Dairy farmers are gearing up for the beginning of their annual migration as they move cows to new pastures for winter grazing or new sharemilking contracts.
A tough year for farmers, from Cyclone Gabrielle to double-digit inflation, could translate into more votes for parties less keen to put a price on farm emissions
Hawke's Bay farmers have been left with slips, rocks and slash across their land, trees in orchards were ripped out and properties covered in silt as the cyclone ripped through.
There is widespread damage to farms across the North Island with those in parts of Gisborne and Hawke's Bay particularly hard hit and forestry slash is once again being blamed for some flooding.