grower in Horowhenua he was surrounded by his team having an end of year barbecue. Everyone had brought a plate which included Thai, Samoan, Bhutanese, Korean and Chinese dishes. The district's had great rain which has set up pastoral farm until Christmas. As for the asparagus season, it's been one of the toughest in 40 years with no exports and limited demand domestically. Asparagus will be available until Christmas.
Knee-high grass in Horowhenua Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Across Cook Strait to the Nelson region and a Wakefield hop grower says hop training's finished and plants have already reached the top wire. Fertiliser is going on to give them a boost. There has been 50 millimetres of rain this week and early summer has been kind. In preparation for harvesting, the bine loaders, drying kiln and hop picking machines are being serviced and tested and temporary staff are being recruited.
Marlborough had substantial rain on Monday night. A hill country farmer near Blenheim had 38 millimetres. It's been warm too with temperatures reaching the high 20s. The hills have greened up and, if a predicted follow up of rain comes next week, his drought prone property will be set up for summer. Across the province, sheep farmers are in the throes of weaning, but getting space at the works is tricky. Store lamb prices have come down too. The low prices and unexpected rain might prompt some farmers to hold onto their lambs over summer. Grape growers didn't really want heavy rain this week as Sauvignon Blanc vines are still in flower. They will be watching for black spot and powdery mildew.
Just north of Greymouth on the West Coast it's been muggy and overcast. A Barrytown farmer was TB testing calves when we called. He does it so he can send them away for summer grazing. Pasture's gone to seed quickly in paddocks lowering feed quality and milk yields. He says the silly season is underway. He's been to a Christmas party at the local vets and there are a few parties on the calendar for next week.
Lambs are being weaned and ewes dagged in Canterbury Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
The weather pattern has changed in Canterbury - haymaking would be impossible at the moment. The last two weekends have brought 30 millimetres of rain to Hororata and more is forecast this weekend. Irrigators are all turned off and grass is growing well. Farmers are keeping an eye on fungal diseases in cereals Lambs are being weaned and ewes dagged in preparation for shearing next week.
The cherries are coming off thick and fast at a Roxburgh orchard in Central Otago. With firm ground and warm days the second week of picking's going well. One grower says it's the biggest crop he's ever had off his 20-year-old Samba cherry trees. The Samba variety are dark red to mahogany in colour and have firm red flesh with a slightly tart juice. In the apricot blocks the last round of thinning's being done and an excellent crop is on the cards. There's concern whether there will be planes available to transport the stone fruit to overseas markets.
Cows grazing in the South Island Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
At Waimahaka in Southland a farmer says kale and grass sown a couple of weeks ago has struck and there's a verdant green tinge to the land. This week he's been drenching and giving lambs a dose of B12, spraying thistles and putting a light coating of nitrogen onto baleage paddocks. He told Cosmo he'd always wanted to be a farmer and was put in charge of 2000 ewes when he was 14. He's been tied to the family farm since and, after 50-plus years at the same property, he's finally thinking about retiring his Stubbies and doing some other things.
