Rainfall relief finally at hand

Finally rain and lots of it.

The heavy rain has been welcomed by Waikato farmers, but more rain and warm ground temperatures are needed to grow enough grass to truly break the drought.

Persistent rain is forecast for the rest of the week, causing farmers to rejoice but the V8 organisers to look nervously to the sky.

They have enjoyed perfect weather for the months of V8 preparations, but face the likelihood of rain for the long-awaited weekend.

Parched Waikato pasture received a dousing yesterday and overnight today, with rainfall topping 120mm in some districts, but barely 15-20mm in others.

Hamilton city had almost continual rain yesterday and further showers are expected in the next 48 hours, with more heavy rain due in the South Waikato and Coromandel, as the one-in-a-hundred-year drought looks set to finally break in some areas.

Environment Waikato chairman Peter Buckley was relieved to have about 18mm fall on his Te Kauwhata farm, with further drizzle continuing this morning.

"This rain will help a huge amount," Mr Buckley said. "We still need about six inches to really break this drought, but the good thing is the temperature is still warm so the grass is growing.

"It is a huge relief for Environment Waikato and the whole region, because we need as much rain as possible to keep the water table up."

Rain in the higher areas of the Coromandel could even top 200mm by tomorrow before easing, according to MetService severe weather warnings.

Hinuera Valley dry stock farmer Grant Dixon received 20mm of rain yesterday and overnight.

He said any drop of rain was welcome, but when faced with a 150mm soil moisture deficit, there was still a long way to go.

"This allows us a window of opportunity to increase grass growth. I expect the old fert trucks will be flat out.

"Farmers will have to really assess what's there and pick paddocks with the longest grass first. We are starting to see bug damage and some of the grasses have been pulled out because it's so dry and cows are grazing so low."

While the rain provided a morale booster, Mr Dixon stressed now was not the time to take the foot off the accelerator.

"Everyone will see a bit of a flush after this rain, but 10 days later if it doesn't rain again, all that grass will be gone."

Farmers needed the weather pattern to continue coming from the north, so ground temperatures remained warm and grass would grow.

Last night at a DairyNZ meeting for Waikato industry professionals, advice to farmers was to act on the weather.

DairyNZ field extension manager Dave Miller said farmers were split between "those who have made decisions and who have actively farmed their way through the drought and those that have not".

The MetService is forecasting more heavy rain today including possible thunderstorms.