In Manawatu it's gone from being too wet to drive tractors on paddocks to hanging out for rain. While on the West Coast of the South Island, farmers are shutting up paddocks for silage, and some are past their peak milk production.
Grass has bolted in Northland thanks to a lot of rain over the past two weeks. The weather had been so varied, the region was seeing four seasons in one day, but our contact says the western side of the region, at least, has responded well to some rain. But while there is heaps of grass there is no prime space at the freezing works due to a shortage of workers. The cattle are piling on the weight so farmers are hopeful it will work out in the end. And, their hopeful there will be an upkeep in supply and demand as more and more farms are sold into forestry blocks. Our contact estimates around 10,000 hectares of productive land has gone into pine trees this year.
Blossom Photo: David Hancock
Until Thursday afternoon and Friday when showers arrived in Pukekohe, the weather had been calm, overcast and dry. Many crops are maturing at the moment and were in need of rain. Concern is obvious over a continuing shortage of labour. Some growers have resorted to roadside signs in an effort to attract workers. Where this and other measures have been unsuccessful, various crops have been cultivated back into the soil because harvest hands were unavailable. An improving situation seems unlikely in the next few months.
In Waikato, farmers are in the middle of making silage - finally. Our contact was waiting for a sprinkle of rain to pass before cutting this weekend. With the fine hot days and muggy weather as it rains, the grass has grown like mad. One farmer thought he'd get bugger all, so for the first time in 25 years, he has brought a bit of silage in preparation for a dry summer. He says now is the time to buy it when it's relatively cheap compared to what it might be like in the middle of a drought.
The weather is driving horticulturists in Bay of Plenty a little bit insane. There is only a number of days to get pollination done, but between the rain and getting kiwifruit vines sprayed before the bees come in to do their work, it's not going too smoothly. Orchards are trying to pick their moment and our contact says he is thankful he doesn't have to rely on contractors. He has staff also trying to pick male flowers for pollen build next year, but it's a miserable job in the rain. Avocados are in full swing of the picking season, but alas, the rain at the later end of this week is making it difficult. The fruit is far more delicate than many believe and cannot be picked for 24 hours after wet weather as it can damage the fruit.
Warm sunny days, with thunder and rain in the evening, has grass growing like a mushroom in King Country. Our contact has just finished mating. Cows were a bit slow in cycling but the warmer weather this week has made a difference and milk production is still coming up. Most are busy running around trying to get all the jobs done before Christmas - the end-of-year feeling is starting to kick in.
Stormy weather has caused disruptions in Gisborne this week. The wind and rain are stalling harvest. It's warm and damp in places, but it's not terrible. There was a little bit of concern with rain on the East Coast last week but it was the perfect amount for those in Gisborne. With better yields and healthy crops, our contact predicts there will be competitive pricing in the market this summer which is good for the consumer.
Horse and foal Photo: davidhancock.com.au
A massive thunderstorm mid-week in Hawkes Bay saw a large amount of rain hit the ground with more forecast. While the region was very wet all winter, a dry spell had people asking for rain and storms have brought good moisture to the paddocks. It's kicking crops into gear. Pasture levels are good, and there are good levels of feed. It was hand-to-mouth through winter, but the issue now is controlling the feed and maintaining quality. Farmers are flat out this week weaning lambs. And the issue of space at the works is looming over many.
In Manawatu, it's gone from being too wet and not being able to drive tractors on the paddocks - to hanging out for rain. The tractor work is done, and all the seeds are in the ground but a bit of rain will boost the crops and give the grass the kick it needs. There isn't an abundance of grass in the region and while some silage is being made, they're not flat out.
The same can be said for Wairarapa. Farmers are getting nervous as there is not a huge surplus. There simply wasn't the big burst of spring growth that came as the season changed. Farms are looking green but normally it would be almost overrun, and this time of year, they'd be covering it off for summer feed. It's just not there this year.
Peonies in Nelson are rapidly coming to an end. They should be all cut by the end of the week. After a slow start, the season cranked along and was quite compressed putting pressure on already strained freight services. Driver shortages have meant it took longer than normal to reach the destination. The region is getting very dry with irrigation in play around most farms. Many are looking forward to the forecast rain this weekend. On the orchard, blossoms are gone and fruit thinning is commencing. Our contact says the crop of stone fruit will be very short this year as the cold snap mid-spring took out many of the flowers - the same for nashi pears.
Photo: RNZ/Susan Murray
A farmer near Kaikōura says all the fabulous rain they've had in early spring has set them up well, but pesky strong winds over the past three weeks have dried the ground up. She's hoping the forecast of unsettled rain next week comes to fruition. Paddocks have been re-grassed, re-cropped and worked up - and now it's onto dagging the ewes and lambs at foot. The bull went out with the cows... and then promptly went lame. Swelling on his back knee joint, she says. So some antiflams and a purchase of an Angus bull from a neighbour, just in case he's not up to the job.
The West Coast is possibly needing some rain before long after a good spell of fine weather this week. Soil moisture levels are drier than usual, but not critical. Many farmers are shutting up paddocks for silage or to re-grass. And some are past their peak milk production. Our contact says he is 17 days into mating. Overall he says it's been a better season than they've had in many years, and all are reasonably happy so long may it continue.
A pig eagerly awaiting feed in King Country. Photo: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt
In Canterbury heavy rain is forecast for the weekend which won't go a miss as the cooler conditions have minimised drying. Our contact at Hororata said the first of his spring lambs went to the freezing works yesterday but prices were a bit disappointing.
Everything's ticking along in Central Otago. A couple of showers of rain here and there are making perfect conditions for crops and stock. A spell of fine days has made it quite balmy, but the rain forecast over next week will save farmers from irrigating. When we called our contact was in the middle of taking a willow tree out of a ditch. He says he is reasonably up to date with all his tasks.
It's been a good lead-up to mating in Southland. The weather has been really good and rain a few weeks back which caused flooding in some parts has drained away now. Soil moisture temperatures are good - around 60 millimetres have fallen through November so far. Managing the grass is the biggest challenge at the moment. A fair bit of change through the week is keeping farmers on their toes as they try and manage quality while juggling re-grassing and balage-making.
