Southland Federated farmers president Rod Pemberton said representatives from stock firms, meat and rural servicing companies planned to visit every farm in areas hit hardest by the seven days of snow, rain, wind and sleet.
"They will take food parcels we have made up, but also ask questions about their immediate needs and find out where they need help," he said.
That could be assistance with burying dead stock, replenishing supplementary feed, or help dealing with animal-health issues.
Mr Pemberton said the key was to have people visit who farmers trusted and would talk to, so the support of rural field representatives was ideal.
"The idea is to try and get a bit of information coming in on where the need is in the rural community."
Rural servicing companies have been donating money, goods and services, which would be matched with what farmers need.
Mr Pemberton said the extent of the problem remained unknown, but he thought about 800 farms had borne the storm's onslaught, with rumours of individual farms reportedly facing stock losses worth $100,000.
"It's going to be big," he said.
DairyNZ estimates about half the 1000 dairy farms in Otago and Southland were affected to some degree.
An initial assessment indicates the storm could cost farmers $20 million in lost income, with sheep farmers bearing the brunt through lamb deaths.
A meeting of groups involved in the crisis planned for Invercargill on Monday will discuss the recovery response.
Meanwhile, aid has started to roll in, with insurer FMG donating $100,000 to the Adverse Events Trust adding to the $500,000 donated by Alliance Group and $40,000 from Ballance Agri-Nutrients donated on Thursday.
Silver Fern Farms has donated 1200 bales of grass and lucerne haylage from its Fairton farm in Canterbury to be given away, which several transport operators will transport free.
Staff from the company's Finegand plant were also available to help farmers, and processing capacity will be ramped up early to handle any destocking required.
Rural Women New Zealand is to use a $3000 grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to run a series of adverse-event meetings and to organise community gatherings once the weather clears.
