Dairy farmers feel the chill

Dairy farmers are sick of the rain and cold, which are making dairy farming extremely challenging, says DairyNZ consultant Louise Cook.

"There just hasn't been enough sunshine, and we've had some cold temperatures.

"It has made it difficult for farmers and cows, and has taken the peak out of the milk season."

Ms Cook said pasture was "under control, as opposed to being out of control, which is usually the case at this time of the year".

She said less silage had been made than usual.

"Paddocks that were closed up for silage, in some cases farmers opened gates again to let cows in to graze.

"Others were able to keep paddocks closed. Many were too wet to get machinery on to harvest," she said.

Cow fertility was also an issue at this time of the year, as cows were getting in calf for next year.

"Generally, submission rates [cows coming into season] have been lower, but when you look at the spread pattern of calving this year, it is not surprising."

As well as the cold, wet weather affecting pasture, there had been less maize planted than during a warmer year, she said. "It's been a struggle for growers in this region. The wet weather meant maize would have gone in late, affecting yield."

Ms Cook said that in an average year, yields in Manawatu were 15 to 18 tonnes per hectare, and in Waikato, 22 to 27 tonnes.

The payout increase announced by Fonterra earlier this month means an income increase of $95,000 for the average dairy farm. The danger was that people might get over-excited and over-optimistic, Ms Cook said.

"Dairy farmers have changed their systems to cut their costs and their interest payments to cope with the lower payout earlier this season. They are at a more sustainable level, and I strongly feel they need to keep them there."