Southland farmers ravaged by September’s snow storms have the chance this week to hear how to make the most of the situation.

12 storm recovery seminars are being held across the region to discuss financial planning, farm management and stress over the coming months.

Invercargill farm consultant Deane Carson says a series of seminars was easier than fielding hundreds of calls from individual farmers.

“I get calls on a daily basis from farmers who are asking the questions we’ll be answering at the seminars, so it’s a chance for farmers to come along and get those answers.”

SNOW RECOVERY MEETINGS:

Tuesday: Riversdale and Mossburn.

Wednesday:Fairfax and Winton.

Thursday: Morton Mains and Tokanui.

Tuesday next week (November 16) :Clinton and Mataura

Wednesday (November 17): Tapanui and Telford Rural Polytechnic.

Morning meetings start at 9.30 and the afternoon meetings at 2pm.

LAMB PRICES LOOKING UP

One piece of good news to come out of the storm – lamb prices in the south are expected to surge as meat companies fight for supply.

The average price could top $100, with the total lamb kill expected to be at least one million less than last season at around 20 million.

Federated Farmers board member David Rose farms sheep and cattle near Winton. He says a price war would offset some of the loss farmers will take from their depleted lamb stocks.

“It all helps - the price of lambs being up a bit, there’s extra kilos because you can take your weight a bit higher, wool prices are up too, so there are options out there.

"The weather has improved greatly, and for some people, if they didn’t know what had happened they’d wonder what you were on about, really.”