Bay of Plenty farmers are feeling optimistic about the next few months as conditions improve from one of the worst droughts to affect New Zealand in 70 years.

A state of drought was declared in the Bay of Plenty on March 6 this year, followed by a nationwide drought declaration on March 15.

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers vice-president John Scrimgeour unloads the last shipment of feed from the South Island for drought stricken farmers.

Yesterday the Ministry of Primary Industries released a report on the drought that showed it was the most widespread drought in NZ since the 1972-73 drought that affected Wairarapa, Tasman, Otago and Southland.

The Bay of Plenty was named as one of the worst affected areas, along with southern Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Central North Island, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and parts of the north and west of the South Island.

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers vice-president John Scrimgeour says growing conditions are great post-drought.

'The recovery has been better than expected. So that has helped put farmers in a good space.

'They are in a good space in terms of feeding their stock quite well again and they just feel happier about the situation. They aren't worrying so much about what's around the corner.”

John says winter growth has been up to 50 per cent better than normal.

'That has helped farmers to recover in the very short feed position they were in.

'The prospects of better payouts for milk, beef and lamb are all looking a bit better. Farmers are feeling quite optimistic about the new season.”

The new season is currently underway with some farmers' cows calving and sheep farmers' lambing started.

John says the next for months is always a challenging time, but it's an exciting time for farmers as they see a new cycle begin all over again.

The MPI report states the cause of the drought was not El Nino, but in fact a slow-moving or ‘blocking' high pressure systems over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand during summer.

NIWA principal scientist Brett Mullan says the July 2012-May 2013 PED [potential evapotranspiration deficit] was the worst since 1972 over one-third of the North Island.

'Previous severe droughts happened in 1972-73 and 1997-98, both El Nino years.

'This latest drought was different, being related to persistent high pressure centres over the country during summer - a trend that is increasing according to century-long pressure records.”

MPI North Island regions resource policy manager Stuart Anderson says the report provides a solid picture of the drought's extent and severity.

'Anecdotally we were told the drought was the worst some farmers had experienced but it is important to have this analysis to understand how dry the regions were compared to previous droughts.”

Stuart says although the drought conditions have dissipated with the onset of winter and many farms have started to recover following the good autumn conditions, the economic and social impact of the drought continues to be felt around the country.

'The recent snow makes it harder for farmers to see themselves through the winter and manage feed supply and pastures.

'The adverse event declaration of the drought will remain in place until September 30, which will allow rural communities to get through winter and into early spring.”

Declaration of an adverse event means the Government provides extra funding through Rural Support Trusts to support rural communities, and that some people experiencing hardship may also be eligible for income support through Rural Assistance Payments.

Some tax measures can also be accessed through Inland Revenue.