https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tax-relief-drought-affected-farmers

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/further-support-struggling-farmers.

Detail of what may be available can be found on the Work and Income drought page: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/emergencies/rural-assistance-lower-north-island-and-west-coast-drought-2018.html including Rural Assistance Payments.

Please share this information and encourage farmers in affected areas to talk to their accountants and advisors.

Share with your rural professional contacts so they are aware of the current challenges due to poor spring and dry early summer. Farmers and families may benefit from help revising their budgets. Some who are badly affected - particularly lower-order sharemilkers and contract milkers - may be eligible for entitlements such as Working for Families https://www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz/ so your help to make their accountants / advisors aware is appreciated.

Your local Rural Support Trust is available and Federated Farmers' Feedline is open to both memb ers and non-members: https://www.fedfarm.org.nz/FFPublic/Adverse_Events_Farmer_Support_and_Feedline.aspx

MPI, DairyNZ and B+L NZ also have good information for getting through droughts and dry weather.

• https://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/information-and-resources/drought-monitor
• https://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/climate/publications/hotspot-watch
• https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/extreme-dry-management

• https://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/seasonal-management/summer-management/
• https://www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/pasture-management/tiller-talk/tiller-talk-update
• https://fireweather.niwa.co.nz/

Farmers and growers in very dry regions around the country are urged to make plans to get through a summer that has turned hot and dry sooner than usual.

Minister for Agriculture and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor said today that the latest information from NIWA and industry bodies makes it clear that while farmers are generally coping through this early dry spell, rain over the next few weeks cannot be relied upon.