Tasman farmers and orchardists struggling with flood recovery and mental health pressures
The strain and pressure of weeks of repairing their flood-damaged properties is starting to tell on farmers and orchardists in the Tasman district.
A 20-year old farmer’s tweet about her declining mental health has sparked a massive response online.
Shephard and relief milker Ffion Hooson has been running her family farm in Denbighshire, North Wales since mid-2018, when her father suffered a major stroke.
Hooson says her father spent four months in hospital before being discharged and continues to be in recovery.
The heartbreak of her father’s health combined with bad weather and the responsibilities of running a farm proved too much earlier this month when the young farmer took to Twitter to express her pain.
“I’m 20 years old and farming alone and I am constantly putting a brave hard face on... yet deep down I’m pretty much breaking inside... it’s the most I’ve struggled and no one really understands but I have no choice but to carry on,” Hooson posted on Twitter.
I’m 20 years old and farming alone and I am constantly putting a brave hard face on... yet deep down I’m pretty much breaking inside... it’s the most I’ve struggled and no one really understands but I have no choice but to carry on?? pic.twitter.com/n8keHhWci5
— Ffion Hooson (@ffionhooson0) February 7, 2020
The tweet sparked an outpouring of support and other farmers sharing their experiences, with over 2,700 replies and 2,000 retweets.
A week on, things appeared to be looking up for Hooson, who shared that she was now being given support on-farm.
Well it’s a week on from the tweet that went viral and the main man is back home, doing what he does best #farming and spending the day helping me, move sheep and clean the sheds out!! What a man! #BobFronFelen @ElenGwen @nwilliamsff ❤️? pic.twitter.com/g7OVuEvvuy
— Ffion Hooson (@ffionhooson0) February 14, 2020
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.
The New Zealand Fish & Game Council has announced a leadership change in an effort to provide strategic direction for the sector and support the implementation of proposed legislative changes.
AgFirst, New Zealand's largest independent agribusiness consultancy, is turning 30 - celebrating three decades of "trusted advice, practical solutions, and innovative thinking".