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Rural Champions - Nominations now open!

Rural Champions - Nominations now open!

Last year, the Otago Daily Times and Rural Life celebrated Year of the Farmer, a hugely successful initiative championing the work and community contributions of our farmers and growers. It culminated in the naming of Duntroon dairy farmer Myfanwy Alexander as our inaugural Rural Champion.
April 2, 2024 0 Comments
Ministers Doocey and Patterson Meet with Otago & Southland Rural Support Trusts

Ministers Doocey and Patterson Meet with Otago & Southland Rural Support Trusts

Farmers Weekley article - Matt Doocey hopes to partner with local groups to meet the mental health support need, as rural support trusts highlight “funding is not keeping pace with demand”.

January 25, 2024 0 Comments
Rural mental health cases spike in Southland - Story by Federated Farmers in the Farmers Weekly

Rural mental health cases spike in Southland - Story by Federated Farmers in the Farmers Weekly

A combination of financial pressures, flooding, employment issues and isolation took a toll on Southland farmers’ mental health at the end 2023.  

Southland Rural Support Trust wellness coordinator Rachael Nicholson says the organisation received 31 new cases between August and November, twice as many as in the same quarter a year before.  

January 12, 2024 0 Comments
FMG Spot Check Roadie with Melanoma New Zealand

FMG Spot Check Roadie with Melanoma New Zealand

The FMG Spot Check Roadie kicked off last year and visited four locations around the country, for the full results.  And this year they're heading out again with their partners Melanoma New Zealand. If you've got a spot you're concerned about, come and see them to get it checked and receive life-saving information to help you and your family look after...
October 20, 2023 0 Comments
The Lifestyle Block Emergency Preparedness Handbook

The Lifestyle Block Emergency Preparedness Handbook

The Lifestyle Block Emergency Preparedness Handbook provides lifestyle block owners with practical advice on how to make their property more resilient, and what to do in emergency events.

July 7, 2023 0 Comments
Cyclone Gabrielle: Group of southern farmers help out in Hawke’s Bay

Cyclone Gabrielle: Group of southern farmers help out in Hawke’s Bay

A group farmers travelled to Hawke's Bay armed with a fleet of vehicles and fencing equipment to help get some the regions farms back on track.

April 10, 2023 0 Comments
Shear 4 a Cause 24-hour Shearathon

Shear 4 a Cause 24-hour Shearathon

The Southland and Otago Rural Support Trusts were involved in this amazing event, which was held over Waitangi Weekend 2023.  

Managing Flystrike and Lice

Managing Flystrike and Lice

Effective prevention and treatment of flystrike and lice involves a multi-pronged approach. This booklet aims to provide you with the detail you need to: a) Understand the pests’ lifecycles and...
Fire Season Status

Fire Season Status

This map shows the fire season status as of 1pm Friday 27 January 2023.

More news...

Banks Increase Funding to Support Farmers in Need

Banks Increase Funding to Support Farmers in Need

Banks are stepping up to fully fund the Farm Business Advice Fund for farmers who are under considerable business pressure, as well as continuing their sponsorship of the National Rural Support Trust.

September 26, 2024 0 Comments
English Classes to Ease Isolation

English Classes to Ease Isolation

Agri Teach Me co-founder and dairy farmer Lyzanne Du Plessis, of Otahuti, said the lessons were launched as a result of online dairy farming education provider Agri Teach Me asking online language programme provider Te Puna Reo Māori to help write a farming lessons for its curriculum.

September 8, 2024 0 Comments
Rural Women's Mental Health Podcast Series with Ag in Conversation

Rural Women's Mental Health Podcast Series with Ag in Conversation

Ag in Conversation are excited to launch a podcast series focused on Rural Women’s Mental Health. 

September 6, 2024 0 Comments
Life After Death – A Brief Look at Estate Administrartion

Life After Death – A Brief Look at Estate Administrartion

We spend our lives growing our wealth and building our “empire”. But what happens to it when we die? We receive phone calls daily asking, “my loved one passed away, now what”.

September 4, 2024 0 Comments
Drought support increased for North Canterbury Farmers

Drought support increased for North Canterbury Farmers

The government is boosting support for farmers impacted by the ongoing drought in North Canterbury, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced on the 14th August 2024.

August 21, 2024 0 Comments
Support your new staff to avoid milk contamination - Advice for Farmers from FMG

Support your new staff to avoid milk contamination - Advice for Farmers from FMG

You may have new sharemilkers, contract milker or employees on board following this year’s farm change over day. FMG suggests now’s a good time to go over with them how your milking shed works to avoid milk contamination.

August 19, 2024 0 Comments
National Rural Support Trust Chair to Step Down

National Rural Support Trust Chair to Step Down

Neil has Chaired the National Trust since its inception in 2017 and been instrumental in leading its growth and development.

Bird flu - what do I need to know?

Bird flu - what do I need to know?

Eradication is unlikely to be an option if a highly contagious strain of bird flu reaches New Zealand and establishes itself in wild birds, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ chief veterinary officer Mary...
Keeping Well on the Farm

Keeping Well on the Farm

In a sea of jumpers and puffer jackets, in a packed-out community hall on a chilly winter evening in the southern town of Winton (attending a Time Out Tour), Tyler Langford describes the experience of watching her...

Rural Support Trust NZ

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Thanks to our Time Out Tour partners