Rural contractors talk about the F word
Rural Contractors NZ have launched a campaign today against the risks of fatigue in their industry.
It appears the south of the country has had the pick of the farming weather recently, but the rest of NZ – especially the North Island – has been inundated with rain, making it difficult for contractors to even get on paddocks and get key work done.
However, we all know that while most of the country is currently drenched, in six months it could be a very different story.
Speaking of unpredictability, the election is just around the corner and it looks to be on a knife-edge. Whatever the outcome, Rural Contractors NZ will be looking to work constructively with the newly elected government on the issues important to us: immigration, attracting young people to work in our sector, transport issues and workplace safety regulations, to name a few.
Like many of us in the rural sector, I am concerned about the way some political parties seem to be targeting farming, so further expanding the rural/urban divide. It seems crazy to me that any government would look to stifle the productivity of the primary sector when it is the country’s key income earner. How can we expect better education, health and community outcomes for New Zealanders if we cannot pay for them?
I hope that once the dust settles after the election campaign, whoever is in government will get down to working for the benefit of all NZ, including the farming and wider rural sector.
On a more positive note, it was pleasing to see that RCNZ recently donated at least $36,000 raised from the charity auction held at our annual conference in Queenstown in June.
Just over $18,000 was given to the Lakes District Air Rescue Trust, headquartered in Queenstown and covering the wider southwestern region of the South Island. This will go towards essential equipment for the southern helicopter rescue service. We also donated just over $18,000 to St John in the southern region.
The sum raised by this year’s charity auction was among the largest in recent memory. RCNZ’s previous high was about $25,000, so we were pleased to be able to split the proceeds between two beneficiaries for the first time.
As rural people, we believe in putting a little back into our communities. In St John and the rescue helicopter service, we recognise two organisations that give vital service to our rural communities.
Meanwhile, this month RCNZ has teamed up with Agcarm and NZ Aviation in Agriculture Aerial to protect bees from unintended exposure to agrichemicals.
We all know bees are extremely good pollinators of crops and contribute substantially to NZ’s multi-billion-dollar agricultural economy. So it is important we ensure agrichemicals are used responsibly and don’t threaten the all-important bee population.
This campaign is being run during September, not only to coincide with Bee Aware Month, but also with the peak sale time for agrichemicals. The campaign will highlight simple rules for responsibly using the products.
The campaign focuses on agrichemical manufacturers making clear label statements on safety precautions for their products, including how to protect bees.
Meanwhile, it also emphasises the importance of adequate training for people applying agrichemicals, as the correct application is as important as using the correct agrichemical. Of course, the best way to guarantee this happens is for farmers and others to engage only registered chemical applicators for spraying to ensure the safety of bees and people.
Finally, as we head into the busy season, it is timely for all of us working in rural contracting to do our jobs safely. The rural contracting environment can be challenging, especially given the long and irregular hours at certain times, so it’s important to take regular breaks and rests. Well-rested employees, contractors and others help make the work environment safe.
Safe workplace practices are an essential part of doing business and are as important to the success of rural contracting as is having the right gear to do the work.
• Wellsford-based agricultural contractor Steve Levet is the president of the Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ).
