After snow and ice ​

It's all hands on deck!

• Call your local Rural Support Trust for free confidential conversations on 0800 787 254
• Look after yourself, your family, workers and neighbours. Ask for help and accept it when offered.
• Ensure stock and domestic animals have water, food, shelter, and are secure.
• Ensure that all stock injuries are promptly attended too, after human needs are met
• Look for and report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities. Treat all lines as live.

Keeping on after a snowstorm

MPI has animal welfare recommendations here (pdf)

Beef+Lamb and Dairy NZ provide some good advice on their websites.

www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/seasonal-management/spring-management/magnesium-calcium-and-energy/

www.beeflambnz.com/Documents/Farm/Metabolic%20disease%20in%20ewes.pdf

Some handy tips from farmers who have been there, done that...

Ex-Cyclone Donna is bringing heavy rain. Keep an eye on the forecast and, if you are prone to flooding, enact your plans.  Whakatane, Rangitaiki, and Tarawera Rivers have reached level 1 and farmers are encouraged to move stock to higher ground.

MPI is working with local stakeholders to monitor the impacts of Ex-Cyclone Donna as the storm hits New Zealand. Farmers and smallholding owners are encouraged to follow their procedures in case of possible flooding on aready saturated ground.

• You can follow information on the civil defence website http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/ and on the local radio station.  
• Weather updates are on  http://www.metservice.com/warnings/severe-weather-warnings
• Call Federated Farmers' helpline on 0800 327 646 option 4 for on-farm help
• Contact your Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 with information or requests for help.

If a flood is likely:

The safety of you, your family, and workers comes first. If your property is at risk from flooding, enact your plans:

• Moving stock and feed to higher ground
• Making sure your stock has shelter and water, and can't wander
• Safely storing or tying down anything that might blow away.
• Your battery-powered radio at the ready and listening for updates
• Your smartphone charged up
• Checking power and phones. Reporting outages. Treating all lines as live.
• Checking dogs, poultry and pets.
• Checking on neighbours - do they need help or can they help you?
• Using generators if necessary to keep pumps, refrigeration, electric fences and household appliances running. Flood pumps may need attention.

General information on managing through flooding is here: http://www.getthru.govt.nz/disasters/flood