Hawke's Bay storm - effect on stock and farms

Following Central Hawke’s Bay District Council declaring a state of emergency, Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay province has started collating reports from affected farms.

Initial reports indicate that farms in a narrow band inland from coastal Hawke’s Bay have experienced substantial damage due to this easterly weather event.

At this stage there will be almost certainly be stock losses though the amount is unknown. As images have shown, low lying coastal areas have been inundated with large volumes of water and farms are no exception.

Last night, farms well inland from Napier were recording well over 200mm of rain with one station alone, near Waipawa, recording 500mm. Another farm, near Aramoana, has reported a substantial loss of grazing while another yet reports damage to almost all fences and the loss of a farm dam.

Grazing losses of up to 50 percent in some paddocks are also being reported to Federated Farmers. On top of this, the volume of water has caused major slips impacting beach cottages.
Road access is limited and farm access is seriously impaired.

Federated Farmers is currently contacting the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Adverse Event team. It is also sending an urgent text alert to Hawke’s Bay members in order to gather information and to determine the level of need. Once that is done, the Federation will work collaboratively with the Rural Support Trust, councils and related organisations.

At this early stage it does seem to be a major, if geographically tight, adverse event.

On a more positive note, farms in the Hawke’s Bay entered this weather event in their best shape for well over a decade.

Farms, generally, are carrying less stock as a carryover from drought and this season has been outstanding for pasture growth. On-farm, stock have entered late autumn in peak physical condition and farms have very good feed reserves. The storm event has also struck well after shearing and well before spring lambing/calving.

As more information comes to hand it will be released.