Farmers in North Otago are ''desperate'' to see a good amount of rain soon, in order to ward off a spring drought, which could result in a disastrous lambing and calving season. Some areas received less than half the usual amount of rain last month.
Data recorded by Dunedin company Rain Effects revealed that Palmerston received just 26.6mm of rain in March, 47% below the average for the month , but it was even drier in Oamaru. The 17mm of rain recorded at Oamaru Airport in March was 68% below the average for the month, and Rain Effects hydrologist Dave Stewart said 14.6mm of that total fell on just one day.
Mr Stewart said the situation was similar across North Otago.
''Rainfall totals were all well below average for March in this area. At all sites, most of the rain fell on March 17, as the largest rain-bearing system of the month crossed the South Island.''
He added that farmers had now reported that the area was ''quite dry'', and if rain was to be effective, it was needed ''soon'', while the ground was still warm enough to grow grass and crops.
North Otago Federated Farmers president Richard Strowger said although ''good'' feed reserves were available to farmers, if it remained dry through to the next spring lambing and calving season, it could cause ''issues'' for some farmers.
Mr Strowger said although the region was dry, it was still green and ''nowhere near'' as dry as the North Island.
''If we go into what the North Island had, then there will be some serious issues, and a spring drought means that you can't feed ewes and lambs, and then the dry land guys really struggle.''
Although there was still time for the weather to pick up, a spring drought was ''another day closer'', he said.
''We do desperately need some good rain to help boost soil, and drystock and beef guys need it to put an extra feed in. There's a lot of winter feed crops that could do with a good drink, to give the cows some feed over the winter, in some places.''
