The focus of the Southland snow storm is turning toward official recognition.

Agriculture Minister David Carter has visited the area, and taken widespread calls to declare a medium scale adverse event.

Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson David Rose says the move would open up a number of services to devastated sheep farmers.

“It allows a bit more funding for the [Rural Support Trust], they’ll be able to run some meetings and help people that aren’t coping well with it.

"There will be quite a few people who have lost their income, so they’re going to have to find an income, and there have been really large losses of capital stock."

Mr Rose, a sheep and beef farmer himself, says it’s been the worst spring storm in living memory.

"People who have been around for a long time are saying it’s the worst they’ve seen.

"It’s the severity, the length of it, and of course the timing as well.”