Rain falling across the Bay of Plenty region during the last 48 hours is being hailed the 'drought-breaker” by the horticulture and agriculture industries.

But farmers say they need more wet weather to boost soil moisture levels while kiwifruit growers need to be on the lookout for signs of Psa-V infection thanks to the recent soaking.

Farmers are embracing the wet weather after a drought.

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president and Te Puke dairy farmer John Scrimgeour says the downfall is fantastic news for farmers.

'There's been some heavy spells but by and large it has been reasonably gentle and soft to the surface and it is soaking in well.”

John says higher ground seems to be enjoying a good soaking but nearer the coast not so much rain is being seen – the Galatea area, especially, needs more.

'Most areas have generally had 50-odd millimetres of rain which gives farmers a good start but I understand Galatea hasn't received a lot and that is a disappointment – they have free draining soil so they will certainly need more wet weather,” says John.

He hopes an unsettled weather pattern forecast for the next week pulls through.

'We can safely regard this rain as the drought breaker but we do need more follow-up – the fact that the dry spell has gone on so late and now the days are a lot shorter and the nights are much cooler means soil evaporation rates are not quite as great.”

On April 1, NIWA recorded extreme soil moisture deficits of more than 130mm evident in parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Canterbury.

March rainfall was about 20 per cent of the normal average in parts of Northland, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay.

Following declaration of an adverse event due to drought in Northland on February 27, South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay regions were declared in drought on March 6. A declaration of drought across the entire North Island followed March 15. Drought was declared in Buller and Grey districts on March 22.

John says farmers have dried off cows early but herds remain on-farm with run offs low on grass too.

'But the fact that cow herds are dry means feed demands are not as great and they'll be able to take advantage of growth and slow down rounds for winter and get weight on their cows before colder months arrive.”

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. chairman Neil Trebilco says the rain provides a chance for fruit to size up better before being picked with the harvest season being halted for a few days due to the wet weather.

Kiwifruit growers will also have to be more vigilant in detecting Psa-V disease with infection being more visible in vines after wet weather.

'Anytime you get a long dry spell during summer it does tend to slow down growth of the kiwifruit.

'Growers have been hanging on, trying to get the fruit size up a bit more – so it will help increase fruit size and growers will be happy to see that.”

Neil says every year growers have to wait for a day of dry weather to harvest and growers are prepared for this.

'There is enough supply in the supply chain for it not to affect the markets.”

But the downside is that growers will have to monitor for Psa-V infection.

'It's been quite windy and wet for an extended period and this definitely lifts the risk of Psa-V disease spreading and becoming more prevalent so growers do need to be on the lookout,” says Neil.

'If there is Psa-V around it will show itself up in about one to two weeks after the wet weather – growers need to be monitoring vines and if they see any infection, they need to cut out the actual infection.”

But dry matter in the fruit gives an indication of taste, so while it is looking like a vintage season for wine 'it is also looking like a vintage season for kiwifruit.”

MetService meteorologist Daniel Corbett says the first burst of moisture yesterday brought more than 150mm of rain to the Coromandel region while low levels of the Tauranga area received between 40 and 70mm.

'Overnight, rain has been a bit patchier and the focus of the heavy rain has now gone from the Western Bay to the Eastern Bay,” says Daniel.

During the last 24 hours the Kaimai area received 100-plus mm of rain. In the same period Rotorua received 77mm and the Gisborne ranges got more than 200mm. Whakatane had 36mm.

The MetService's heavy rain warning in place for the Eastern Bay of Plenty remains current for today.

'The centre of the low will bring another bout of rain with westerly winds to the Bay of Plenty region later today and into tonight but not as heavy.” Unsettled weather is predicted to remain into early next week.