A medium-scale drought has been declared for the Waikato and South Auckland regions, after ongoing dry conditions in the region.
(file picture) Photo: RNZ / Liz Garton
Ministry for Primary Industries director of rural communities and farming support Nick Story said the declaration would unlock a support package for farmers and growers.
The severe dry spell was taking its toll on the region's primary sector, he said.
"The lack of any consistent rainfall since the beginning of the year means dry conditions in the region have reached the point where assistance is needed to help the rural community get through.
"Farmers in these districts have been closely monitoring the situation and making early decisions about stock levels, culling and buying in feed, but the lack of rain is starting to have an impact as winter looms."
Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor announced the adverse event classification after calls for support from primary sector groups in the region.
The support package will include $30,000 of extra funding for the Waikato, Hauraki-Coromandel Rural Support Trust to host events to connect people and provide mentoring support, and tax flexibility with Inland Revenue.
Trust chair and Waikato farmer Neil Bateup said farmers are feeling stressed.
"There's a shortage of feed, obviously, and it's very unusual for this time of the year," he said.
"I've been through lots of droughts in my farming career over many, many years, but normally at the end of March or the middle of April the rain would come and the drought would be over.
"But I can't remember, and nobody I've talked to can remember, a drought going this long, into the winter."
Some farmers were trying to offload more stock but were facing limitations, Bateup said.
"There's a limit on how many can go through the freezing works because of Covid-19 and supply chain issues, so there is a waiting list to get animals away.
"People are looking for feed but that's becoming quite scarce as well and reasonably expensive."
The Rural Support Trust had seen an increase in calls from farmers asking for advice or looking for someone to talk to, Bateup said. But he remained hopeful a decent downpour would arrive soon and help grass grow heading into winter.
The national Feed Coordination Service was also available for any farmers struggling to find sources of supplementary feed.
It matched surplus feed with those that need it and could help farmers caught short, Bateup said.
Details of community events being organised by the Waikato, Hauraki-Coromandel Rural Support Trust are listed on their Facebook page.
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