Drought Update - Northland
Welcome to the weekly update from the Northland drought committee for the dairy, horticulture, sheep and beef sectors.
Your main focus should be to achieve pasture and cow condition targets for next season. Minimise a large proportion of the impact of the drought to this season. If you or someone you know needs help call 0800 778 667.
Tafi Manjala
Chairman - Extension Sub-Committee
Members:
Tafi Manjala (Chairman), David Swney and James Mwendwa (DairyNZ), Brian Hughes and Linda Stewart (Fonterra), Mike Eagles (Horticulture NZ), Malcolm McCallum (Meat and Wool), Gareth Baynham (AgFirst), Debbie Johnson (Northland Regional Council), Dennis Anderson (Federated Farmers), Roger Taylor (Agricultural recovery facilitator) John Blackwell (Sheep and Beef Council) and Des Hamlin (RD1).
Current Sutuation:
Kerikeri - Drought Years Rainfall Patterns
Source: NIWA/NRC
- Rainfall over the last 7 days: 3mm-58mm. Very variable geographically
- The 2009/10 rainfall is following closely to the pattern of previous severe dry events as shown in the chart above. Daily records for April show that in the previous two droughts, major rainfall events (greater than 50 mm) did not occur until 19th – 22nd of April
- Farmers should be “planning for the worst and hoping for the best”
- No substantial rain is forecast over the next week to 10 days for the region.
- Milk production is 2% behind last season, but down 25% for month and down 66% on a daily basis
- Pasture growth rates are from 10 – 35kgDM/ha/day (higher on kikuyu)
- Average pasture covers range between 1400 – 1600kgDM/ha. Reaching calving farm pasture cover of 2200kgDM/ha will be slower and will cost money. Do you have a plan for your farm? Attend an upcoming drought meeting to get some strategies
- Rotations: A longer rotation helps build cover faster than a slower rotation. Use supplements to start increasing rotation length after it rains.
- Crickets: Farmers recorded good results from cricket baiting. From now baiting is less effective (only 35% effective now and will reduce infestation next summer). If cricket numbers are more than 10/m2, click on the link below and discuss with a rural professional. The cost to bait is $25-30/ha.
- Water restrictions have started in Kaitaia, Opononi and Omapare
- Farm Water Supplies: Clean and deepen dams for the future. If facing water shortages, such as a temporary supply pumped from a river or stream (if there is one flowing), cart in water and if all fails then remove stock from the farm
- The RST Ag Recovery Facilitators provide drought 1:1 visits. To book a visit contact Helen Moodie on 0800 778 667
- Financial: Bankers are recommending farmers have feed and financial budgets ready before calling them to review funding
- Rural Assistance Payments are available to provide financial help to farming families. For more information call 0800 778 667.
Events:
Let your colleagues and clients know about these drought management events:
General:
- Tuesday 6th – Friday 9th April: FREE kids' camp (5 – 13 years) from drought affected farms. Maunu Children’s Health Camp, Whangarei. Activities will include 10-pin Bowling, Wave Pool, etc. Places limited. For more information, phone 0800 788 667 by Friday 12th March
Dairy:
Shed meetings: If you can organise 6 or more farmers to come to your house to work through a facilitated process to complete a feed budget, please contact your Fonterra area manager or DairyNZ consulting officer.
Do you have a plan when effective rains start? Book these important dates on your calendar.
Lunch provided.
- 15th March: Roger and Jane Hutchings' farm, Ladore Road, Kerikeri 10.30 – 1.30 pm
- 26th March: Jordan Valley Farm, 259 Jordan Valley Road, Hikurangi 10.30 – 1.30 pm
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Sheep and Beef:
Three drought meetings are scheduled for later in March focussing on recovery:
- 22nd March (Monday): Upper North, Dennis & Rachelle O’Callaghan’s woolshed, Aurere (just north of Taipa) 10:30am-1pm
- 25th March (Thursday): Mid-North, Pakaraka Hall 10am-12.30pm
- 25th March (Thursday): Lower North, Tangiteroria Memorial Hall, 2:30pm-6pm
For information packs or feed budget forms contact Malcolm McCallum or visit the Northland Regional Council website
Key Messages:
Below are key messages to help you manage your way through the drought:
Dairy:
- Dry cows: Ensure dry cows are clearly marked especially if using dry cow therapy. What are the options given the longer dry period? Consult your vet for advice
- Split calving farms are recommended to dry off all their spring calving cows
- Use sacrifice paddocks to minimise the risk of overgrazing pasture. Stand cows on sacrifice paddocks after residuals have been reached
- Somatic cell counts are increasing with reducing milk volume. If you are grading, do an emergency herd test to identify high-risk cows which may need to be dried off. Talk with your Fonterra area manager or DairyNZ consulting officer
- Cows with calving dates in early July are approaching 120 days from calving. Cows at condition score 3 or two year olds at score 3.5 must be dried off now to reach condition score targets for calving
- The distribution of individual cow BCS is more important than the herd average BCS
- Lessons from past droughts in other regions:
- Do not milk too many cows for too long. Dry some cows off (especially the 2 and 3yr olds)
- Act early and if feed cover and supply is low, dry-off and graze off the platform
- If 50% or less of pasture has survived per paddock, drill seed and develop a plan for pasture recovery
- Be aggressive with nitrogen. Apply 40 kgN/ha after the next 30 mm rainfall to the whole farm except paddocks to be grazed in next 2 weeks, in order to reduce nitrate poisoning.
- For more information visit www.dairynz.co.nz/drought
Sheep and Beef:
- Feed levels are low and further destocking is an option to consider especially with ewe mating coming up. Store prices are still strong further south and at the bigger northern sales. Quitting more stock is still a viable option while prices are firm
- With little or no supplements left, most farms will have to winter with an all grass system and should be planning this now
- Think about pastures now. Do any areas need renovating? Would an annual rye grass suit your plan? Plan a rotation now to give the pastures time to recover and build up pasture cover for the winter. Talk with your seed specialist
- Restocking: With so many livestock moved out of Northland, farmers will have to be flexible in the type and class of stock they buy. Think about possible options now
- Continue to monitor animal health for FE, internal parasites and stock water. Spore counts are not yet at dangerous levels. Sporadic rain has probably lifted the risk of high worm burdens
- Financial: Get the budgets and cash flows done for the next 12 months and talk to your bankers
- For more information visit www.meatnz.co.nz
Horticulture:
- Growers are advised to watch their ground water supplies, and if levels are getting low contact Mike Eagles: m.eagles@xtra.co.nz
- It is best to apply irrigation at night when there is less evaporation. Apply mulch to trees to help retain moisture and do not mow your orchard. Leave the ground cover on to help retain moisture
- Talk to your hort rep/pack houses for advice. Strip-pick trees to reduce stress on trees
- Don't plant young trees now
- For more information visit www.hortnz.co.nz
Useful Links:
- To view the previous Northland drought updates click on the links below:
- To read more about managing the drought in Northland click on the links below:
Contacts:
If you require any further information on the Northland drought, please contact the relevant person below:
    
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