increase font size
Sharon Morrell.
DairyNZ is now hosting online discussion groups where farmers can beam in from the comfort of their living rooms, offices or dairies and there’s no need to take the gumboots off.
According to acting DairyNZ general manager farm performance, Sharon Morrell, someone recently tuned in on the discussions while he was working in the milking shed.
“The farmer put his phone on silent for most of it and was able to take part as if he’d been at a meeting in person,” she says.
Morrell says the online discussion groups are an important way for farmers to provide support and ideas to each other, replacing the face-to-face discussion and are one way DairyNZ is adapting how it provides support to farmers during COVID-19.
“It’s very important we ensure our farm teams, families and supporting services are safe and implementing the right measures to protect themselves while continuing their work on farm as essential businesses. But we’re also keen to ensure our farmers are able to catch up to talk about their activities and current priorities.” she says.
The new online discussion groups are proving popular with farmers and have many benefits, including the opportunity to chat about current farm activities, how they’re meeting COVID-19 responsibilities and setting up for next season.
Morrell says most sessions run for 60 to 90 minutes and people can attend for as long as they like. Farmers say the technology is easy to use – just click on the link to join a virtual ‘room’ where everyone enjoys the opportunity to hear from each other. The link is emailed and texted to existing discussion group members.
“It means farmers can take part but stay well within their own bubble,” she says.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
DairyNZ has pulled together tactics that will help farmers improve on-farm efficiency and have positive benefits for the environment. These tactics are based on research, data, and lessons from leading farmers.
The design and construction of an effective dairy effluent system is a complex process.
After serving three as a DairyNZ director, Waikato farmer Chris Lewis is ready for another term.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
