Farmers focus on the future

Henley dairy farmers Reon Hamilton and his fiance Emma Keene with son Cooper (2) at a flood recovery event at the Henley Community Centre yesterday. Photo / Gregor Richardson

As the ''adrenaline wears off'', farmers battling floods devised plans yesterday to protect their livelihoods.

DairyNZ Southland and South Otago regional leader Richard Kyte said ''flood recovery events'' were held in Henley and Milton yesterday.

The events - run by Beef + Lamb, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Ministry of Primary Industries and Rural Support Trust - help farmers make a plan to deal with the flood.

''The initial adrenaline wears off and then you are into your calving, which is the hardest part of the year. The timing couldn't be worse,'' Mr Kyte said.

Farmer Reon Hamilton said the dairy farm he leased in Centre Rd in Henley remained flooded.
He was philosophical about the flood.
''It could have been worse.''
The storm could have hit in a fortnight right in the thick of calving, he said.
While the farm land was flooded, the house and sheds were dry,
''There are people worse off,'' Emma Keene, his fiance, said.
Mr Hamilton said the family had farmed the land for several years and seen floods before ''but not this bad.''
He attended the Henley event yesterday to get information, including when the water on his farm was expected to recede and ''what to do going forward''.
''We've had to take all the cows off the chow because the crops all under water.''
The final meeting at Clutha Vets in Wilson Rd, Balclutha, from 12.30pm today.
shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz