Farmstrong

Study shows on-farm wellbeing, injury link

Research undertaken by rural wellbeing initiative Farmstrong has established the link between diminished wellbeing and on-farm injuries.

The study of 500 farmers receiving ACC quantified the extent to which diminished wellbeing had contributed to their accident. The results were telling – 58% reported that an aspect of diminished wellbeing had contributed to their accident. Nearly a quarter (24%) identified diminished wellbeing as a major contributor.

The most mentioned factors were fatigue/exhaustion, lack of sleep, not coping with the ups and downs of farming, needing a break from the farm, and having too much to do and not enough time.

On the positive side, the study also found that farmers who engaged with Farmstrong were less likely than others to report diminished wellbeing being a major contributor to a more serious injury. Tangaroa Walker, contract milker courses and learn about all these

Last year, over 18,000 farmers, Southland. things, but nowhere do you learn growers and farm workers engaged “You’ve got to be on the ball, about how to look after yourself by in Farmstrong. Twenty-two percent every minute of every day on a dairy eating properly or making sure you call attributed an improvement in their farm. We’re working with five-tonne a friend when you’re stressed. No one wellbeing to their involvement, with machinery and working with livestock,” teaches you that. That’s why I think 13% reporting a moderate to large he says. Farmstrong’s the best thing since improvement. Here are some insights “It’s funny isn’t it? We do farming sliced bacon.” dairy farmers have shared on the topic. n

Paul and Pip Walker run a 300-cow, 90-hectare dairy farm in Pongakawa.

“I learned the hard way about how hazardous fatigue can be,” he says.

“Ten years ago I was very tired after calving and we were having issues with an old fanbelt driven water pump. I went to check it and realised there was a burr in the belt, but because I was exhausted, rather than turn the machine off, without thinking I put my hand in the middle and it went through the pulley. It caught me and I lost a finger.

“It was a hell of a lesson – you’re not much use on a farm when you’re tired. When you’re tired, the simplest of decisions and tasks can become very difficult.”

Amber Carpenter and her husband Fraser milk 550 cows in Paparimu, south of Auckland.

“We like working hard, but we also want to enjoy what we’re trying to build,” she says.

“It’s about finding what works best for you. It might be exercise, a hobby or a better roster. No one gets it right all the time, but if the intention’s there, it’s much more likely you’re going to have a good day. But you need to put yourself first.

“That self-awareness is something I’ve developed over a very long period of time. That it’s ok to make your wellbeing a priority.”

Farmstrong helps farmers cope with the ups and downs of farming by sharing things farmers can do to look after themselves and manage stress and pressure through its website – www.farmstrong.co.nz – and at workshops and community events.

Here are some top tips: • Stay connected – Surround yourself with a network of people you can reach out to. It can be as simple as having a conversation in the pub or over the fence. • Keep active – Biking, walking, hunting, and team sports – whatever appeals. It keeps you ‘farm fit’, boosts your mood and gets you off-farm. • Schedule recovery time – Mini breaks and time outs during the day boost performance and improve decision-making in physically demanding jobs.

Under the pump? For tips and ideas, visit farmstrong.co.nz

Mark Meyer milks 400 cows on a 190ha dairy farm in the Kaipara region.

“There’s no doubt in farming that what you put in is what you get out. But how many people do you hear on their deathbeds say ‘I wish I’d worked another day?’” he asks. “You’ve got to adopt a different mentality and think, ‘this farm will always be there tomorrow.’

“You’ve simply got to make the time to get off-farm and refresh yourself to keep well physically and mentally.”

Angela Reed is a dairy farmer from Waikirikiri Farm, Canterbury.

“We feel a responsibility to make sure that we’re looking after our staff in the best possible way,” she says.

“We’ve changed our whole staff meeting as a result. We used to start with health and safety, now we start the conversation with ‘how are you?’”

Calf Club NZ regional winners

Well done to all the children and their calves who have taken part in Calf Club NZ this year, you have done us all proud. Congratulations to our regional winners, and be sure to keep an eye out in next month’s issue for our national winners and photos.

Primary/Intermediate

Leading

Upper Northland Mid Northland Lower Northland/Auckland South Auckland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato Bay of Plenty North Taranaki South Taranaki Manawatu Tasman Marlborough Canterbury/Southland

Video League Rearing

Upper Northland Mid Northland Lower Northland/Auckland South Auckland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato

1st

Charlie Williams Alyssa Bishop Leigha Dinsdale Jakob Court Tayler Gibbs Ashlynne Wise Gabrielle Scherer Jack Anderson Dylan-Marie Sawford Alexia Gordon Ella Tai Ruby Read Oliver Selby Katie Templeman Andrew Giles Thomas Henderson-Greig

1st

George Williams Drew McDermott Leigha Dinsdale Jakob Court Tayler Gibbs Jamie Spiers Gabrielle Scherer

2nd

George Williams Marley Imeson Boston Stubbs Ben Linnell Celena Earl Cassie Wise Rylee Davie Hadasah Richards Lily Murray Aimee Beer Kaylee Lepper Cady-Maree Barriball Sophie Dickson Matty Templeman Danielle Giles Kemnay Christensen

2nd

Jack Williams Alyssa Bishop Sylvia Wright Ben Linnell Celena Earl Pippa Earwaker Rylee Davie

