It was timely for farmers and croppers, and while grapegrowers could have done without the rain at the weekend so near to the start of the vintage, the breeze since has helped.

Gisborne and the Poverty Bay Flats received about an inch, or 24 millimetres, of rain overnight on Saturday.

Other rural areas of the district received 25-50 millimetres.

“It seems to have been fairly widespread,” said Federated Farmers provincial president Peter Jex-Blake.

“It soaked in over a couple of days so it has set the pastoral scene up for the next 4-6 weeks.”

Gisborne Grapegrowers president Doug Bell said they could have done without it.

“We dodged a bit of a bullet when it came to the rain at the weekend.

“The winds since Saturday’s showers have dried the berries out quickly and that’s exactly what was needed.”

The first crops in the main grape harvest will start to come off the vines of the district sometime early next week.

“The pressure remains for some growers with powdery mildew,” said Mr Bell.

Blocks with the mildew will remain affected but growers were generally on top of the situation, he said.

“From now on, as the grapes start to ripen, the impact of the disease will reduce.”

Mr Jex-Blake said it would have been welcome rain for the district’s croppers.

“The crops were starting to get a bit thirsty and this will have kicked them back into life again.”

About a month ago it had been starting to get a bit dry, he said.

“But since then it has been turning into a pretty good season.

“The only cautionary downside for farmers could be facial eczema.

“If we get warm, moist and humid weather it could become a threat.”

As far as he was aware there were no areas of the district at this stage with dangerously high facial eczema spore counts.

LeaderBrand general manager Richard Burke said the rain was more disruptive than anything.

“Easterlies are always dangerous because they can turn into extended wet periods and it doesn’t matter what crop you’re growing.

“We need for these damp, overcast conditions to clear away and for the sun to come back out,” Mr Burke said.

It had been good though that the humidity had remained low, he said.

The fine weather with light winds forecast for the rest of the week will be welcomed by all.

Source - http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/