Fire danger levels across the Central North Island have risen to extreme as the region sizzles in soaring summer temperatures, forcing farmers to take drastic action.
January is already looking like it will be one of the driest on record in the region with no rain since January 8, when just 4.8mm was recorded. A high of 31C was recorded in Rotorua this week and the hot, dry conditions have forced farmers to dry off stock early and send under-producing cows to the meatworks. They're expected to suffer a massive loss in milk production this season.
Meanwhile, Pumicelands Rural Authority has issued an extreme fire warning for the region.
Broadlands Landcorp Dairy supervising manager Alan Bullick said staff there had been milking their herd of 3000 cows on a once-a-day regime since November and had already dried off 1200 cows. That normally didn't start happening until late March.
In December, only 72mm of rainfall was recorded on the farm and moisture levels in the soil throughout the 3500ha property were dropping faster than the rain was falling, Mr Bullick said.
"Moisture levels have been steadily falling since September. It's on a downward slide and it's only getting worse."
With little feed growing in paddocks, silage bales were being bought in at a cost of $90 each and more cows would probably have to be dried off in the coming days, Mr Bullick said.
The estimated 2 million kilograms of milk solids the farm predicted for the season is looking like it will be down about 250,000 kilograms.
"It's pretty dry out there and we didn't want the cows to get stressed. We are lucky in that we have forestry blocks and other areas around the farm where we can put them."
DairyNZ consultant Denis Collins said many farmers throughout the region were drying off herds and many more were culling unwanted cows. "They are hanging out for rain," he said.
Rotorua weather man Brian Holden said normally in January there was about 103mm of rainfall. Halfway through the month, only 6.7mm has been recorded.
"We have got a lot of catching up to do to achieve what we normally get in January," he said.
Record temperatures are also being recorded with a whopping 31.6C recorded in Rotorua on Tuesday.
"It's very seldom the temperature gets over 30 degrees in Rotorua," he said.
Meanwhile, Paul Wright, principal rural fire officer for Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority said tinder-dry conditions had forced the service to lift the fire danger from moderate to extreme earlier this week.
The area with a high fire alert extends from Waihou Bay in the east across to west of Tokoroa and south of Taupo.
A total fire ban has not been issued but people wishing to light outdoor fires or lay hangi in an open fire are required to get a permit from the Rotorua District Council or Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority.
People are asked to remain vigilant during the dry weather.
"Don't throw cigarette butts out car windows and if you see smoke call 111 immediately," he said.
However, some slight relief is on the way.
MetService weather forecaster Liz Haslam said a low from the tropics north of New Zealand was expected to hit the region by Saturday, bringing with it some relief from the hot and dry weather.
"Showers should be developing by late Saturday which should turn into rain on Sunday and then start easing again on Monday," she said.
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