VEHICLES
Helicopters
Ninety five percent of high country farmers, 71% of Banks Peninsula farmers and 61% of hill country farmers used a helicopter to either locate or feed livestock, ferry snowrakers or recover snowbound stock. Helicopters were sourced privately (94%) or as part of the Government assisted relief effort (RNZAF 43%). Helicopters proved very effective and over 90% of hill country farmers intend to use them in future snows.
Useful farm vehicles
The need for four-wheel drive vehicles increased as snow depth increased. While 4-wheel drive utilities and 2 wheel drive tractors were satisfactory on many plains farms, the need gave way to 4-wheel drive tractors on the downs which gave way to dozers on the hill and even larger dozers for larger drifts in the high country. In poorly tracked areas such as Banks Peninsula the helicopter proved invaluable. Rubber tracked vehicles generally required chains and snowploughs proved invaluable to those who had them.
Unsuitable vehicles
Two-wheel drive vehicles of any sort generally, including tractors and motorbikes.
SHELTER
Eighty five percent of farmers considered shelter to be important, more on the plains (100%) than the high country (75%). Natural gullies, native bush and matagouri were the most common types on hill and high country areas with planted shelter and plantations most common on the downs and plains.
Effective shelter included:
- Haybarn/covered yards for shorn sheep
- Planted shelterbelts, preferably tall shelter (>15m)
- Plantations
- Natural, gullies
- Matagouri
- Native bush
There was inconsistency among farmers in respect to the desirable type of planted shelter with division on the need for trimming, the ideal height, ideal porosity and species planted. A belt of high trees (e.g. eucalyptus) together with a lower dense belt (arizonicas) was considered ideal by some.
Gorse hedges, old open shelter belts, manuka and some native bush proved to be ineffective in the August blizzard conditions. Deer were especially vulnerable to exposure.
SUPPLEMENTS
There was a substantial increase in the use of supplements during the snow year, part being due to the dry autumn. Conventional bale hay use increased 73%, round bales 44%, silage 34% and grain 23%. Nuts increased by 380%, although the total tonnage was small.
Conventional hay bales were considered the most useful for reasons of transportability, ease of feeding, body heat, low wastage and suitability for cattle. Silage and kale were also useful, silage being essential close to lambing. Ineffective feeds in the snow included grain and nuts because of wastage, turnips because of inaccessibility and hay and straw close to lambing because of poor quality. Problems were encountered with livestock on Banks Peninsula not adapting to hay as were ewes fed grain on the plains which were not previously conditioned to it. Sixty three percent of farmers received 'donated' feedstuffs (93% hay) the average number of conventional bale equivalents being 400. Two-thirds of farmers purchased additional emergency stock food during the winter. The average amount of bale equivalents purchased was 1136.
PERSONAL FACTORS
Farmers were asked how the snows affected them personally. Their concern for livestock was greater than any financial considerations with over 60% of farmers rating their concern for livestock as severe. Farmers coped with stress in different ways but found that talking wit neighbours was the most effective method followed by the need to take action and make an immediate start. Some farmers, daunted by the enormity of the task and thinking it would thaw, waited too long before taking action.
SNOW RELIEF ORGANISATION
Seventy four percent of farmers used the services of the snow relief centres, practically all farmers finding the services useful, especially the sourcing of snowrakers and allocation of hay. Many farmers wished to acknowledge the help and generosity given by so many people. Farmers generally found the control centres well organised, staffed by people with good local knowledge and the fact that most farmers were contacted gave them a moral boost which helped them cope with the problem at hand. Asked what areas the services could be improved farmers responded by indicating a need for faster response times by the snow centres and by some district councils in respect to road clearing. Telephone restoration was also a matter of concern to more isolated farmers.
Asked what services they would like in future most farmers indicated a similar service to the 1992 snows with the organisation of labour, helicopters, dozers and feed as priorities together with the need for prompt clearing of roads. Most farmers were prepared to pay for these services should the need arise. Over 75% of farmers thought the help supplied by the Army were good to excellent, with 63% considering the Airforce as good to excellent. There appeared to be more communication problems with the Airforce with delays or non-arrivals at appointed times. The majority (87%) of farmers thought the task force green project was good and found the help very useful.
