Farm damage bill ‘millions’
The cost to affected farmers in the aftermath of the Rangitata River flooding could run into millions of dollars, Federated Farmers says.
South Canterbury dairy chairman Ad Hendriks said while it was too early to know the extent of the damage, once the water receded he expected those affected would have a lot of work to do.
‘‘I cannot guess how much the damage from the flood will cost farmers. It will depend on how much damage has been done to pastures.
‘‘The costs of this could even run into several millions per farm,’’ Hendriks said.
Hendriks said once the pastures had dried up, repairs to damaged equipment and property would begin.
‘‘We’re hoping to get much of the irrigation infrastructure back up and running in a couple of weeks.’’
Hendricks said a 700-metre irrigator could cost as much as $500,000, but many of those damaged by the flood could be repaired.
‘‘If it has local damage, it can be repaired with pipes. The one that was damaged at Rangitata Dairy looks like it will need total replacement.’’
Hendriks said farmers affected faced a busy period of repairs and recovery.
‘‘Once the water recedes there’ll be some sort of co-ordinated help to see how quickly we can get these farms back up and running.
‘‘They have to put up fences and quite a few people have already offered help.’’
Federated Farmers South Canterbury president Jason Grant
said about 50 families across 17 farms had been displaced during the deluge.
‘‘It’s a very stressful time and we’re just working through things.
‘‘The people that needed to stay in to look after their livestock did stay.’’
Some of the evacuated people were housed on farms that had spare accommodation, he said.
‘‘Most of the families were taken away and some houses were damaged so those people would have had to evacuate anyway. It was inconvenient but people’s safety was our main priority.
‘‘We’re not thinking too much about the future at the moment. It’s just one day at a time. We’re doing what we can at the moment,’’ Grant said.
Hendricks said trucks were unable to access only four South Canterbury dairy farms to collect milk.
‘‘Fonterra have been good at getting to the farmers who need milk picked up. They are also offering help, but they have to wait until the water goes.’’
Fonterra Clandeboye and Studholme operations manager Steve McKnight said the Fonterra team was assessing damage caused by the flood and would develop a plan to support farmers with clean up and repairs.
‘‘We’re asking any of our farmers who need help or support during this stressful time to call our Farm Source Service Centre or Rural Support Trust.’’
Hendricks said the main knock-on effect of this disaster would be a shortage of feed for cattle, which would be dependant on how quickly the grass would grow back.
‘‘The costs of this could even run into several millions per farm.’’ Ad Hendriks