“Our roading network — local and state highways — are in a dire state, and it will take years to rebuild and restore both.”
Mr Williams said considering what the region had been through he remained astounded that the damage he has seen has not been worse.
“We have incredible soils in our region and given the weather onslaught of the last 15 months you could forgive them if they had decided to give up and collapse flat from the weight of water.
“That hasn’t happened although it has taken a heavy toll on the farming community, and all of us district-wide have been affected to some degree or another.
“We have lost access on to our farms with farm tracks galore impacted.
“We are still trying to quantify the extent of the damage on individual farms.
“Best reports back are that the damage from earlier in the year has been made much worse.,” Mr Williams said.
“The farms that largely escaped the wrath of the cyclones have also now been significantly impacted, with extensive slipping and more farm infrastructure being damaged, fences culverts and tracks.
“We have been lucky that the vast majority of farmers are yet to start lambing and calving yet.”
Mr Williams said despite the difficulties farmers still pull their boots on every day and find a way to farm.
“We have no choice. Our animals need us to ensure they are in the best possible place, come what may.”
Mr Williams said plenty of farmers had gone back to using horses, which he said should please the Government.
“Or maybe it will just offset the emissions for the Prime Minister’s second plane he had to take to China.”
Despite the weather, pastoral farming remained the backbone of the region for employment and income, he said.
‘We are proud but utterly exhausted’
“We are proud and resilient but also utterly exhausted.
“When the sun finally comes back out we will rebuild and replace what we have lost and continue to provide high quality protein for people to live healthy lives.
“We will also take some time to assess the carnage that has been left behind and look to retire areas that are no longer economically viable to farm, and to improve areas that are still economically viable.
“What farmers need now is some sunshine and some space to clear their heads and plan a way forward,” he said.
“To all the farmers out there, you are not in this alone.
“Every one of us if going through something similar.
“Its OK to be not OK.
“Pick up the phone and call the rural support trust, or Hear4U, or Farmstrong.
“The sun will shine again and we will get through this together.”
Agfirst consultant Peter Andrew said it was hard to gauge the extent of farm damage.
“It’s going to take a while to get a full understanding and get a clear picture of how bad the damage has been.
“Based on what I’ve seen though some farmers will have quite a lot of land slumping on their properties.
“The key difference from Cyclone Gabrielle was the cyclone was very much a river flow event that caused all the destruction.
“This time the rivers have not been part of the problem,” he said.
“It’s come down to saturated soils that have collapsed in a lot of places.”
Farm consultant Hilton Collier said the latest weather event had “simply added to the misery that the region has already had foisted on to it”.
“There’s a lot more mental stress and anxiousness out there among farmers.
“We’re all over the rain and our ability to do stuff outside,” he said.
“We’re also seeing, despite a good autumn, that feed levels are starting to drop.
“Those farmers who are considering reducing stock levels will need to do that sooner than rather than later.”
Gisborne-Wairoa Federated Farmers president Hunaara Waerehu said roading issues on the East Coast were of particular concern.
“. . . especially the Tauwhareparae Road, access to Waipiro Bay and Horoera at the top of the Cape.
“The ability to move stock and to gain access to feed stock are issues,” he said.
“Obviously the recovery costs from this latest event will come on top of the cost of Gabrielle.”
Mr Waerehu said there was also real concern around the mental situation for farmers.
“We want them to know the federation will do everything it can to help, and to direct farmers to appropriate help.”
