Drought-stricken farmers in the Marlborough region have received a helping hand from colleagues in the North Island.
The situation is getting desperate as farmers run out of feed ahead of the lambing season, and much-needed hay has arrived just in the nick of time.
The lambing season starts in Marlborough next month, and farmers like Johnny Peter are down to the last of their feed supplies - essential to provide ewes with the food they need to produce milk for lambs.
"Feed supplies are at an all time low, we've used up 80% plus of our hay," Peter says.
Marlborough farmers are relying on feed to get stock through winter, but most are down to the last straw.
Relief came this week, with Tranz Rail transporting baleage, high quality hay, from the North Island free of charge.
"There are 48 to 50 farmers who have said they would like some of this baleage, we've got 220 bails down here now and there's another 500 to come down," says grab Chris Lecren, drought relief co-ordinator for Federated Farmers.
Farmer Norton Giles says the feed will see him most of the way through winter, and Johnny Peter hopes the hay will help save the 4000 sheep he has left.
He has had to sell about 1000 since the drought began eight months ago.
"You must keep your humour and your optimism... it's pretty hard on wives and families also, but one thing's for certain - rain is closer today than what it was yesterday," Peter says.
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