Content supplied by Federated Farmers
(Updated with call for generators)
Federated Farmers is working with the Rural Support Trust to coordinate a response to the severe weather event in the South Island.
“Farmers in Canterbury have been hit especially hard, with power outages, farm equipment being blown over and trees being wiped out,” says Katie Mile, Federated Farmers Adverse Event Spokesperson.
“We are particularly concerned about animal welfare with power outages on dairy farms. It means farmers are unable to milk their stock or get water to them. As cows are coming up to their peak milk production they will be particularly thirsty, so water access is crucial."
“These power outages will also affect dairy company’s collection times from farms. Dairy companies are keeping in touch with farmers to coordinate a response in this regard."
“Access to generators will be fundamental to getting dairy farmers through the next few days. Federated Farmers has activated their 0800 line (327 646) for farmers to communicate who has access to generators and who needs them."
“Farmers can also phone their local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 for advice and support."
“Farmers must be particularly careful around how they go about cleaning up. The impact is monumental, with trees over power lines and fences, and the damage to pivots, the recovery will take some time,” concluded Ms Milne.
Update: Urgent need for generators
Power cuts throughout the South Island and significant damage to irrigators will mean that some dairy farmers will not be able to milk for some time and access to water will prove problematic.
Federated Farmers says most herds are at the beginning of their milking cycle, which will be demanding on farmers with out power.
“Farmers are in urgent need of generators to get them through the next few days. If you have a generator spare, there are farmers prepared to travel great lengths to get them. So please get in touch if you are able to help out,” says Katie Milne, Federated Farmers Adverse Event Spokesperson.
“We advise dairy farmers that in this event they can afford to be flexible with milking herds, reducing milking to once a day or twice in three days to get them through this."
“Dairy farmers must be careful in that they keep feeding their herds well to avoid the drying-off process as it will be harder to get cows back to full production. Cows need to be milked out properly to avoid them developing mastitis."
“An update from Orion says farmers could be with out power for up to five days in areas west of Christchurch. It is key to check on your neighbours and ask friends and family for help if necessary."
“This is going to seriously hit farmers in the Canterbury region and we advise farmers who have been affected to get in touch with the Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254, if they need support or advice,” concluded Ms Milne.
5 Comments
After visiting and helping out in one of the affected areas yesterday I can confirm the significant damage from the gale force winds that hit Canterbury Wednesday night, with treelines and woodlots down, loss of power, shed damage, stock losses and irrigators twisted. I witnessed the enormity of the challenge the power companies face to get power back on with tree damage bringing down the powerlines over a huge area.
However it does surprise me that in an area known for its high damaging winds where power cuts are common, dairy farms do not have their own back up generators to cover for a relatively high risk occurrence. An average sized dairy business is a multi million dollar enterprise and it seems financially imprudent not to invest or share with neighbours in a generator to cover the risks of any outage.
Coping with weather issues is part of a farm mangers responsibilities and the smart ones will be prepared power interuption. The snows, earthquakes, and winds over the last 10 years, have given all in the farming community plenty of warning to be prepared.
Saw the news items last night (I live in Christchurch, on the coast, nowhere near the force out here), and wondered:
- yes, why a standby power source is not part of the initial install.
- why some of the affected irrigator strings were not aligned with the expected winds (like a self-feathering construction crane) to minimise windage
- why tie-downs (as for choppers and light planes) plus ground anchors, are not standard practice.
It's not as though the winds were not predicted.
Additional point of Interest: Mt Hutt skifield (hearsay) registered top-of-ridge wind gusts exceeding 250 Km/hr.....
Most of my dairy farmer mates, have generators that run off the tractor. The others will be waiting to hire I guess.
can someone tell me how much power a dairy shed uses? I wouldn't think pumps would use a lot and a quick Trademe search came up with this for 3k.
Pretty sure that the insurance companies canned alot of wind damage from their policies after a big blow in Culverden a few years back, that rolled a few 200k center pivots up and into the neighbours. My mate lost a woolshed, haybarn and pump shed, impressive when the woolshed was breeze block.
He told me its now hard to get cover for wind damage, so go check the fine print.
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