New Zealand Drought

New Zealand Drought

I’m KayDee Gilkey with today’s Open Range.

Recently we’ve heard reports of the drought going on in New Zealand’s North Island, home to many of New Zealand’s dairies and other agriculture. I reached out to ag radio brethren from New Zealand’s radio Farming Show and they kindly shared an interview with Federated Farmers’ Waikato President James Houghton from the North Island.

Houghton shares how this year’s drought compares to other years.

Houghton: “Looking at the numbers, at the soil deficient numbers officially across our region, we are worse than the big drought of 2008 which cost the economy $7 or $8 billion.”

While past droughts have been more region specific, this one has gripped most of the North Island and that has Houghton worried.

Houghton: “Yea that is what really does worry me. In the 2008 drought which we experienced here Waikato, Northland was having a good season so we were able to A: source feed and B: move stock in that direction. This year though there is no option and not other place to ... the only place some stock has been moved to is the South Island.”

Although farmers had some warning and have de-stocked their herds and purchased additional feed to help carry them through. The big question is when will it end?

Houghton: “The farmers don’t know when this is going to end. And that is the big thing about a drought, it just goes on. We’ve been in this situation of intense heat now for over two months ... and when will it end?”