“Rivers are low but that’s normal for this time of the year. It’s when the irrigation schemes can’t keep up we know it’s a question of heat and water,” North Canterbury Federated Farmers chairman Cameron Henderson said.
“No one’s irrigation is keeping up. We are getting the odd cooler day, which gives a little bit of catch-up time but schemes around here are on heavy restrictions and we expect it will be tight for the next week or two yet if we don’t see some rain.”
Canterbury Plains Water is on full restrictions and pulling water from its storage in Lake Coleridge while Waimakariri Irrigation is operating on 25% restriction.
Henderson said the wet start to summer had set farmers up pretty well.
“The rain earlier topped up aquifers so farmers on bore water are happy about that now as bores do seem to be holding up well.
“Dryland guys are very dry but happy with what they got off earlier from the wet back in spring and early summer, some up to three or four cuts for hay and silage so there’s plenty of feed on hand.”
So much so Henderson said North Canterbury farmers can send feed to Tasman farmers.
“It’s good for us to be able to help them. We know from only three years back what it’s like to be in a tight spot.”
On Thursday several roads were closed in the North Canterbury back country because of the extreme fire risk and in central Canterbury all stubble burn permits were cancelled.
In Mid Canterbury the high country is tinder dry with a total fire ban already imposed.
“It’s been excellent conditions for harvest so we are not at peak irrigation time for that but the situation will change pretty rapidly now as this hot weather lingers on,” Federation provincial president Michael Salveson said.
“Of course, irrigation varies from farm to farm and there’s definitely high demand for water across much of the region. We are looking for a good fresh to come down the rivers to give some breathing space.
“Store stock prices are drifting off their highs and we are seeing a bit more realism there and schedules are dropping in line with farmers offloading stock now as pastures start to feel the dry pinch.
“I expect processing companies will come under some pressure about now and any time farmers will be waiting to get stock to the works.”
Salvesen said a decent rain is most welcome but overall, the extreme fire risk aside, it’s hot but that’s Canterbury at this time of the year.
South Canterbury president Jason Grant said “It’s been an interesting summer, very wet and very dry.
“We have irrigation schemes on restrictions and struggling to keep water up but what we are grateful for is the good start to the season when we got a lot of hay and silage made.”
The region is on fire restrictions with permits required to burn but Grant said with no rain on the horizon farmers are expecting a total fire ban any day.
“While there’s tag around there’s still a bit of green base in the pastures but that won’t be for long without some moisture.
“Autumn is just around the corner and I think we will get there not too badly off.”
