December 5, 2008

Hawke's Bay is heading for another drought after a dry spring.
MetService said nine millimetres of rain fell at Napier airport in November. The average rainfall for the month is 53mm. Rainfall in September and October was also below average.
'People are struggling,' Hawke's Bay Federated Farmers president Kevin Mitchell said yesterday. 'We're a resilient lot, but three droughts in a row would be too much, mentally as well as financially.'
Gisborne and Canterbury are also dry, but Wairarapa -- worst hit last season -- has had a reasonable amount of rain.
Watering restrictions are in place in Masterton and towns in the Central Hawke's Bay District Council area. Sprinklers may be used on alternate days. Irrigation restrictions and fire bans also apply in many parts of Hawke's Bay.
Mr Mitchell said farmers south of Hastings were the hardest hit, having already been through two droughts.
Autumn and winter had provided enough rain, but the ground was drying out.
'People are getting their stock sold or killed,' he said. 'Affco told me they were 30 per cent ahead of their usual beef kill.'
The new dry spell was compounding existing difficulties for farmers. 'It takes a good 12 to 24 months to get over the sort of effects on your stock and pastures from the droughts we've been having,' Mr Mitchell said.
Most sheep and beef farmers would be running at a loss.
International commodity prices had fallen, but Mr Mitchell hoped the drop in the Kiwi dollar would give farmers a boost.
Eastern Fire Region assistant fire regional commander Chris Nicoll said the Fire Service was getting more vegetation- related callouts than usual for this time of the year.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said that soils in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and parts of Canterbury and Otago were dry and needed above-average rainfall to get back to usual moisture levels.
Water use in Hastings and Napier is not restricted yet but Hastings District Council is promoting water conservation.
'Farmers come into town and see water running on the footpaths -- it's not a good look,' Hastings water supply manager Dylan Stuijt said.
Wairoa and Gisborne had low rainfall last month, but have not yet introduced restrictions