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, the El Niño weather pattern was officially present from September 2023 until May 2024, according to NIWA.
The Hawke's Bay Farming for Resilience pilot project was established to help farmers in the region cope. The project team produced monthly reports with evidence-based information, insights, and analysis.
The reports supported and encouraged timely decision-making on-farm.
Information available in the resilience reports
The project used data from Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farms to produce the reports. They included:
- pasture growth rates and covers
- livestock feed demand
- meat and wool production
- economic performance, and
- analysis of farm system modelling.
The models reflected 3 of the region’s common farm types:
- summer dry hill
- summer safe hill, and
- finishing.
A collaborative project
The reports were prepared by AgFirst in collaboration with MPI’s Farm Monitoring and Benchmarking and On Farm Support teams. A panel of local specialists contributed insights and validated the data for each report.
The reports remain available to download on this page, and were available:
- 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.
The pilot ran until mid-2024.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Farmers Hub
The farming for resilience reports
Hawkes Bay Farming for Resilience Report – May 2024 [PDF, 4.7 MB]
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]
