Farmers in parts of Southland and South Otago in New Zealand are under mounting pressure after a prolonged run of wet weather, with strain on feed supply, stock management, pasture, farm infrastructure and day-to-day workloads.

The region's Rural Co-ordination Group (RCG) met this week to assess conditions and co-ordinate support. It brings together the Rural Support Trust Southland & Otago, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Environment Southland, Federated Farmers, Thriving Southland, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ, and it is focusing on four priorities: people, animals, feed and property.

The group's current understanding is that supplementary feed is still available, but silage supply is very tight and transport and logistics are under increasing pressure. It advises farmers to review feed budgets and plan several weeks ahead, to act early on feed purchases and delivery while contractors and trucks can still be booked, to monitor stock condition and welfare closely, and to keep assessing pasture damage, access points and critical infrastructure.

"The sustained wet weather is taking a real toll across parts of Southland and South Otago. Every farm is different, but many farmers and their teams are dealing with added pressure, difficult decisions and long days," said Simon Hopcroft, chair of the Southland Rural Support Trust. He urged farmers to talk early to neighbours, advisers, vets, banks, industry bodies or the trust, and said looking after people matters as much as looking after the farm.

Industry organisations are planning farmer support and wellbeing events across the region and are being asked to register them on the trust's events calendar so that they are spread across communities. The RCG is also keeping government ministers and agencies briefed on conditions.

Photo: Phillip Capper / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Source: Rural News Group