Pink sky in the morning is a shepherds warning, but today I’d like to give a little warning of my own. This time last year in New Zealand we had five deaths on farm. That’s five families that are absolutely heartbroken this year as they are forced to relive the tragic events that struck their […]
Welfare
Family violence response extends to refuge for pets
by Lauren Hale A 2018 Women’s Refuge survey of victims who had experienced animal abuse found that 53% delayed fleeing violent situations out of fear for their pet’s safety. As an answer to this, the charity Pet Refuge has been set up to offer safe shelters for small or large pets – and even offer […]
Safety project tackles sprains and strains on dairy farms
A three-year DairyNZ and ACC project is underway to identify ways to reduce the occurrence of sprains and strains on-farm. DairyNZ Senior Scientist Callum Eastwood said for this particular project, the focus is on engineering solutions and farm system changes rather than behaviour change. Farm system changes might include practices such as once-a-day or flexible […]
Farmer frustration is boiling over
Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard says he’s not surprised frustration and anger about the deluge of new regulations and costs from central government is spilling over into protest meetings. On Friday farmers in a number of districts around New Zealand are rounding up dog teams and firing up utes and tractors to head into their […]
Kiwi farm equipment specialist takes on new heights
You might say, assuming a tolerance for puns, that to ask a company that specialises in making farm animal handling equipment to come up with something for giraffes was a tall order. But Farmquip took it in their stride. When Wellington Zoo started planning an upgrade of the habitat that is home to aunt and […]
Bernadette Hunt wins PINZ Leadership award
Two major pieces of legislation have kicked Southland this year…. fresh water & winter grazing legislation. Both rules created havoc in Southland….in the middle of it all was Southland farmer and Federated Farmers vice president Bernadette Hunt. A tough year all around, yet at the Primary Industries awards event Bernadette Hunt vice president of Southland […]