Farmstrong caught up with Tararua dairy farmer Mike Burmeister and asked him to share his tips for keeping well on farm. 

Mike and his wife Heather farm 710 hectares just north of Pahiatua and milk 980 cows on 324ha with a team of seven, many of whom have worked with them for years. 

After decades in the industry, he’s clear on his priorities. 

“My first priority is my family’s wellbeing, my second is my staff’s wellbeing and my third is my stock’s wellbeing.” 

He said an episode of burnout early in his career helped shape his thinking. 

“I was in my early 20s, milking about 260 cows and working day in, day out, all hours of the day and half the night, and it reached the stage where I turned up for milking one morning feeling so exhausted that I told the guy working for me ‘I’m going back to bed for a couple of hours’. I didn’t wake up until the next day! I was just doing way too many hours. When you’re that tired, you’re running round in circles achieving nothing. That was my first real wake-up call.”

Smarter hours
Thirty years on, it’s no surprise that working smarter hours rather than longer hours is a hallmark of his operation. They milk three times in two days (3 in 2). The milking roster has not only proved kinder on staff (every second day’s a 7.30 start), it’s brought a host of other benefits too. His cows are collectively walking 420,000 fewer kilometers a year, improving their welfare: 10 million fewer litres of water are being pumped through the cowshed per annum in a catchment where water use is at a premium; and the roster has freed up over 1000 hours of labour that can be applied to other tasks, all while maintaining milk production and increasing profitability. 

Workload during busy times like calving is also carefully managed (a six-on and two-off roster) – another legacy of Mike’s early days in the industry. 

“I used to work long hours during calving like everyone does, come home late and then head out again at nights to check on the calvers. Mentally and physically that was really tough. You wouldn’t get home again until about 9pm. It was exhausting.”

After building a new milking shed over the winter of 2004 Mike was exhausted and something had to give, so he decided not to do the night check on the calvers. The result was a game changer. 

“I realised as long as they were well fed by 5pm, they’d be fine. And I was right. I didn’t lose a cow that spring. That was 20 years ago and I’ve never been out at night again since. It means I can get eight hours sleep, even during calving, which makes a huge difference.”

Building a Farmstrong team
He’s put similar thought into creating a workplace culture where people feel valued and want to stay. 

“It didn’t happen overnight. In the early ’90s, I was so young and inexperienced, I had high staff turnover. I wouldn’t have worked for me!” he laughs. “There’s always going to be guys leave to extend their career, but in general, they stay with us for a long period these days, with two guys having reached their 10-year service bonus.”

There were a couple of significant turning points for him in the early 2000s. The first was getting pneumonia for the second time and his doctor telling him to change his lifestyle and reduce his stress or it would kill him. The second turning point came around the same time when he employed someone from a corporate background who was keen to get into dairying. 

“I learnt so much off him. We started having staff meetings, where everyone could sit down and have their say. Over time we formalised it, added a health and safety component, and started keeping minutes. It’s only for half an hour once a week, but it’s made a huge difference.”

Stuff-up of the week
Nowadays Mike and the team celebrate key points of the season with team dinners and family gatherings and add a little fun to each week with a “stuff-up of the week” morning tea to make light of the inevitable “cock-ups” that go with any job. 

Mike reckons coaching schoolboy rugby taught him a lot about people management. 

“I learnt that you can still get results by having fun and brought that back into the business. It also taught me the value of taking the time to find out what makes people tick. You can’t play a game of rugby with a team of half backs Everyone has different skill sets. If you cut people some slack and accept getting 90% of what you’re after out of them you’ll have a happy team.” 

Grabbing some time out 
That’s great for the team, but who looks after the coach? Mike rang the changes here too. “When the kids were young, we bought a caravan at the beach and committed to spending one weekend a month and one week every school holiday down there, we’d make the effort to get there no matter how busy things were.

It was something his wife Heather insisted on. 

“She’d be all packed up with the kids ready to go at 10 past three on the Friday. I was never ready, but I still got in the car. And as soon as I did that, I’d switched off from the farm and enjoy the rest of the weekend. I’d come back mentally refreshed.”

These days the bolthole is a beach house but Mike’s approach to work-life balance remains the same. His go-to during the week is a quick game of social squash.  

“I’m not that good but it’s great to go and do something physical like that. Some days when I’m heading there, I think ‘Why am I doing this?’ But then when I’m driving home, I’m thinking ‘Shit, that was a great idea.’ The beauty is I can leave here, play a game and then be back an hour later, feeling great.”

