Ms McConchie's rainfall figures for previous years show in 2000, there was 1201mm; 2010, 1263mm; 2012, 1401 which was the wettest July in 23 years, 1280mm in 2013, 1249mm in 2014 and 1235mm in 2015.
"The average of those six years was 1272mm, with none under 1200mm so, yes, last year was definitely a dry one," Ms McConchie said.
"But so far in January Norsewood has had more rain than December last year. And as I've said in the past, often the most important period is the last two months of a year and the first three of the next and so far figures for that period aren't looking good, with only 114mm of rain falling in November and December last year. Fortunately, the three months prior, August to October, were better.
"Over those months we had 370mm of rain - an average of 123mm a month. This allowed the grass to grow well, setting up for a good haymaking season. But if the next three months remain as low as November and December were, we could be in poor pasture shape going into autumn and winter.
"Considering the possibilities, I have chosen to drop non-essential stock, working on the principle that I'd rather do that earlier - getting fairly good prices - and be wrong, than not do it and later find I have to sell surplus stock cheap because I don't have the feed.
"Ancient beliefs had it that you should examine the weather in the early hours of New Year's Day. If the wind blows from the south, there will be fine weather and prosperous times in the year ahead. If it comes from the north, it will be a year of bad weather. The wind blowing from the east brings famine and calamities," she said.
"Strangest of all, if the wind blows from the west, the year will witness plentiful supplies of milk and fish but will also see the death of a very important person. If there's no wind at all, a joyful and prosperous year may be expected by all.
"I'm happy to say, that here in Norsewood at least, I walked out just after midnight at New Year to find that the air was calm and still."
