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12 Wool Impact predicts strong-wool bonanza Vol 21 No 9, March 13, 2023
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Gabrielle deals billion-dollar blow to farmers Craig Page
NEWS
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Weather
HERE are fears the hit taken by farmers in the Cyclone Gabrielle floods could top $1 billion as almost 3400 producers apply for financial support within weeks of a government recovery fund being established. Of those applications, 1754 were approved within the first two weeks and nearly $20.5m paid out to farmers and growers, according to Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director for animal health and welfare Dr Carolyn Guy. A $25m support fund was announced by the government on February 21, and topped up with a further $26m on March 6. The funding was aimed at ensuring farmers and growers could get back on their feet as quickly as possible, Guy said. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for pastoral and arable farmers to help with initial recovery, such as repairs to water systems for livestock, and fencing. Up to $2000 per hectare (up to a maximum of $40,000) is available for growers to remove silt from trees and vines, support clean-up, and minimise future losses. As of Wednesday, MPI had received 3396 applications. Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said the government funding is “very welcome”.
“But I think everyone – including the government – knows it’s only a step along the long path to recovery.” Copeland said the cost of cyclone damage is still being counted and some farmers, such as those in Tairāwhiti, have not been able to access all of their property to assess damage. Stock losses will be in the many, many thousands of animals. “As an educated estimate, the Federated Farmers policy team believes total on-farm costs, including income disruption, infrastructure repair and crop/ orchard restoration bills, for all affected farmers and growers could top $1 billion,” Copeland said. This is not counting the cost to New Zealand in terms of public infrastructure, food shortages and inflation, he said. Of the money already paid out, Guy said almost 60% has gone to sheep and beef farmers, 25% to orchardists and wine growers and the remainder to dairy farmers, and arable and vegetable growers. Half of the funding went to farmers and growers in Hawke’s Bay, 20% to the Gisborne district, and the remainder to Northland and other regions. Applications for the grants close on March 20, but will be extended to April 3 for those living in hard-to-reach areas. An active national response is underway to support those Continued page 3
Community digs in for vital road project Kuru Contracting site manager Val Milham and local eight-year-old Ormond Hope on site at the Hikuwai road project.
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Help at hand for Pātoka’s great and small Former practising vet steps in to help community and small animals, such as Hershey and owner Nivarah Ella-Rae, cut off by flood damage.
PEOPLE 5 Simon Upton has ‘grave doubts’ about NZ’s reliance on forestry offsets as a way to meet emission targets.
Rowland Smith took a break from helping with the Hawke’s Bay clean-up to clean up at the Golden Shears.
Cambridge University is in talks with its catering service to remove all animal products from its canteens.
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PEOPLE 14
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CYCLONE GABRIELLE CLAIMS UPDATE If you’re with FMG, we want to acknowledge your patience as we work through the recovery of the recent adverse weather.
If you’re registered with FMG Connect, you can check the progress of your claim, by logging in via the FMG website.
We’re making progress.
And If you need immediate support, like temporary accommodation, then please call us on 0800 366 466. We’re here and ready to help.
We’re already settling claims and our assessing teams are on the ground and right now focused on our most vulnerable clients. If your claim is still with us, then please know we’re working on it – it will take time.