Enhanced Taskforce Green welcomed by farmers

Federated Farmers president, Don Nicolson welcomes the announcement today that Enhanced Taskforce Green funding will help farmers with the clean-up and recovery from recent storms in the Horowhenua and North Canterbury regions.

“This announcement will be a great relief to farmers who have had floods on top of drought,” said Mr Nicolson.

Enhanced Taskforce Green will cover the wages of workers and supervisors to help with the clean-up operation in areas where there is too much damage for local councils and farmers to manage alone.

“It is a busy time of year on the farm with stock lambing and calving. The Enhanced Taskforce Green funding will assist farmers immensely with the clearing of trees and debris, repairing fencing and buildings and general clean-up,” Mr Nicolson said.

Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre representative for North Canterbury, Dugald McLean, whose farm suffered major damage in the storm, says there is a tremendous amount of work to do in the Cheviot, Omihi and Waiau regions including kilometres of fencing that needs to be cleared of debris. An estimated 80 farms have been badly affected in North Canterbury with some losing all their flood gates.

Volunteers have also responded to Federated Farmers call for help in North Canterbury and the Pohangina Valley in the Manawatu with working-bees in both areas on the weekend.

President for North Canterbury, Chris Sundstrum says the response has been overwhelming with about 100 volunteers, including some from the North Island, offering up to four or five days of their time.

President for Manawatu-Rangitikei, Gordon McKellar says he is in communication with the Manawatu District Council and has requested they also ask for Enhanced Taskforce Green funding for the Pohangina Valley which suffered major damage and heavy tree loss in the storms.