Drought relief options to be considered by Minister

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 20

Drought relief options to be considered by Minister

By

JOHN HARFORD

Different forms of aid for farmers hit by drought in North Otago and Canterbury are to be considered by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle.

The manager of the rural policy unit of MAFTech, Mr Alan Walker, was asked by Mr Moyle to re-examine the types of assistance that could be made available for drought relief.

Although suspensory loans were usually the main part of any drought relief, Mr Moyle had been concerned that loans for this drought might not be appropriate.

Many farmers affected by the drought were still trying to recover financially from a drought three years ago for which suspensory loans were made available.

The large amount of debt being carried already by some farmers also made suspensory loans less attractive.

Landcorp would consider the difficulties its clients had in meeting commitments because of the drought, said the Christchurch branch manager of Landcorp, Mr Laurie Kenworthy. "Concessions will not be freely available but we

are concerned to help our clients through these abnormal climatic conditions if we can,” he said. Any concessions granted by Landcorp would be dependent on other creditors taking similar steps and the farm having long term viability.

“No-one should be constrained from applying to us for relief if they feel they meet the criteria. We will look at applications on the basis of our Rural plan approach,” Mr Kenworthy said. Most parts of Canterbury and North Otago have had less than half of their average rainfall so far this year. Much of the rain that had fallen was at the beginning of the year or came as snow during the winter, preventing pasture growth because of the cold.

An agricultural consultant with MAFTech in Oamaru, Mr David Clark, said although a little rain had fallen the effects of the long drought were becoming steadily worse. The total rainfall for September was B.3mm in-

stead of the average 32mm. There had been no measurable growth in pastures since May. “That means there is less than Ikg of dry matter per hectare per day when there is usually 20,” said Mr Clark. Farmers had found it uneconomic to bring in supplementary feed from other areas. High energy feed, such as silage or grain, was needed to feed ewes and lambs. They instead had been killing or selling stock. A large amount of capital stock had already been sold. Poorer quality hoggets had been killed while those in better condition were being grazed or sold. Yearling cattle was being sold and finished cattle was being killed.

Some farmers in South Canterbury had sent stock to South Otago and northern Southland for grazing, although this was an expensive option.

An agricultural consultant with MAFTech in Ashburton, Mr Malcolm Mur-

ray, said farmers without irrigation on the lower plains were in a “finely balanced situation.”

Any major decisions, such as quitting capital stock, were being delayed in the hope that significant rain would come soon.

A larger number of young, or beta, lambs were being sent to freezing works.

Farmers inland from Mayfield were better off. Further back into the hills, some farmers had feed surpluses.

Sowing and cultivating of crops was continuing but farmers were planting seed deeper than usual, said an agricultural consultant with MAFTech at Lincoln, Mr Richard Lynch.

Irrigators were at “full spin” and nitrogen applications were being cut. Extra nitrogen would boost plants but also boost their need for moisture.

Methods of conserving soil moisture, such as rolling wheat crops once they had come up, were also

being used. The compacted ground after rolling would lose less moisture through evaporation, he said.

Mr Tim Bennetts, with MAFTech at Rangiora, said northern parts of Canterbury were not as badly affected as North Otago. A large number of farmers were getting rid of beta lambs but few had resorted to selling capital stock.

A small amount of rain had fallen on September 20 but this was mainly confined to the coast. Farms further back in the hills had picked up some rain from the nor-west weather which had dried our lower areas.

A belt which stretched from Oxford to Rangiora, Waipara, and Omihi, seemed to be the most affected area of this district.

Stock was in poor to average condition.

Although spring-sown crops had established well, without rain soon there would be “big problems,” said Mr Bennetts.