Rain bad for some, good for others

As torrential rain on the East Coast of the North Island swelled rivers, closed roads and forced some out of their homes, hill country farmers brought out the welcoming mat.

“We’re supposedly in another drought prone El Niño summer but it’s more like a La Niña system,” says Hamish Cave, Federated Farmers Gisborne/Wairoa provincial president.

“Although cropping farmers and vineyards on the East Coast will find the wet conditions frustrating, it’s great news for stock farmers who have been struggling with drought conditions for three years.

“Late last year, many livestock farmers in Gisborne/Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay began to de-stock in preparation for another impending drought. Yet despite those predictions, the drought has so far not reached the East Coast but is having a big impact on our farming colleagues in Northland.

“So while Northland has not received enough significant rainfall, more than 280 mm fell north of Tolaga Bay and over 150 mm fell in other parts of Gisborne over the past few days. This will hopefully lift the region’s soil moisture levels considerably.

“Gisborne/Wairoa soil moisture levels were not that flash earlier this year, but heavy rain two weeks ago, followed by this recent deluge, should go someway towards remedying the situation.

“I’m sure many farmers will spend the next few days clearing debris from their paddocks but it’s a small price to pay for a summer of good growth. The rough feed on the hill country has also helped to minimise landslips.

“In saying that, farmers around the region did an excellent job of preparing for the possibility of drought. If we continue to receive steady rainfall this summer, most farmers will look to rebuild stock numbers over time.

“But, now that we have the moisture, farmers should keep an eye out for facial eczema in livestock. The fungus commonly occurs and thrives in warm ground temperatures, when humidity and moisture levels are high,” Mr Cave concluded.