Decision day
Although his farm is prone to flooding, it was a drought that gave Mike the greatest insight into how best to manage worry and uncertainty. 

“A farm consultant gave me a wonderful piece of advice: he suggestion that allocating one day a week as decision day could really reduce the endless pressure that a drought can load on you. That particular year, Monday was our decision day, our strategy was to dry off 50 cows every week until we got rain. So we made all our decisions on a Monday and then stuck with them, regardless of whether it was right or wrong. It really took the pressure off.  

“During the first covid lockdown we had a big drought. Because our discussion group couldn’t meet in person we switched to Zoom, which was completely foreign to most of us. Some of the guys were really struggling with the on-farm conditions, combined with the isolation that covid bought, so it was a great way to support each other from a distance with ideas and management strategies.”

Staying Farmstrong 
Reflecting on how farming has changed over his life, Mike concludes, “Farming was very physically demanding for our forefathers. These days I think it’s mentally harder. There’s more of everything, and people are time poor. We have larger farms, larger herds, bigger teams of people to manage, and there’s more compliance and regulation. You never get to switch off and you’re always looking over your shoulder.

“Farming’s my passion. It’s all I ever wanted to do. So I’m very lucky that I’m actually doing something I love. But there’s no doubt that the steps I’ve taken to look after myself have made a massive difference to my longevity.”

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers manage the challenges of farming. Last year, 14,000 farmers attributed an increase in their wellbeing to the programme. For free tools and resources visit www.farmstrong.co.nz

A podcast series focusing on rural women’s mental health hits the air in September. Farmstrong spoke to one of the hosts, Emily Walker.

Whereabouts are you based, Emily?
We live Tarras in Central Otago. My husband’s a general manager for a finishing farm here. It’s a great spot and we’ve got a lot of space and enjoy getting out on farm. 

Why did you decide to organise this series?
Myfanwy Alexander and I host a weekly podcast, Ag in Conversation, that covers the hottest topics in the world of agriculture. We really wanted to raise awareness about rural women’s mental health. There’s been a lot of focus on the mental health needs of men in recent years. We wanted to highlight the pressures rural women face as well and how much they have to adapt and change to meet different roles and responsibilities. 

What will your series include?
We are trying to cover the different aspects of mental wellbeing that women might encounter. Episode 1 features Deanne Parks, who’s been through depression herself. Episode 2 features Tyler Langford, who supported her partner through depression. In Episode 3, Annabelle Mason discusses what we can do to keep mentally well in our everyday lives, and the final podcast features rural psychologist Kate Steadman talking about what to look out for in our friends, family and neighbours and how to help them. So, there’s a range of information and perspectives. 

There’s also a live event, isn’t there?
Yes, the last week of September is Mental Health Awareness Week, so on the Friday of that week we are running a live event at Riverstone in Oamaru for 80 to 100 women.  

What will that involve?
There’ll be a panel discussion about issues such as women moving away from their family to go farming or having to leave a career to move onto farm or moving around the country for different jobs. The challenges of raising children and starting businesses without having support networks in place for things like childcare.  

What’s your own background?
I’m a city girl, a civil structural engineer. I’ve moved around quite a bit for different jobs of my husband’s and now love really being on farm. We have a young daughter and I’m starting my own business, so I’m familiar with many of the issues that we’ll be discussing.

What are you hoping the podcasts achieve? 
We want to give women a sense that they’re not alone in dealing with these issues and alert them to the help and support that is out there. For us, it’s really just about helping them connect with their local community and talk about these issues.

Farmstrong’s research into the wellbeing of women in farming identified that they are often the “glue” that holds the whole operation together. They are raising kids, helping run things, working on farm as required. Do you think some of these pressures go unnoticed?
Absolutely. Many women also want to have a career in their own right and it can be difficult trying to achieve that from a remote location. So, like you say, they’ve got a lot of things going on at work and at home and then on top of that it’s not quite so easy to go and have a coffee five minutes down the road to offload with a friend or find that downtime off farm.

The Farmstrong research also highlighted that women often struggle to prioritise time for themselves to recharge. Is that an issue too?
Yes, it’s definitely not that easy. It’s something that I struggle with, but I try to make time for. It’s not easy just to go and make time for myself because there’s always something that needs to be done. I think it requires a mental shift. It’s probably something that everyone can do better. 

