While the unseasonably wet weather over the traditional Christmas period may have made it a bleak break for many New Zealanders, for agriculture it was just what the economy ordered.

Pasture throughout most of the country has benefitted from the high amounts of rainfall and grass in most areas is unusually lush for mid-January.

Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills says while Nelson and Marlborough had more than rain than they would have liked, the weather conditions so far suggest this season could be among agriculture’s best.

“Certainly in the area I farm, and much of the North Island and the East Coast in particular, we’re having people here talking about one of the best summers, certainly in decades.

“Consistent rain, sort of white clover and flower like many of us have never seen before and top of that pretty strong continuing export prices.”  

Mr Wills says on the whole farmers have smiles on their faces and while many people may not have wanted it to rain over the summer, economically it’s great for the country.

“Green grass is not just good for farming, its good for the entire economy and I guess we know that because well over 50 percent of total exports come from agriculture, most of that is from pastoral farming.”

And farmers in Southland and Otago are also breathing a sigh of relief after the rain made it to their neck of the woods late last week too.

More than 35 millimetres of rain fell late last week in Southland  following more than a month of dry conditions.

“It’s given them confidence that it can rain, and it looks like they’re back to more settled and traditional weather patterns, because these dry periods are certainly not common in Southland particularly.”