Otago Adverse Support Trust chairman David Shepherd is pleased the Government is extending drought relief to parts of Otago and South Canterbury.
The trust had asked for the drought in Central Otago, Dunedin and Waitaki to be deemed a medium-scale adverse event.
Mr Shepherd welcomed Agriculture Minister David Carter's announcement on Tuesday.
"We can get on and do the work the trust set out to undertake," he said yesterday.
The trust has organised a meeting at the Ranfurly Rugby Club on Monday at 3pm.
Speakers will cover what the Government could do to assist, feed budgeting, feed options, taxation implications of de-stocking and the work of the trust's co-ordinators.
Federated Farmers has also welcomed the widening of drought measures, saying it would help reduce risk of a "double-dip recession".
In a statement, the organisation's adverse events spokesman David Rose said the 2007-08 drought cost the economy $2.8 billion and was a major recessionary factor, so the decision to widen drought programmes was essential.
He stressed it was not "cash in hand" to farmers.
If there was financial assistance, then it was based upon means testing.
"These drought programmes are really about advice that speeds recovery back to full production," he said.
A large swathe of New Zealand's dairy herd and an increasing number of beef and fibre farmers were being affected by what would soon become a "green drought".
Impending rains would come too late for effective pasture growth or renewal so the drought's effect would be felt into next season and, possibly, the following one.
It would have an economic cost but the advice that was now on offer would speed up recovery, Mr Rose said.
