Northland could be declared an official drought zone within weeks if the dry, windy weather continues.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) says soil moisture levels are so low, that the region is dry enough to be considered a drought zone for the third time in four summers.
A meeting in Okaihau on Tuesday will offer farmers strategies to cope with the dry summer. Although farmers are on rain-watch, they're not panicking just yet, having become used to coping with drier conditions in recent years.
Niwa's assessment of the conditions, with information about how people in the agricultural sector were coping, would combine to help the Minister for Primary Industries decide whether to declare a drought event. That would likely bring support in the form of grants and assistance packages for farmers suffering through Northland's third dry in four summers.
Niwa climate scientist Andrew Tait said a serious change in rainfall for Northland was the only chance of conditions improving here.