State-owned farming enterprise Landcorp has moved cows from its Northland dairy farms as far away as the South Island's West Coast, as the drought tightens its grip in the north.
Landcorp has eight or nine dairy and dry stock farms in Northland.
Many drought-afflicted farmers in the region have had to sell sheep and cattle and dry off their dairy herds as they run out of feed.
Chief executive Chris Kelly says Landcorp also had to heavily destock its farms there, but because of its extensive national network of farms, it has been able to take the option of moving stock to properties in other parts of the country.
However, it will not move the cattle back due to the TB-free status of Northland, and will have to buy cattle next year to restock, he says.
