increase font size
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
The three-year Reducing Sprains and Strains project by DairyNZ set out to understand the common causes of injuries on farms and then work with farmers and other workplace experts to develop practical solutions to reduce them.
DairyNZ senior scientist and project lead, Dr Callum Eastwood, says he was thrilled with the win.
“People are at the heart of the dairy sector, and we want to see them thrive,” he says.
“This project focuses on helping lower the risk of injury but also cut down the strain on the body so people can last longer in the industry.
“This award is a recognition of our team's dedication to finding smarter, safer ways of working.”
The project was praised by judges who noted the project had led to tangible outcomes for farmers.
As part of the project three products were developed and became commercially available for farmers with a fourth in development.
They include the Easy-Entry Calf Trailer Gate with KEA Trailers, Easy-Access Calf Pen Gate with Gallagher, Easy-Lift Bucket Trolley with Wheelco, and Cups-On Mat.
These products had a direct impact on risk reduction with modelling conducted as part of an independent evaluation predicting the project’s prototypes would reduce the number of sprain and strain injuries by 120 each year.
Of the injuries that continue to occur, the number of days away from work rehabilitating the injuries reduces by an average of 80 days for all low severity injuries.
The project was funded by ACC’s Workplace Injury Prevention Grants programme, with co-investment from DairyNZ.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
OPINION: The stats speak for themselves.
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
Meat Industry Association data, released alongside the Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington, shows export value climbing across the US, China, UK and Canada.
Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
