UPFRONT COVID CHANGES
INSIGHT
Covid-19:
Keep calm and carry on farming New Zealand’s Covid lockdown last year had little effect on farming operations, other than to move a lot of things online. Phil Edmonds reports.
A
year on from New Zealand entering Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown it’s timely to reflect on the way we adapted to the ‘black swan’ event, and consider whether any changes made, or new thinking adopted, will have a lasting impact on farm operations. The release of a research study into farmer experiences of the initial lockdown, undertaken by AgResearch, Lincoln University and Plant & Food NZ among others, has started the evaluation process, and at a high level, tells something many of us already know – farmers are resilient and as a result got on with it, as ever. This finding was based on farmer survey 14
responses that identified the relative ease with which they kept calm and carried on. Having been granted essential service status, many farmers suffered almost no inconvenience. But there is evidence that subtle but important shifts in behaviour took place, some of which are all for the good (digital communication). At the same time, there is also some sense that the effects on farmers from the country going into lockdown last year have yet to fully emerge (labour shortages).
SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS
Looking at the findings from the report subtitled The immediate impacts of Covid-19 control measures on the agri-
food systems of Australia and New Zealand, you could argue there’s nothing to see – farmers across both New Zealand and Australia, by and large, boxed on through the initial lockdowns with little trouble. Agricultural activities except fibre production in both countries were classified as essential services, and for the pastoral sector at least, ensuring social distancing requirements were adhered to only required cursory attention. The research ultimately found that ‘the impacts of Covid-19 control measures on the agri-food sectors were relatively small’. But it also suggests that the smooth sailing wasn’t simply due to an ‘as you were’ green light from the government.
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | March 2021
