8 April 2013

Hawke’s Bay makes big progress on drought feed

The Hawke’s Bay Drought Committee reports that feed is coming into the Hawke’s Bay in quantity and quality thanks to the great work of the Rural Support Trust East Coast and Federated Farmers working together.

The news comes as the option of a bulk carrier transporting hay to Hawke’s Bay from Canterbury has been ruled out due to certification issues.

“It transpires the offer of using bulk carriers is not going to be a workable solution,” says Chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Drought Committee and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chairman Fenton Wilson.

He says Ravensdown has received confirmation from ship owners that the vessels due in April and May are not equipped with CO2 and fire suppression required to transport bulk straw.

“Everyone genuinely appreciates the lengths Ravensdown has gone to in trying to secure a certified vessel. With no other vessels scheduled until early August a bulk shipment now becomes a remote possibility,” says Mr Wilson.

“On a much more positive note, coastal shipping by Hamburg Sud and Pacifica Shipping is working extremely well as is unloading at the Port of Napier. We also now have indications that road transport is starting to free up creating even more options.”

“The first 1000 twenty-bale equivalents have been delivered to farms and reports back to the Rural Support Trust are that it is of first class quality.”

Mr Wilson says the Hawke’s Bay Drought Committee wants to record its appreciation of the work put in by members of Federated Farmers and especially its Grain & Seed Industry Group in the South Island.

“We can report committed demand for an additional 3500 twenty-bale equivalents and that is without any marketing. With Farmlands handling billing requirements it creates a fairly seamless method for farmers to secure stock feed.”

Fenton Wilson says the overriding message to farmers is that plenty of good quality feed is coming into Hawke’s Bay thanks to the great combined efforts of everyone including the Rural Support Trust, Federated Farmers and Hastings District Mayor Lawrence Yule.

Hawke’s Bay farmers in need of feed, advice or support should contact the Mike Barham and Kevin Mitchell at the Rural Support Trusts’ on freephone: 0800 787 254.

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