Northland:

While the East received up to 100mm of rain there are no reports of crop loss through flooding. The West received less rain but there was some minor wind damage, especially to the outside crop rows. Generally crops look promising and should continue to progress well through flowering.

Waikato:

Until New Year many crops were showing signs of moisture stress, but 50-85mm of rain last week has crops well set up for the flowering period. The downside is further weed flushes and favourable conditions for common rust, Northern Corn leaf blight (NCLB) and eyespot. Check crops regularly, especially if paddocks have a previous history of NCLB. If these wetter conditions prevail, applications of fungicides may well give an economic return.

Most crops are now at or approaching tassel and this is the time to be applying fungicides. Early planted shorter season crops have now silked and pollination is occurring. Crops are generally looking most promising.

Bay of Plenty:

Some very timely rain fell last week and despite a few weed issues, most maize crops are looking promising and many are tasselling and silking. Unfortunately, conditions now favour leaf diseases, so growers are advised to continue scouting crops.

Gisborne:

Many maize crops were planted later than usual, but recent rain has been very beneficial, they are growing well. Apart from a few weed issues crops are looking promising.

Hawke’s Bay:

30mm of rain fell on 2 January and set crops up for flowering (early planted crops already tasselling and silking). Some crops have weed issues but generally crops look very good.

Taranaki:

Apart from sheltered areas, winds have slowed maize growth and crops generally are looking just average. However, recent rainfall has been very beneficial and with heat crops should enter a more rapid development phase. Early planted crops are now starting to tassel.

Manawatu:

Recent rainfall and further heat is seeing maize crops starting to develop rapidly. No real problems have been reported.

Wairarapa:

A frost between Christmas and New Year damaged crops in sheltered spots. However, crops have responded rapidly to last week's rain. Very strong winds on Friday caused some lodging.

Canterbury:

Most maize crops reached fencepost height by early New Year and are now going through a rapid growth phase. Strong cooler winds have not been favourable, but generally crops are on track.

Rainfall in the last week was useful, but generally growers are keeping up with moisture requirements through irrigation.