Waikato Farmers Face Challenges Despite Positive Outlook

James Allen of AgFirst has reported that overall production in the Waikato region is slightly ahead of last year, largely thanks to the use of supplements. As the grass begins to flourish, some paddocks are being closed for silage, while others are prepared for maize planting. However, transitioning to an all-grass system poses a problem due to the current grass's low dry matter content—around 15%, compared to the expected 20%.

"In the Waikato, while the grass is lush, the dry matter in it has tended to be quite low. It's down to around 15% whereas we would expect it to be at least 20%. As a result of this, farmers are having to continue to feed out supplements," Allen noted. Though 'watery grass' is typical for the season, this year's situation appears slightly worse, yet supplement prices remain reasonable.

Across other regions, conditions are described as reasonable. While colder weather initially affected areas like south Waikato, the Manawatu, and the Wairarapa, pasture growth and production have picked up with supplementary feeding. However, reports suggest Hawke's Bay is experiencing drying, posing potential issues.

Another emerging challenge is an increase in calf illnesses. The reasons remain uncertain, although it may correlate with the number of calves being raised. Despite these challenges, the good season and reasonable supplement costs leave the farming community in optimistic spirits.