Drought Update - Northland
Welcome to the weekly update from the Northland drought committee for the dairy, horticulture, sheep and beef sectors.
This week we suggest you look for opportunities to get off the farm and take a break to clear your head before the farm gets busy. Look at the coming events below and see what might interest you - also consider a rugby match in the big smoke, a day out fishing or dinner out at your 'local'. Options such as these are an investment in your well-being.
If you or someone you know needs support, call 0800 778 667.
Tafi Manjala
Chairman - Extension Sub-Committee
Current Situation:
- 0-25 mm rainfall with the East Coast areas benefitting most.
- Clouds/showers followed (with a little luck) by easterlies and some rain on 27/28 April
- Some have asked about rainfall patterns in previous drought years. The chart below shows April to December rainfall for the Kaikohe area (Source: NIWA). The 2007 data is included as the Southern Oscillation Index is said to be similar to 2007 at this time. If the pattern follows we can expect a dry May with some serious rain in June or July.
- Facial eczema: Spore counts have increased in Maungatoroto, low to moderate elsewhere. Go to http://www.rd1.com/ or http://www.meatandwoolnz.com/ to get the latest spore counts and talk to your vets. Warm showers on warm ground could raise spore counts rapidly.
- Supplements: Currently there is no PKE on the 'spot' market. The next shipload is due next Thursday. Contract to guarantee your supply. Shop around for the best supplement options.
- Pasture growth rates are low at 8 - 20kgDM/ha/day. Pasture covers are 1100-1400 kgs DM/Ha and falling.
- Available assistance:
- The RST Ag Recovery Facilitators (now 4 available) provide 1:1 drought visits. To book a visit contact Helen Moodie on 0800 778 667.
Events:
Let your colleagues and clients know about these drought management events:
General:
- MAF workshops on Erosion Processes and Mitigation
| Date: |
7th May 2010 |
| Location: |
Kerikeri |
| Contact: |
Bob Cathcart, Northland Regional Council bobc@nrc.govt.nz |
Dairy:
- Dargaville Autumn Calving Workshop
Managing nutritional deficits before and after the rain, supplement options and feed budgeting
| Date: |
27th April 2010 |
| Time: |
6:30pm BBQ. 7:00pm-9:00pm Autumn calving workshop |
| Location: |
Dargaville Museum, Mt Wesley Coast Road, Dargaville |
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Take time off farm and attend the DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum, 5th and 6th May, Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton. Registration is FREE for levy paying dairy farmers and their staff.
Topics covered include: Preparing for future weather events; feeds of the future; steps to wealth creation and the basics of successful calf rearing.
Keynote speakers include: Minister of Agriculture David Carter; Chairman of Fonterra Sir Henry van der Heyden; Solid Energy CEO Don Elder; DairyNZ Chairman John Luxton and former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley.
Registration is essential. To register and for more information go to www.dairynz.co.nz/farmersforum
- Hanerau Farms is one of the three finalists in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy - BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Competition. They will have a field day on 29th April. Visitors are requested to assemble at the Taipuha Community Hall, Taipuha Station Road, 9:30am.
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Sheep and Beef:
No drought specific events planned this month but take a day off your farm and look at someone elses:
- Community Group Field Day
| Date: |
7th May |
| Time: |
10:30 – 3:30pm (bring your lunch) |
| Location: |
Peter & June Hick’s farm - 373 Broadwood Road, just north of the junction with Kohukohu Rd (it will be signposted from Mangamuka Road/SH1 intersection) |
| Details: |
Peter & June have an outstanding farm system. The focus of the day will be visiting a high performing hill country cattle breeding and finishing operation and understanding the secrets to Peter’s success, including recent experiences with yard weaning. In addition there will be speakers on business structures to answer the question "Are there alternatives to selling the farm?" Also will discuss succession strategies. |
| Contact: |
Malcolm McCallum, Meat & Wool New Zealand, (09) 405 9683 or (027) 231 5680 malcolm.mccallum@meatandwoolnz.com |
- If anyone needs help with feed budgeting, financial budgeting or strategies to recover from the drought - please contact Malcolm McCallum 027 2315680. It's FREE.
- Drought packs with useful information are still available.
For other drought strategies visit www.meatandwoolnz.com or Northland Regional Council website.
