Crunch time in drought battle

Drought must be declared in Wairarapa unless rain drenches the parched region within the next few weeks, says Jamie Falloon, president of Wairarapa Federated Farmers.

Mr Falloon, who farms northeast of Masterton at Bideford, said farms in his area and in the eastern Wairarapa hill country are among properties in the region bearing the brunt of months without any appreciable rain.

Even the green belt areas of Wairarapa are browning off, such as Mauriceville, and soil moisture is desperately low in other areas further north like Nireaha.

A Wairarapa drought meeting will be held at the Shear History Museum in Masterton on March 12 and without significant rainfall before the end of the month, he said, drought must be declared in the region.

"We're running out of options and decisions are getting tougher to make. That's for sheep and beef and dairy - it's coming down to crunch time."

Drought was declared in Northland last week and Waikato farmers also have asked the Government to declare an official drought zone in their region.

Mr Falloon said Wairarapa farmers had created somewhat of a buffer against the lack of rain by weaning early in mid-November, sending cows away for grazing and moving surplus stock off their farms by Christmas.

"That prolonged things but now there are cash flow impacts coming into play. Without any real rain, a declaration of drought would at least provide some options where a redirection of cash flows and rural assistance is concerned."

Mr Falloon said drought must be shown to be region-wide before an official sign-off will happen and he realised there are "complexities" in the district like some areas in South Wairarapa that have escaped the worst of the big dry.

Nonetheless, increasing numbers of Wairarapa dairy farmers are milking only once a day, he said, and even farms that are "green-tinged" are struggling against dwindling soil moisture levels.

"Every day without rain is a day closer to winter and grass not growing. There are farmers out there who are starting to hurt and they need to know something can be put in place for them before it's too late."