One of the big issues is how do they stay off an area that is growing now and possibly will keep growing for a bit longer. As a result of the severe autumn drought, standing feed is very scarce on unirrigated farms on the eastern side of both islands.
Some supplementary feeds are difficult to obtain, and prices have shot up.
While good quantities of hay and silage were made before Christmas, some farmers are regretting they did not make more. Later sown fodder crops have not struck, and those sown before Christmas are producing 20 to 80 per cent of normal yields in South Canterbury. Federated Farmers is advising farmers to constantly reappraise their situation. While the winter will be tough, the biggest fear is a dry spring. Mr Dunham said that where it was extremely dry farmers should spread animals out, and they could probably get away with minimal amounts of feed.