As I type this it is raining, apparently because Napier is holding an international cricket match but we had only 14mm through January and relentless wind from mid-November on has dried out the paddocks and tested senses of humour, leaving the once-green paddocks looking very brown and barren.
No, we are not the first area and will not be the last to be in this situation. Hawke’s Bay has had some whoppers in the past but we are living it now and the repercussions for farmers are already starting to be felt.
Northland, of course, is also in the same boat this year and North Canterbury can easily relate, having been through this the last couple of years.
Panpac records for the Kaweka Forest show for October to January it has been the lowest rainfall since records started in 1967 – lower even than the drought years of 82-83 and 97-98. Now that speaks volumes, considering the MetService outlook says February brings little relief.
The last two weeks have seen many farmers offload and stock are heading out of the area at a fast and furious rate. We have been very fortunate other areas have so much feed around. There has been strong competition from other areas of the North Island and the South Island for lambs, which has been our saving grace.
Lamb prices, in particular, have improved in the last few weeks as more buyers from outside the area come in search of lambs, as they are either too expensive or not readily available in other areas, including the South Island. A large number of unit loads of lambs are crossing the Cook Strait with their focus on the light to medium types that fit into a $55-$65 budget.
