Ballance Offers Assistance To Flood Victims

Media Statement

20 February 2004
Ballance Offers Assistance Package To Farming Flood Victims
- Farmers well-being the most important factor -

Ballance Agri-Nutrients will fund a package of measures designed to assist farmers affected by flooding in the lower North Island to re-establish their farms as quickly as possible.

Larry Bilodeau Chief Executive of Ballance Agri-Nutrients says the company has past experience in supporting farmers under these circumstances and will provide guidance and expert advice as part of its package.

“We are concerned for farmers well-being in these devastating circumstances so will bring in farmers from other parts of the country that have been successful in quickly re-establishing farms after flooding.

Mr Bilodeau says that many farmers in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region may have made additional animal feed supplements with the excellent growing conditions in the region over the summer.

“Ballance encourages farmers to donate any surplus feed supplements and will meet the costs of transporting the supplements up to a value of $30,000. Ballance is in discussions with Federated Farmers and Trucking companies to make this happen.

“Ballance’s package is about providing guidance, expert advice and a helping hand to get farms back up and running productively and profitably as soon as possible.

Ballance is drawing on the experience it had during the flooding of the Waikato River where farmers were offered similar assistance.

“We want affected farmers to know that it is possible to get through this, and hope that farmers from the Waikato River flooding will be able to offer valuable insight and understanding as part of our assistance.

Wrightson’s has agreed to offer farmers affected by the flooding deferred payment on Ballance fertiliser to help ease the financial burden of the crisis, and Ballance is in discussion with other merchants to make similar payment options available.

Ballance is funding advice from AgResearch for farmers and is in discussion with local farm consultants to participate in seminars throughout the affected region.

Ballance plans to coordinate at least four seminars throughout affected areas over the coming month and is yet to confirm venues and times.

“Ballance is considering other measures we can add to the package and is committed to doing all we possibly can to assist farmers through this difficult period,” says Mr Bilodeau.

ENDS

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