Drought

Federated Farmers leaders say they are worried that dry conditions starting to develop around the country may signal a summer drought.

Smatterings of rainfall throughout much of the country this week failed to bring drought relief to the most parched regions.

Otago may have been declared to be in drought in early April but by the end of the month some towns in the region had received their first significant rainfall in nearly a year.

The effects of drought on farming practice will be discussed at a meeting at Five Forks this month.

Irony was on the minds of those attending a drought meeting in Ranfurly yesterday as persistent rain fell on previously-parched farmland nearby.

It took two or three successive dry years to make the current drought, so it will take more than one significant rainfall to ease the situation - that was the message yesterday from Central Otago farmers.

The Government is extending drought relief to a further four regions - Otago, Bay of Plenty, South Taranaki and parts of South Canterbury.

Worsening dry conditions have forced rural farming leaders to seek help from the Government.

Kauru Hill farmer Bryce Burnett admits that before a recent family holiday he was "getting a bit annoyed" about the dry conditions.

New Zealand farmers will have less to sell than usual this autumn as several regions slide into drought, creating a "weak tail" to the main primary production season, says a leading rural bank.