There's $3.9 million worth of good news for eastern Taranaki hill-country farmers.
That's the amount of fresh funding for a well-established scheme assisting them to prevent erosion and diversify their businesses. This includes grants for forestry establishment and other land-use change, soil conservation planting, and fencing retired and reverting land.
"All the region's hill country farmers are eligible for assistance under the scheme," says Don Shearman, Land Services Manager for Taranaki Regional Council, which administers South Taranaki and Regional Erosion Support Scheme (STRESS).
"The only precondition is they must have one of the Council's farm plans – hundreds already do, and we're keen to hear from others who are interested."
The Council works one-on-one with farmers to prepare the free plans, of which there are three types: comprehensive plans, agro-forestry plans, and conservation plans.