Friday, March 29, 2024

HB council launches drought indicator app

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Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has launched a free drought indicator web app to help the region’s rural communities. The council designed the tool – the first of its kind in New Zealand – to build drought resilience in the community with funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries and in partnership with the Hawke’s Bay Rural Advisory Group.
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Hawke's Bay Regional Council has launched a free drought indicator web app to help the region’s rural communities.

The council designed the tool – the first of its kind in New Zealand – to build drought resilience in the community with funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries and in partnership with the Hawke’s Bay Rural Advisory Group.

Council Integrated Catchment Management Group manager Iain Maxwell says it is a great way for farmers to get a pulse check on the key climate conditions on their farm and wider area and support their planning for dry conditions and drought.

“Last year’s severe drought showed us that more tools were required for our farmers to prepare and plan for drought,” Maxwell said.

The tool has a ‘traffic light warning system’ for drought based on live rainfall, soil temperature, soil moisture and evapotranspiration data from the council’s 50 climate stations around the region.

“It is intended to take the hassle out of accessing regional climate data for our farmers, and for them to be able to go to one place and get a live view of climate conditions,” he said.

Hawke’s Bay Rural Advisory Group chair Lochie MacGillivray says the drought indicator is a fantastic tool that will support farmers to make decisions early and plan for drought.

He says the launch of the tool is timely as the region experiences concerning dry conditions, particularly in coastal Hawke’s Bay, as well as areas to the west of Hastings.

The drought indicator shows Crownthorpe has the lowest soil moisture data recorded for the last 18 years and will reach a stress point of limited pasture growth in 16 days if there is no rain.

“For farmers in this area, we would be recommending that they put together a feed budget and a plan for drought, and access the support of primary sector organisations if required,” MacGillivray said.

“We hope that this tool will be well-used by the rural community, give them a forward- looking view of the dry conditions on-farm and help them to make those tough decisions early.”

To access the drought web app, go to hbrc.govt.nz and search #droughtapp

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