One month after floods ravaged northern NSW some primary producers say they're still unable to access financial assistance.
For Bungawalbin flower farmers Suellen Thompson and her husband Gray Pritchett, a few roses were all that remained from a year's work after the floods hit their property in March.
But because more than 50 per cent of their income is earnt off farm, they can't claim the $75,000 grant offered to other primary producers.
"What we've established is we're not entitled to a small business grant because we're primary production, and we're not entitled to a primary production grant because we're a small business," Ms Thompson tells AAP.
The flower farmers who sought a tree change from Brisbane last year are now living in a caravan on their property.
They may qualify for a Rural Landholder Grant of $25,000, announced by the the federal Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie in mid March, but that's still unavailable.
"Across the website at the moment it says coming soon, it's like the new movie," a frustrated Ms Thompson said.
She says the inequitable system is stalling their recovery.
"We know we've poured in up to $100,000 in the last 12 months," she says.
"We need to know what our options are ... Are we organically building this right from the beginning again? What are we doing? Suddenly we're in the middle floating with nothing."
The flower farmers are hoping to get back on their feet, but for now are relying on their savings. They say after paying taxes for 30 years they're hoping for some government help.
"Beyond spectacular" is how Ms Thompson describes the support of family, friends and neighbours.
It was a neighbour whose place they escaped to along with a "Noahs Ark" of animals including horses, cows, chooks, and even a wild fox, while their home was inaccessible for two weeks.
But Ms Thompson says it's been "soul destroying" to also have their small business grant knocked back.
"Why are we being excluded from the small business option?" she asks.
Trevor Watts, who runs a beef farm at nearby Woodburn, says the system is "unfair".
He lost 35 cattle and all of his farm machinery, with a financial hit of about $150,000.
Mr Watts is also spending thousands of dollars handfeeding his surviving cattle.
He's another not entitled to the $75,000 primary producers grant because he earns the majority of his income off farm.
A spokesperson from Senator McKenzie's office said the Rural Landholder Grants of up to $25,000 were made available for landholders not eligible under the existing support mechanisms, and are administered by the NSW Government and co-funded by the Commonwealth.
Neither the Commonwealth nor NSW governments confirmed when that grant would be available.
