Taranaki drought leaves farmers limping toward season's end
Limping towards the end of the season is how Richard Walker describes the situation he's facing due to prolonged drought in coastal areas of Taranaki.
Up to 25 buses brought about 2000 farmers from afar a field as Napier, Taihape, Wanganui and South Wairarapa to the brewery for a fun day off the farm that included a helicopter beer drop, topdressing aeroplane display, stock-whip cracking competition, mechanical bull-riding competition, giveaways, barbecues and of course free cold Tui.
Chris Dooney, who farms a 300ha sheep farm near Waipukurau, says he even though has seen his fair share of droughts, this summer has been one of the toughest in years. As a result, Dooney has taken a "proactive" approach in reducing stock numbers and keeping feed demand down to a manageable level.
"Most farmers are doing it hard and we've learned lessons from past droughts and have had to be very proactive in preparing for the winter," he says.
Mr Dooney, who attended the last Drought Shout at Tui Brewery in 2008, says the event was a morale booster for drought affected farmers.
"It's just fantastic," he says. "It's a great opportunity to get off the farm for a few hours and chat to other farmers in similar positions and gain another perspective from them. I'm also really appreciative of all the businesses that have supported today. It makes you feel like you're all in this together."
PGG Wrightson regional manager Duncan Fletcher, one of the Drought Shout's organisers, says he is overwhelmed with the turnout and the support he has received from local, regional and national businesses.
"The amazing thing about today is that businesses came to us wanting to contribute to the Drought Shout in some way and that's been really encouraging. I think it reinforces how closely linked the agricultural sector and local business community is and that we're all in this battle together."
Today's Drought Shout is the brain child of business leaders from Tui Brewery, PGG Wrightsons and Baker & Associates and follows the successful Drought Shout held at Tui Brewery in 2008, which attracted a crowd of 2000 thirsty farmers.
Local, regional and national businesses collectively donated more than $78,000 to today's Drought Shout while an additional $34,000 worth of in-kind support was gifted. This included a truck of silage, a water tank, $1500 worth of slug bait for crops, a Stihl Chainsaw, a cricket bat signed by the Black Caps, a Pure Pleasure Package escape at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park in Masterton and Mars Bars.
All supporting companies are named on the www.bakerag.co.nz website (and listed below), while any monies left over will be donated to the Federated Farmer's Drought Relief Fund.
Organisers of today's Drought Shout would like to thank the following gold and silver sponsors that made today possible.
GOLD SPONSORS: Sharpes Stockfeed, AllFlex, Westpac, ASB, BNZ, ANZ, Rabo Bank, Sellar & Sellar, Vodafone, PGG Wrightson, Printcraft, Motunui Romney, Breadcraft, MacDougalls, Tranzit Coachlines, RD1, Rival Wealth, Property Brokers, Taueru Lime Ltd, Elders Livestock Ltd, MORE FM, Kelso, Seales Winslow, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Bisset Honda, Southey Sayer, Farman Turkington Forestry Ltd, Farmlands, MotoShop, McEntee Hire, NZX Agri, Affco, MCI & Associates, Technology Solutions, WoodNet, FMG, Lowe Corporation, Raymond's BBQ Gourmet, Z Tags, John Griffith Livestock Ltd, Tararua Heliwork Ltd, RadioLive, Devan, Swazi, Swandri, Todd Johnson Contracting, Keinzley AgVet, Silver Fern Farms, Taylor Preston, Westmeat Online, Dannevirke Honda, Beef+Lamb, Gallagher and LIC.
SILVER SPONSORS: Waipawa Buses, Rightway Accountants, Agriseeds, Lawson Avery Levy & Armstrong, Tararua Chartered Accountants, My Plumbing Depot, Adamson Shaw Limited, Wool Wairarapa Limited, Tararua Veterinary Services Ltd, Logan Gold Walsh Lawyers Ltd, Reisima Haulage Ltd, Kiwi Lumber Ltd, WCM Legal, Coopers Animal Health, Delmain Fine Foods, Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union, Seeds & Cereals Ltd, Hawkes Bay Rugby Football Union, Mars, New Zealand Cricket, Martinborough Transport, Taranaki Rugby Football Union, Hurricanes, Farmers Transport, Chapel Street Veterinary Centre, Wee Red Barn, Pahiatua New World, Tweet Bird Catering, Destination Wairarapa.
