SLUGS and wellness: Piopio’s Night Owl played host to a group of local farmers who gathered to hear tips around farming in challenging times. PHOTO: SIGRID CHRISTIANSEN
AROUND thirty locals gathered at the Night Owl in Piopio on Tuesday to hear Beef+Lamb New Zealand’s presentation, “Farming in Challenging Times.”
Field representatives Russell Smith and Doug Burnell from PGG Wrightsons were among the presenters.
Russell and Doug discussed what farmers should think about now, in relation to pasture recovery and renewal. They targeted their content especially to those on farms that suffered flooding, slips and erosion from recent events, but also those making plans through autumn to ensure good winter feed supplies.
Slugs were another topic. Russell said slug bait might be expensive, but it was better than having pastures totally ruined by the damaging beasts. He said he had seen many cases of farms paying again and again to resow crops or pasture, instead of managing the pests efficiently.
Mindfulness trainer Rachel Matheson’s presentation focussed on self-awareness.
“It’s about understanding what thoughts are happening for us in the moment and whether we choose to hold on to those, or whether we choose to let them go and maybe adopt some more supportive thoughts that will help us interact or interface with the stressors in front of us.
“We need to identify what emotions are there, so that we can track them.”
It was not a matter of putting on rose-coloured glasses, more of just being able to understand the reality of what was happening for us in the moment, she said.
“Then we are empowered to do things differently, instead of being shut down and on autopilot”
Peter Keeling from Perrin Ag presented on some of the business challenges farmers currently faced. Whilst inflation, schedule prices and interest rates were not under farmers’ direct control, they could still take steps to plan and prepare for leaner times, and create long-term business relisience, he said
