Drought: Farmers smell their grass rotting

Some Grey Valley farmers could smell the grass rotting in their browned paddocks this morning after the rain that brought some relief to the South Island, passed up the country.

Most areas got a good downfall overnight with the earlier, gentle drizzle softening paddocks.

But with time running out to grow grass before winter, Federated Farmers West Coast says the rainfall was only a "drop in the bucket'', and this morning the skies above Rotomanu were blue again.