Flooding throughout Canterbury has hit farming communities like those in Sheffield especially hard, causing widespread damage and loss of feed. Photo / NZME
Flooding throughout Canterbury has hit farming communities like those in Sheffield especially hard, causing widespread damage and loss of feed. Photo / NZME
Hawke's Bay farmers are working to return the favour, offering supplementary stock feed to the flood-affected farmers in Canterbury, who offered their own feed during last year's drought in the Bay.
Poppy Renton, who created the Hawke's Bay Drought page to help organise feed runs and support to impacted farmersin the region, said it was the least they could do to help.
"Hawke's Bay farmers were so grateful when other farmers from all areas of New Zealand helped them out last year.
"When we saw that Canterbury farmers are struggling after devastating floods they were more than happy to help out."
Between two to three months' worth of rain fell over two days across Canterbury, causing massive flooding as riverbanks burst and leaving farmland, buildings and equipment underwater.
The Government declared the flooding an "adverse event" for Canterbury, meaning $500,000 in funding can be unlocked for farmers and growers.
Poppy Renton, the woman behind the Hawke's Bay Drought support group, is returning the favour by helping organise a feed run to flood-impacted farmers in Canterbury. Photo / NZME
"They helped us so the least we can do is help them," Renton said.
She said the response to a post calling for feed donations and support from local farmers had been incredible.
So far they have organised about 18 bales of hay to be taken down, but Renton is hoping to find another 26 or so in the Maraekakaho area to fill a unit load.
"The donated feed process is going to take a while to know what we need and organising transportation.
"We do know that we have a number of dairy farmers who have calves due in three weeks' time that need good-quality baleage."
Renton said it was important that farmers only donate feed "surplus to their requirements", as the region was heading into a dry winter and could experience an unexpected weather event itself.
She said they would continue to look at other ways of supporting those in Canterbury.
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Jim Galloway was supportive of the gesture, though it was still early days in the flood damage assessment and response.
"It's still being worked through and assessed what farmers need.
"One of the things people can do straight away is give friends and family down there a ring and talk to them."
He said it was "brilliant" that people wanted to help and there would definitely be a need for feed or grazing.
"We are grateful for what came out of Canterbury last year."
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Jim Galloway said the needs of Canterbury farmers were still being "worked through and assessed". Photo / NZME
Galloway encouraged people to make a note of what feed or services they could offer, while also waiting for more advice from the officials.
He also cautioned people to only offer surplus - "We are still pretty short [of feed] here".
Those looking to contribute to the feed run can get in touch via the Hawke's Bay Drought Facebook page or by contacting Renton directly.
Hawke's Bay farmers are working to see what they can do to help Canterbury farmers and growers impacted by severe flooding. Photo / NZME
The national Feed Coordination Service can also help connect farmers with supplementary feed which has been donated or listed for sale.
The national feed co-ordinator, Kate Wood, can be contacted by email on kate@ruraldirections.co.nz
• Farmers needing expert support to do a feed budget can contact the Feed Planning Service by phoning 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) or 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 432 479 69). Farmers who need wellbeing support should call their Rural Support Trust on 0800 RURAL HELP or 0800 787 254.
