“To be a good leader, you have to first know your ‘why,’” says Ravensdown shareholder and Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) Escalator programme graduate Donna Cram. “For me it is to connect people across agricultural communities using values-based communication to empower collaboration.” Donna, a dairy farmer at Wylan Dene farm near Awatuna in South Taranaki, was […]
People
Lip Gloss and Gumboots
While some people are attracted to the more solitary parts of a rural working life, many farming women seek out others going through the same experiences, according to Ravensdown shareholder Jo Hay. “Farming can be a pretty lonely lifestyle. It’s important for women in agriculture to have a supportive group where they can discuss their […]
People drive positivity
The Dairy industry is currently burdened with numerous government and local policies and negative connotations from some sectors with little knowledge of how much farmers care for their land and livestock to the point that they become sleep deprived due to dedication and lack of suitable staffing allocations. The primary sector should be proud of […]
Farmers highlight folly of Water Services Bill catch-all
“With respect, please, please rethink this bill,” Ian and Barbara Stuart said in a letter to Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta. The owners of the Cable Bay Farm and holiday park in Nelson are among a stream of rural residents emailing and writing to the Minister to express dismay and puzzlement on why the Water […]
Feds disappointed with deadline extension refusal
Federated Farmers is extremely disappointed with Otago Regional Council’s outright rejection of a multi-party request for a two week extension for all submitters on the Council’s Regional Policy Statement (RPS) review in light of the Covid lockdown. “ORC chief executive Sarah Gardner – quite correctly – has told her staff that during the lockdown they […]
Feds: Pragmatism finally prevails on winter grazing
Farmers will breathe a considerable sigh of relief over news the government has accepted most of the Southland Advisory Group’s winter grazing recommendations, and will now consult on proposed revised rules. “Everyone wants strong protection for our waterways but from the day they came out Feds had said a number of aspects of the Essential […]
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 […]
Trees your friend, not your competition, farmers told
by Simon Edwards Trees versus food production arguments are misleading and detract from opportunities to improve the sustainability and profitability of the wider farming sector, Forest Owners Association President Phil Taylor told the Primary Industries Summit last month. “Trees, in various places, for various reasons, at various times, are going to complement and protect farming […]
Embracing arable on and off-farm
By Anna Heslop, of FAR Tash White’s first memories of farming are hand rouging wild oats. Despite this she wasn’t deterred from a career in the arable sector and her children are now doing the same job. Tash is a third-generation farmer at ‘Willowbank’ farm, just south of Ashburton, Canterbury. The farm has been in […]
Co-innovation project advances irrigation practices
By Gina McKenzie A five-year collaborative project involving NIWA and a pilot group of Waimakariri farmers has seen a shift from a “just-in-case” approach to irrigation to a “justified” approach, where landowners use real time data and forecasts to make science-based irrigation decisions. Throughout the NIWA-led Irrigation Insight programme, farmers have been provided with daily […]