Some Otago farmers are preparing for weeks, if not months, of repairs in the wake of this week's floods.
It wasn't the biggest flood Ron Sheat has seen at his Palmerston farm, standing at the Shag River. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ
For some areas, much of the water has receded, leaving behind debris and damaged fences.
This wasn't the biggest flood Ron Sheat has seen at his Palmerston farm, but he said it has come very close.
"At least 30 percent of it went under, it could have even been 40 percent. But it just varies on the height of it, some of it was only under by a few hundred millimetres, other places by two-and-a-half to three metres."
His farm has crops and dairy support for cows, calves, bulls, steers and hoggarts.
Flooded land on the farm. Photo: Tess Brunton/RNZ
He was grateful for the early weather warning as it gave him time to move stock to higher ground and wind up electrical fences.
The Shag River snakes its way through his property, and is a couple of minutes walk from his house.