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Feature article

Beyond Reasonable Drought

Photos: Alan Porteous and Anthony Clark

Estimated annual rainfall at Grassmere, 1890 to 2007, showing the relatively low annual rainfall in recent years

The field day cavalcade drives past sloping land that has been stabilised with saltbush and other drought tolerant species.

Beyond Reasonable Drought was the name given to a field day on Bonavaree, the property of Doug and Fraser Avery, near Grassmere in Marlborough. Over 400 farmers, scientists, local government officials, and rural service  providers flocked to the farm on May 14. They were keen to see how the Averys had overcome many years of drought and the steps they had taken to build a resilient farming system. NIWA provided climate information for the meeting.

The field day was the culminating public event in a three year programme undertaken in South Marlborough by the Starborough-Flaxbourne Soil Conservation Group, of which Doug Avery was the chairman, with the help of the New Zealand Landcare Trust.

To the right are some pictures from the day, and a figure showing annual rainfall, one of the topics of conversation.

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