Canterbury farmers are urging the government to declare a drought, and want to be able to take water from Lake Tekapo. A South Island Farmer who has changed his practices to withstand continuing droughts says farmers need to adapt to climate change, and more irrigation is not the answer. Doug Avery of Grassmere, in Marlborough, says droughts nearly ruined him, but he changed the way he farms and managed to improve profitability on his farm despite 12 years of below average rainfall.
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