Several factors combine to drive the dairy industry, some more obvious than others. In New Zealand, the basic ones are adequate provisions of sunshine and rain to allow grass to grow well. Fresh, green grass available for grazing almost the year roundis the base on which the dairy industry rests in these islands. Variations in the sunshine/rain balance can have a strong influence on the outlook and wellbeing of the people living off the land. This has been demonstrated clearly during the summer justpast. January was sunny and warm, with every day arriving as if just made for holiday relaxation, but the month was void of rain. The result was reduced grass growth, reduced milk supply, reduced income potential and reduced confidence of surviving an already stressed season. That feeling was expressed by many at the end of the period.
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