While in climatic terms the drought may be over, the impact is still being felt heavily by the worst affected.
Wanganui probably didn't feel the true impact of the drought, but you don't have to go far to find those who did.
Draw a line from Waitotara through to Aberfeldyand Mangamahu and you will find them. We in Wanganui got our 165mm of rain after the big dry, but these guys didn't get anywhere near it. They were lucky to get 20mm-30mm and any grass that has grown hasn't really got the grunt it needs to grow stock properly.
And stock water was probably more of an issue than grass north of us. What it all boils down to is that there will be farmers still out there dealing with the impact - mentally, physically and financially.
These guys really do need to consider their own health as well as the health of stock and their farms and that's where the Rural Support Trust comes in.
Discussion has prompted me to think we need to revisit the way we determine a drought and streamline the system.
Meanwhile, Wanganui Federated Farmers is currently in its district and regional plan submission process, so it's a busy time.
We are kept busy monitoring several local authorities - the South Taranaki District Council, Taranaki Regional Council, Ruapehu and Rangitikei district councils and Horizons.
