WEATHER
After the warm spell, rain heads north and the east stays dry
Tony Trewinnard of Blue Skies Weather says rain heads north next week, while the east stays dry.
Most Hawke’s Bay soil moisture sites are drier than normal
A blocked weather pattern brings rain to Northland and Bay of Plenty before westerlies return.
A cold snap this weekend, then a warm, humid turn next week
Tony Trewinnard of Blue Skies Weather says a frosty weekend gives way to a warm, humid week.
Skip routine drenches in a dry spell to slow worm resistance
She says dry weather kills worm larvae, so drenching on a fixed 28-day cycle through a drought is not needed.
Soil moisture loss outpaces rain across eastern regions
Light frosts are possible in inland areas of the South Island on Friday and Saturday nights.
DairyNZ encourages farmers to set El Niño trigger points now
Southland is too wet and parts of Northland and Canterbury are drying out ahead of El Niño.
East Coast dryland farms face even odds of drought by early January
Southland’s grass-growth prospects are excellent, and the region may export feed later in summer.
Gisborne and Bay of Plenty set for driest three months
Blue Skies Weather's Tony Trewinnard says Gisborne and Bay of Plenty are tracking as New Zealand's driest regions for the next three months.
Pāmu sells store stock early as southern farms stay wet
Pāmu farms are culling surplus stock and selling store animals early as southern farms face a wet, late spring and northern farms grow well.
Weaning decisions key for sheep and beef farms in El Niño
A farm adviser says weaning decisions through to December are the big play left for sheep and beef farmers facing El Niño.