Story: Trees in the rural landscape

Harvesting willows for fodder

Harvesting willows for fodder

Hawke’s Bay farmer Alec Olsen demonstrates how to cut willow branches for supplementary fodder for stock In 2007. He first did this in the 1982–83 drought. ‘The cows were hungry, the trees were there and I had a chainsaw,’ he recalls. Each tree provides fodder for 20 to 30 cattle a day. The trees were originally planted for protection against erosion.

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Photograph by Deric Charlton

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Trees in the rural landscape - Poplars and willows', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/19705/harvesting-willows-for-fodder (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 24 Nov 2008