DairyNZ's General Manager for extension, Andrew Reid spoke to The Country Early Edition's Rowena Duncum today about how ex-Cyclone Gita has impacted farmers in Taranaki, the West Coast and the top of the South.
Reid says it has been an interesting time for the region as it wasn't long ago that "we were talking about drought...it's almost like a double whammy for these farmers that are affected down there."
Wind has had a big impact as well as rain says Reid with roofs and fencing damaged along with slips causing access issues for farmers who have been dealing with road closures, power outages, and missed milkings.
Reid says farmers should look after their family and staff's safety, before moving on to check stock, neighbours, buildings and supplies, "cows are actually reasonably resilient in terms of being able to go several days without being milked, on the proviso that they're kept well fed and well watered."
