Soils in almost all dairying districts were saturated and fine weather was needed to kick-start spring grass growth and milk production.
Dairy farmers in northern provinces had almost completed the extended winter pasture feeding rotation when cows were break-fed the saved autumn pasture growth for 90 days.
Because it had been so wet cows had trampled a larger percentage than normal and damaged the soil profile.
The resulting pugging was going to reduce early spring grass growth as soil temperatures rose, Waikato Federated Farmers dairy chairwoman Jacquie Hahn said.
Heavy downpours on her Te Kuiti farm had caused some paddock damage when cows were not quickly enough moved to feed pads.
Magnesium deficiencies in the calved cows were also causing more work for farm staff, she said.
However, a forecast spell of fine days was good news and if that continued grass would start growing and the prospects would look brighter.
Manawatu-Rangitikei dairy chairman Murray Holdaway said autumn pasture would run out about September 10 and he would rely on new growth from then.
Limits on palm kernel feeding now had to be factored in.
“I am a dairy farmer so by nature an optimist so it is too early to say if the spring milk peak will be affected,” he said.
“If there has been long-term damage to soil structure then pasture growth will be reduced down the track.”
Holdaway said the high forecast payout gave farmers optimism that their very hard work over the winter would be rewarded.
“But the mental well-being of our farmers is being tested.”
DairyNZ extension manager Andrew Reid said a few fine days would lift spirits after incessant wet weather had been very depressing.
He had reports calving had been slower because last spring’s cold and wet weather had affected mating.
All dairying districts had been wet over winter and some like Hauraki Plains and the Taieri Plains suffered flood damage from which they hadn’t yet recovered.
As farmers began their first spring grazing round, Reid emphasised the usefulness and discipline of a spring rotation planner.
“Stick to the planner, don’t be tempted to open the gates and spread the cows across the farm to lessen soil damage,” he advised.
Having had such a wet winter, perhaps spring would be warmer and drier, in contrast to last year when spring began well but wet weather persisted until November, Reid said.
In coastal Taranaki equity manager Charlie McCaig at Opunake said fine weather was very welcome after July and August had been very wet. That came after a record wet April.
The 30-day accumulated rainfall total on his weather station hadn’t shifted off 275-300mm for a long time, which meant an average of 75mm a week.
“The district seems to be three weeks behind normal calving and we deliberately moved five days later, so we are about two-thirds through.
“The shape of our milk curve is the same but just that five days later.
“Coastal Taranaki does dry out quickly so a few fine days and we will be back on track – it is too early to say if the spring peak will be flattened.”
