Dairy farmers are being advised to prepare for the dry conditions tightening their grip in many areas.
Industry body DairyNZ says soil moisture levels have fallen below normal across the North Island, apart from Taranaki, and most districts need up to 60mm of rain to restore pasture growth to normal rates.
It says farmers should be looking at ways to keep a core group of cows milking until pasture growth recovers.
They include reducing stock and having a supply of supplementary feed.