What do you currently do to look after yourself?
Exercise is a big one for me. I’ve got a set up here at home to make that easier. I also try to carve out time each week for me that isn’t work time. It might be as simple as reading a book. The to-do list is so long with a young family and trying to work around this, so it’s about trying to be intentional with your day to find time. 

My little one still has a nap, so I try not to work during her lunch time nap on Fridays. That’s been quite successful in terms of having that downtime.

Do you think rural women need new approaches to maintaining their wellbeing?
If you’re having to work early mornings and late nights and look after kids during the day, it probably does require a different toolbox of skills and a change of mindset. 

That’s something we’ve really made a big effort to do in our family. We’re making time to do those fun activities like going skiing or biking. We live in these nice places and at the end of the day, it’s important to appreciate that and make the most of where we live.  

When does the new series go live?
The podcasts will go live at 4am every Friday during September. So, if you’re putting cups on the cows, it’ll be fresh in your ears or it will be waiting for you on the morning commute. 

Farmstrong is a nationwide rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers manage the ups and downs of farming and growing. For free mental fitness tools and resources head to www.farmstrong.co.nz.

Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:

Rural Support Trust: 0800 RURAL HELP

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757

Lifeline: 0800 543 354

Need To Talk? Call or text 1737

Samaritans: 0800 726 666

Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234

The Marlborough Industry Wellness Week, which ran from May 27-31, aims to strengthen a culture of wellness and wellbeing in the industry. It is championed by the industry-led Wine Industry Resilience Committee. It’s a fun and supportive week, during which businesses across the sector are encouraged to share their wellness activities in a spirit of “friendly competition”. Twenty-four wineries were involved this year.

Hunter’s Wines and Forrest Wines were both winners.

Hunter’s Wines won the Most Impactful Initiative Award and Forrest Wines took out the Leadership Award for ongoing commitment to wellness.

Karen McKeown, who is responsible for health and wellness at Hunter’s Wines, said that finding ways to promote the wellness of staff mentally and physically is an essential part of running a successful business. 

“You spend a lot of time at work so the wellness of staff is really important. A big part of it is creating connections with each other which makes everybody work better and relate better. 

“If you feel that people care about you and that you’ve got a work family, it makes all the difference. You know there is someone there you can talk to or share something with or just have a laugh.”

Hunter’s Wines has worked on providing more opportunities for people to build relationships and have fun in the process, McKeown said.

On Friday afternoons staff gather for Wine Options, a blind tasting of a range of wines, which provides a chance for staff from all areas of the company to get together and wind down at the end of the week.

For Mental Health Week the company organised activities linked to the Five Ways to Wellbeing. It shared techniques with staff for managing stress, such as breathing techniques and stretching exercises that can be done within people’s roles throughout the day.

“We had a Guess the Baby photo competition to get everyone involved and have a bit of fun,” said McKeown. “We also brought in items to donate to the animal welfare organisation Four Paws and entered a quiz team for the Four Paws fundraiser as a way of giving back to the community.

“We have get-togethers for interns coming on board to help with vintage and we celebrate together when vintage is done. We give our interns some Kiwiana too which goes down well. We also provide staff with fruit so there is always a healthy snack available.”  

A lot of interaction within the company happens on an IT communication board, called Slack, said McKeown.

“It’s a really good way to share information, get people involved and get feedback. People share quirky and funny stuff as well. It’s a great way to keep in touch if you’re not seeing everyone in person every day.”

Initiatives to promote wellness across a business do not require a big budget, said McKeown. Wineries come in different sizes and the amount of resource available is going to vary greatly. “What matters is how impactful and relevant it is.”

McKeown is a believer that a wellness programme within a business goes two ways.

“It’s not just your employer giving back to you, it’s also about you giving back to your work and community as well. One of the things we have planned is helping with the care of our wetland area at our Delta Vineyard.  Staff are going to go out one afternoon and have a session to help maintain it, as well as learn about the development of the area and the environmental impact it is having.  We’ll have a coffee cart there to give us a hot drink and a scone afterwards.”

For McKeown, the core of an effective wellness programme is building stronger relationships, having some fun doing it, and gaining information that might help your mental or physical health.

Forrest Wines, the other award-winner at the Marlborough Wellness Week, “is committed to nurturing both our vines and our people”, said Beth Forrest.

