ACC urges safety during spring calving
Dairy farmers around the country are into the busy spring calving period.
A newly launched collaborative rural wellbeing recovery project aims to help rural communities across the North Island to come together through a series of in-person events and programmes this summer.
“This is a challenging time for our farmers, growers and other rural people. Making time to pause to check-in on each other and focus on our personal and family wellbeing is key,” says Lisa Sims of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust. “That’s why several rural organisations have come together to deliver ‘Checking-in’ – a series of community events and online tools and tips for connection and resilience in a tough season.”
Headlining the project is a series of community get-togethers, events and personal development programmes across the North Island. These include AWDT’s YOU Matter programmes, Rural Women NZ supporting community Christmas events, Farmstrong Comedy events and more.
Rural people across New Zealand are also invited to subscribe to the ‘Checking-in’ tools and tips email series.
Delivered weekly, the 15-part series of short videos is about making the hard stuff manageable – like supporting young people through challenging times, managing emotions and enjoying the good times.
‘Checking-in’ is run by the Agri- Women’s Development Trust, Rural Women New Zealand and Farmstrong, with support from the Rural Support Trust. The project is funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries as part of the NIWE (North Island Weather Event) response.
www.checking-in.co.nz.
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Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
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National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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