The final containers of drought feed were unpacked at Port of Tauranga last week in a Federated Farmers relief effort that delivered 100,000 small-bale equivalents of ryegrass and barley straw into the port.
The drought feed operation became the “farmy army navy”, given the mix of farmers and companies involved, Feds grain and seed vice-chairman David Clark said.
In six weeks companies, farmers and shippers had worked extraordinarily long hours to get the straw north, he said.
“Without Pacifica Shipping or the Port of Tauranga none of this would have been possible and people need to know that.
“Every single person we have dealt with has bent over backwards to help us solve some unique challenges. Everyone’s focus is to help pastoral farmers through winter and to the green fields of spring beyond.”
While the Tauranga effort was complete deliveries were continuing into Port of Napier next month, Clark said.
Straw had been the saviour for many hit hard by the drought and Clark encouraged dairy, sheep and beef farmers to get behind their local grain growers, who had good stocks of feed grain available.
New Zealand feed grains were not only a good source of energy, they were competitive in cost to imported feed and were available in quantity now, he said.
Farmers looking for information on grain options can visit fedfarm.org.nz
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