On the Farm - a wrap of conditions on farms around the country

Watermelons are growing well in Pukekohe and potato crops are producing good yields at harvest. In Canterbury, baleage is being made and jersey bulls are being taken out of the dairy herd. Listen to the December wrap of conditions across the motuGrass growth in Northland is still romping along. The region hasn't had rain for a week, after non-stop wet. It means the grass market is strong and our contact says you'd have to be doing something wrong not to have grass at the moment. He was at the sale yards when we called and reported pleasing prices for heifers, steers and bulls.The Pukekohe district is rapidly drying out thanks to regular westerlies. Irrigation is now in full swing on various crops. Growers are seeing an increase in thrips because of the warmer weather but disease control is not a problem. Other crops like watermelon are growing well and potato crops are producing good yields at harvest. Compared with last year, the last four months have seen as much as 20 per cent less rainfall.Waikato is in a good place. Drizzly rain earlier in the week mixed with warmer weather has caused the grass to go crazy. It means there's now enough grass to cut for silage again. Our contact says it's the best spring he's ever had. His chicory crops are coming through and he's about to put the first mob in the paddock. Father Christmas also found time to stop in for a visit at the local club, and there was a big turnout of rural children there to say hello. Wind in Bay of Plenty last week caused some damage to gold kiwifruit. Proximity marks have appeared, which happens when fruit bang together and produce a dark spot. It's something you might see later in the season, and growers are hopeful the marks won't be noticeable as the fruit grows bigger. The advice came out last week to start irrigating as soil moisture is getting low.December has been not too bad in King Country. Plenty of rain to keep the grass growing and bucket loads of sunshine are helping the lambs to thrive. Ewe stock condition is not good thanks to a poor spring but cattle condition is better. The icing on the cake would be a little bit more rain to keep things going. Our contact is shutting the front gate and heading off farm for the first time in seven years this Christmas. The first thing on the agenda is a swim paired with a beer and some fish and chips. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details