DairyNZ and Federated Farmers leaders have urged farmers in the grip of drought to get off the farm whenever possible and talk about their difficulties and to attend DairyNZ special summer dry workshops, to avoid feeling isolated and alone because of the very localised nature of the severe big dry.
As neighbouring well-watered province Bay of Plenty reported a record dairy production season – 9% ahead of last year – DairyNZ regional team manager Craig McBeth said knowing other farmers were cashing in on the record New Zealand milk price forecast could increase the pressure on those having drought problems.
“If they are feeling that way they need to get outside the farm gate and talk to people. There is plenty of support out there.
“People need to be keeping an eye on themselves and how they are feeling and their families and neighbours and reaching out beyond the farm gate to talk to people.”
McBeth said DairyNZ’s current dry summer discussion workshops would be a good place to start.
Waikato Federated Farmers president James Houghton said the lobby group was trying to convince the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to declare a drought in the Waikato region.
He said MPI was not being asked to declare a drought for the usual reason that it triggers the release of Government resources to assist stricken farming families, but from an environmental aspect so the Waikato community acknowledged there was a problem.
While McBeth said the record payout forecast and good advance payment rate, which translates into steady cash flows, means the glass was still half full compared to last year’s nearly nationwide event, Houghton said this latest drought was very frustrating, especially for younger people trying to get a start in farm ownership.
Waikato farmers faced with drying off or reducing daily milking and cow numbers were losing financial traction, he said.
“It’s eating into their ability to grow their business.”
Houghton said the drought would cost him $4 a cow a day in supplementary feed costs.
McBeth said DairyNZ was generally not too concerned about cow body condition in the Waikato, but drought-affected farmers should be focused on next season and body condition score (BCS) preparation for calving from July.
Farmers needed to have cows scoring at least a BCS 5 at the time they calve.
“If they are not going to winter a cow for next season’s lactation then they may as well get rid of her now because the milk produced is not really justified compared to the (cost of) feed they could be giving to others.”
Houghton said now is the time for farmers to strategise and crunch numbers.
The Pukeatua farmer said if he did not have a feedpad and feed wagon during the run of Waikato droughts he would have big problems.
MetService has forecast mainly fine weather for the Waikato region for the next five days.
