The mood in the rural community has improved, with March bringing some relief and much-needed rain, but the drought has not broken, the Otago Rural Support Trust says.
Trust co-ordinator David Mellish said the trust had spoken to many farmers in the area.
''There's still quite a bit of concern about feed during the winter and winter crops, but there's a bit of a lift with the moisture recently,'' Mr Mellish said.
MetService severe weather meteorologist Peter Little said the first days of March brought 23mm of rain on farms in Middlemarch, with 17.8mm falling on Saturday.
Temperatures had remained high, with 29degC recorded on March 1 and an average temperature of 16.2degC for the first week of March.
However, showers were expected today and on Friday, which would bring more relief to farmers in the region.
Mr Mellish said the drought had not broken but any moisture was welcome news to those in the rural community.
''The effects of the drought will be long-lasting,'' he said.
''There's been a bit of a lift [in mood in Middlemarch], a bit of relief, but the drought's still certainly not over yet.
''Days are a little bit shorter, but there's still time for growth. It depends on what sort of autumn we will have.''
Although most of Otago had felt the effects of a dry summer, Middlemarch was the worst hit, he said.
Local farmer Andrew Templeton said the impact of the drought would be felt for the next three to four years.
''It's going to be a tough old year,'' he said.
''Our stock numbers are down, our capital stock is down - it's a three- to four-year thing financially.''
The past few weeks' moisture had improved the outlook somewhat, he said.
''It's tight for winter feed. We are still looking to buy in feed but it was a lot more dire three weeks ago.''
''There's not so much heat in the day so we have been getting quite a few days with 5, 6, 7mm of rain in the day and it's adding up - the creeks are running.''
Mr Mellish said people in the rural community should remain positive and ask for help if they needed it.
''The same message is there - plan ahead and make sure you have enough winter feed for your stock,'' he said.
''It's really important that communities do look again themselves.''
