DairyNZ

Dairy farmers in South Otago and Southland are still managing difficult dry conditions, despite good levels of rainfall throughout the region recently.

A dairy expansion planned at Telford Farms - costing just over $4 million - is the first major dairy development at the South Otago property for more than 20 years.

A $170 million dairy research programme aims to create the biggest change in the sector in decades, its backers say.