Waikato weather extremes - Hamilton Airport

[efliernz]

I flew my monthly "Waikato Expressway" shoot this afternoon. Here are two similar shots of the Hamilton airport, 26 days apart. Too good not to share


29th March 2014


25 April 2014


Construction photos are here if interested...... www.pbase.com/ascend_photography/roading

Pete

[komata]

Thanks Pete; an interesting contrast, yet curiously, despite the extreme dryness at the time at the time of the first photo, there was not 'officially' a drought; those of us living in the area just 'thought' there was...

[efliernz]

I have a farming background although I'm definitely a towny. I still have my mother remind me that "farmers work so hard...". Even from a townies view - how was this not a drought???

The airport has been resown and I could tell where the edge of the puddles have been from the seed tide-line!

Pete

[komata]

Thanks efliernz

We 'on the ground' all knew it was a drought - except that it wasn't declared to be one by the appropriate authorities; as it apparently didn't meet the 'criteria' for such an event. A pity, 'cos the farmers could certainly have done with the financial assistance such a declaration would have brought.

[eieio]

Please note that a drought declaration does not "give" farmers anything . Some farmers have contracts with clause's that come into effect with the "Drought Declaration" being made .[So now they will have to organise themselves] One Farmer lobby did not push for declaration because of the negative media hype that that comes with it. Personally I am worse off than last year .A considerable area of grass has given up on life ,grass seed ....$19 per kg ,sowing..$150 per ha.= $530 per ha. and about $24000 of bought in silage after having a very good harvest ourselves ,I hope this educates some body...Cause you wont find this anywhere else, if you are interested...

[komata]

eieio

Thanks.

[efliernz]

eieio

I too thank you. It is the $$$ side we don't hear about...

[Dave Homewood]

I think this year's drought was worse than last year's in the effect it had on the grass round here, both rural and residential. It all seemed to start overnight too, went from a lush green January, the coolest ever December-January in my memory, to a stinking hot, dry and damaging drought in the first week of February, right through till last week. The change in colour since the rain in your photos is markedly spectacular Pete, but very much like what's happened here too. For two months we had no front lawn, even the weeds died and it was a dustbowl. Now the weeds are back nice and green and a bit of actual grass is poking through too, not before time,

The rain can be a bit annoying but is very much welcome and so I'm not complaining. This cooler weather is great too.

[efliernz]

Apr 26, 2014 0:06:16 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I think this year's drought was worse than last year's in the effect it had on the grass round here, both rural and residential. It all seemed to start overnight too, went from a lush green January, the coolest ever December-January in my memory, to a stinking hot, dry and damaging drought in the first week of February, right through till last week. The change in colour since the rain in your photos is markedly spectacular Pete, but very much like what's happened here too. For two months we had no front lawn, even the weeds died and it was a dustbowl. Now the weeds are back nice and green and a bit of actual grass is poking through too, not before time,

The rain can be a bit annoying but is very much welcome and so I'm not complaining. This cooler weather is great too.

When I shot the Expressway last month, it was overcast day, shooting red/brown dirt road surrounded by dead grass. What a change today! I know the country got rain last week but Wanaka didn't get much. It still looks like a dustbowl...

Pete

[Ian Warren]

Such a contrast, I witnessed a change like this in 15 bit hours in Albury/Woldonga Aussie at ground level, they had not seen rain for 18 months, on the day I arrived it rained funny thing Jodie my brothers other half blamed me, nothing to do, Al and Jodie took me around the city, all brown and wet, best part the biggest model shop in the region and toys .. oh well off home to there place and enjoy the company.

The next morning we shot out to get supply's to travel south for a Avalon airshow - the thing that even caught Jodie, a fair whack OZ chick turns around and says "look how bloody green it is today" Over night the entire area transformed, from Brown to Green overnight.

Nice photos Pete

[eieio]

A bit more education for those interested in the rural scene .All that brown grass has good feed value [until it is all gone]or until reasonable rain arrives .It then proceeds to rot. The interesting part is filling the feed deficit for 3 weeks, if fortunate the resulting growth is good .April 11 we had 24mm and at this day pasture is making progress and the rain tally is getting near what we need.Still feeding silage /hay ,200 round silage bales bought in to just keep the cows alive ,not for production ,[208 cows plus 50 weaner hiefers]
And the interesting bit.......My Lost production due to early dry off is worth around $100,000 ,others will have not lost as much but will have spent a heap on milking feed .We are fortunate that product price' is sky high .The Waikato is 40% of the industry so the sums not getting to the Waikato economy are huge! Hope this is of value to some one.