Water welcomed by Haka. farmers

Press, 1 November 1985, Page 20

Water welcomed by Haka. farmers

Mr Keith Hanning, who installed a water-harvesting scheme on his farm in the Hakataramea Valley about six years ago, is very positive about the benefits of irrigation.

"This season I have been able to sow spring wheat and get it through the ground; lucerne will soon be ready for cutting as bay; and I have sufficient water to start off the barley,” he said.

Farmers with no water for irrigation were facing severe problems. Most depended on lucerne hay for the next season’s winter feed, but there had been insufficient rain for the lucerne to grow properly. Many farmers would probably have to look at more expensive alternative winter feeds such as turnips or maybe buy in barley. Mr Hanning was the first farmer to build a waterharvesting scheme based on proposals put forward by the New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute. Last season, irrigation enabled him to fatten all his lambs whereas some

dryland farmers had to sell 50 per cent as stores. The water allowed Mr Hanning to grow hay for winter feed and some barley which prevented stock being quit until the end of the summer. Some bull beef cattle were reared as well and these were only recently sent out to grazing. Mr Hanning can irrigate 140ba which he uses for crops and lucerne. Water, combined with heat in the valley, resulted in a tremendous response in growth. Mr Don McCaw, who has recently installed a waterharvesting system, can irrigate lOOha, about a quarter of his farm. This is his first season with irrigation as water only became available last March. Autumn-sown wheat was irrigated at the beginning of

September and is looking much better than unirrigated crops. Mr McCaw said he was very pleased he made the decision to install irrigation, particularly In view of the severe drought.