The final shipment of thousands of bales of stock feed sent by South Island farmers to help drought affected North Island farmers were unloaded at the Port of Tauranga today.

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers vice-president John Scrimgeour says in total the South Island has supplied the equivalent of 5700 large bales of feed in 170 containers in the last few months.

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers vice-president John Scrimgeour unloads the last shipment of feed from the South Island.

A further 6000 or more bales have been shipped to the Hawkes Bay to help drought affected farmers.

John says the feed has been supplied by farmers at cost and Pacifica Shipping has transported the containers at a reduced rate.

'North Island farmers very much appreciate the help and to have the feed to look after their stock.

'We are grateful to the shipping company and to the Port of Tauranga for making provisions for unloading and the contractors involved in delivering the feed.”

Today's shipment was of rye grass straw, packed into 17 containers, each containing around 34 large bales.

Because the feed is potentially flammable, it could not be transported in the holds of coastal vessels and so came in containers, which had to be cleaned and made ready for their next load in a very short timeframe. John has been the one sweeping out the straw on almost all of the containers arriving at Tauranga, despite the fact none of the feed has gone to his farm.

Farmers throughout the North Island have been hard hit by the prolonged summer drought, which forced many to reduce stock numbers and feed remaining animals with hay and silage set aside for the coming winter.

John says the support from the South Island has more than a practical value.

'Farmers have been under stress and it is a relief to know they can feed their animals. It is also a comfort to know others are thinking of them. That's the great thing about rural communities – people help each other out in times of need.”

Despite recent rain and grass growth, John says the coming winter will be hard for many farmers as stock recovers from the stresses caused by the drought. The coastal Bay of Plenty should fare better than some areas because generally the winter is milder and grass growth should continue but inland and Waikato regions may not be so fortunate.