Farmy Army

The Farmy Army formed after the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake and is co-ordinated by Federated Farmers. The name Farmy Army was trademarked in 2011.{{Cite news |date=24 May 2011 |title=Farmy Army shows initiative |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/farmy-army-shows-initiative/WZTKMXMT4OYG5OMYWRAS4T4W4M/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=Northern Advocate}}

{{See also|2010 Canterbury earthquake|2011 Christchurch earthquake}}

The Farmy Army was headquartered at the Canterbury Agricultural Park during the Canterbury earthquake cleanup. They supplied and used over 100 pieces of machinery, including diggers, tipping trucks trailers and loaders. The Farmy Army also provided meat and wool as part of a "meat the needs of Christchurch" campaign, and with their kitchen they provided about 2,500 hot meals for members of the public.{{Cite book |last=Moore |first=Chris |title=Earthquake! Christchurch, New Zealand, 22 February 2011 |date=2011 |publisher=Random House |others=Fairfax Media (Firm) |isbn=978-1-86979-699-0 |location=Auckland, N.Z |pages=121,124}} By May 2011, over 4,500 people had contributed to the clearing of over 100,000 cubic metres of liquefaction sludge. The Farmy Army worked with the Christchurch City Council, Civil Defence and the company Fulton Hogan. The Farmy Army and Student Volunteer Army also helped clear liquefaction after the June 2011 Christchurch earthquake.{{Cite news |date=19 June 2011 |title=Farmy Army on patrol |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5164307/Farmy-Army-on-patrol |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=Sunday Star Times}}

In 2013 John Hartnell, who co-ordinated the liquefaction cleanup as well as the delivery and making of food after the 2011 earthquake, was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community and beekeeping.{{Cite news |date=23 May 2013 |title='Farmy Army' leader honoured for quake aid |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/farmy-army-leader-honoured-for-quake-aid/J7DKVJKJT3SBNGDOVINEMCGFAU/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=APNZ}}

{{See also|2016 Kaikōura earthquake}}

In response to the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, a "virtual Farmy Army" was created. A phone number, 0800FARMING, was set up to pair up the people in need of help with the people who wanted to offer help.{{Cite web |date=16 November 2016 |title=Virtual Farmy Army helps quake recovery |url=https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/virtual-farmy-army-helps-quake-recovery/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |website=www.farmersweekly.co.nz |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=17 November 2016 |title=Fed Farmers 'virtual farmy army' helpline offers assistance after earthquakes |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fed-farmers-virtual-farmy-army-helpline-offers-assistance-after-earthquakes/ZOF7K2F5SSJIDABU327J7TDEZA/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}

The Farmy Army helped with the recovery after flooding in Southland occurred in 2020.{{Cite news |date=10 February 2020 |title='Farmy Army' helps flood-affected Southland farmers |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/farmy-army-helps-flood-affected-southland-farmers/7YNN6BRT4H2XFDLGHE2JDNEBCE/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=Otago Daily Times}}

{{See also|Cyclone Gabrielle}}After 2023's Cyclone Gabrielle, the Farmy Army was a partner in the Commence the Re-Fence campaign along with CNH and the agriculture company Stevenson & Taylor. It fixed and replaced fences in farms, orchards, vineyards and lifestyle blocks that were damaged or destroyed by the cyclone.{{Cite web |date=2 November 2023 |title=Farmy Army to head up Coast as re-fence campaign steps up a gear |url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/farmy-army-steps-up-to-help-out-with-commence-the-re-fence-service |access-date=5 October 2024 |website=The Gisborne Herald |language=}}{{Cite web |date=14 December 2023 |title=Recycled posts boost cyclone recovery |url=https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/farm-management/recycled-posts-boost-cyclone-recovery/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |website=www.farmersweekly.co.nz |language=en-US}} The service ended in May 2024 and gave away the two tractors that were used in the campaign.{{Cite news |date=16 November 2023 |title=Commence the Re-Fence to give away tractors used to help in cyclone recovery |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/commence-the-re-fence-to-give-away-tractors-used-to-help-in-cyclone-recovery/BCSZOS4WDNAQ5MKSEPQMDANTKA/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=Hawkes Bay Today}} In 2024 during the Primary Industries New Zealand Awards, Alastair Macgregor was given the Rural Hero of the Year award for his work with the Farmy Army on the recovery after spending over 200 hours working on the fences in Tutira and Waipukurau.{{Cite news |date=3 July 2024 |title=Primary Industries New Zealand Awards 2024: Rural heroes, innovators and champions recognised |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/primary-industries-new-zealand-awards-2024-rural-heroes-innovators-and-champions-recognised/WQ6MVKKG7RAXFH6EODANVV5SCY/ |access-date=5 October 2024}}

Other recovery work done by the Farmy Army involved planting trees and general cleanup. In March 2023, over 200 volunteers helped with the recovery.{{Cite web |date=2 October 2023 |title=Farmy Army: a light in the dark, shovel at the ready |url=https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/farmy-army-a-light-in-the-dark-shovel-at-the-ready/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |website=www.farmersweekly.co.nz |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Christchurch earthquakes}}

Category:Agricultural organisations based in New Zealand

Category:Farmers' organizations

Category:Volunteer organizations