Forecast to Farm, brought to you by Ravensdown, your partner behind the farm gate. Turning weather insights into practical information to help New Zealand farmers plan with confidence.

Feed budgets and stock reconciliations should be done now ahead of what could become the strongest El Niño in years.

Danny Donaghy, Professor of Dairy Production systems at Massey University, says previous El Niños have left Northland, the midlands and the east coast drier and Southland and the west wetter.

“Early preparation’s critical,” he says.

He says farmers should talk to their bank manager or accountant, silage and fertiliser contractors, and check the silage on hand.

“Getting surplus silage off early means paddocks recover faster.”

He says condition scoring should be considered for farmers preferentially feeding animals risking poorer condition.

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