Agriculture Minister David Carter has made official what many Northland farmers already knew – the region is now in drought.
Mr Carter made the announcement while on a visit to several farms near Dargaville to hear locals’ concerns.
WAIKATO CLOSE TO 'OFFICIAL' DRY
Drought is official in Northland and it soon could be in Waikato as well
The Waikato Regional Drought Committee has reconvened and made a formal request to MAF to consider a drought declaration.
Waikato Federated Farmers President Stew Wadey says coming out of last summer’s drought, things are looking grim.
"We are getting in a situation where pastures are now 21 days from recovery... if we get rain today.
"So you can appreciate if we don’t get any rain till Christmas Day, there is going to be a major feed deficit."
A declaration would open up financial assistance to farmers and boost resources for the Waikato Rural Support Trust.
Drought Committee chairman Peter Buckley says assistance packages from last summer’s drought are due to expire at the end of the year, and a fresh declaration would give farmers longer term assurance.
The drought committee will meet again on December 22nd to discuss progress.
