Lower South Island

A formal adverse weather event has been declared for parts of Southland and Clutha (South/West Otago) following an extended period of exceptionally wet spring conditions.

Many farms are managing significant challenges through calving, including pasture damage, pugging, animal health risks, pressure on feed supplies, and impacts on farm infrastructure and day-to-day operations. The prolonged conditions are also placing added pressure on farmers, their families, and farm teams.

While conditions remain difficult, focusing on the fundamentals can help reduce risk and maintain feed supply through spring. Prioritise people, animals, feed and property, monitor stock condition, pugging damage and pasture recovery closely, and seek advice early from your veterinarian, adviser, banker, neighbours or industry organisations when planning your next steps. If feed purchases are likely, plan ahead, as transport and logistics networks may come under increasing pressure.

Looking after people is just as important as looking after cows and pasture during challenging periods like this. If you'd like to talk through your options or access support, contact your local DairyNZ team. They can connect you with practical resources, technical advice, and relevant support services. Support is also available through Rural Support Trust and partner organisations.

We've pulled together practical resources to help:

• Adverse events: prepare, respond, recover
• Wet weather management
• Managing pugging damage
• Preventing lameness
• Mastitis prevention
• Managing nitrogen fertiliser use

Keep a close eye on effluent pond storage levels. If storage is becoming pressured, contact Environment Southland or Otago Regional Council early to discuss your options.

Farmers across the Lower South Island are operating in a diverse and changing environment, from Southland’s wintering and freshwater challenges to Otago’s variable climate, water availability and spread-out farming communities. While each area has its own context, common themes include building resilient farm systems, managing environmental expectations, supporting people on farm, making confident business decisions and staying profitable.

Farmers have also told us they value practical, well-timed events, local discussion groups and clearer links between DairyNZ activity and levy value on farm.

You'll have access to research, tools and local expertise to help you:

• Make better seasonal and farm system decisions.
• Prepare for environmental requirements.
• Improve business resilience.
• Develop the people on your farm.
• Connect with others facing similar challenges.

We're supporting farmers across the Lower South Island through local events, discussion groups, tools, research and practical advice that reflect the priorities being raised across the region.

Our focus includes environmental requirements, resilient farm systems, people and staff development, homegrown feed, genetic gain, business progression, DairyBase, financial literacy, benchmarking, wintering, plantain, water quality, calf rearing and farm profitability.

Field days, discussion groups and local examples, including regional trial work, help make information relevant and practical for Southland and Otago farm systems.

➔ Explore DairyNZ resources, tools and research

Your feedback helps shape the work we do in your region. Let us know what's working, what challenges you're facing and what support would be most valuable for your farm.

➔ Attend an event or discussion group near you

➔ Connect with your regional team

➔ Share your feedback on what matters most in your region