Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Rain and hot weather has split cherries in Hawkes Bay. Southland's had a stunning week for getting crops in the ground. Find out what's happening on farms and orchards around New Zealand with our regional wrap.
In Northland this spring is proving disastrous for kumara growers. It's been diabolically wet which has disrupted planting. There's only a short window to get kumara in the ground - from Labour weekend to the first weekend in December - and a grower says just ten percent of the land due to be planted has been so far - this time last year 35 percent had been planted. And, to top it off, there's more rain in the forecast. He says there'll be significantly less product around next year so people should enjoy the low prices now.
Further south a localised heavy downpour dumped 23 millimetres of rain in 30 minutes on the northern slopes of Pukekohe Hill on Sunday afternoon. With temperatures in the low to mid 20 degree range crops and weeds continue to grow well. Diseases are present with downy mildew in onions, blight in potatoes and PSA in kiwifruit. .
South Waikato around Tokoroa has had a hot week. The farmer we spoke to says the cows could be milking better - the grass is growing quickly but its in its reproductive stage so the quality's off a bit. Calves are being weaned and they'll head to the run off next week and the service bulls brought back to the farm. They'll be in with the cows for 5 weeks - then AB will start again using short gestation semen this time. It will bring calving forward 10 - 12 days - which puts quite a lot of milk in the vat and also gives the cows a better chance of cycling in time next season.
Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
Two weeks ago King Country was a bit wet - now it's looking for a shower. People are starting to take advantage of strong schedule prices - prime bulls are fetching $6.50 to $6.80 a kilogramme - and the lambs that are trickling to the works, either the last of the season's or the very first of this year's crop, are getting an impressive $9 a kilogramme.
Milk production
Taranaki is warmer - it needed to be. Milk production is five percent behind season-to-date but it could pick up now the grass has started to grow. There's not a whole lot of supplementary feed in the cupboard.
There's finally been a bit of sun in Bay of Plenty and a sheep and beef farmer says young stock have been lapping up the rays. Cattle weights are ahead on last year, grass growth has been phenomenal and plenty of silage is being made.
A Gisborne farmer says he's had an amazing spring - there's been rain every seven to ten days. He has a huge amount of grass and says he's set up until January. The first drafts of lambs are going to the works - prices are exceptional but the lambs aren't as bright as they could be because of the lack of sunshine. There's some concern about what the impact will be if Covid gets into meat works.
Cherries are out
On one Hawkes Bay orchard the first of this season's cherries are due to start coming off the trees on Sunday. Enthusiasm has been dampened a bit after recent rain and hot weather caused some of the fruit to split. A vineyard owner there'll be strong demand for grapes this year and that might even result in a lift in price to growers.
Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
A dairy farmer in Manawatu says he has a lot of feed although a little top up of rain would help to make things just tickety boo. Hay and silage are being made. Cows are being inseminated and the AI technician says less demanding once a day milking could account for the very good submission rates.
Temperatures have been in the high 20s in Wairarapa - in fact our farmer says he was docking hoggets lambs on Wednesday and it was more than 30 degrees. Central Wairarapa hasn't had much rain but coastal farms have had up to 60 mms and are having a fantastic season.
Te Wai Pounamu
Golden Bay had a little rain on Thursday and farmers are pleased more is on its way. The farmer we spoke to has been busy making sure irrigators are working properly - with summer just around the corner. His herd is still having AI. His cows wear collars monitoring things like their eating patterns and when they're on heat. He says they're the best thing since sliced bread. The collars have added another degree of confidence about mating and he's expecting a much better in-calf rate. He's not using tail paint at all any more.
Marlborough's had three or four beaut days this week - up to 26 degrees in the vineyard which has kicked growth along splendidly. Our contact says you can see the vines growing before your eyes. They've been busy shoot thinning, wire lifting and planting alternate rows in buckwheat, phaecelia and lupins to attract beneficial insects like small native wasps which prey on the leaf roller caterpillar and stop them munching on the vine leaves.
The West Coast has been quite warm and very fine at last. Farmers are relieved and have been getting on with regrassing and cultivation so crops can go in. Cows are milking ok - we're told production's nothing to skite about because it's been so wet and dull. A lot of supplements have been used.
Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
A north Canterbury farmer says soil moisture levels are pretty good for a change and grass is growing well in the warm weather. He's made two lots of baleage. He's weaning lambs and the top line is heading off to the works.
In Otago, the Taieri district's had some 20-plus degree days. There's plenty of pasture and cows are milking very well - our contact's cows are doing an average 25 litres per cow per day - he says that means some are doing a lot more than that as young cows don't produce as much in their first season. He's hoping for a lift in pregnancy rates this season because the animals are in such good condition. Escalating costs are a worry. His rates for a small 70 hectare farm with 120 cows are now almost $40,000 a year.
Pearler week
Southland's had an absolute pearler of a week - lots of growth and loads of work being done. Farmer's are delighted they've been able to tail in great weather and to finish mating on dairy farms under blue skies. Growth in oat, wheat, barley and pea crops has been phenomenal - they had a bit of a late start but are making up for it now. Fodder beet and brassica crops are going in too.
Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
