ACC urges safety during spring calving
Dairy farmers around the country are into the busy spring calving period.
Organiser of the rural wellbeing programme Farmstrong say it has exceeded expectations in its first year, supporting on average 1000 people each week to live and farm well.
In its recently released ‘Making it Happen’ – an annual report-style document -- Farmstrong refers to its first-year reach, impact and successes, notably its website getting 51,451 unique visitors in the first year – reaching around 1000 people a week.
“We’re rapt with the way Farmstrong is tracking. We knew we’d make an impact for farmers and growers, but we couldn’t have dreamed it would gain this much momentum so quickly,” says spokesman Gerard Vaughan.
Other highlights from the report include:
6205 Facebook followers and 1100 on Twitter
31 Healthy Thinking workshops attended by 1122 farmers, growers and agri-professionals
1003 participants in the Farmstrong Challenge, travelling 633,216km
22 South Island rural comedy shows attended by 3150 people.
“These results show there’s a need for this kind of support in farming and farming communities in New Zealand.
“Before we launched Farmstrong we asked farmers what they wanted from a wellbeing programme, and we’re delivering on their requests with such topics such as sleep, nutrition, exercise and ways to get off the farm more,” says Vaughan.
“We want to congratulate and thank everyone who has got involved and taken something from Farmstrong.
“For us the most important asset on the farm is the farmer, and we’ll continue to deliver farmer-led programmes, initiatives and resources to support farmers with this.
“We’re only just getting started. We have a stack of great initiatives on the horizon and are keen to share these with all Kiwi farmers, to help more people live well and farm well.”
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.