Editorial: Having a rural voice
OPINION: The past few weeks have been tough on farms across the North Island: floods and storms have caused damage and disruption to families and businesses.
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.