3rd

Ruby Williams Jethro Imeson Piper Stubbs Lexi Linnell Tom Johnson Laura Connolly Fergus Fulton Zuri Richards Aria Abrams Jimmy Beer Annabella Aldridge Kelsey Perrett Alistair Pedersen Max Templeman Jordan Berkers Kobe Gardiner

3rd

Charlie Williams Evan Browning Elizabeth Pivac Lexi Linnell Chloe Sergeant Cassie Wise Fergus Fulton

Keeping Calf Clubs Alive

East Waikato South Waikato Bay of Plenty North Taranaki South Taranaki Manawatu Tasman/Marlborough Canterbury/Southland

Video League Dairy Type

Upper Northland Mid Northland Lower Northland/Auckland South Auckland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato Bay of Plenty North Taranaki South Taranaki Manawatu Tasman/Marlborough Canterbury/Southland

Video League Beef Type

Upper Northland Lower Northland/Auckland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato Bay of Plenty North Taranaki South Taranaki Manawatu Tasman/Marlborough

High-School

Leading

Mid Northland Lower Northland/Auckland South Auckland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato South Taranaki Manawatu Tasman Marlborough Canterbury/Southland

Rearing

Mid Northland Lower Northland/Auckland South Auckland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato South Taranaki Manawatu Tasman Marlborough Canterbury/Southland

Dairy Type

Mid Northland Hauraki Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato South Taranaki Manawatu Canterbury/Southland

Beef Type

Lower Northland/Auckland South Auckland Western Waikato Central Waikato East Waikato South Waikato Tasman/Marlborough Jack Anderson Dylan-Marie Sawford Alexia Gordon Shani McClutchie Cady-Maree Barriball Oliver Selby Katie Templeman Margaret Russell Thomas Henderson-Greig

1st

George Williams Alyssa Bishop Elizabeth Pivac Jakob Court Adelle Johnson Jamie Spiers Gabrielle Scherer Jack Anderson Dylan-Marie Sawford Alexia Gordon Kaylee Lepper Ruby Read Tayla Jamieson Katie Templeman Margaret Russell Carlisle Christensen

1st

Riley Brown Sylvia Wright Poppie Balm Ashlynne Wise Zoe Morris Alexi Buchanan Blayke Murray Amber Cleaver Tamati McClutchie Lacey Beck Cameron Pedersen Katie Templeman

1st

Danika Beardall Arjan Pedersen Charlise Benson Thomas Jeyes Emily Woller Jacoba Gread Grace Parker - Missy Bradley Sawford – Peaches Jessica Holmes Nikki Baker Ben Martin Kimberly Simmons

1st

Danika Beardall Arjan Pedersen Charlise Benson Ella Pirie Katelyn Smith Jacoba Gread Grace Parker - Ginge Bradley Sawford – Peaches Jessica Holmes Nikki Baker Ben Martin Kimberly Simmons

1st

Danika Beardall Ella Pirie Jessica-Rose Young Jacoba Gread Grace Parker- Missy Bradley Sawford - Peaches Jessica Holmes Arden Thompson Kimberly Simmons

1st

Arjan Pedersen Charlise Benson Emily Woller Tayla Hansen Grace Parker- Ginge Bradley Sawford - Todd Ben Martin Zuri Richard Lily Murray Amber Cleaver Kaylee Lepper Ruby Read Camerson Pedersen Macey Parkes Annika Buhre Kobe Gardiner

2nd

Jack Williams Sam Browning Leigha Dinsdale Lexi Linnell Ella Wiggins Flynn Hunson Michelle-Jan Ngaheu Hadassah Richards Aria Abrams Aimee Beer Ella Tai Kelsey Perrett Haylee Baker Isaac Templeman Danica Berkers Kemnay Christensen

2nd

Boston Stubbs Noah Gibbs Cassie Wise Zac Morris Michael Edwards Lily Murray Jimmy Beer Shani McClutchie Ella Clarkson Chloe Jamieson Matty Templeman

2nd

Summer Gibbs Katelyn Smith Charlie Scherer Grace Parker - Ginge Bradley Sawford - Todd

Arden Thompson

Lina Buhre

2nd

Thomas Jeyes Jessica-Rose Young Tayla Hansen Grace Parker- Missy Bradley Sawford - Todd

Arden Thompson

Lina Buhre

2nd

Thomas Jeyes Katelyn Smith Charlie Scherer

Nikki Baker Lina Buhre Hadassah Richards Blayke Murray Jimmy Beer Ella Tai Ella Clarkson Chloe Jamieson Katie Templeman Skye Crossen Carlisle Christensen

3rd

Charlie Williams Kody McDermott

Ben Linnell Tayler Gibbs Amelia Bruster Hunter Fulton Zuri Richards Liam Olaker Conrad Gordon Annabella Aldridge Ella Clarkson Oliver Selby Macey Parkes Andrew Giles Thomas Henderson -Greig

3rd

Piper Stubbs

Adam Watson

Jacob Rouse

Alec Hayward Alistair Pedersen Max Templeman

3rd

Ella Pirie Jessica-Rose Young Tayla Hansen

3rd

Summer Gibbs Emily Woller Charlie Scherer

3rd

Summer Gibbs

MORE: All results, including national winners, for Calf Club NZ 2020 are available on the Calf Club website.