Stock are pushing a mouthful of feed into the ground every step they take on the East Coast after downpours this week and in dry South Otago, some sheep farmers are having to tup ewes on supplementary feed while dairy farmers are thinking of drying off early.
It s back to normal as far as winters go in
Northland . wet. Grass growth has slowed. A sheep and beef farmer in the far north had about 50 millimetres of rain in the space of two hours causing some flooding damage. The wet is causing problems for pasture and more dry days are needed. He s almost finished lambing. After two dry winters in a row, they re under pressure to carry heavier cattle to cover rapidly rising costs - rates, diesel and the like. More weight on stock puts pressure on pasture but the farmer doesn t want to push the farm too much . it s a real challenge. A stock agent says they re just about through the bull sales with prices back a little.
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Northland s had phenomenal weather - if you re a tourist, but there s not many of those about. It s way too dry for farming. There s very limited growth and that s affecting the markets which are poorer than during lockdown. Animals are coming onto the market but are very hard to sell. Dairy herd prices are down on last year - despite the payout being one of the highest yet. Average cows are selling for $1350 down $180 to $200 on last year.
Around
Pukekohe the weather s been fine, dry and calm. Monday morning brought widespread scattered patches of frost.
In
Waikato the Hauraki area is dry but otherwise grass has been growing well. Cows that are still milking are producing well for the time of year. Maize crops for grain have yielded very well.