Media Release                                                                                                            For immediate release

21 March 2020

Support kicks in for Bay of Plenty farmers in drought

As drought grips many parts of the country, the ongoing challenges faced by farmers in Bay of Plenty have prompted the Bay of Plenty Primary Sector Coordination Group (PSCG) to draw on recently released Government funding.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor last week classified the drought in the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chathams as a large-scale adverse event, unlocking up to $2 million in Government funding to support farmers and growers from now until June 2021.

Miles Mander, chair of the Primary Sector Coordination Group (PSCG) and Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust said that primary industry representatives and agencies had been monitoring the drought situation in the Bay of Plenty for several months.

“We were about to request drought classification for the BOP to support farmers and growers when the Minister made the announcement, which includes the BOP.”

“This drought package provides funding to the Trust to ramp up its support to farmers and growers who are struggling with the drought conditions. I encourage farmers who are finding the going tough and need help, or know someone that does, to get in touch with the Trust for a confidential chat and some guidance from one of the team.”

Drought classification also unlocks access to IRD’s Tax Equalisation Scheme and Rural Assistance Payments (RAPs) to help families in extreme hardship. The Rural Support Trust can support applying for RAPs which are the equivalent of the jobseekers’ allowance.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, PSCG industry stakeholders’ BBQ events had been cancelled. “Now is the time to get creative and find alternative ways to support those affected by drought in these changing times,” said Miles.

BOP Provincial Federated Farmers President Darryl Jensen said that while current conditions were putting a real strain on farmers, with support they would come out the other side.

“Bay of Plenty farmers are resilient but this drought seems never-endin

Your regional Rural Support Trust (RST) is on-hand to support farmers being affected by M. bovis.

Our services are free and confidential.

As well as someone to talk to about your concerns, we can help you navigate through the process. We have training in and experience with the M. bovis programme, and know how it works.

Whatever your experience looks like, we can help in many ways including:

• Trained facilitators who know how the programme works, and the process involved to help you navigate though.
• Listening to your concerns and issues.
• Confidentiality.
• Phone calls, texts, emails – at a time that suits you.
• Visiting and attending meetings with you.
• One on one support and wrap around support – for you, your family, and your farming team.
• Connecting – if we don’t know the answer we will help connect you to people who do.
• Peer support – connecting with other farmers that have been through the process.
• Helping you and your family access counselling services.

Depending on the individual farming operation it can be a lengthy process, involving a number of M. bovis Programme teams and RSTs offer support throughout the process and the ability to help shift things along if they get stuck.

We are rural people, helping rural people – we are farming people who understand the challenges of rural life.

Just call 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP). There are Rural Support Trust branches all over the country. Ringing 0800 787 254 will connect you to help in your area.

Supporting Our Rural Community

0800 RURAL HELP

www.rural-support.org.nz

Before snow hits

• Keep an eye on climate predictions and talk to your neighbours.
• Plan how you will deal with no power (no electric fences, pumps, milking, refrigeration, hot water, cook or heating). If necessary, source a generator.
• Stockpile what you might need for home and farm to minimise travel:
  • Surplus feed
  • Generators
  • Food and alternative means of cooking and heating for your home
  • Emergency kit.
• Have a battery-powered radio.
• Have a smartphone, and know how to use it and how to charge it up in the car
• If you need to travel any distance, make sure you are well-equipped for the cold and let someone know where you are and when to expect you back.
• Have a flexible feed plan underway for stock.
• If you know it’s coming, move stock to sheltered paddocks, especially young stock, to reduce exposure.
• Make sure stock can access food and water, and you can access them.