Monday, 14 November 2016 09:52

Generators scrambled to power milking

Written by 
Generators are being organised for dairy farmers in the upper South Island. Generators are being organised for dairy farmers in the upper South Island.

Generators are being organised for dairy farmers in the upper South Island so that they could milk cows, says Federated Farmers North Canterbury Dairy chairperson Michael Woodward.

He says farmers north of Culverden have been hit hard by the 7.5 earthquake and aftershocks.

Woodward told Rural News website that many farms were without power; there were also reports of rotary milking platforms damaged.

“We have been told herringbone milking sheds are okay; some rotary platforms were dislodged by the earthquake,” he says.

The biggest problems facing affected farmers are power supply and accessibility to farms.

“We are organising generators from farms in non-affected areas and making arrangements to send them to farmers,” Woodward says.

He says the hardest hit areas include Waiau, where damaged roads and bridges affect accessibility to farms; milk collection will be a problem.

“Road closures mean tankers will be going nowhere near some of the farms.”

More like this

CODC Rejects Plan to Spread Sludge on Lauder Farmland

Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.

CODC Sludge-to-Lauder Plan Slammed by Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.

Federated Farmers Welcomes RMA Replacement Passing

Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.

Featured

HortNZ Backs National’s Plan for Vegetable Growers

The National Party’s policies to make it easier to grow fresh vegetables, secure reliable water and energy and simplify farm planning are practical changes that will give growers the confidence to invest, according to Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter