Dealing with drought conditions

DROUGHT FORECASTING TOOL

MPI and NIWA are developing a tool to help predict drought conditions.

A trial version of the tool was released in November 2022. NIWA would like your feedback about it.

Find out more about the tool

Actions for farmers during a drought

Monitor your feed situation

Drought forecasting tool

Contact a Rural Support Trust

Talk to an industry association

Check your budget

Other drought advice and guidance

Monitor your feed situation

Every year, there is potential for dry conditions around the country. This may lead to shortages of feed in some regions. Ongoing feed planning and budgeting is essential.

Feed in dry conditions – Fact sheet [PDF, 331 KB]

Drought monitor – NIWA

Get help with feed planning

Having a feed budget can help you:

calculate your feed demand
calculate your feed supply
investigate options to fill feed gaps
proactively make decisions.

Getting a plan in place can help give you peace of mind. Farm advisers are available to help you complete a feed budget or source alternative feed.

For drystock farmers, freephone Beef + Lamb NZ on 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 23 33 52)
For dairy farmers, freephone DairyNZ on 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 43 24 79 69)

Monitoring drought conditions and feed supplies

DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmers, and other specialist providers, along with MPI, formed a Feed Working Group in April 2020 during a severe drought when farmers had few options to access supplementary feed. The group takes a national perspective. It monitors access to feed availability, and if a significant need arises it will work with local networks and other partners to consider options to overcome feed availability issues.

Drought forecasting tool

NIWA and MPI are working together on a new drought forecasting tool to help farmers and growers better prepare for periods of dryness and drought.

The tool uses innovative climate modelling, the latest in machine-learning and other data-driven techniques.

A trial version of the new tool was released by NIWA in November 2022. This is updated daily to provide forecasts at a much higher spatial resolution than previously available. This will enable the provision of district-level predictions of dryness and drought.

This new tool supplements the existing NZ Drought Index (NZDI) that was jointly launched by NIWA and MPI in 2017.

The final product is expected to be available publicly in time for summer 2023-24. You can send feedback about the trial version.

Trial drought forecasting tool – NIWA

High-tech investment extends drought forecasting for farmers and growers – Government media release

Contact a Rural Support Trust

Each of the country’s 14 Rural Support Trusts have local, rural people who know from experience that pressures can mount up. Your local trust can provide support and advice. Talking to them is confidential, and free of charge. They can connect you with the services you need, whether it's financial and business advice or health services.

Freephone 0800 78 72 54 (0800 RURAL HELP).

Rural Support Trust

Talk to an industry association

Industry associations like Beef + Lamb New Zealand or DairyNZ can provide technical advice. Their websites have information on planning your feed budget and managing an animal's condition.

Knowledge hub – Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Animal management – DairyNZ

Check your budget

Talk to your bank and accountant early, and talk to them regularly.

Your accountant and Inland Revenue, can answer questions relating to taxes, including access to flexibility provisions to the Income Equalisation Scheme following adverse events.

Extended support for farmers affected by drought – Inland Revenue

Income Equalisation Scheme – Inland Revenue

Income tax – Inland Revenue

Family Tax Credits – Inland Revenue

There is some Work and Income support that you could access. Talk to your local Rural Support Trust about emergency benefits, special needs grants, or rural assistance payments.

Emergency Benefit – Work and Income

Special Needs Grant – Work and Income

Rural Assistance Payment – Work and Income

Other drought advice and guidance

Case studies on managing sheep and beef farms through drought:

Winterhome – Kekerengu, Marlborough [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Ridgecliff – Banks Peninsula, Canterbury [PDF, 2.4 MB]
The Homestead – Ward Beach, Marlborough [PDF, 3.5 MB]
Attadale – Middlemarch, Otago [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Feed and supply chain issues - Beef + Lamb New Zealand

A series of webinars in March 2022 focused on helping farmers prepare for disruptions caused by supply chain issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to get farmers thinking about the importance of timely planning. The webinars were recorded and can be viewed on the Beef + Lamb NZ website.

Adapting for supply chain disruption (2 March 2022)

Planning for smart decisions (16 March 2022)

Planning for disruption (30 March 2022)