DairyNZ opinion: Why farmers can’t afford to ignore the next big weather event

Campbell Parker, DairyNZ Chief Executive.

Content brought to you by DairyNZ

New Zealand’s wild weather is unpredictable, but one thing is certain, there will be more of it.

Over the past decade, farmers have faced flooding, drought, damaging winds, snow, and cyclones.

The destructive wind in Southland in October is just the latest example. It led to a state of emergency with around 50,000 people without power at the height of the storm, and more than 500 dairy farms without immediate power generation.

The next weather event is not if but when.

That’s why it’s so important to prepare now, because how well you prepare will help determine how quickly you recover.

Having a farm business continuity plan is essential. There is a handy guide on the DairyNZ website which walks you through the steps on preparedness, what to do, and who to contact during a severe weather event.

Having operating procedures in place is the first step, so everyone knows in the event of an emergency where to meet, who needs to be accounted for, and where to get help.

Make sure staff are trained, are aware of emergency procedures, and have a contact list ready.

Having a reliable back-up power source is critical - whether that’s a generator on-farm or a community-based generator. Checking that they are working on a regular basis and available to use is important.

Make sure you have dependable mobile and internet connections - consider using a service like Starlink if traditional networks go down.

Emergency packs should be ready to go, with food and water regularly checked so you have enough resources to last for a few days.

Farmers are busy, and this can seem to be another costly item to add to the to-do list.

The effects of not being prepared can be devastating, from managing the impacts of lost power and keeping animals healthy.

That affects your business and your livelihood.

It can take a huge physical and mental toll.

Being prepared means you can recover quickly and get back to business as usual as quickly as possible.

It means having peace of mind.

And it means you can help your neighbours and communities.

A Southland farmer recently shared how being prepared helped her during last month’s severe weather.

She had generators for each shed; staff were trained in generator use, and plans were in place for any disruption to milking.

For her, that meant that no milk was dumped and no change in staff hours and rosters.

It might sound simple, but it can make a significant difference.

DairyNZ is here for you now and in an emergency, and they are working to strengthen their farm systems so they can future-proof the way they farm.

There are some wonderful tools and resources to help you get ready, and their regional teams are on the ground to help review plans and share knowledge.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”