For all drought information refer to Northland Regional Council: 0800 002 004                 

https://www.nrc.govt.nz/environment/drought/

https://bewaterwise.org.nz/

https://www.nrc.govt.nz/environment/drought/where-to-find-help-in-northland/

We all know that droughts can be long and relentless. Look after yourself, family, employees, and keep an eye on your neighbours.

Talk to trusted advisors and those who have survived this before, and make use of the help or support.

Irrigation

• Use irrigation water effectively and profitably.
• Details from www.irrigationnz.co.nz/PracticalResources/RiskAdvice/Drought

Livestock

• Have a robust and realistic plan and trigger points to take actions. Decisions should be made for animal welfare and farm profitability.

• Do a feed budget and stick to it, while feeding stock as well as possible.
• Destocking? Book in as early as possible; in some areas there can be delays of several weeks.

Concerns about your animals? 

• Contact your veterinarian in the first case
• Contact MPI Animal Welfare on 0800 00 83 33 http://www.mpi.govt.nz/getstockthru.
• https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/30777-animals-affected-by-a-heat-wave
• https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/adverse-events/drought/
• https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/extreme-dry-management

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 severe rain

· Keep an eye on weather reports and enact your plans for moving stock and supplementary feed to higher ground if needed.

· Clear gutters and drains where possible

· Have to hand a smartphone, a charger for the car, a torch, and a battery-powered radio

· Check your insurance cover details

During a flood or storm

· Keep an eye on https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/ and your regional council websites/facebook or radio station

· The safety of you, your family, and workers comes first.

· Move stock to safety, shelter and water and make sure they can't wander. Are the electric fences working?

· Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities as it can help prevent damage to your home or community. Unplug small appliances to avoid damage from power surges.

· Do not attempt to drive or walk through floodwaters unless essential.

· Check power and phones. Report outages.

· Check dogs, poultry and pets.

· Check on neighbours - do they need help or can they help you?

· Check buildings at risk, feed stacks. · Use generators if necessary to keep pumps, refrigeration, electric fences and household appliances running. Flood pumps may need attention. 

Further information:

https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/adverse-events/flood/

https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/topics/flooding

MPI Animal welfare