Media release

Resilient North farmers coping with drought, flood

03 February, 2011

‘Resilient’ Northland farmers are coping well despite enduring a lengthy drought that was effectively only ended by the recent storm, which added flooding to their woes.

Northland Drought Committee Spokesperson Julie Jonker says the irony of nature ending a prolonged drought with a damaging storm is not lost on the region’s farming sector.

However, Ms Jonker – who is also the Rural Support Trust’s Northland Coordinator - says while the drought-busting rains came in larger than hoped-for-volumes, most farmers were grateful for the rain regardless.

The region’s farmers were a resourceful and pragmatic bunch, the majority of whom had experienced flooding before. In most cases, they are getting stuck in to the post-flood clean-up quickly and are making progress.

However, there had been some stock losses attributed to the storm; among the more serious a farmer who had lost about 20 calves that had not been able to be moved to safety in time.

Ms Jonker says the large volumes of silt and debris carried by floodwaters had resulted in damage or losses to pasture and crops like turnips and maize.

Ms Jonker says in some areas floodwaters have ponded over extensive areas and will take some time to recede. On these farms significant regrassing may be required.

“The region’s kumara growers too have had a difficult season, firstly with virtually no rain and now too much all at once.” The compacted soils may make for difficult harvesting.

She says farmers keen to see what help might be available to them in the wake of the drought/storm could contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP).

ENDS

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