Tuesday, 15 February 2022 13:55

Animal welfare tops contingency plan

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup says they are "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best". Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup says they are "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best".

Animal welfare remains the biggest concern as the Rural Support Trust activates Covid contingency plans for the farming sector.

Trust chair Neil Bateup told Rural News while there have been just one or two Covid cases on farms so far, they were "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best".

He says a lot of planning has been done in each region with the organisation liaising with industry bodies, Ministry of Social Development and district health boards.

"If any farming business gets into strife, we will look at how best to support it," he says. "A Covid outbreak can cause labour issues on farm and that's where looking after livestock - cattle, sheep, poultry and pigs - may become an animal welfare issue."

Many farm businesses have drawn up their own contingency plans around securing extra staff and making arrangements with neighbours to help each other out.

Bateup says it's hard to say how far and wide Covid will spread in the farming community.

"As it spreads more around the country, [it's] likely more farms will be impacted. But we are prepared. Hopefully we don't have a lot of work to do."

Farming businesses impacted by Covid can contact their regional RST office for support.

Bateup also expressed gratitude to the Government for allocating an additional $400,000 for the rural sector to prepare for Omicron.

"We are really happy that our work has been recognised.

"The money will ensure Rural Support Trust is reimbursed for any work it does around Covid."

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says the funding will bolster the resources of Rural Support Trusts and other organisations, including those supporting Māori agribusinesses, to help them respond to cases.

"This funding will help ensure there's someone that farmers and growers can speak to and provide guidance should they or their staff be dealing with Omicron.

"The Rural Support Trusts are well woven into rural communities to provide wrap-around support services.

"The sector has to date been resilient throughout the pandemic. The hard work of farmers and growers, along with those involved in keeping supply chains open and exports flowing, is leading New Zealand's trade-led recovery from Covid," O'Connor says.

O'Connor is urging farmers to have own contingency plans in place.

"Contingency planning by farmers, growers and lifestyle block owners will minimise the risk of further Covid-19 related disruptions, which can occur anywhere along the supply chain," he says.

"It's vital all food and fibre producers have a plan. It makes it easier for other people to step in and help run your farm, or feed your livestock, at short notice."

There are several free checklists available which have been developed by industry and Ministry for Primary Industries.

Rural Support Trust

There are 14 Trusts across the country with links into health, social development and all industry partners including Federated Farmers.

Case managers will work alongside farmer and growers who have issues and help them plan a way forward.

Some farmers may chill in preparation, whilst others will call once they or their staff are managing Omicron on their farm or in their orchard. Every situation will be different - number of staff, number infected, or the type of operation for instance.

A key part of this is to be putting people in touch with other support agencies, like Work and Income, should they need it.

More like this

PETA wants web cams in shearing sheds

Animal rights protest group PETA is calling for Agriculture Minister Todd McClay to introduce legislation which would make it mandatory to have live-streaming web cameras in all New Zealand shearing shed.

Help available for flood-hit farmers

The chair of the Otago Rural Support Trust, Tom Pinckney, says he believes that they will be especially busy in the coming months as the enormity of the floods hit home.

Featured

‘Nanobubble’ trial trims irrigation water usage

North Canterbury dairy farmer and recently-elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson, is enjoying a huge reduction in irrigation water use after converting a pivot irrigator to drag perforated drip tubes across the ground instead of elevated sprinkler heads.

Editorial: Elusive India FTA

OPINION: Without doubt, a priority of the Government this year will be to gain traction on the elusive free trade deal with India.

Sport star to talk at expo

Rugby league legend Tawera Nikau is set to inspire, celebrate and entertain at the East Coast Farming Expo's very popular Property Broker's Evening Muster.

National

Sweet or sour deal?

Not all stakeholders involved in the proposed merger of honey industry groups - ApiNZ and Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association…

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Times have changed

OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers…

Hallelujah moment

OPINION: The new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has just had the hallelujah moment of the 21st century in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter