Southland farmers breathe a sigh of relief
Southland Farmers will be breathing a sigh of relief that central Government is stepping in to stop Environment Southland from introducing unworkable and expensive new farming rules.
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.
With the global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) making headlines around the world, the Department of Conservation (DoC) is taking steps to secure the safety of several endangered bird species that call New Zealand home.
PGG Wrightson has launched a new stock-counting service using drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which it says removes all the hassle for farmers, while achieving 99.9% accuracy.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri is looking at expanding offshore plantings in the northern hemisphere to boost global supply.
Red meat farmers have hailed the Government for passing the Resource Management Act Amendment Bill.
Disease management agency OSPRI is throwing its support behind the Rural Support Trust.
Southland Farmers will be breathing a sigh of relief that central Government is stepping in to stop Environment Southland from introducing unworkable and expensive new farming rules.
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