Prolonged wet weather in Southland and South Otago is piling pressure on farmers over feed, stock management and pasture damage, and rural organisations have met to coordinate support, Farmers Weekly NZ reports.

The Rural Co-ordination Group brings together Rural Support Trust Southland and Otago, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Environment Southland, Federated Farmers, Thriving Southland, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ. It is focusing on four priorities: people, animals, feed and property.

Southland Rural Support Trust chair Simon Hopcroft said supplementary feed is available, but silage is very tight and transport and logistics networks are under increasing pressure. He urged farmers who may need more feed to plan early rather than wait until supplies or delivery options tighten further.

"The sustained wet weather is taking a real toll across parts of Southland and South Otago," Hopcroft said, adding that farmers should talk to neighbours, advisers, vets, banks, industry bodies or the trust early. He stressed that looking after people matters as much as looking after the farm.

Organisations are planning farmer support and wellbeing events and are asked to list them on the trust's events calendar, and the group is keeping ministers and agencies informed of conditions in the region.

Source: Farmers Weekly NZ