Covid's urban/rural divide
According to a new study from the University of Otago, there was a visible rural/urban divide in Covid-19 vaccination rates.
The New Zealand Dairy Workers Union is talking to dairy processors on how workers would isolate if they contract Covid.
Union general secretary Chris Flatt says part of these ongoing discussions relate to sick leave and how people can isolate if they get sick.
He notes that, like in the cities, there are multi-generational households in rural areas and that presents its own challenges.
"The Government has talked about some support around this as well, but we need to ensure workers can isolate and be off work and not feel pressured to go back to work early," he told Dairy News.
"A lot of our collectives have good sick-leave provisions. From what we have seen overseas, we need to prepare for huge amounts of sick leave to be taken," he says.
At the same time, Flatt says they have to look after people and make sure that they are not doing too much, and that their collective employment agreement terms are complied with.
"But at the same time recognising there may need to be some flexibility on certain sites because we could have large numbers of workers just being on sick leave.
"We have been through the discussions in the last 24 months, making sure that in lockdown people are safe... but I am now looking ahead to see, what does that look like in terms of supply lines, such as picking up milk?"
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
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