Paul Sorenson, who farms at Maraekakaho, west of Hastings, is just about through lambing, having started on June 1.
That’s a couple of weeks later than usual but he kept the ram in for an extra 10 to 14 days because he thought there might have been a bit of strife otherwise.
Despite the challenges his lambing has gone pretty well with very few losses.
He saw the feed shortage coming early and fed out a lot of grain, maize and balage to ewes for the preceding four or five months.
Then, fortunately, just under three inches of rain arrived at the right time a few weeks ago and he managed to keep parts of the farm shut-up so there was a bit of green growth when it was really needed.
That meant he didn’t have to feed out over lambing though feed is still bought in where possible with winter in mind.
“We’ve bought huge amounts. The cost doesn’t bear thinking about but it’s what we had to do.
“We’re in the sheep business and we didn’t want to lose our breeding ewes, otherwise you lose what you farm for.”
He knows of quite a few farmers who, because of the feed shortage, had to quit their ewes because there was no other way out for them.
“I really feel for them.”
Sorenson says he was fortunate one of his sons owns a farm near Takapau so he could send his twinning ewes there while the lates from that property could be sent to his farm.
The 67-year-old has been farming for most of his life and says the drought has been the worst he has had to farm though.
“And I’ve seen a few.”
He farms for a dry summer but the length of this one coupled with a shortage of feed to buy made it especially hard.
But he’s farmed through a few droughts before and is used to it – it’s those without that experience he feels for.
“It’s the young fellas I feel sorry for, especially up near the ranges. They haven’t had the rain they might have expected.
“It’s been pretty extreme.
“We bolused all the ewes and we’ve never done that before. It’s not recommended because of drench resistance but I don’t think we had any choice.
“There’s been a lot to think about.”
Peter McKay, who also farms near Maraekakaho, began lambing a week to 10 days ago, which is later than normal.
He says the drought and feed shortage resulted in a hard season for his ewes, which has had an effect on lamb size.
Though not underweight the lambs are not large, which has made it easier for the ewes.
Like Sorenson, he had to buy in a lot of feed, including hay, balage, nuts and maize.
