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A brief spell of rain has dampened the Waikato, providing little grass growth and a heightened danger of potentially lethal facial eczema.
Waikato Federated Farmers president Stuart Wadey said there is a high risk of the disease with the hot humid conditions and the ground mushy like "papier
mache" but it can be treated.
He said the fields are brown and supplementary feed is expensive.
"Once the dry weather goes on and on, you hit a brick wall. The feeding pasture is below the nutritional level. They're not going hungry but it's like you eating candy-floss all day, it's not nutritional," Mr Wadey said.
He said stock are losing condition, particularly those being milked, and dairy farmers will need to make sure they get some weight on their herds before autumn.
Mr Wadey said there are no animal welfare issues on farms but stock are losing body condition.
He said farmers who are trying to cull their stock have a three week wait for meat processing.
Rural Support Trust chairman Neil Bateup said farmers are not desperate but anxious.
He said the Trust, set up to help farmers in times of need, has been fielding calls from farmers concerned about water and feed supplies.
"Sometimes it's just someone to talk to, just to talk things over with. Feed supplies in the Waikato are not that flash because of the hard Spring," Mr Bateup said.
He said the trust is putting farmers in touch with professionals that can help.
"They're very anxious and the thought that you don't know how long it is going to go on for. It could get a lot worse before it gets better," Mr Bateup said.
But his message is positive: "Everyday that goes past is a day closer to rain but we don't know how close it is".
Meanwhile the Waikato SPCA has been dealing with an increase in cases of animal neglect.
Inspector trainee Vanessa Pritzwald - Stegmann said the hot dry conditions have increased the likelihood of fly blown animals that are going unnoticed on some lifestyle blocks.
"There's a lack of grass and with the humid weather, there are issues with stock not being fed," Ms Pritzwald - Stegmann said.
She said extra feed is not being supplied and water is not being made available. Ms Pritzwald - Stegmann said in the last four weeks about seven animals have had to be put down because of severe neglect in the harsh weather conditions.
"It's been quite severe to the point where we've seen stock die in front of us," she said.
