More support for drought-suffering farmers

  • 20/01/2016
More support for drought-suffering farmers

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has confirmed an extension of support for drought-stricken farmers until the end of June.

The announcement comes as farmers continue to worry about coming conditions, despite recent rain bringing some relief.

"Extra funding of up to $150,000 will go to local Rural Support Trusts with $40,000 of this going to the North Canterbury Trust," says Mr Guy.

Speaking with farmers at a sheep and beef farm in Weka Pass, Hurunui, Mr Guy acknowledged this is the third time the classification has been extended.

"Marlborough, Canterbury and parts of Otago were originally classified as a medium-scale event on 12 February 2015 and have had very little rainfall for more than a year now," he says.

"Early destocking means that there are fewer animals to feed and farmers have good plans in place to ride out the tough season, keeping their remaining animals in good condition."

He says it reinforces the importance of irrigation and water storage projects and was pleased to see the Hurunui Water Project can now begin planning and construction following a High Court ruling last month. The water project has received around $2 million in Government funding so far.

READ MORE: Farmers: South Island rain not a drought-breaker

However, Federated Farmers Otago president Phill Hunt says farmers he's spoken to are beginning to sell their capital stock because they've realised it's too late to build up a winter reserve over the last 12 months from the drought.

He says while rain is great for boosting morale, it doesn't take too many warm and dry days to get back to ground zero.

Mr Hunt says if farmers don't get consistent rain soon, the next few months will be particularly difficult.

The Green Party has weighed in on the drought saying the government and farmers must make stopping dangerous climate change a top priority.

The party says an Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report released today, highlights that climate change will expose farmers to more frequent droughts like the one being experienced already.

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