“During Wellness Week, we celebrated two key initiatives that promote our team’s wellbeing. Our 38-hour work week allows full-time employees to finish at 3pm on Fridays, giving them extra time for self-care and relaxation. 

“Additionally, our ‘Never Miss a Monday’ boot camp is in full swing, with a personal trainer leading us through energising workouts in our beautiful vineyard. These initiatives aim to boost physical health, foster team spirit, and provide a balanced and fun work environment.”

Companies involved in Wellness Week were asked to show how they make Farmstrong’s Five Ways to Wellbeing a part of the working week. Farmstrong is a rural wellness programme that provides tools and resources to help people manage the ups and downs of farming and growing.

Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock said wellness starts with getting the basics right. 

“Research shows people who thrive in spite of life’s challenges tend to have five things in common: they stay connected with their mates, they enjoy the simple things in life, they stay active and move the body, they keep learning new things and they give back by helping out friends, neighbours or their community. 

“These are called the Five Ways to Wellbeing. My experience is that over time, their benefits really add up and a make huge difference to your life.”

Every year more 14,000 farmers and growers increase their wellbeing thanks to Farmstrong. For free tools and resources on managing the ups and downs of farming and growing, visit farmstrong.co.nz

It was 4degC and raining – what better setting for a chat about the winter slog. Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock and dairy farmer Paul Walker share their thoughts.

Sam Whitelock: What do you enjoy about farming, Paul? 

Paul Walker:
I farm because I love nature and I love animals. It’s also a great place to bring up a family.

Tell me about your farm. 
I farm 300 cows on 110 hectares in Pongakawa, just south of Te Puke, in the Bay of Plenty. Pongakawa can get very wet in winter. We’re a sea-level farm, so that poses some big challenges when it’s wet. In the last calendar year, we had double our annual rainfall and obviously that comes with big consequences. 

I grew up in the Manawatū and I know what it’s like when there is too much rain, especially around calving time. So, what are your strategies to deal with those challenges?
When you’re in an extreme situation like flooding, you really have to pare things back and operate on a day-to-day basis. You also have to change your thought process. It’s very easy to rush round like a blue-arsed fly and not get much done. What we’ve done this year is we’ve stopped, looked around and sucked in a few deep breaths before we attack the day. 

Time to think? 
Exactly. It gives you a chance to properly evaluate things and reset mentally. To focus on what you can control and realistically achieve. It also provides perspective. You’re telling yourself, ‘Yes, it’s wet, but I can’t help that, so I’ll just do what I can.’ By taking a few steps back before you charge into the day, you can make the whole day go a lot easier. 

That’s a great approach. It was the same for me on the rugby scene when the pressure came on. Stop, take a physical step back and then take two forward. It just gives you that time to reassess what is actually the most important thing to do next. Then you’re in the right headspace to go out there and do it. What else helps you get through?
My other main strategy is just getting off farm when I can. We do that in our community by getting together at a gym on someone’s farm that’s been set up down the road. The reminder message goes out on the phone – ‘Hey, who can make it to gym tonight?’ and we all get together and thrash the body for 40 minutes and chew the fat at the end of it and maybe a quick drink. And that just releases so much pressure before you go back and hit the tough stuff. 

Yeah, that downtime is critical. Most farmers look out the window and see a long list of jobs that need to be done. Getting off farm can really help, because it’s literally out of sight out of mind. Just getting away for a little bit gives you that energy, that mental reboot so that when you are back on farm, you’re good to go. 
I’ve also found it only takes one person to start a convo at our gym and other people open up pretty easily. And that’s how it should be. We’ve got a great culture amongst our farming community now that if you’ve got a problem, let’s hear about it. There’s no point bottling things up. Sharing the journey with others is a big part of staying well. 

A problem shared is a problem halved?
That’s right. 

You mentioned one of the reasons you love farming is because it’s a great way to bring up your family. How do you manage to get the balance right between work and family life? 
In the early years not very well, because Farmstrong wasn’t around. I didn’t realise what was happening to me or how to deal with it. I think my family life suffered as a result which is a regret for me. That’s why I’m so passionate about advocating for Farmstrong now. 

How has being Farmstrong helped you? 
It’s pretty easy to get isolated on farm and get lost in your own thoughts and sometimes those thoughts aren’t helpful or positive. Farmstrong opened my eyes to a different way of thinking. It shows you how you can coach your mind to have more constructive thoughts. 

