increase font size
Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes the announcement of extra Government support for farmers and growers in Southland and parts of Otago after the region was hit by severe wet weather.
Up to $50,000 in additional Government support is being made available to farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as the current challenging weather conditions are classified as a medium-scale adverse event.
Federated Farmers Otago president Luke Kane says the funding provides a morale boost for farmers going through a very tough time.
"I think wellbeing support is where the funding is best directed right now, because we're really battling down here and the mood is low," Kane says.
"Unless someone can give us 10 days of sunshine, then helping farmers with that valuable mental health support is what we need most," he says.
He says the current hope is that the weather will pass quickly, the water will subside and the storm might mark the end of a tough six weeks for significant chunks of the provinces.
"There are certainly some issues here and Rural Support Trust's work will be really, really important in the coming weeks," he says.
Meanwhile, Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick says the Government's announcement means a lot to farmers on the ground.
"It's so helpful just to know we're being thought of - that's huge for morale," Herrick says.
"Sometimes you just need to know that the rest of the country knows what you're going through."
Herrick says the extra funding will enable Rural Support Trust to continue helping farmers through trying times.
"At the end of the day, it’s not so much financial support that farmers need right now - it’s mental health support, and that’s what Rural Support Trust are there for," he says.
"Once the water goes down and things dry out a bit, that’s when farmers will really need the help. That’s when things will hit home."
Federated Farmers is working closely other agencies and monitoring the situation in Otago and Southland today.
It encourages any farmers who need help to contact Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254, Federated Farmers on 0800 327 646, their milk supply companies, DairyNZ and/or Beef + Lamb.
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.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
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.
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.
