Help wanted . . . Jane Smith is part of a rural support group which is looking for volunteers with life experience, who are willing to sit down and have a cuppa and offer guidance to farmers who might be struggling. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/HENRY SMITH
Steps are being put in place to help North Otago farmers struggling with the challenges of drought, heading into winter.
Otago Rural Support Trust co-ordinator Lindsay Purvis said winter crops had failed in places, but some parts of the district were worse than others.
A Zoom meeting was being held this week involving farmers “dotted strategically throughout Otago” to gather information for a drought monitor group, he said.
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Rural Support Trust advises care as drought threatens Waimate and North Otago
20 Dec, 2020 11:00 PM
2 minutes to read
Otago Daily Times
Farmers in the Waimate and North Otago districts are being urged to keep an eye on each other as the area becomes critically dry .
Affected areas included Waimate, Waihaorunga and through the Hakataramea Valley and coastal North Otago, Otago Rural Support Trust co-ordinator Lindsay Purvis said.
Stock seemed to be in good order, which was often the case when drought started, and some farmers were weaning lambs at 8 weeks old, Purvis said.
There seemed to be a market from Dunedin south for store lambs, although the store beef market had virtually collapsed .