Farmers say 'I pray for rain once a week'

TONY ROGERS is feeling the heat. His farm looks like a desert, sunburnt grass stretching as far as the eye can see.
It's the worst drought he can remember since the early '70s, and there's no end in sight.
Divine intervention is needed.
"We probably need two weeks of solid rain," he said. We live on hope, not wishful thinking, and we just hope the drought will break sooner or later. I pray for rain once a week."
Mr Rogers has worked the land off Rapanui Rd all his life, and is well used to the complexities of rural life.
But this is something different.
"Droughts cost cockies a lot of money. I'm not moaning but they are costly things."
With February and March traditionally the driest months of the year, damage limitation is the number one priority.
"I spend most of the day stuffing around with stock and checking water over and over."
Some of his stock has already been sold off at a good price, thankfully and with feed a rare and valuable commodity, there could be more sales.
"Most farmers are selling some of their stock. There just isn't enough feed to go around."
Hay is scarce, and the little that is available is being sold at increasingly steep prices.
The solution for Mr Rogers is to dip into his winter supply and hope for the best.
"You always make plans, farmers have to, but half the plans don't come off."
But he has no other choice.
"If your cows begin to lose a lot of condition you would be in a downward spiral and it's not easy to get out of that."
There are other things to consider too.
Most farmhouses run on rainwater tanks, and with no water naturally forthcoming, water tankers have become increasingly common on country roads.
"You just have to pay. Someone has to and there's not much use complaining. It's just the reality of farming."
Meanwhile, Federated Farmers has activated an 0800 number to monitor dry conditions around New Zealand.
The number 0800 335 663 has been set up to support farmers who are having difficultly sourcing feed over the long hot summer.
The 0800 number will allow farmers to register demand for feed or if they have surplus feed supply they can register the type and amount available for purchase.
The impact of the hot, dry weather isn't confined to the city's water supply and district farms, with Wanganui SPCA fielding complaints of animals suffering from the hot weather.
Wanganui SPCA worker Val Waters said they had dealt with calls regarding the welfare of all types of animals, from woolly, hot sheep to dehydrated pet rabbits.
"A few of the complaints were about heavily fleeced, unshorn sheep, mainly from small flocks, not from big farms."
She said animal owners need to keep their animals in good condition in this heat.
"People need to give their pets clean water in large containers that can't be tipped over."