Southland farmers Saying They Have Not Seen It So Dry In 30 Years

Southland farmers are saying they haven’t seen it so dry in 30 years of farming. Dairy Farmer John Smart fears that if rain does not fall soon, farmers are going to move from being ‘’stressed to really struggling’’. Some farmers are feeding out baleage and silage they had prepared for winter but the price has increased from $90 a bale to $150, and it is in short supply. Combined with increased fuel and fertiliser prices, staff shortages and a shortage of killing space at meat processing plants it is the perfect storm – but without the much-needed rain.