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Photo by KIM CHISNALL: Dam storage on Rob Peter’s Cape Campbell farm
The effects of the lengthy drought and continuing feed supply and grass growth issues heading towards spring continue to concern many farmers.
Marlborough Federated Farmers president, and Havelock dairy farmer, Sharon Parkes said the effects of the drought had literally split the region in two parts.
“We have hay available for our animals but there is little to spare, ” she said.
“What we have we will need to feed our animals with.”
Parkes said further south the conditions remain more extreme.
“We were affected by the drought and dried off cows three months earlier than normal.”
As a result a lot of farmers were feeding out supplements from January, she said.
“There is concern production will be affected next year as we look to keep the animals’ condition up through this year.”
Grassmere sheep farmer Fraser Avery said recent rain had helped to raise soil moisture levels.
Avery recorded 65.5 millimetres of rain in June with 348.5mm falling during the past 12 months.
The long-term average is estimated at 575mm, he said.
“This month’s rains have been well received, however, soil moisture levels are very low,” he said.
To offset the dry conditions he had reduced stock numbers to 4500 – down a third from last year.
“The outlook for spring is not good and we will continue to try and make the necessary decisions as early as we can to limit stress on people and land.
“We’ve been lucky with the rain but there is still concern with grass growth heading into spring and there is only a little bit of moisture in the top soil.”
Avery said he did not “religiously follow” long-range weather patterns.
“But all the long-range models around show limited rain through to next autumn,” he said.
“The outlook over the next 10 months is not looking too flash and the probability of poor pasture growth is pretty high.”
Growing crops was a better option for him than buying in supplements due to the price, he said.
Cape Campbell sheep and beef farmer Rob Peter had cut stock numbers by 25 per cent to under 5000.
“The biggest issue for us over the next 12 months will be water supply as we have no natural water sources out here and will rely on dam water,” he said.
Peter said 60mm-100mm of “substantial rainfall” would help but it was unlikely with only 58.2mm of rain recorded in June.
“The chances of getting that much rainfall in the next 12 months are remote.
“We have had drier months in the late nineties but it is the ongoing dry conditions that are the concern now.”
Peter said his Ure Valley property had not had much more rainfall than at Cape Campbell.
“We’re feeding out baleage but the shortage of water to the cattle is the problem.
“We should be keeping cattle but we haven’t got enough water.”
Courtesy of stuff.co.nz
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