Rural contractors say the changeable weather has put them weeks behind in many essential areas.
Rural Contractors president John Hughes, who is in Southland, says the weather there means ground conditions are unsuitable for cultivation and sowing crops, while the rain means it is difficult to get fodder into good condition for silage.
However, vice-president Steve Levet says conditions are better in Northland, where he is based.
He says the ground has dried, allowing cultivation to go ahead over the past two to three weeks.
Mr Levet says, as a result, all the maize is now planted in the region.
He says, if anything, it's now starting to get a bit too dry in Northland, with farmers telling him a little bit of rain would not go amiss.