Autumn gold for farmers

MIDWEEK

Wairarapa has had the best autumn for grass growth in memory, according to one Wairarapa farmer this week.

The warm temperatures and abundant rain are all the sweeter for the several months of drought that preceded them.

David Holmes, who farms sheep and beef cattle just east of Masterton, said for the five months from October 1 to February 28, he recorded only 163mm of rain.

"Five months and only 163mm - that's not much rain."

Then suddenly over a two-day period from March 19 and 20, "we had the drought-breaker which was 82mm".

"That was the drought-breaker; that was the most important one."

Steady rain and mild temperatures had seen solid grass growth ever since.

"The countryside has responded; it's been quite dramatic the way it has responded ... This would probably be one of the most exceptional autumns I have experienced, and I've been here 38 years."

Because of the drought, farmer income for the year would be "down by up to 50 per cent", Mr Holmes said.

"But that's on the previous year which was inflated because of very good lamb prices ... so back to reality."

Mr Holmes said making early stock decisions had been crucial to coming out the other side of the drought.

"We sold lambs we would have fattened - sold them store."

New centre pivot irrigation had been helpful for keeping the flats growing, and the use of silage and baleage, of which he still had spare.

Mr Holmes also credited a quick response to the rain.

Within two days of it falling, he and many other farmers were busy applying fertiliser.

Wairarapa Federated Farmers president Jamie Falloon said yesterday farmers were hoping the "amazing" autumn would be enough to see them through winter.

"You never have more grass at the end of winter than the beginning of winter.

"Tomorrow's southerly is going to remind us what winter is going to be like."

Mr Falloon said the ground was "still reasonably dry" and not waterlogged, which meant soil temperatures have been staying high and grass has been continuing to grow.

"Pasture utilisation" has also been good, Mr Falloon said, meaning because of the drier state of the soil, grass was not being trampled underfoot by stock.

"There's a lot more grass to eat than normally."

Mr Falloon said Wairarapa farmers, becoming wise to the ways of drought, had been making "early decisions" to destock before winter or to send cattle away for grazing.

"Those who have made those early decisions have been rewarded with good pasture recovery which is the key."