Rain not enough to quench Northland pastures

MetService is forecasting no rain for Dargaville, Kaitaia or Whangarei over the next three days. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The brief respite of rain for Northland farmers yesterday is not enough to quench the parched pastures.

Figures from Northland Regional Council show that for the 32 hours from midnight Monday to 8am this morning there was between 7.5ml of rain near Mangawhai to 76.5ml at Ohaeawai.

The council's water resources manager Dale Hansen said the rain fall was variable and some areas which desperately need it received little.

"For instance Kaitaia received just 12.5mm over the 32 hours to 8am today," Mr Hansen said.

He said the eastern hills above Kaeo had only received about 10ml but the western hills above Kaeo got 46ml over the same period, while Kaikohe had received 39.4mm, Whangarei 36.2mm, Maungaturoto 24.5mm and Dargaville 14.5mm.

Federated Farmers Northland dairy chairman Ashley Cullen said farmers were praying for three weeks of warm rain.

He said if the soil temperatures remain high farmers will get some good grass growth in three weeks but if temperatures drop then they may wait for over a month.

Mr Cullen, who farms south of Whangarei, said palm kernel feed is in short supply.

"There are orders for double what the boat could hold. They will probably have to drip feed it out so there's a little bit for everybody but in actual fact, it will probably be first in first served," Mr Cullen said.

He said his herd of cows have been dry for six weeks now.

Mr Hansen said the region had now faced six months of drought and needs a steady fall of rain - about 100ml - over a fortnight.

"However, short-term forecasts indicate very little rain over the next fortnight," Mr Hansen said.

MetService is forecasting no rain for Dargaville, Kaitaia or Whangarei over the next three days.

"The most recent rain is certainly useful but its effects will be largely temporary in most places. It will be great for pasture in some areas and will have given rivers around the region a short-term boost, but this will likely be short-lived with flows back to critical within the next few days," Mr Hansen said.

He said while river levels are at their lowest levels in decades and soil moisture levels are below normal, the effects of the drought could be felt for months yet.

Mr Hansen said the regional economic effects of the drought are already estimated at $300 million and climbing.

- NZHERALD STAFF