Key Messages:
Below are key messages to help you manage your way through the drought:
Dairy:
- Northland milk production is down 4.5% for the season, 55% daily and 50% monthly. Estimated 60%of spring herds have dried off
- For more information visit www.dairynz.co.nz/drought
Case Study Farm - Roger and Jane Hutchings, Okaihau
This farm is 2 weeks ahead of most. The information below is a prompt on what you need to plan for on your farm.
Farm Situation: Collected 19th April 2010:
| Stocking Rate |
Kg MS/cow |
Kg MS/ha |
APC Kg DM/ha |
Rotation
Length (days) |
Growth rates
Kg DM/ha |
|
2 |
1.1 |
2.2 |
1,750 |
40 |
25 |
Targets - for calving (26 July calving date):
- Average pasture cover: 2100kgDM/ha
- Cow condition: 5 on all cows
|
Targets - for 1 June:
Average pasture cover: 2000kgDM/ha
Cow condition: 5 for early calving cows and 4.5 for later calving cows |
Summary:
- Season to date 4.2% ahead due to milking 70 more cows. 191 000kgMS to date vs. start of season target of 240000kgMS
- Currently milking 355 cows with 110 dries on 230ha (all other stock off the milking platform). Milkers being offered/cow 4kg maize (plus maizemix), 5kg PKE and 6kg pasture. Dries being offered 2kg hay and 7kg pasture
- Peak cows 700 on 270ha
- 12mm rainfall in last week
- Seeing a response to N with the showers. Have applied N to 85% of farm in last month, will continue behind cows @35kgN
- Feed on hand: Hay 67.5 T, Maize 145TDM, PKE 90TDM (contracted), 30TDM (on-farm).
What happened last week
- Pasture offered only at night and cows return to same paddock for supplement at the next morning's feeding
- Herd tested and dried off 35 cows (low producers, high SCC, and less than 4.0 condition score)
Plan for the next 2 weeks
- Plan to give first new pasture light graze this week with youngstock. Looking very good
- Will start plating a few paddocks to get actual growth rate and average pasture cover
- Continue to follow cows with nitrogen @35kgN
- Undersow patchy pastures by direct drilling @12kg/ha Ohau AR37 (75% perennial) so we can get more than one season out of the pasture. 50ha done to date. Still have 15ha to go
- Will update feed budget after significant rainfall
- Autumn fertiliser going on 70ha of milking platform and on run off.
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Sheep and Beef:
- Bright spots: Compared to data in the Meat & Wool Economic Mid Season Review of 2nd Feb 2010, in market prices have improved in the last two months due to shortage of supply for both beef and lamb. In addition, the exchange rate is lower than used in the review (70-71 US cents v 73 US cents). The exchange rate in general has reduced the farm gate returns but this is expected to weaken (or at least not to strengthen) over the next six months, which may bring some benefit to farm gate prices.
- Hogget mating: If you are still thinking of hogget mating, check that they are suitably well-grown to 40kgs liveweight. If too light it may jeopardise their performance as two tooths.
- Shearing: A thought for later: timing of pre-lamb shearing will depend on having adequate pasture cover to feed the ewes well post shearing.
- For more information visit www.meatandwoolnz.com
Case Study Farm - John Blackwell, Dargaville
What’s happening now: As at 20th April
-
Still no rain so the option to reduce stock numbers further at the end of April is still under consideration - 400kg bulls and/or the ewes.
-
Supplements: The silage is finished and only 50 bales of baleage left.
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Pasture growth rates are slowing further, less than 10 kgDM/ha.
-
Rotation length: I am aiming to maintain a long rotation with the cattle (around 60 days) to try and give the grass a chance to recover. Using 32 Ha saved area to replace silage.
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Ewe shearing: Thinking ahead - shearing the ewes in June /July will depend on adequate pasture. May have to delay shearing until they can be fed adequately.
-
New pastures: The last of the crop paddocks are sprayed out and will be drilled this week. Using AR37 Samson and tetraploid Halo with red and white clovers.
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Water: My dams are holding out so far.
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Next week: I will be assessing the feed demand and supply and having a close look at the financial situation with budget and cash flow through to December. I will also be giving a lot of thought to restocking options as part of this process. |
Horticulture:
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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