Water still flows next to a field completely washed out of its onions. Photo: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt
Conditions on the land this week is dominated by the aftermath of the torrential rain and storms which have been swirling around the top of the North Island.
Producer Leah Tebbutt was around Pukekohe where roughly 300 millimetres of rain fell since Friday. Paddocks, fields, and stock are sodden, with irrigation pumps and grading machinery being written off.
Brown lines indicate the level of water that flowed through this depot Photo: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt
Bay of Plenty did not escape the weather. Culverts have blown out and slips now cover access roads. While isolated kiwifruit growers in Northland, Tairāwhiti and Bay of Plenty have had vines and structures wiped out.
Meanwhile, the West Coast and Southland are both experiencing low soil moisture.
Rain and cooler temperatures are forecast with farmers hoping it brings some reprieve - however, heads of industry were meeting on Friday to discuss the dry climate and make sure they could stay on top of it as best they can.
The harvest in Canterbury is in full swing. Recent hot weather has brought crops ready and with good weather at the moment contractors are doing huge hours.
Onions that remain are now trying desperately to dry out. Photo: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt
Where once lay a path is now an extension of Waikato River. Photo: RNZ/Leah Tebbutt
