There may be a green tinge on the hills in the Hurunui District, but farmers say the hard times are far from over.

Waipara farmer and 2023  Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards supreme winner Ian Knowles says while they are in a good position for surface growth, there is limited moisture underneath.

"We are ticking along about as good as expected, but it could be a very short window because there is no reserve underneath.

"The reality is, if we don't get a good soaking, we are heading back into another drought."

Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay declared a "medium-scale adverse event" for the region in March.

Rural Communities minister Mark Patterson visited Hurunui in August, announcing a boost in support for the region.

"The government is providing $20,000, with the Farmers Adverse Events Trust, Veterinary Association and Boehringer Ingelheim contributing an additional $18,000, to deliver specialist veterinary support to drought-affected farmers in the Hurunui District."

"A further $30,000 contribution will go to the Hurunui Mayoral Fund to ensure targeted assistance is available to those farmers identified the most critical in need," Patterson said in a statement.

Knowles said the damage had already been done.

"Stock condition is light, and scanning rates are low."

"The young stock that goes through a drought, normally you can see that in them for the rest of their life.

"They have already been pinched, and they never quite perform as well.

"You either accept that, or you chuck money at it."

This year, Knowles decided to stump up the money, sending his hoggets grazing in Mid and South Canterbury .

Knowles said he was grateful to the farmers who grazed his stock, and with the animals returning in good condition, there was one less worry on his plate.

"I sent the hoggets grazing, and they came back looking magnificent.

" I meant I could focus on what's here at home, throw everything I've got at them and sneak through by the skin of my teeth."

Knowles said the biggest financial hit with the drought has been losing the dairy support side of his farming operation.

"Normally, about a third of the farm's income is generated from grazing other people's stock, but when you can't even feed your own, you can't do that."

Droughts aren't the only adverse event Knowles has had to deal with.

Two fires broke out on the property in February and again in early September, destroying 200 hectares of grass and fences.

"We were lucky there were no people, animals or buildings in the way, but I have spent just over $100,000 replacing fences."

Knowles still considers the drought his biggest challenge.

"Fires happen quickly, and you deal with it, and it's over.

"Droughts are multi-season and multi-year."

Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Karl Dean said the drought classification should remain in place for the area.

"Things are green now, but we are still several hundred mills of rain behind for the year, and that doesn't include last year's shortfall.

"We are only one very strong nor'west from going back into it."

Dean said the Rural Support Trust is crucial for helping farmers cope with drought, low commodity prices, and high input costs.

Dean said Rural Support in North Canterbury had yet to receive top-up funding from the last boost of $30,000, which ended in June.

"That's quite concerning in the fact that the drought is going to be a long-winded affair.

"It's a journey the farmers need Rural Support Trust to be there for."

By Claire Inkson