Southland Federated Farmers drought spokeswoman Bernadette Hunt said grass growth is strong across the province and winter crops are also belatedly shooting away.
“I can safely say the drought has finished.”
Farmers are hoping for continued warm weather to allow balage and silage stacks to be replenished but the wet, warm weather has created insect issues – especially aphids – with some brassica crops.
Farmers are having to spray crops with insecticide.
Hunt said with many farmers destocking lambs because of the dry summer there is plenty of spare grass to harvest.
There could be a shortage of feed grain as demand grows for supplies to use in autumn.
“The current conditions are exactly what we need and we hope to continue getting a long, mild autumn to allow the recovery.”
Stock are in reasonable condition but growth rates are still slow.
Canterbury farmers are also enjoying an idyllic autumn with Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers president Michael Salvesen saying 400mm of rain had fallen so far this year.
The extreme wet and heat was not typical for Canterbury but means crops have been harvested early and winter crops and dryland pasture are bounding away.
“Canterbury farms are set up pretty well for autumn and winter,” he said.
