Regional Wrap

In parched Northland, a stock agent in Kaipara district says rain this week was enough to settle the dust, but that's about it.

Autumn calving has started and farmers are getting through, thanks to their top skills and supplementary feeding. He says extra government funds for the drought-stricken, announced this week, will not be enough given the severity of the dry.

Around Pukekohe, the week started with nearly 20 millimetres of rain in some places, then clear sunny days with slightly cooler temperatures. More rain is needed, but what is falling is better than nothing. Many of the district's fields remain bare, as growers wait for more rain to improve the workability of the soil.

Pasture in Waikato is very slowly changing colour from brown to having a slight tinge of green, but the cover is still extremely dry. Most places received a dribble of rain this week - 10 to 20 millimetres - which is nowhere near enough to break the drought. The maize yield is 10 to 30 percent down under the stress.  On the flip side, Waikato is expected to recover well when the rain comes and that's forecast in the next few days. Stock is still slow moving into the works but the situation is improving. Farmers have welcomed the extra government drought funds.

The early harvest of gold kiwifruit is underway in Bay of Plenty. Last week's rain gave the soils a bit of a boost. While growers like a dry harvest period, it's been  just a bit too dry to get the colour required. For the main harvest, everyone's testing and waiting for clearance to pick. With worries about labour, local retirees are being encouraged to sign up.

No rain this week means no mud and that's great for a farmer in coastal Taranaki, who's into autumn calving.  It's going well and the cows aren't needing much help from the farmer. She says they harvested a good maize crop a week ago. While others have been on once-a-day or 16-hourly milking, they're still milking twice a day on another block.

A farmer in Gisborne is seeing grass come away slightly after a little bit of rain but there's not enough to fill empty dams and rev up springs again. The biggest challenge and source of some alarm is how the coronavirus in Europe and the US will impact meat imports from New Zealand. A farmer says he was relieved to finally get some stock away to the works. He's been waiting for space since Christmas. Prices are holding up relatively well - lambs fetching seven dollars a kilo is pretty good.

Northern Hawke's Bay has had good rain, but central areas have not seen enough rain to get good pasture started again. A farmer says he'll be feeding out for another a month yet. He's feeding sweetcorn waste and baleage. It's a balancing act not to cut into the winter feed supplies. There's space at the works for hamburger beef but not for prime. Chillers are still full, because they're not heading off to China. Hawke's Bay plum growers are harvesting Royal Star, which is the last of the season's red-fleshed varieties. Like other blue and red fruit, the plums are high in antioxidants and anthocyanins, so are good for your health.

A farmer in Rangitikei says there are little bits of green shooting in some of his paddocks but it's too early to put stock on. They need to hold off and let the pasture recover. The small amount of rain received this week reinforces the need for farmers to have a plan. Some in the region are doing a bit of autumn sowing for winter feed. Farmers are being encouraged to attend drought meetings, where they can find out what the government's drought package means for them.

Wairarapa was also declared in a drought this week. A farmer we spoke to says his family has lived just outside Masterton for generations and this would rate as one of the driest summers they've seen.  He says he's already using feed put aside for winter to keep his ewes in condition and if rain doesn't come now, pasture won't grow in time for winter.

It's an exciting time in Nelson's vineyards as the harvest is just getting underway. Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer are being picked at the vineyard we rang.  It's been a lot cooler this year compared to last. The fruit has good flavours and sugars, but the acidity is still high.  There was a little rain earlier in the week but vineyard owners are hoping they've seen the back of it.  Pastoral farmers want more.  Apples are being picked.

The farmer we called in Marlborough's hill country was out shifting cattle in a pleasant 18 degrees on Thursday afternoon.  He says everyone's trying to keep condition on ewes - he's having to give them supplementary feed for the first time in eight years.  The ram's going out and you can determine next years income by keeping the ewes in good nick. It's critical to get protein into them for good ovulation. Peas are a good source, as is lucerne baleage. There's been no good rain since Christmas, so the grass that is around is of poor quality.

The dream run's continuing for Marlborough's grapes. Sunshine hours have been great and the lack of rain has suited them perfectly - the grapes are incredibly clean with no sign of disease. One grower says if they can get over the line without any rain, it could be the best vinatge ever.  Pinot Noir is coming off now, other reds and Chardonnay will be picked soon and Sauvignon Blanc is two and a half weeks away.  It'll be mayhem on the roads when the harvest is in full swing, with crates of grapes being carted right, left and centre.  Picking goes through the night if it's dry.

A drought has been declared in North Canterbury, but our contact says his Pyramid Valley farm's not doing too badly, after getting 15 millimetres of rain on Tuesday. It allowed him to drill oats for winter feed. He says conditions north of Cheviot are a lot drier, so everyone's feeding out grain, baleage, silage, hay or whatever they have on hand. Sheep are in a reasonable condition and ready for the ram  - he's already gone out on some farms.

The West Coast has had a week of glorious fine T-shirt and shorts weather  - there's even an excess of grass in some places and baleage is being made. Paddocks are being re-grassed.  Production's lifted on some farms because of the great conditions. Dairy famers say they've noticed little change with the sale of Westland Dairy products to  the Yili group  - and it's been nice to receive higher advance payments.

Central Otago is experiencing mild days and cool nights, with one summer fruit grower having fought a frost already. Bits and pieces of rain are still passing through and trees are looking pretty good.

In Southland, near Waimahaka, there's been a bit of rain, but the weather's been quite settled this week. Pregnancy testing results are in and, for the farmer we called, the dry rate for his herd is nine percent. He's happy with that even though last year it was six percent. In the dairy shed, milk production's gradually slipping off.  Most shearing's done on sheep farms, some early rams are out for mating and lambs are dribbling into the freezing works. There's a waiting time for processing though, as cattle have preference in terms of cold storage space. The farmer says he's started to feel the pinch due to the coronavirus. Bulls sent to the works in mid-December sold for $1870. He sent more to the works last week and only got $1100. They were 30 kgs or 10 percent lighter but still it's a big drop.