Farmers urge proactive attitude towards drought

Federated Farmers is welcoming today’s announcement to extend the areas affected by drought and are urging farmers to work proactively to minimise the effects.

“The decision formally recognises that farmers in Waikato, Rodney, Papakura and Manukau are dealing with sustained periods of dry weather and of course all the associated problems,” says David Rose, Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson.

“The decision potentially provides farmers in these areas with access to targeted assistance and to a range of support measures. More importantly it raises the profile of the problem in these communities.

“It’s very important that farmers have the support of their community when dealing with the stress that a drought causes.

“Federated Farmers will continue to work with the Rural Support Trusts in Northland and Waikato and with other stakeholders who work in this area.

“It’s not only the Waikato that’s feeling ‘the dry’. In Otago the situation is being closely monitored, they think it’s the driest it’s been there in over twenty years.

“This comes at the same time as Northland suffers the worst drought in over forty years.

“We’re urging farmers affected by drought to work proactively to manage the situation and not leave decisions till the last minute, when options will be limited by circumstance.

“Farmers who need feed or have feed available can advertise this for free, through the Federated Farmers drought service. We urge these farmers to ring 0800 DROUGHT,” Mr Rose concluded.