On the Farm - a wrap of farming conditions around NZ

This week in On the Farm it's lambing, calving and juggling stock on pastures.

Starting in Southland -  the sun hasn't shown its face for a few weeks and the grass is slow to grow. Bernadette Hunt is farming near Gore and says sheep farmers are scanning their ewes prior to lambing. She says calving is going well but winter is only half way through and farmers are wondering whether they need to buy in more feed.

In Central Otago, vineyards are continuing to have difficulties finding enough staff to prune vines and help with trellis maintenance.  And it's double trouble as wet weather means pruning can't happen in the rain - water splashing from one vine to the other could spread fungal infections. Many of the region's Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc vines are usually trimmed for spring by now - but for many that's not the case. Grape growers hope freeing up the border will mean more workers from the Pacific region and further afield.    

On the West Coast south of Hokitika it's been a great year for pasture growth. There've been plenty of heavy downpours followed by long periods of good weather so grass is flourishing. Dairy farmers don't start calving for another two weeks to a month and the cows are in a great condition. Cattle are being moved around to reduce pugging as much as possible and  there's a good supply of local silage.
 
South of Christchurch, near Lincoln, Lake Ellesmere is continuing to overflow into surrounding farmland. About 25 percent of lower lying farms are under water and cattle are being moved around to avoid muddy paddocks. Lambing is about to start in the challenging conditions. As one farmer says 'It's not a surprise but just a pain in the bum." 

It seems like a broken record in Canterbury with another large rainfall this week which again caused flooding. It seems like a long time ago since they saw the sun. A positive from it is that due to the very regular rain, frosts have been few and far between which has meant grass growth has been quite good for the time of year. Inside jobs are right up to date and there is plenty of snow about. Our contact's looking forward to opening day at Mt Olympus ski field this Sunday.

In the Nelson region there is still surface water in some paddocks and orchardists are frustrated about not being able to prune, as well as not having enough staff to do it. There's been at least two and a half times more rain than usual over the last month. Apple and kiwi fruit growers are also on the look out for more casual workers.

Heading north to Te Ika a Maui plenty of lifestyle blocks in Wairarapa are lambing. Most of the real farms start a week or two later. Calving is in full swing and going well. Many farmers are checking herds at least a couple of times a day - so new-born calves can get to dry sheds away from the boggy conditions. A few farmers are disgruntled about waiting times at the freezing works which continue to fluctuate. Parts of southern Wairarapa had pretty severe flooding and are now cleaning up.  

In Hawke's Bay there's been a bit of sun over the week and early stone fruit trees are flowering in BayView.  Other stone and pip fruit trees are enjoying the chilly winter before budding closer to spring.  Here too a lot of growers are behind in their pruning due to a labour shortage and wet weather.  Lambing has started and a close eye's being kept on rain and wind forecasts. 

In Taranaki the rain is causing a bit of chaos in the middle of calving. But it's nothing the farmers can't handle and everyone's pretty well prepared. Moving stock among paddocks and onto dry pads is a bit like a tango on a dance floor. Farmers are trying to keep pasture and soil damage to a minimum. The rate of mastitis is described as 'not bad at all' and calf weights are pretty good too.   

Taihape is continuing to have warmer soil temperatures than usual for this time of the year - but wet weather and a lack of sunshine means the grass is growing at a minimal rate.  Spraying via helicopter to kill porina caterpillars has been happening on some farms. This pest munches through the grass and in large numbers can destroy whole pastures.  Ewes are being scanned and our contact says he's got quite a triplets and twins due when lambing starts in September. Cattle are currently being moved to swede and other fodder crops for a few months. 

Around Taumaranui it's been time to get firewood stacked in the shed between showers. Scanning's done and lambing starts about mid August so the ewes are being moved to their set paddocks. Boggy pastures have farmers busy moving yearling cattle on a regular basis and a few of the smaller beasts are likely to be sold in late August. 

In the Bay of Plenty some locals are noting it's been the wettest season for decades and grass is dying under saturated paddocks.  Rick Powdrell farms near Te Puke and says there's been 870 millimetres of rain over the last couple of months. He says he's lost a few early lambs born during torrential rain.

The Waikato region is flat out with calving and lambing.  Near Putaruru last year's ram lambs are being sent to the works and margins are pretty good. But farmers are conscious they need to factor in more expensive fuel, fertiliser and labour costs. For those who are on free draining land the grass is slowly growing.

South of Auckland the persistent wet, mild weather has become tedious with 52mm this week. some main crop onion seed has not  been sown and now it's too late. Growers are considering other varieties to make up for the area not sown but that may carry greater risk. Harvesting  of lettuce and brassicas is erratic. Too much one week, not enough the next. There is concern for kiwifruit which has not had enough winter chilling.

Northland farmers are lambing and keeping a close eye on what's described as 'phenomenal rain on top of already wet soil'.  Like many other parts of the country grass is struggling to survive under soaked paddocks and some pasture is likely to need re-sewing in early spring.  Dairying is going well around Whangārei with little lameness despite the bog, and farmers morale is positive thanks to the decent dairy prices. 

The Far North is over half way through its calving with good body weights as pastures continue to grow thanks to warm weather parallel to quite a bit of rain.  As a farmer near Kaitaia puts it 'We need to expect winter to be too wet and summer to be too dry so we can deal with whatever is thrown at us."