Responsibility for providing these services varied according the service involved but for labour, feed and helicopters, Federated Farmers was seen as the preferred body. Organisation of machinery and road clearing was seen as the District Councils area of expertise. The need for a unified relief effort, involving all relevant bodies with clear boundary demarcation together with informed staff with local knowledge was seen as the essential qualities for a successful emergency relief centre.
MANAGEMENT DURING THE SNOWS
Farmers reacted in different ways to the snows and actions varied according the type of country being farmed. The feeding of supplements (hay, silage, grain, nuts, feedblocks) was the most frequent response on all farm types. The use of helicopters for locating and transporting snowrakers was considered among the better actions taken by high country and Banks Peninsula farmers as was the use of dozers to open up access tracks. The snowplough proved effective on downs and plains properties for clearing tracks and grading snow off brassica crops and grass. Sheep were shifted to low altitude, sunny country on upland areas prior to the snow and to sheltered paddocks on downlands and plains. Snowraking, shifting livestock to feed and feeding were the immediate priorities on all farms.
Future changes
Seventy one percent of farmers intended to make changes to the way they would respond to a future snow. Greater hay reserves, especially high quality feed for use near lambing, better maintenance of vehicles and equipment and the purchase of a 4~wheel drive tractor were among the most frequently mentioned responses. Some 43% of farmers intend to modify their management system, some wanting to lamb later, others intending to revert to summer shearing or blade shearing. Some farmers were considering a higher proportion of cattle. Further responses have been detailed in the report. Forty two percent of farmers intended to make structural changes including the planting of more shelter trees (especially on the plains), more and better farm tracks and to build more haybarns.
Spending excessive time with small mobs and waiting for the snow to thaw were actions taken that many hill and high country farmers would not repeat. Spending time trying to revive ewes with sleepy sickness was seen as a dubious exercise by many plains farmers.
CHECK LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Farmers were asked to recommend how they would plan for and cope with another snow. One hundred and twenty seven suggestions were made and have been detailed in the report.
An extract is as follows:
- Plan early for snows. Be prepared.
- Act promptly on snow warnings, treat forecasts seriously.
- Don't get bogged down in detail. Prioritise the operation and talk to other farmers.
- Seek advice from experienced farmers.
- Don't be afraid to ask for or accept help.
- Have adequate winter feed reserves, preferably two years supply.
- Keep some high quality supplements (e.g. silage) for feeding near lambing.
- If purchasing supplements, do it promptly.
- Ensure that feed reserves are accessible.
- Train stock to hay or grain if not accustomed to it.
- Grow a paddock of kale or greenfeed if appropriate.
- Keep a paddock of saved grass. Use urea. (plains and Banks Peninsula).
- Train stock to lower altitude using hay, brassicas (upland areas).
- Shift sheep to low altitude by shortest day.
- Keep sheltered or safe block/paddock ungrazed for emergency use.
- Keep sheep in good condition. Don't overstock.
- Have stock which suit the country.
- Don't lamb too early.
- Don't shear too close to lambing.
- Blade shear if winter shearing on hill - high country.
- Cover comb if winter shearing on plains.
- Shear only what can be adequately covered.
- On snow warning shift to low altitude, sunny country (upland) and sheltered areas (downs and plains).
- Alternatively mob stock near to arterial tracks, easy access paddocks.
- If appropriate, use helicopters to locate livestock and transport labour.
- Provide an experienced person to lead inexperienced snowrakers.
- Source dozers early to clew tracks. Use a snowplough to clear tracks and expose grass/brassicas on plains.
- Have adequate vehicles, preferably a 4-wheel drive and keep them in good order.
- Prioritise livestock to be rescued - capital stock first.
- Feed hay as soon as possible. Feed well after the snows.
- Plant shelter, especially tall shelter, woodlots.
- Keep emergency food, alternative cooking and heating systems.
- Consider options if no telephone. Radio-telephone or cellphone.
- A dollar spent on recovery represents $2 saved.
- Have a financial buffer for adverse events.
Contact for Enquiries
North Island
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8314
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
South Island
John Greer
Regional Team Leader
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 20 280
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 3 943 1703
Fax: +64 3 943 1757
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