OSPRI writes off $17m over botched traceability system
Animal disease management agency OSPRI has written off nearly $17 million after a botched attempt to launch a new integrated animal disease management and traceability system.
Physical and mental wellbeing while farming under pressure will be a key subject at the 2015 South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) at Lincoln University from June 22-24.
DairyNZ specialist Dana Carver will speak about “the resilient farmer – keeping yourself strong amidst the ever-increasing pressures of farming”.
Her talk has been presented widely and is said to be popular across New Zealand.
“People love it because it focuses on real-world and farmer-specific solutions to the practicalities of keeping healthy. Telling someone they must sleep well is fine, but what are the practical things you can do for yourself when you’re spending half the night awake and worrying?” she says.
Her statistics will show that a lot more farmers are experiencing excessive stress, and she will talk about why farming is now more stressful than 30 years ago. “We will look at why the stresses are there, and think about what we can do as an industry to change the culture.”
Carver, herself a farmer, will outline research about what to do about stress so farming can be enjoyable. “This is the more exciting research – it focuses on the day-to-day reality of what it means to be healthy and is presented with a farming slant.
“I’m after practical questions from farmers on the detail of how to implement change, like how to fit exercise into a busy lifestyle, and what is needed to plan meals for healthy eating.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be fronting farmers at three large public meetings organised by Federated Farmers over the coming weeks.
Federated Farmers and a major Australian-owned bank are at loggerheads over emissions reduction targets set for New Zealand farmer clients.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.
It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.
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