Foot-in-mouth
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left them wishing they had kept their mouth firmly closed.
Rural groups are banding together to support farmers dealing with challenging weather conditions in Otago and Southland.
Parts of Southland received almost triple their normal September rainfall, a heavy dumping of snow, and a further 70 millimetres of rain last week.
The Southland Rural Support Trust is coordinating a range of initiatives to help boost farmer morale.
"The challenging weather has occurred during a busy time of the year and is taking a physical and mental toll," says Trust chair Cathie Cotter.
"We're encouraging farmers to get off-farm for a couple of hours to take a breath and reflect on how well they have coped."
"These events will help farmers realise they are not alone and are all facing the same challenges," she says.
The Southland Rural Support Trust, with the support of other organisations, is holding seven brunches between 13 and 22 October.
Free workshops, co-funded by the Ministry of Health and Rural Women NZ, are also being held across Otago and Southland from 9 to 13 November to help rural women prioritise their wellbeing and thrive.
They're being facilitated by Southland dairy farmer and former Dairy Woman of the Year Loshni Manikam and will offer practical tips and advice.
"I know how hard it is to prioritise looking after your wellbeing, especially when constant rain and snow create extra work on-farm," says Manikam.
"Women are central to the success of many farming businesses and families, and you can't run on an empty tank."
Thriving Southland, funded through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), is hosting a free event in Invercargill on 22 October featuring guest speaker Melissa Clarke-Reynolds.
It will focus on helping farmers achieve positive outcomes through connecting with others and being innovative during periods of change.
Motivational speaker Tony Christiansen is also fronting a series of events in Oamaru, Balclutha, Gore and Winton between 3 and 5 November.
In an ever-changing world, things never stay completely the same. Tropical jungles can turn into concrete ones criss-crossed by motorways, or shining cities collapse into ghost towns.
Labour's agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says while New Zealand needs more housing, sacrificing our best farmland to get there is not the answer.
Profitability issues facing arable farmers are the same across the world, says New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
Tighter beef and lamb production globally have worked to the advantage of NZ, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…
OPINION: The huge success of former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson's new TV show, Clarkson's Farm, and the boost it…