Dry Conditions Biting in Hawke’s Bay

The long summer may have been a great one for swimming and barbecues, but conditions are starting to get critical for the primary production sector in Hawke’s Bay.

“In the last 10 years we have experienced 5 years of significantly stressful summer periods or drought. This has a real impact on the community of Hawke’s Bay as a whole. It’s not just the growers but all the business, services and workers beyond the farm gate that are affected by a downturn in farm incomes. Quite simply we need rain and soon,” says HBRC Chairman Fenton Wilson.

Rainfall has been very low this summer, with no real rain for months.

“HBRC data shows that only 170mm rainfall has fallen in Ongaonga in Central Hawke’s Bay since the beginning of October and there has been 600mm of evaporation. The rain that has fallen has come in amounts less than 10mm and of no real use, except for farmers that have access to irrigation who have been able maintain soil moisture at levels adequate for growth,” says Will Foley, President Federated Farmers.

HBRC estimates are that the region needs at least 75mm of rain over an extended period to get things going again – soil moisture, river flows and pre-winter crop and pasture growth.

Soil moisture is well below median levels needed for pasture growth, and has been for 4 months or more. Rain is needed within 10 days or it will be of little use for pasture and winter feed growth ahead of lower winter. The rain expected over the next few days will be a start, but is not anticipated to deliver sufficient moisture to change the situation greatly.

River levels across Hawke’s Bay continue to recede with some of the main rivers either on ban or very close to it.

The Hawke’s Bay Adverse Events Trust is also monitoring the situation.

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