Widespread rains all over the country are a welcome relief after a period of warm dry weather saw pasture growth rates fall and grass quality deteriorate.
Some regions were showing signs that they were drier than last year and DairyNZ advisers were urging farmers to increase rotations to 28-30 days and to update summer feed budgets.
The identification of sacrifice paddocks to feed supplements on if it does turn very dry, and follow up rains do not eventuate, is also sound advice as part of the early planning management.
Insect damage on summer crops has been reported from pests built up from the mild winter and northern managers should be aware of the emergence of the cattle tick theileria orientalis infesting some herds.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report on water quality makes sobering reading as a result of the land use changes that has seen the intensification of flat and fertile soils to dairy.
The increase of nitrogen and phosphorous levels in our rivers and aquifers is a big challenge for those planning the dairy expansion, and ways must be found to halt the decline in water quality.
As a result of this report councilors for Environment Southland are already questioning how much more intensive dairying this region can handle.
And consent compliance reports for dairy farmers in the Canterbury region produced mixed results with regions varying from 55-84% success rate that disappointed the local Federated Farmers dairy representative who stated farmers needed to do better.
Commodity prices held firm at the latest auction, even in the face of increased volumes offered and global reports of increased milk supply.
Buyers are covering these high prices with dairy future trades as a risk management tool, as the market will inevitably adjust to these rising volumes of product.
The Fonterra director election results saw the two incumbents Bailey and Farrelly re-elected, along with new candidate Michael Spaans.
And while dairy real estate is attracting more interest there is no evidence prices have driven significantly higher in response to the 50% lift in milk powder values shown in a DairyNZ May report where term liabilities have only increased by 3%.
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