Dry summer ahead
Released 13 Dec 2010
Matt Long, Federated Farmers Northland provincial president
What a year! We started with a drought in Northland, then floods in the lower North Island, earthquakes in Canterbury and elsewhere the worst snow storms in decades. And now full circle back to drought that is biting earlier than last year. Federated Farmers Adverse Events spokesperson, David Rose will be wondering if he will ever get a rest.
In Northland things are looking challenging, soil moisture and river flows in some areas are as bad as they were at the worst time last season and summer has only just begun.
The Rural Support Trust asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to declare a Drought on 2 December 2010.
At that same drought committee meeting, several key messages were raised. One is to have contingency plans for all possible scenarios, second to get professional help from consultants or accountants early on, to make best use of your resources and involve your bank manager to sort out what plans are financially optimal.
If MAF does declare an adverse event, help will be available from the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP) including assistance to identify options from Ag-Recovery Facilitators, rural assistance payments to put emergency food on family tables, or access to counselling.
You can also visit to the Federated Farmers website for drought advice and the Federated Farmers feed list. The feed list will be operating again if conditions continue to deteriorate. So if you have spare feed and want to donate or sell it, or if you are in need of feed for your livestock, give Federated Farmers a call on 0800 FARMING. This service is available whether on not you have paid your subscription.
One of the main things you can do for yourself is keep the weather in perspective; you may not be meeting your expectations in terms of production and profit but that is only a small part of life, take in the big picture and remember to enjoy your lifestyle.
Now really is the time to take advantage of our summer weather and get to the beach, enjoy the company of friends and family and have a Merry Christmas.
To talk to us about this or any other issues, please call 0800 FARMING
