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Friday, September 13, 2013
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Cows, farmers under pressure BY MYLES HUME
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Mid Canterbury farmers were focusing on the welfare of their stock yesterday, while trying not to think about the millions of dollars worth of damage and loss of income after Tuesday’s storm. Dairy farmers were left vulnerable without power and water for a second day, as they scrambled to avoid their stock from drying off or contracting illnesses. Millions of dollars worth of damaged irrigators, up to 800 in Canterbury, may take four months to repair, as farmers pray for rain to prevent the situation from becoming severe. All Mid Canterbury should have power restored by tonight, but there will be individual households who may have to wait longer. Hinds sharemilker Reino Esterhuyse labelled it “a national emergency”. Since Tuesday, his cows had missed four milking sessions, as fears grew over drying off and mastitis, which could hamper milk production. But he was offered reprieve yesterday afternoon when Federated Farmers sourced a generator to milk his herd. His cattle were forced to drink from a limited stock water race, and two centre pivots had been
damaged in the wild wind to add to financial worries. “The most important thing is the welfare of the animals and everything comes after that . . . it’s stressful and a bit of a mind game at the moment,” Mr Esterhuyse said. Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson Katie Milne did not rule out working with authorities to declare the storm a national disaster if rain stayed away and irrigators remained out of action. “It’s not going to be an easy fix, and it’s going to take time. It’s critical for the economy. “With this loss of milk now, some farmers carry business interruption insurance and they’ll have to talk to their providers, and there may be a bit of interruption with milk pick ups and I know with dairy companies if there is a problem they will pick up the cost.” One Fairton farmer told the Guardian he had thrown away 30,000 litres of milk because he could not keep it chilled due to limited power from a generator. Ms Milne urged farmers to be flexible with milking herds, reducing milking to once a day or twice in three days. Sharing generators, feeding calves with powdered or discarded milk, and touching base with ECan if they needed stock to access water ways to remain
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hydrated were also possibilities, she said. Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust coordinator Allan Baird said generators had been sourced from the West Coast and Cromwell and ACL contractors were delivering water across the district as animal welfare remained priority. He said farmers who needed assistance should contact him or Angela Hogg at Ashburton’s Federated Farmers office on 03 307 8145 or 0800 327 646.
Hinds sharemilker Reino Esterhuyse has been worried about not being able to milk his cows.
PHOTO KIRSTY CLAY 120913-KC-044
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