Source winter feed now, farmers urged

Wairarapa farmers need to be proactive now about sourcing additional winter feed, according to Wairarapa Federated Farmers provincial president Jamie Falloon.

Mr Falloon said farmers who waited may run the risk of experiencing severe shortages. The rain and warm weather had made a huge difference in the past month and the grass growth and the sight of green pastures was very encouraging, he said.

However, he urged farmers to avoid complacency: "It's almost unbelievable how much the grass has grown. But the key thing is farmers don't get over-confident because winter is coming."

During the recent drought, baleage and other supplementary feed earmarked for the colder months had been used by Wairarapa farmers to sustain stock. This threatens to create a major feed shortage for winter, so farmers are being urged to closely monitor their requirements when securing extra supplies out-of-region.

Mr Falloon said the last supplies of winter feed from the South Island are now being sourced by local farmers, and the Bideford farmer said those who are running low need to form immediate plans for sourcing more.

"The [winter] season is going to be tight and there's still a tight window to secure feed from the South Island."

Mr Falloon said if farmers were to get carried away they could reach mid-July or August with no feed and no viable place to source it from.

"Farmers need to be proactive now and source feed. If they don't they could reach mid-July or August and be saying, 'Oh my god I don't have enough feed, what do I do?"'

The Wairarapa representative said the majority of farmers in the region were efficient when it came to ensuring they had adequate supplies readily available.

"Most people in the Wairarapa are very proactive and have worked their way through what's been a very tough period.

"The grass wasn't over-grazed so it's responded very well to the warmth and the rain," he said.

"That's why the pasture recovery has been so good."

While prices have been inflated due to the drought and the shortage of grass over recent months, Mr Falloon said it was vitally important that farmers quickly and efficiently estimated how much feed they needed.

"The prices reflect the market. It was so dry that feed is now [in short supply].

"You certainly don't want to overbuy it but if you don't have enough you run the risk of having to sell your breeding stock and that's a lot more costly exercise," Mr Falloon said.

"Winter will still be a challenge but it won't be so much of a challenge as it was looking like a month ago."