7 Dec 2017

'Unprecedented' run of hot weather

From Nine To Noon, 9:09 am on 7 December 2017

This summer, hot, dry weather has arrived earlier than usual, causing fears of drought in regions right across the country, including ones that aren't normally affected. MetService says the long run of hot weather at this time of year is unprecedented, and it's not going away anytime soon. The parched weather has got farmers worried about having enough feed to carry through to the summer, while some growers who rely on irrigation, water reserves and acquafers have gone into rationing already. Lynn Freeman talks to MetService meteorologist Erick Brenstrum, Horticulture New Zealand president Julian Raine, and Federated Farmers' Central High Country representative Andrew Patterson.