NZ dairy farmers anticipate irrigation restrictions on South Island's east coast

Friday 9th January 2015

Dairy farmers on the South Island's east coast are anticipating restrictions on irrigation as dry weather begins to impact production, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group.

The Auckland-based dairy company released milk production figures for the first seven months of the season, showing an overall uplift of 4 percent from a year earlier to 972 million kilograms of milk solids. It said the rate of growth "has continued to slow, largely driven by reduced South Island production growth."

Soil moisture in eastern and southern Canterbury is between severely and extremely drier than normal, while the outlook for rain remains light, according to data from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research released this week. The region is at its driest in a decade, Federated Farmers says. A fire ban is in effect across the Canterbury region.

For the month of December, North Island milk collection was up 4 percent on the year earlier to 125 million kgMS, as rain in many dairy regions boosted grass growth, Fonterra said today. South Island collection in December rose 1 percent to 76 million kgMS.

"Growing conditions have improved in Southland after a cold start to the season." Fonterra said. "However, dry conditions are impacting pasture growth across the east coast of the South Island and farmers will be watching this closely as irrigation restrictions may be put in place."

Milk collection in Australia for the six months ended Dec. 31 rose 6 percent to 71 million kgMS, although for the month of December it fell 3 percent to 12.5 million kgMS.

"Following a strong start to the season, production has slowed as dry conditions impact pasture growth across most of south east Australia," Fonterra said. "Supplementary feeding has increased due to low pasture availability and irrigation in Tasmania has commenced earlier than last year."

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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