How would you describe your mindset now?
Nowadays, when I’m in the middle of a wet season, I tell myself ‘The sun’s going to rise tomorrow and it’s just about taking it a day at a time and I’ll get through.’  Farmstrong’s made my farming career more enjoyable for me, my family and my whole community. If you’re feeling ‘under the pump’, check out the Farmstrong website and watch their videos of farmers and growers. You’ll soon understand why you feel the way you do and what you can do about it. 

Find out what works for you and lock it in. For free tools and resources on managing the ups and downs of farming visit www.farmstrong.co.nz. 

In Focus Podcast: Full Show | 26 July

Bryan attended the Red Meat Sector Conference in Wellington and caught up with Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy, who outlined some of the structural shifts in the industry and gave his views on the big challenges sheep and beef farmers are facing at the moment.

Immigration settings are still causing headaches for farmers as calving begins. Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre tells Bryan what he’s doing to help improve the process and gives some tips on how farmers can give themselves the best chance of clearing the hurdles.

Neal Wallace joins Bryan to wrap up the Red Meat Sector Conference, which brought together processors, industry groups, stakeholders and farmers. The sector is doing it tough right now and judging by the conference programme, there’s more uncertainty ahead.

After a lifetime on the grass, Wairarapa farmer Jamie Strang decided to hit the water and row Cook Strait to raise funds for Farmstrong, at the age of 76. Here’s how he went.

Why on earth did you decide to row Cook Strait at 76? It’s one of the most demanding stretches of water in the world.
When I was 50, I rode my bike from North Cape to Bluff. I completed it in sections over a couple of years while I worked on the farm. Somehow it came up again in conversation one day and someone said, ‘Jamie, you haven’t really completed the whole thing. You haven’t gone across Cook Strait.’ That’s where it came from.

It was unfinished business?
Yes, I guess [laughs].

Tell us about your farming background.
I’ve lived in the Gladstone Valley most of my life and farmed there for 51 years. We’ve leased the farm now but we still live on it and just love being part of it.

Why did you decide to raise money for Farmstrong?
I’ve been involved in judging the Ballance Farm Environment Awards since they began. We do a lot of on-farm judging, so we travel the country, talk to lots of people and so I know Farmstrong is doing good things supporting farmers through some challenging times.
We all know it’s tough times at the moment in our own communities, whether it’s the weather or prices, and Farmstrong appears to me to be doing something positive about it, taking care of people, helping them find ways to get through.

How do you prepare to row Cook Strait? Even the ferries struggle at times.
Two years ago I bought a Swift offshore rowing boat from Sally Knight in Nelson, got it back home and for a while it just sat behind my house because I didn’t know how to row! Eventually I took it up to a little hydro dam between two farms about 10 minutes’ drive from me. The dam’s about half a kilometre long. So if I wanted to do a kilometre of rowing, I had to do one up and one back. That’s what I did.

Who taught you to row?
YouTube. To get going, I just looked at a lot of YouTube stuff, which is why I’m not a very good rower. But I got better by doing lots of rowing on that lake, which was sometimes windy and sometimes smooth. I spent so long there I saw two generations of swans being born and little ones come out and paddle around me and then finish up each year flying off. I watched the local farmers do their farming from season to season because I was there most weeks. It made me appreciate just how beautiful our rural landscape is.

Admiring the local bird life still sounds like a long way from conquering Cook Strait. When did you know you were ready?
To prove I could paddle that far in one go I rowed the length of Lake Taupō first. When I did that okay, it that gave me the mental strength to know that I could actually do it. But then I couldn’t find anyone to pilot me across the Strait, so that delayed everything a year. That turned out to be a blessing, because if I’d tried to do it a year ago I don’t think I would have been fit enough.

So you got fitter, watched more swans and then gave it a nudge?
Yes, my wife Marilyn, who’s put up with all this for two years, and my family came down with me and I set off from Makara on the Wellington coast. They’ve provided incredible support.

What were the conditions like?
It was freezing in Makara Valley but there was a calm sea. There was nothing breaking on the shore. We easily pushed the boat down, rigged it and launched. I just paddled a couple of strokes and the wind just quietly blew me out in this beautiful smooth water. I thought to myself, ‘This is no trouble, I’m going to blow this over!’ Then the pilot turned up and said, ‘You’re not even in the straits yet, Jamie.’

