Federation helps flood hit farmers

Stock is rescued from the Whangaehu Valley during the June floods. This was familiar sight across the Lower North Island and Taranaki, with many farmers still in recovery mode.

When it started raining on Friday, June 19, little did we know what was to follow.

As the weekend went on, it was clear by Saturday night this was more than just heavy rain. For those in the Manawatu/ Rangitikei, Wanganui and Taranaki areas the subsequent deluge was the largest in some time.

Federated Farmers mobilised and by Monday morning agricultural stakeholders were called together -- Fonterra, DairyNZ, Beef + LambNZ, the Rural Support Trusts and the council met at our Palmerston North office.

The hastily arranged response team set out to co-ordinate support to those affected farmers and communities, to ensure everyone's time was spent as efficiently as possible.

Between liaising with respective councils, the Rural Support Trusts and those other organisations, the National Flood Response Team met daily in the first two weeks to ensure farmers' welfare was being cared for, and that they were receiving the necessary assistance available at the time.

As this flooding was across several provinces, it took a significant logistical effort between the Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu/Rangitikei executives.

In the initial days following the floods, our local executive had the job of calling around our members to check that farmers were doing alright.

Many farmers just appreciated the call from another farmer.

Meanwhile, a number of the executive were still finding their feet, having rescued lambs from rising waters, or having paddocks flooded and fences ruined.

Since the floods, our Palmerston North office has been a hive of activity, acting as the co-ordination centre for MPI and the Rural Support Trust in the Manawatu/ Rangitikei.

Even after six weeks, data is still coming in from farmers who are only just now able to assess the extent of damage on their farm -- and some are still unable to reach the back paddock.

There has been an amazing pool of community strength. The flood recovery is not over -- it will take months, if not a year, for farmers to get back on their feet.

The floods were declared a medium-scale event and we are advocating to central government, with support of district councils, for increased funding for those affected areas.

We are also working with MPI to ensure that farmers who need additional support have access to this.

Federated Farmers is always there for farmers, that is the foundation of our existence and the recent flood shouts with the Rural Support Trusts, and our primary sector partners are testimony to that.

This has been a wonderful way for farmers to get off the farm and gather at local halls, RSAs and golf clubs.

The flood shouts throughout the affected provinces have been buzzing with activity, too.

The conversation over the barbecue and drinks reflects what a resilient community we are part of -- helping one another, and bouncing back.