Farming in challenging times
Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmers are continuing to rebuild after the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. To add to that challenge, NIWA officially declared the arrival of the El Niño weather pattern in late September 2023. El Niño events typically come with an increased risk for dry conditions, particularly on New Zealand’s east coast.
The Hawke's Bay Farming for Resilience pilot project was established to help farmers in the region cope with these challenges. The project team will produce monthly reports with evidence-based information, insights, and analysis.
It’s anticipated the reports will support and encourage timely decision-making on-farm.
Information available in the resilience reports
The project uses data from Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farms to produce the reports. They include:
- pasture growth rates and covers
- livestock feed demand
- meat and wool production
- economic performance, and
- analysis of farm system modelling.
The models reflect 3 of the region’s common farm types:
- summer dry hill
- summer safe hill
- finishing.
A collaborative project
The reports are prepared by AgFirst in collaboration with MPI’s Farm Monitoring and Benchmarking and On Farm Support teams. A panel of local specialists contribute insights and validate the data for each report.
The reports are available to download on this page and:
- on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Farmers Hub website and in its monthly newsletter
- from the Hawke’s Bay Rural Advisory Group (RAG)
- from the On Farm Support team.
Six reports will be produced during the pilot, which ends in July 2024.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Farmers Hub
The farming for resilience reports
Hawkes Bay Farming for Resilience Report – April 2024 [PDF, 5.7 MB]
Hawkes Bay Farming for Resilience Report – March 2024 [PDF, 5.8 MB]
Hawkes Bay Farming for Resilience Report – February 2024 [PDF, 5.8 MB]