Farmers in areas affected by the Canterbury earthquake are being warned to check whether damage to their irrigation systems has left equipment "live" with the electricity connected to pumps.
The full extent of damage to irrigation wells, pipelines and systems has not yet been assessed in the wake of Saturday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake, but Irrigation NZ today warned farmers to take extreme care.
"As power is restored there is potential for real danger in irrigation electrical systems," said the body's technical spokesman, Stephen McNally.
"To some extent in respect to water it will be a case of "suck it and see", however extreme care needs to be taken with electrical systems," he said.
"If any obvious damage has occurred a qualified technician should be called for advice".
Farmers should turn off the power supply at the mains if electricity supply to the pump had been cut, but needed to be wary of surface water around electrical hardware and fallen lines.
"If in doubt, do not touch".
A few simple checks could be made on bores, pumps and pipe networks ahead of the summer irrigation season.
Depending on the nature of disturbance from ground-shaking, bores may yield more or less water than previously, and artesian bores may have a lowered pressure.
"Expect the unexpected with regard to waterflows," said Mr McNally.
All Canterbury farmers have been called to a meeting at Darfield High School - near the epicentre of the region's big quake - tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss a recovery process for the sector.
The two-hour meeting will canvass Earthquake Commission and insurance issues, the Selwyn District Council response to the quake, stress management for farm families, and the government response to the quake.
Federated Farmers said yesterday its regional rural recovery group was now looking to move into the recovery phase, and the meeting will consider how to start that recovery process.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's latest estimates suggest there have been between 300 and 400 farms affected, with up to 150 severely affected.
Farmers have been urged to check storage silos in case rain has leaked in and started spoiling grain.
And dairy farmers have been asked to ensure their family and workers get sufficient time-off to rest.
Most of the damage directly affecting meat and wool farms has been caused to farmers' homes rather than the land, the federation said.
NZPA