Drought Update - Northland
Welcome to the weekly update from the Northland drought committee for the dairy, horticulture, sheep and beef sectors.
It's all about setting up for next season from now. Aim to 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).
Source: NIWA
Current Situation:
- Rainfall last 10 days 8-45mm
- Soil moisture deficit graph above show a trend back to permanent wilting point. Other areas similar
- Milk production is 1% behind last season, but down 8% for month and down 6% on a daily basis
- Pasture growth rates are from 10 – 30kgDM/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? If not, come to the field days below!
- Crickets: Farmers are recording good results from cricket baiting. Reported counts falling from 50/m2 to below 5/m2. If cricket numbers are above 10/m2, start baiting. Cost to bait $25-30/ha
- Water restrictions have started in Kaitaia, Opononi and Omapare
- The RST Ag Recovery Facilitators on board are Roger Taylor, Luke Beehre and Bruce Cutforth. To book them to visit you to discuss drought issues contact Helen Moodie on 0800 778 667
- Bankers are recommending farmers have feed and financial budgets (to show that they have thought through requests) before calling them to review funding
- Rural Assistance Payments are the Government's way of providing extra help to farming families affected by an adverse event. For more information call 0800 778 667.
Events:
Let your colleagues and clients know about these drought management events:
General:
- 4th - 6th March: DROUGHT CENTRAL at Northland Agricultural Field Days. Come along to site 243 (RD1 Road) for the best advice on what you need to be doing and planning for on farm
- 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:
In an effort to help farmers with feed budgets, we are asking anyone who can organise 6 or more farmers to come to their house, please contact their 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, Okaihau S/N10555 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:
Key Messages:
Below are key messages to help you manage your way through the drought:
Dairy:
- Hard grazing may be unavoidable, but realise it will have an impact on plant survival and recovery. Use sacrifice paddocks that have poor pasture species or are due for renovation as stand-off (or to feed supplement) to save the best paddocks from over-grazing
- Start with a knowledge base of your current individual paddock performance (e.g. grazing days/year) to identify poor performing paddocks. Seek the advice of your seed specialist on options for your farm
- 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.
- Lessons From Recent Droughts:
- Farmers made the mistake of milking too many cows for too long. Therefore, dry enough cows early to enable you to reach pasture cover and cow condition targets
- The farmers that came out of the drought first were those that acted early, grazing cows off the platform (acting early gives you a pick of the grazing available), more aggressive with regrassing and used nitrogen in autumn. What lesson have you learnt and what action are you taking?
- For more information visit www.dairynz.co.nz/drought
Sheep and Beef:
- 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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