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A Ministry of Agriculture survey has revealed that sheep farmers in parts of the South Island have reduced their breeding stock by up to a third in an effort to cope with severe feed shortages.
MAF commissioned a feed survey as part of its farm monitoring work to help it gauge the impact of the summer drought and how well farmers were set up for the winter.
Chris Ward, who manages the farm monitoring programme, says the extent to which some farmers have destocked came as a surprise.
Ward says there are also reports that farmers in Marlborough are still killing capital stock, including ewes in lamb, because of the serious feed shortages.
Meanwhile, a King Country farmer who was found after a widespread search of his property last week has died.
James Haggas, 40, was found wandering disoriented and suffering from mild hypothermia after being missing for 24 hours on his Waitomo property last Monday. He was treated for a gash on his chin after an accident with a chainsaw.
Police say Haggas was found dead on Saturday and the matter was referred to the coroner.
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