The Rural Recovery Group overseeing help for farmers in the wake of the Canterbury earthquake is urging those who need assistance to put their hands up.

The group has fielded hundreds of calls since last week from farmers asking for practical and personal support.

Group co-ordinator Allan Baird says as farmers come to terms with the damage, it’s crucial those who need help don’t try and soldier on alone.

“That’s something we have learned from long experience, farmers are the very last ones to ask for help, I think some view it as a weakness to ask for help.

"We’ve got to help them realise it’s not a weakness, it’s a strength of the community that we’ve got so many offers for help, and now we just have to put them to use."

Allan Baird says many farmers could also do without being treated as a tourist attraction.

"Farmers have got enough on their plates at the moment without having hordes of people walking over their properties and climbing over fences to check out the damage to their properties.

"I think some of them are beginning to feel a bit like they’re living in a fish bowl.”

Mr Baird says the worst of the weather hitting the country this weekend should pass Canterbury by.

And any farmer who wants to contact the Rural Recovery Group should call the Selwyn District Council on 03 347 2800.