Ready for drought – again!

No recent rain means farmers in the district are back on tenterhooks with drought-breaking early spring rains now a distant memory.

The committee, which won plaudits for rallying support during the winter, met again last week.

"A month ago we were winding down and now we're winding back up again," Hurunui drought response committee member Doug Archbold told Rural News.

"Things are on a knife edge. People don't like to talk about El Nino, but you can't avoid it in the media and it is not looking good.

"A southerly went through yesterday and there was only a trace of rain over North Canterbury and that's a classic El Nino thing when you get dry southerlies."

Hawarden farmer Dan Hodgen, who also sits on the relief committee, said, "We've done all the obvious stuff. We're running out of ideas that are more than just sticking plaster solutions. Rain is the answer."

Tony Trewinnard of Blues Skies Weather has been forecasting in the district 25 years and says the chances of meaningful rainfall any time soon are remote.

"When a southerly front sweeps through and brings next to no rain that's consistent with an El Nino. That's bad news for farmers," Archbold says.

"A second season of stress could prove too much for some farmers."

Archbold and Hurunui district mayor Wynton Dalley visited the region's bank managers during the winter.

He says the banks are taking a sympathetic view and indicated most farm "balance sheets were pretty strong". Others had made prudent decisions to de-stock and cut costs.

"But that's not to say some won't make it and a second season of stress makes that possibility very real," he adds.

Hodgen says the next few weeks are going to be important for a lot of farmers in the South Island.

"The whole east coast is dry and the message we want to get out there is 'don't be afraid to ask for help or advice'.

"I think there's been a willingness to do that so far and that's been one of the major positives from what is a bloody tough time."