Aid comes to farmers as drought continues

‘‘The rain is not quite finished yet.’’ Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams

Hay and silage is being sent from around the country to help drought-struck Taranaki farmers as their generosity to other regions in years gone by is reciprocated.

‘‘When we donated feed in the past, we never thought that farmers would get it back, it was that there was a need and we had spare feed so we gave it,’’ Taranaki Federated Farmers president Donald McIntyre said.

‘‘Now it’s payback in that regards, people helping others in a time of need.

‘‘That’s what farmers do, we help one another.’’

Federated Farmers has opened a feed line calling for applications from those in need of extra feed, and offers from farmers that have feed to spare.

They were thrilled with the response, McIntyre said.

‘‘We’ve had some offered from the Bay of Plenty, North of Auckland, even the South Island.’’

Some feed was being donated and others had given money to help transport it, while others had supplements for sale.

The line would remain open until March 16, then applications would be matched with available feed.

‘‘It’s not on a first in, first served basis, it will done on need, we’re trying to be fair on everyone.’’

Rain this week was a welcome sign the drought was ending, but the effects of the summer dry, which began in spring weeks earlier than the usual seasonal dry spell, would be felt for months to come, into the coming spring, he said.

‘‘It’s not just next month, it does have much longer term implications. A lot of these guys have totally depleted all their reserves.’’

Maize crops around the region had been exceptional, despite many being blown over in the recent cyclone, and this would help, he said.

Farmers were also hoping the coming winter and spring would be normal, weather-wise.

‘‘This year we’ve had most of the challenges - a wet spring followed by a dry summer - so we’re not wishing for too much rain now,’’ McIntyre said.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said a southerly wind this week could help bring more rain to the south of the region, instead of going north, which happened with recent northerly winds.

In the 24 hours before Thursday afternoon, Stratford had received

115mm of rain, but Hawera got just

51.8mm and Eltham 77mm.

At Cape Egmont just 39mm fell. and New Plymouth received

42.5mm.

‘‘The rain is not quite finished yet, there will be more from the south and south east until it clears for a fine weekend.’’

In December the Ministry for Primary Industries classified the drought in Taranaki as a mediumscale event that would last six months.

‘‘The need for financial support for farming families has not gone away as it will take about a month for rain to translate into feed,’’ Kate Hellstrom, director of resource policy, said in an emailed statement.

MPI funded the local Rural Support Trusts to carry out activities from technology transfer to mental wellness support under the classification of medium-scale events, and continued to coordinate information and updates between government and relevant agribusiness groups, she said.

The Ministry for Primary Industries was undertaking a feed survey to quantify the scale of the issue and help businesses and people make informed decisions to get through the coming months intact.

‘‘The rain has definitely increased soil moisture as you note and only part of the area remains notably drier than usual for this time of year.

‘‘So it isn’t in hydrological drought but the impacts of the drought continue to resonate in our rural communities,’’ Hellstrom added.