Learning new things is a chance to change things up. much rain or not enough rain. It is the same with the payout, whether it is a dairy payout or the land price, beef price, wool price, whatever. In farming and in life you have got to learn to roll with the punches to a certain extent. It is all about keeping perspective and looking at what you can have an influence on and how can you do it positively. There is nothing worse than always seeing the negatives in something. The easiest way is to turn the situation around and ask yourself what the positive is. What is the opportunity here to change or learn something? Whether it is changing a fenceline or a new water system or how you operate as a team with staff. Having the right mindset and being prepared to learn is a real asset when you are feeling under the pump. There are so many chances to learn and grow in farming and I know this is what I am really looking forward to. I know I am going to enter the industry at the bottom of the chain and have to work my way to the top. Hopefully, I have got a bit of time to do that but that is one thing that excites me about farming – there is always a chance to get better. Learning also gives us a fresh perspective on things and often reminds of us why we love what we are doing in the first place. For example, I recently decided to try something different and did a rugby coaching course. It means in future I’ll be able to referee things like kids’ sport.
It was interesting because it definitely challenged me. As a senior player I am used to looking at things from a player’s perspective. This has given me a better understanding of what the coaches are trying to do. I think the lessons are relevant for anyone working with a team. It makes you realise that when you want to pass on skills to others you really need to work out how people prefer to learn and receive information and that everyone is different. Some people prefer learning by discovery – you have just got to let them go and let them make the mistakes. Other people want you to show them
and tell them. Some people need regular encouragement, others more direct feedback without the small talk. Rather than guessing, it is worth asking people how they want to receive feedback. I have learned from sport that if you ask, people will give you an honest answer. So doing that coaching course has been interesting and opened a few different doors for me. From a personal perspective I have also enjoyed just doing something a little bit different compared to playing and training. Learning new things is a chance to change things up. n
Sam Whitelock says there are many opportunities to grow and learn in farming, as there are in sport.
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production is not jeopardised. “We need food so other sectors need to do better. “This is a breath of someone to finally fresh air for say Rankin says while that.” reports have been previous scathing of farming, this one is less so. “I felt like this report has helped us turn a corner, that affected by climate farmers are change but we The Intergovernme also really need them.” on Climate Change ntal Panel The report found (IPCC) report global food is being welcomed systems account by New for a quarter of Zealand farming greenhouse gas leaders as an emissions and endorsement of agricultural emissions of nitrous our low impact systems and the oxide and methane importance of are increasing. maintaining food But land also has production. a role as a The IPCC says carbon sink, absorbing land on which 30% of the we rely for food, planet’s greenhouse water, gas emissions health and wellbeing energy, between 2008 and 2017. is already under pressure Crop production and climate is being change will exacerbate affected by higher temperatures, through desertification that changing rain patterns degradation potentially and land frequency of extreme and greater affecting events. food security. The report warns consumption The report’s advocacy patterns, land management and balanced diet including of a population growth will determine animal protein sourced the planet’s future from resilient, in a changing sustainable, low climate. greenhouse systems is an endorsement gas “Pathways with higher demand for NZ, for food, Beef + Lamb chief feed, and water, insight officer more ON-FARM training Jeremy Baker says. resource-inten courses have an sive consumption important role to “This is the NZ She said there should and production play red and more limited always future, Feilding High in agriculture’s be an opportunity production system. meat technological improvements Reesby said the to role that form Meaghan Reesby School student training because do practical of training plays “It is definitely in agriculture yields, says. trained in increasing the not saying that The year 13 pupil result in a better understanding staff have skills of people in we all need to higher risks from of how their agriculture should become vegetarian agri-commerce at plans study water scarcity workplaces, such not be overlooked Massey University or vegan.” in drylands, land as farms, function, and any future next year but said degradation and which is good for changes in how not everyone employers and It is an opportunity food insecurity.” training course are interested in agriculture employees. delivered needs to ramp wants to go up promotion to remember that. Report contributor to university. of the Taste Pure Feilding High School The daughter of Associate Himatangi dairy Nature brand, Professor Anita Some people prefer can build their practicalpupils farmers, Meaghan’s to tell Wreford, of farming global meat eaters 40 million on approach, whether a more handsLincoln University’s experience while on the family farm, brother works about NZ’s lowthat is through at school by Agribusiness complementing a cadetship or beginning carbon footprint, and Economic taking courses offered what he learns at he says. Research Unit, work with building their knowledge a job and Gateway, a programme through DairyNZ climate says it shows the practical courses, through change importance of for young while her sister courses offered people in their last ambassador Trish also is also full time not implementing by workplace year of school Rankin is on contradictory the farm, training that allows them providers such as fitting her Massey heartened the policies. to Primary report says some course work ITO. training made up complete around that. sectors need to “The report is of theory and reduce their highly practical unit standards. emissions faster for NZ as we grapple relevant to ensure food MORE: trade-offs involved with the greenhouse gas P3 emissions, with reducing adapting to the change, managing impacts of climate the areas we value and maintaining supporting our communities and and societies in this process. Neal Wallace
neal.wallace@glo balhq.co.nz
HE red meat industry hopes to ramp up its Taste Pure Nature brand campaign on the back of international climate the latest change report.
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