Northland: Generally crops are looking promising and with additional rainfall this week should continue to progress well. Pollination is going well, apart from the later planted crops, which are now just beginning to tassel. There are no significant reports of any leaf disease or armyworm outbreaks.

Waikato: Timely rain has fallen this week, which will help crops prone to moisture stress areas/soils which were starting to show some leaf curling. The downside is further weed flushes and favourable environmental conditions for common rust (of which quite a lot is now being observed) and Northern Corn leaf blight (NCLB) and eyespot.

Growers are advised to check their crops regularly, especially if paddocks have a previous history of NCLB. Should these wetter conditions prevail, applications of fungicides may well give an economic return.

Many 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 has occurred and grain fill is underway. Maize crops are generally looking most promising at this stage.

Bay of Plenty: Like the Waikato some very timely rain has fallen and despite a few weed issues, maize crops are looking most promising and most have now pollinated. Conditions now favour leaf diseases, (although no significant reports to date) and growers are advised to continue scouting crops.

Gisborne: Although many maize crops were planted later than usual, the recent rainfall has been very beneficial and with warmth they are growing well. The Gisborne flats are, beginning to dry out, so further rainfall would be most beneficial. Apart from a few weed issues crops are looking promising.

Hawke’s Bay: Crops on the poorer soils were beginning to show signs of moisture stress in the last week. Some crops have weed issues but generally maize crops look very good.

Taranaki: The area is drier than normal and rainfall would be of great benefit, however crops generally look good as they begin to tassel.

Manawatu: Some of the sandy ridges were starting to dry out in the last week. Crops planted on 20 October are starting to tassel. Crops are looking promising at this stage.

Wairarapa: Crops affected by frost between Christmas and New Year have now recovered and most of the region's maize crops are looking promising. The early-planted crops are now beginning to tassel.

Canterbury: Changeable weather conditions, from hot to cool with drizzly rain has not been that conducive to good maize growth but crops continue to progress and the early planted crops are starting to tassel.