Southland, South Otago farmers to get support

Photo / NZPA

About 70 volunteers will be deployed tomorrow to help Southland and South Otago farmers struggling after last week's snowfall.

Representatives from Federated Farmers, the Rural Support Trusts, Alliance Group, FMG, PGG Wrightson and CRT are expected to hit the road tomorrow, visiting farmers individually. They will be delivering non-perishable food, fact sheets, and providing a sympathetic ear.

Federated Farmers president Don Nicholson estimates farmers are facing losses of more than $50 million following snow, icy rain, and chilling winds last week.

He told NZPA there has been a 20 to 25 per cent drop in milk collection, and about 500,000 lambs have been killed by the storm.

Some farmers lost pregnant or lactating ewes to metabolic illnesses as they ran short of feed just as the animals were in most need of good nutrition.

Agriculture Minister David Carter on Thursday declared a medium-level adverse event in the area, triggering government relief measures, including funding for Rural Support Trusts to provide help, welfare support, and farm management advice.

Janet Gregory, of the Rural Support Trust Southland, said the visits are the first phase of an assistance package.

"This is the agricultural sector working together at a time of real need.

"The highest priority is making sure that the stress and strain isn't taking too much of a toll on farmers and their families," she said.

"While a few items of food and some information may seem small it demonstrates they're not alone and is only the first part of what we wish to achieve."

Mr Nicholson said the drive will also help identify the immediate needs of farmers, such as providing labour and machinery to clean up the dead animals.

Farmers would later get advice on what they can do to get back on their feet, he said.

"However you look at this, there is no way these farmers are going to get through this year without needing a lot of luck on their side and perhaps new thinking. Can they plant a crop to offset some of their losses?"

Mr Nicholson said volunteers from Invercargill will first visit "severely affected" eastern Southland, south of State Highway 1 and east of the Mataura River.

Then, they'll head back south and visit other regions within the next couple of days.

- NZPA