File photo. Photo: 123RF
Farmers and growers across Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman are being encouraged to speak to their peers about how to manage drought-like conditions.
The government has given the Top of the South Rural Support Trust $20,000 towards organising community events and speakers.
Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson said ground conditions were extremely dry and predicted to get worse in coming months, due to El Niño.
It could be tough when the countryside became exceptionally dry but a problem shared was a problem halved, he said.
He added that farmers should make an effort to get off the farm when they can, and connect with their community.