Crops across a swath of Canterbury’s arable heartland have been damaged or lost to a couple of hailstorms which swept up the South Island’s east coast late last month.

Canterbury has seen a 42% increase in livestock per hectare in the past 15 years as the region farms more dairy cows over sheep.

High summer in Canterbury is a busy time, with crops ripening for harvest.

Canterbury irrigators are being reminded to only turn their irrigators on when necessary as on-going wet and relatively cold temperatures in many parts of the region reduce the requirement for early season irrigation.

The environmental benefits of Canterbury’s Central Plains Water irrigation scheme are already evident as the scheme progresses into stage two, says chief executive Derek Crombie.

The proposed multi-million dollar Hunter Downs Water (HDW) irrigation scheme aims to provide certainty for South Canterbury farmers and for generations to come.

Every little bit helps, say North Canterbury farmers, as a series of wintry weather fronts have finally brought some rain into a parched region.

'Farmers stealing from farmers' is how dairy farmer David Quigley describes thieves stealing 36 of his premier milking cows in night-time raids in December.

Canterbury farms are about to become the most technologically capable in New Zealand.

Infant formula and nutritionals will dominate Canterbury milk processor Synlait's sales over the next seven months.