Farmers are now eligible for a once-off grant of $1000 (up from $400) for properties between 20 and 150 hectares, and $3000 (up from $1500) for properties greater than 150 hectares.
Claims can be made to cover spending from March 12, when the Ministry for Primary Industries declared the drought an adverse event, an extension from the initial date of May 19, which was when the fund was set up.
The extension is to provide financial support for farmers who bought feed early.
Farmers can also claim for funding assistance if they transported stock to properties outside of Hawke’s Bay for grazing purposes and then back on-farm, and the cost of transport will be covered for farmers who received donated feed.
However, farmers will only be able to make one claim for either the cost of transporting feed or stock.
Farmers who have already received money from the fund will have their grant topped up to match the levels under the new criteria. They will receive notification by email.
Rural Advisory Group co-chairman Lochie MacGillivray says the fund, which reached $1 million as a result of contributions from the Ministry for Primary Industries, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Centralines and Hastings District Council, was set in response to one of the most complicated and prolonged droughts in living memory.
Its impact is ongoing.
“While the meteorological drought is over, it has been a long, and tough few months, and we hope this is seen as a welcome boos,” MacGillivray said.
The fund’s criteria was expanded after a lower than expected uptake by farmers.
There is just over $480,000 remaining and farmers have until September 30 to apply.
Visit the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council website for more details.
