El Nino — be prepared

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Having farmed through two El Nino droughts, I learned to heed advice early and not procrastinate, hoping.

Unlike fire and floods, droughts develop and can be farmed, even in the low-rainfall front country.

There are three elements to successfully surviving droughts but, regardless, there will always be a cost. This can be substantially reduced if resolutely following a planned strategy.

(1) Plan as soon as high-profile meteorological agencies predict a return of El Nino

(2) Reduce feed demand really early; unload all dry stock, cull and wean early

(3) Inform your stock agents and transport carriers weeks in advance of the dates you have planned to get the stock off — their cooperation is essential.

There is no market or money in an over-stocked market for poor-conditioned stock.

The worst case is stock starving to death, scattered around the farm — all caused by straight-out, abhorrent complacency, which the farmer should be answerable for. This should never happen if early planning and action is taken.

There are existing articles on planning and action that are available at no cost by emailing me at: hahbtony@gmail.com

They should be read now, not after the event has arrived and the market is jammed with unwanted stock of little value.

Tony Harvie