increase font size
The Feds have had teams on the ground and in the air.
A week out from the 7.8 earthquake, offers of help logged with the Federated Farmers 0800 FARMING line have topped 300.
The Feds have also had teams on the ground and in the air reaching out to farms at the end of long and winding roads all over North Canterbury and Marlborough, checking how they fared and what they need.
The national farming organisation’s Adverse Events Trust Fund was reactivated mid-week and more than $21,000 has been received. One $10,000 donation came from a farmer keen to help South Island counterparts with emergency supplies, farm equipment, essential tools and materials.
Offers of assistance via the 0800 FARMING line out-number requests for assistance ten to one, underlining both the willingness of New Zealand’s farming community to help their colleagues but probably also that road and telecommunications links were only restored for some areas by the end of last week.
Of the 31 requests for help, the most common issues were accommodation, water for stock and humans, fuel, generators, transport and on-farm workers.
Dealing with slips and fractures on roads is proving to be one of the biggest issues for farms, Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson Katie Milne says.
Milk tankers haven’t been able to get in to some areas.
"North Canterbury beef and deer farmers only just starting to recover from two years of drought had been keen to get fattened stock and velvet out to markets to get premium prices, but the damage to roads by earthquakes had frustrated that chance to get bank balances moving in the right direction again," Katie says.
"Also, fuel is critical at this time as farmers need to get winter crops sown so there is feed for animals next winter."
The Federated Farmers 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) line remains open for help offers/requests. It’s also the number to call to make a donation to the Adverse Events Trust Fund, or bank online: 06-0594-0028181-00, Reference: Earthquake.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
