Drought declared in Waikato, South Auckland

Low morale among farmers, low river levels and what could be the driest summer on record has prompted officials to declare a drought for Waikato and South Auckland.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said the classification recognised the prolonged, extreme weather as an adverse event for the primary sector.

The decision unlocks $80,000 for the Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel

Rural Support Trust to provide welfare support for farmers. The Waikato Primary Industries Adverse Event Cluster, made up of Waikato and South Auckland agricultural industry representatives, met yesterday to ask O’Connor to declare a drought classification.

Rural support trust chairperson Neil Bateup, who led yesterday’s meeting, said there were a number of critical factors which concerned the group.

‘‘Farmers had been coping well but in the past week we understand morale had dropped considerably.

‘‘Dairy farmers are chewing through their winter feed and it’s getting to the point where they have to decide whether they should stop milking.

‘‘That has implications from an income point of view, for the likes of contract milkers and lower-order sharemilkers in particular.’’

Bateup said rural assistant payments will be available for a small number of people and some help via the Inland Revenue might also be a possibility.

‘‘But the $80,000 made available to the rural support trust is to provide welfare support and to run events to bring farmers together.

‘‘There’s no direct income to the farmers, it’s about wrapping support around them.’’

He hoped the situation might prompt the banks to ‘‘look kindly upon farmers’’, if they needed to borrow money to buy in extra feed for their animals.

A presentation to the custer group by Niwa yesterday, showed decent rain was still a few months away.

Niwa told the group that Hamilton, Auckland and Whitianga were heading towards the driest summer on record. About 1300mm of rain was needed.

There is a chance of rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday but it won’t be drought breaking, Niwa said.

On Monday, the cluster will meet again to work out a plan for the next couple of weeks.

Bateup said some rural groups had already started organising events to share critical information with farmers.

‘‘It’s important farmers plan well, especially around the use of their supplement feed.

‘‘They should be looking at their strategies weekly and revising their plans.’’

He said the last time a drought classification was made in the Waikato was in 2013 but 2008 was one of the worst droughts in recent times.

‘‘One of the good things about the classification is that people realise they’re not alone.

‘‘They can talk to someone to help them plan, to work out feed budgets, to speak to if they find themselves in difficult situations.

‘‘If they are mentally unwell, we can put them in touch with counsellors if need be.’’

Waikato Federated Farmers president Andrew McGiven said there were a number of stressors affecting farmers at the moment.

‘‘We’re looking to get the best result for our farmers and local communities.’’

Auckland Federated Farmers president Alan Cole said many farmers were already two thirds of the way through the supplements they had planned for winter.

‘‘These recovery measures will help those who are less prepared, who haven’t experienced past drought, to seek guidance.’’

Waikato Regional Council senior scientist Bevan Jenkins said the majority of the river flow recorders across the region showed record low flows.

The rural support help line is 0800 787 254.