Okay, a reality check. So what was it like in the Strait?
There was this huge swell running. It was about one and a half to two metres. It was constant all day and it felt big to me bobbing out there in my little boat. There was also little bits of chop coming from this direction and that direction. The only thing that saved me on the day I reckon was there was no wind.

What was the toughest part?
I was going fine until the tide turned with only 3km to go. Suddenly there was chop everywhere and the water seemed to boil under me. At that point I wasn’t making much headway. It was a real struggle.
On the hydro lake back home in good conditions, 1km took me about 120 strokes. But I reckon it took me about 5000 strokes to get across the Strait because the water was so choppy a lot of them were only half strokes. The water was shifting all the time so it was difficult to get both oars in the water. Your concentration levels had to be high.

What got you through?
I was just really focused on what I was doing. I didn’t let any sort of panic or doubt enter my mind. At that point I realised my mental strength was as important as my muscle strength. I’d also confirmed in my mind beforehand that I could do it because I’d done all the hard yards and the prep. That meant I could just focus on the challenge. All I had to do was just get in there, keep believing and keep rowing.

Sounds like you had the right mindset to pull it off.
Absolutely, I’m a great believer that a positive attitude is vital whether you’re farming or rowing Cook Strait. After I’d finished, the skipper said to me, ‘Do you realise you never looked over your shoulder to see how far away you were from the finish?’
I told him I deliberately did that because I realised I was going to get disappointed if I looked over my shoulder and we were still miles away, so I didn’t look.
I just focused on the little things, the shape of the waves coming at me, keeping my balance, one stroke at a time. And the next thing I knew, I’d rowed 30km in four hours and 45 minutes.

Looking back on your farming career, do you have any advice for people doing it tough on farm at the moment?
Spend some time off the property, particularly with other people. Go and have a coffee and a yarn with someone once a week. Get good people around you. Talk about what you’re doing on farm.
I was one of those farmers who never used to take breaks. But once I started coaching rugby, making time to go to practices and games, it made me realise getting off farm was essential. It made a huge difference to how I felt and how well the week went. After that I made sure I took regular breaks with my family to recharge the batteries.
What’s the old cliche? If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go with other people.

Farmstrong is a rural wellbeing programme that helps people manage the ups and downs of farming. Last year 14,000 farmers attributed an increase in their wellbeing to the programme. You can get behind Jamie and his amazing work for Farmstrong by donating here.

Bob Wood has spent a lifetime helping Northland farmers get the best out of their stock. He says tapping into the wisdom of local networks is the key to managing the ups and downs of farming.

Tell us a bit about your background Bob. 
I’ve always been in Northland. I started farming soon as I left school and progressed from wages through to share milking, had a break and worked in construction then joined Livestock Improvement (LIC) and did 36 years straight with them. I covered farms mainly north of Whangārei, so I’ve been on quite a few of the farms up here and met a heck of a lot of people.

What do you enjoy about farming?
The outdoors and working with animals. I’m an outdoors person. I’ve done a lot of scuba diving, fishing, and boating in the past and should be doing more of that now. My grandfather was a great fisherman. I used to go with him quite a bit. You’re spoilt for choice up here in Northland with the beaches. 

What are the main challenges farmers face up your way?
The big ones are the weather and the landscape. We’re either too dry or too wet, which necessitates a lot of planning and thinking about getting the cows off when it’s too wet or being unable to feed them when it’s too dry. There’s also stress around returns and income. If you’re working hard but the money’s not coming in, life’s difficult. I’ve been on a lot of farms and sometimes when you walk in, you can just feel the tension.

How do you help people in that situation? 
Even though you’re there for another reason, often people just need to sit and talk to the person who comes down their driveway. By listening you can quite often solve a few of the problems. 

Can you give us an example?
Well, in terms of livestock there are things I can suggest if the cows aren’t doing too well, or short of feed. What about doing a herd test? Use the info to sort out the cows that are doing well and keep them on and cull or dry the other ones off. There’s always a way around a problem but sometimes when you’re deep in it, you feel stuck. 

Farming can be a pretty isolating occupation at times, can’t it?
Exactly. That’s why you’ve got to come up for air and realise there’s always another way of doing what you’re doing. If you do the same as you’ve always done, you’re going to get the same results! People often think that their system is the best and it may or may not be. If you talk to someone else – another farmer or adviser you value – you’ll be amazed at the difference even small tweaks can make. 

