New Zealand: Wairarapa farmers say drought conditions pushing some to breaking point

A drought has been declared in the Wairarapa region following a drier-than-usual summer. Farmers say the conditions are making it extremely tough to do their job, with some at breaking point. An area of dry and barren farmland in the Wairarapa belongs to farmer William Beetham. "This is by no means a stretch the worst dry period we've had," he told Newshub. The sheep and beef farmers have been struggling over the past few months due to extremely dry weather conditions. "The biggest challenge for us is trying to feed stock and trying to utilise the little rain we get to try and grow feed, so the stock are ready for winter," Beetham said. Federated Farmers said it's a problem affecting most of the region's farmers. "They are having to take drastic action, like culling stock and being conservative about the feed supply they use to feed their stock," Federated Farmers Wairarapa president David Hayes said. It comes after the Government declared a drought in the Wairarapa this week, ...