North Otago worst hit by S.I. drought

Press, 18 September 1982, Page 2

North Otago worst hit by S.I. drought

Wellington The stock-feed supply in the South Island is at its worst in North Otago, says the Ministry of Agriculture Advisory Services Division in a drought report. The Kakanui and Waireka valleys (200 to 300 farmers) have virtually no grazing, and ewes and lambs are being fed grain. The ewes are in poor condition (under 35kg), the hoggets are out 1 on grazing or have been-slaugh-tered. and many farmers have had to sell stock. The rest of North Otago is very dry and the Ministry says things are worsening fast, in spite; of smm to 15mm of rain in the last week. If no rain falls in the next fortnight, ewes and lambs may be sold all-counted to South Otago - and ftSputhland where demandTs good. Some farmers already have 80 per cent of their, stock away grazing. '<

Lambing percentages are about 110 to 120 per cent and wool weights are satisfactory, but problems will start to appear now the Ministrysays. In South Canterbury and on dry downlands south of Timaru. rain is needed im-. mediately. “Some grain feeding of lambs and . ewes is occurring. Between 50 and 60 farmers are severely affected,” the Ministry says. Ewes are in light condition. and there are no feed reserves. A further 30 to 40 farms in light Lismore soils north of Timaru are very short of feed. In Mid-Canterbury, all non-cropping sheep farms except those irrigated or in the high ■ country are affected. Farms are in their second year of drought and have ft light ewes and no feed reserves. A fall of 20mm rain last week is maintaining- feed. Ewe numbers are declin-

ing and a stock firm survey shows that 25 per cent of hoggets have been disposed of. Many farmers have run out of feed and no grazing is available. About 700 farms are affected by the drought in the area. In central- Canterbury. feed is holding after 25mm of rain last week, but the area from the main south road to the foothills is in a condition similar to Mid-Canterbury's. Some Banks Peninsula properties also are affected. About 350 farms in the area are suffering from drought. In North Canterbury, lightland sheep farms are the worst hit but feed generally is holding. About 400 farmers have problems similar to those in Mid-Canterbury and central Canterbury! In Marlborough, south of Blenheim, the feed is reasonable for the next two weeks but the Ministry says more rain is essential. Feed in the rest of Marlborough is satisfactory. '