Are you still involved in farming since you retired?
I’ve buttoned back a hell of a lot, but I’ve still got five different herds that I work with. I enjoy it because a lifetime of knowledge doesn’t go away. I know their farms and I can see what’s going on and offer suggestions. It’s up to them whether they accept the advice, but nine times out of 10 they take it on board because they’ve been dealing with me for 20-plus years. 

When Farmstrong first started about half the farmers surveyed said they struggled to get time off farm. How can farmers achieve better work-life balance?
No 1 for me is to be well set-up and organised. Being prepared, having enough staff, and having enough staff who are trained properly to do the job are all critical.

Any advice for getting through the winter slog? Farmers often mention that working in wet weather day after day takes a toll not just physically but mentally. 
The main thing is probably having somebody that you trust to be able to chew the fat with. The other thing is taking a bit of time off farm, if you can, so you don’t get stale. 

What sort of mindset is required to deal with pressures of farming?
You need to be flexible in your thinking, open to other people’s suggestions and prepared to listen. If you’re feeling under the pump, do a bit of a tiki tour and have a look at a few farms in your area. Farmers just love to show other farmers what they’re doing, so use them as a resource. It’s good to connect with other people and get a break. 

What’s your best tip for keeping well on farm?
Reach out for help if you need it. There are people out there just like myself who are more than happy to pass on what they know or just sit and listen. And if you’re living in a paradise like we are up here, it’s really madness if you’re not taking the odd day off. 

Why don’t people do that? 
They think if they leave the farm for 10 minutes that something’s going to go wrong. But if you’ve got the right people and have trained them, that gives you peace of mind. If you haven’t got anybody to help you out, then you’re always going to be paddling upstream without a paddle, aren’t you?

If you see someone struggling on farm what’s the best way to help? 
We’ve all got two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion. If you listen to people and listen well, you’ll be able to help.

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers manage the challenges of farming. Last year, 14,000 farmers attributed an increase in their wellbeing to the programme. For free tools and resources visit www.farmstrong.co.nz 

Winegrowers in Marlborough are about to run their second Wine Industry Wellness Week. Industry representative Kathrin Jankowiec talks to Farmstrong about what’s in store. 

Tell us a little about your background in the industry. 
I got into the industry 17 years ago, almost by accident. Started working in the cellar, then cellar management, worked in the lab, then as assistant winemaker and for the last eight or nine years, as a winemaker. Now I work in a support role for the industry.

When you drive past a vineyard it always looks such an idyllic work setting. Tell us about some of the pressures and challenges.  
There are plenty of challenges [laughs]. For a start it’s a seasonal industry with huge peaks in terms of working hours. Harvest is such an intense period where everyone just has to knuckle down and get on with it. It’s busy in the vineyards with the grapes, then it’s busy in the winery getting the wine out of the tank and into bottles. 

When I started, we used to work seven days a week, 12 hours or more a day until it was done. People were crawling to the finish line, but back then, when you came out of harvest, there was downtime to recover. 

What changed?
Well, over time the wine industry expanded and became so successful that the work no longer tapered off. There was less and less time to get away from the vineyard or the operational or sales side. It became all-consuming. For a lot of people, the only break they got was at Christmas. It was like that for me too. It was so easy to just carry on working.

What impact did it have?
You can tough it out, but eventually it takes a toll. That’s why there’s been a growing voice for change. As an industry, we need to look after people better so they don’t burn out. 

These are the problems of success, aren’t they? 
I couldn’t agree more. The wine industry has succeeded thanks to really passionate and dedicated people. That’s what makes our industry so great. But it’s also what puts people at risk. 

Is that the thinking behind Wellness Week?
Exactly. It’s an opportunity to focus on what keeps people well. There are a lot of good initiatives already underway in local wineries so we’re keen for people to share their ideas so that everyone can benefit.

Can you give an example?
Well, some businesses have moved to a six-day week to give people a proper break, which is good. This gives us an opportunity to highlight that sort of thinking. One of the last year’s winners organised a staff catch-up each week over tacos so people could get together, socialise and de-stress. 

Do you think people are becoming more open to these ideas?
Absolutely. Ten years ago people might have mentioned them quietly, but now they’re actually happening. Our wellness week gives everyone in the industry a chance to explore these ideas, get feedback and try new things. 

