There are reports of rotary dairy sheds being badly damaged around Kaikoura and parts of North Canterbury by the earthquake.

Dairy farmers in the Emu Plain area near the epicentre of today's large earthquake are helping each other out, with many of them unable to milk because of shattered milking platforms.

Dairy farmers in the lower North Island also faced power outages after a series of earthquakes this morning.

Earthquakes can result in considerable damage and disruptions to farm businesses. Following is information offered by DairyNZ to help farmers and farm workers deal with the aftermath of earthquakes.

Generators are being organised for dairy farmers in the upper South Island so that they could milk cows, says Federated Farmers North Canterbury Dairy chairperson Michael Woodward.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says while farmers in the North Island have taken a hit from the weather, in the South Island the dairy season started well.

A farm dairy effluent system must collect all animal excreta deposited in contained areas, plus any other liquid or material coming into contact with it, says system designer Numedic.

JCB agriculture has added a new compact, articulated wheeled loader to its range, useful in confined spaces on chicken, pig or dairy farms, and in nurseries and equestrian centres.

Adequate storage offers flexibility for effluent application to fit around farm activities and irrigation conditions, according to DairyNZ.

Two dairy farm workers died between 2009 and 2011 while servicing pumps on pontoons floating on farm effluent ponds.