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The government has unlocked funds to support farmers ahead of the next La Niña season.
Northland farm affected by drought. Source: 1 NEWS
Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor has allocated $ 350,000 in funding for food support services and new animal welfare coordinators.
Earlier this year, a drought was declared for the North Island, parts of the South Island, and Chatham.
“That statement unlocked government funding to support farmers and producers. Forecasters are now predicting more difficult weather conditions this summer,” O’Connor said.
Niwa has confirmed that La Niña could mean below-average rainfall for the South Island and the lower North Island and possible flooding in parts of the north of the country.
O’Connor encouraged farmers to use the services to help them have peace of mind for the summer.
“Many farmers and growers have experienced the effects of severe weather events before and have been proactively preparing by planning alternative food sources or beginning to reduce stocks.”
The services are funded by the Ministry of Primary Industries and will be provided by industry groups such as Beef and Lamb New Zealand and Federated Farmers.
They help farmers complete a feeding plan and connect farmers who are in short supply of feed with available sources of supplements, such as silage and hay.
South Island Beef and Lamb General Manager John Ladley encourages farmers to consider implementing plans to ensure livestock are well cared for.
“These include carrying out a simple feeding budget, early weaning of the lambs, scoring the body condition of the ewes, setting trigger dates for identified management actions, and ensuring supplemental feed supplies or off-farm grazing,” he said. Ladley.
In addition to food support, seven new Regional Animal Welfare Emergency Coordinators and two National Animal Welfare Emergency Coordinators have been hired at MPI and six new Rural Community Support and Agriculture Advisors are being recruited in Northland, Taupo, Wairarapa, Manawatū , the west coast and Southland.
O’Connor said the country’s 14 rural support trusts, which received additional funding earlier this year to help regions recover from the drought and Covid-19, continue to support the well-being of farmers and help develop the resilience in rural communities.