What does the competition involve?
We’ve asked people to come up with ideas that make Farmstrong’s Five Ways to Wellbeing (connect with others, stay active, keep learning, notice and enjoy the small things in life, give back to friends and community) part of a working week. The idea is that people dedicate some time to look after themselves and their teams in whatever way works best for them. 

What would be a good result for you?
It’s hard to measure, but over time we want to make the industry as attractive as possible to work in, especially for families and people who might have struggled with the long working hours. 

How did last year’s competition go?
It was really well received. There were quite a few entries and some wineries definitely adopted ideas that they had seen. So, there’s been that cross-pollination. When you see something working elsewhere, you are much more likely to adopt it. 

What’s the potential here?
The Marlborough wine industry is a huge employer. We’ve got thousands of people in the industry. We’re reaching out to everyone who’s involved to participate. 

How have you managed the pressures of the industry yourself? Any advice?
I think harvest time is when you feel most under pressure. If the pressure gets to you, you’ve just got to take a breather, go for a walk, take five minutes to reset mentally and then get back into it. Getting enough sleep and eating healthily are also super important for managing fatigue. But the main thing is being aware of your own physical and mental limits. 

When people are so invested in what they do, they often just want to keep working. However, eventually you get so tired that you’re not doing yourself or your business justice. It’s better to take some time for yourself, do something that really recharges you, whatever that might be, so you can keep doing the job you love. 

• Every year more 14,000 farmers and growers increase their wellbeing thanks to Farmstrong. For free tools and resources on managing the ups and downs of farming and growing, visit farmstrong.co.nz

Farmstrong is teaming up with the Rural Support Trust to bring the Bitches’ Box: Episode 4 comedy show to flood-affected rural communities around the North Island.

The shows will provide a chance for farmers and growers to have a fun night out with friends off farm after an incredibly challenging year.

Bitches Box: Episode 4 looks at life on a high country station from a dog’s point of view during the chaos of muster time.

Actors Emma Newborn and Amelia Dunbar are revisiting their most-loved dog characters in a fast-paced, multi-character comedy that’s made them “world famous in rural NZ”.

Their three previous shows – The Bitches’ Box, Sons of a Bitch and Life’s a Bitch – have been strongly supported by rural communities and earned glowing reviews here and overseas.

Dunbar, who comes from a rural background, said she’s aware these communities are in the midst of a long-haul recovery. 

“We can’t be there doing fencing or driving diggers, but what we can do is bring people together in these communities and make them laugh. 

“That’s why we’ve created a show that takes people back to the lighter aspects of rural life. It’s silly, upbeat and irreverent. If we can get people laughing and lift their spirits for an evening that will be a job well done. This is a show for rural New Zealanders who love their dogs and love their comedy.  

“A bonus for us is that we get to spend time in these amazing communities and hear their stories. That’s going to be pretty special too.”

Farmstrong spokesperson Gerard Vaughan said: “Often, when we are under the pump on farm or orchard, we get so busy that we forget to do the things that help us to get through. 

“These shows create an opportunity for farmers and growers, their families and their teams to have a night off, have a laugh and connect with others. Having breaks away from the day-to-day challenges is a great way to refresh so you are in a good headspace to keep going.”

The tour kicks off on April 9 and runs through to May 11, with shows scheduled in Northland, Wairarapa, Tararua, Manawatū and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne. 

All tickets are $15 which includes a BBQ dinner. The BBQ starts at 6.30pm. The show starts at 7.30pm. 

To book tickets head to the Farmstrong website www.farmstrong.co.nz/events 

Northland Shows

Tuesday 9 April – Kaipara College Hall, Helensville 

Wednesday 10 April – Port Albert Hall, Port Albert 

Thursday 11 April – Matakohe War Memorial Hall, Matakohe 

Friday 12 April – Parakao Hall, Parakao 

Saturday 13 April – Broadwood Community Hall, Broadwood 

Sunday 14 April – Umawera Hall, Umawera

Tairāwhiti/Gisborne Shows 

Thursday 18 April – Turihaua Angus Sales Complex 

Friday 19 April – Waerenga-O-Kuri Hall 

Saturday 20 April – Matawai Memorial Hall 

Wairarapa, Tararua, Manawatū Shows

Thursday 9 May – Gladstone Complex, Wairarapa 

Friday 10 May – Weber Hall, Tararua 

Saturday 11 May – Camp Rangi, Pohangina Valley