increase font size
Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes the announcement of extra Government support for farmers and growers in Southland and parts of Otago after the region was hit by severe wet weather.
Up to $50,000 in additional Government support is being made available to farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as the current challenging weather conditions are classified as a medium-scale adverse event.
Federated Farmers Otago president Luke Kane says the funding provides a morale boost for farmers going through a very tough time.
"I think wellbeing support is where the funding is best directed right now, because we're really battling down here and the mood is low," Kane says.
"Unless someone can give us 10 days of sunshine, then helping farmers with that valuable mental health support is what we need most," he says.
He says the current hope is that the weather will pass quickly, the water will subside and the storm might mark the end of a tough six weeks for significant chunks of the provinces.
"There are certainly some issues here and Rural Support Trust's work will be really, really important in the coming weeks," he says.
Meanwhile, Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick says the Government's announcement means a lot to farmers on the ground.
"It's so helpful just to know we're being thought of - that's huge for morale," Herrick says.
"Sometimes you just need to know that the rest of the country knows what you're going through."
Herrick says the extra funding will enable Rural Support Trust to continue helping farmers through trying times.
"At the end of the day, it’s not so much financial support that farmers need right now - it’s mental health support, and that’s what Rural Support Trust are there for," he says.
"Once the water goes down and things dry out a bit, that’s when farmers will really need the help. That’s when things will hit home."
Federated Farmers is working closely other agencies and monitoring the situation in Otago and Southland today.
It encourages any farmers who need help to contact Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254, Federated Farmers on 0800 327 646, their milk supply companies, DairyNZ and/or Beef + Lamb.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
