Drought Update - Northland
Welcome to the weekly update from the Northland drought extension sub-committee for the dairy,
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Meeting with Agriculture Minister David Carter on Rhys and Mary Williams' farm | horticulture, sheep and beef sectors.
Also some areas in Northland received rain in the past week, more is needed, as conditions are still very dry.
We had a productive meeting last Friday with the Agriculture Minister David Carter on Rhys and Mary Williams' farm.
Farmers coping with the current dry conditions face numerous challenges. Helping them plan and take positive action will ensure they get through the summer in the best condition possible.
Tafi Manjala
Chairman
Northland Extension Sub-committee Members:
Tafi Manjala (Chairman), David Swney and James Mwendwa (DairyNZ), Brian Hughes and Linda Stewart (Fonterra), Mike Eagles (Horticulture NZ), Malcolm McCullum (Meat and Wool), Gareth Baynham (AgFirst), Debbie Johnson (Northland Regional Council), Dennis Anderson (Federated Farmers), Roger Taylor (Agricultural recovery facilitator) and John Blackwell (Sheep and Beef Council).
Current Situation:
- Some areas in Northland received 9 - 25mm in the last week
- Daily milk production is 18% lower than last season
- Season to date milk production is 1% behind last season and 16% behind monthly
- Pasture growth rates range from 5 – 15kgDM/ha/day (lower in drier areas)
- If cricket numbers are above 10/m2, start baiting. Current counts : Awanui 12/m2, Ruawai 4/m2, Kaikohe and Oromahoe 15/m2. Where there are cracks there are crickets. The cost to bait is $21/ha – organise your bait now.
- For more information on managing insect pests click here
- Stock prices at works are lifting – marketing options improving
- Encourage farmers to involve their wider professional team such as bankers/accountants/consultants and meet together around a table. Revise cash flow regularly
- The forecast is for below normal rainfall. This is the lowest Nov-Dec-Jan rainfall total in the last 80-100 years (Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Dargaville, Puhipuhi and Whangarei regions).
Events:
Let your colleagues and clients know about these drought management events:
Dairy:
Sheep and Beef:
Drought response seminars will be held in the following locations:
- 2nd February: Dennis & Rachelle O’Callaghan's woolshed, 4365 State Highway 10, Aurere (just north of Taipa). 10am – 1pm.
- 3rd February: Pakaraka Hall, SH1, Pakaraka, Pakaraka Hall. 10am – 1pm.
- 3rd February: Waiotira Golf Club, 100 Mititai Rd, Waiotira Waiotira Golf Club, 100 Mititai Rd. 3pm – 6pm.
Key Messages:
Below are key messages to help farmers manage their way through the drought:
Dairy:
- Have a written plan (covering financial, feed, stock, and people) with set dates and review weekly
- Recommend farmers milk the number of cows now that they would normally milk mid-March
- Dry-off based on age (2 and 3 year olds) and condition score and preferably graze them off
- Lock in feed supply early. This gives you certainity and you have the pick of options
- Facial eczema is currently low (spore counts of 5 000 in Dargaville). Start dosing to build up protection
- For more information visit www.dairynz.co.nz/drought
Sheep and Beef:
- Keep monitoring feed position and water. Consider destocking further if animals are under pressure and losing condition. Prices are still reasonable
- Be prepared with a drenching plan and order your drench for the start of rain
- For more information visit www.meatandwool.co.nz
Horticulture:
- Keep the irrigation going. It is better to apply it at night when there is less evaporation. Apply mulch to trees to help retain moisture and don't 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 update click here
- To read more about managing the drought in Northland click here
Contacts:
If you require any further information on the Northland drought, please contact the relevant person below:
Dairy: Tafi Manjala, DairyNZ, email: tafadzwa.manjala@dairynz.co.nz
Sheep and Beef: Malcolm McCallum, Meat and Wool, email: jamac.m@xtra.co.nz
Horticulture: Mike Eagles, Horticulture NZ, email: m.eagles@xtra.co.nz
    
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