Thousands of crickets devour dry paddocks

Thousands of crickets are eating the grass of dry paddocks in the Hawkes Bay while farmers have called on the Government to declare a drought.

Hawkes Bay farmers are experiencing their third dry year in a row.

Waipawa farmer Roger Kittow said he has had a problem with crickets who began eating the leafy part of the grass before devouring the crown.

He said the crickets were killing the grass and farmers would have to rely on the seed in the ground to naturally germinate the grass.

"I've never had anything like this," Mr Kittow said.

He said farmers in his area only got 160mls of rain in the six months to December.

"You've just got to keep going and keep your head up," Mr Kittow said.

He said farmers lived in hope that next year would be better but the strong lamb prices had helped this year.

Hastings Regional Council mayor Lawrence Yule chairs the Hawkes Bay drought committee, which last night met with bankers, farmers and social agencies.

He said the committee decided to ask the Minister of Agriculture David Carter to declare the Hawkes Bay a drought region after a long dry patch, especially around the coast and Hawkes Bay south.

A spokeswoman for Mr Carter said a report from ministry advisers has arrived on Mr Carter's desk.

She said Mr Carter would consider the report and likely make a decision early next week on whether or not to declare a drought.

Mr Yule said some areas of coastal Hawkes Bay had lost entire hillsides to crickets.

"It happens in Australia in droughts but it doesn't normally happen here and they get into people's homes. I've heard of one person who killed 170 crickets in their home in one night," Mr Yule said.

He described the cricket problem as a "significant issue".

Mr Yule said there is little feed on the ground and given the feed growing season is now at the "difficult time" of year, unless there is some significant rain, the majority of farmers will be in trouble.

He said an easterly with rain is what farmers are wanting.

But for the wine makers and fruit growers, it has been a "stunning year".

"On the one hand we've had a sector of our production chain that has had a very good time but pastoral farmers and many grain farmers have had a disappointing season," Mr Yule said.

Federated Farmers Hawkes Bay president Kevin Mitchell said some pockets have had rain but, by-in-large, the province is dry.

"The ground is still warm enough that if we get rain it will generate some sheep feed for winter but cattle feed, we've got one guy who... normally has 500 cows on his property, he's got four," Mr Mitchell said.

He said some farmers will not be able to restock until the Spring and farmers have a long hard winter ahead of them.

He said the committee has asked for a drought to be declared to access tax relief and the funding of a support line.

"Down in central Hawkes Bay it is their third drought in a row. None of us have farmed that before," Mr Mitchell said.

He said both stock and farmers are stressed.