NSW Farmers is encouraging farmers in the north and north-west affected by the floods late last year to report damage, to ensure appropriate government assistance is made available.

NSW Farmers Executive Councillor Bev Albinus said the storms in November around the Inverell, Delungra and Moree districts caused significant damage and losses to individual farming enterprises.

“Until the rain in November, 2011 was looking to be a very promising cropping year. However, the rain and flooding and subsequent downgrading and loss of crops has caused significant financial and emotional stress for many farmers,” Mrs Albinus said.

Farmers have also experienced damage to dams, roads, machinery, contour banks and fence lines that will need to be cleaned-up, replaced and restored. Under the current declarations, farmers in the area can access disaster assistance measures that will provide low interest loans and transport subsidies to primary producers.

“The next level of assistance provides cash grants to individual primary producers. In order for government to grant these assistance measures, information on the level of damage needs to be collected,” Mrs Albinus said.

“That is why farmers must report the damage to the DPI, so the government can get a full picture of the damaged caused and act accordingly.”

For more information regarding disaster relief assistance, go to the NSW Farmers website at www.nswfarmers.org.au or contact the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) on 1800 678 593.

The areas currently declared natural disasters include Armidale Dumaresq, Glen Innes-Severn, Gunnedah, Guyra, Gwydir, Inverell Shire, Lachlan, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains Shire, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Tamworth, Upper Hunter Shire, and Uralla.

© 2012 Glen Innes Examiner

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