Golden Bay Weekly - 17 April 2020

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Friday 17 April 2020

Farmers carry on farming

Leading the way: Farmers, like Kotinga dairy farmer Wayne Langford, are continuing to work through the lockdown. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS

Golden Bay’s farmers are doing their bit to feed the country and pump cash into the national coffers by working through the lockdown. Although it’s not exactly business as usual, the supply chain is working well, according to Federated Farmers Golden Bay president Wayne Langford. The Kotinga dairy farmer says he is used to working in relative isolation and sees the positive side of remaining in his family bubble. “It’s a lot quieter; I don’t have to rush away to meetings.” Like most of his fellow farmers during the lockdown, Wayne is only carrying out essential work in order to minimise the need for callouts from service companies such as hydraulic specialists and tyre-fitters. “It reduces the chance of a mechanical breakdown. Suppliers are there for emergencies, but everyone is being extra cautious.” While Wayne’s farm is essentially a familyrun affair and can easily comply with the Government’s rules, he says that larger units are finding it more of a challenge. “Bigger

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farms in the Bay are struggling to keep in their bubbles; if you have five or six staff it’s not easy.” Fonterra tankers are still collecting milk every day, and processing plants around the country are running smoothly, but it is a different story in the meat industry, says Wayne. “Fonterra factories run on lean staffing so they are not so much of a problem, but meat processing works are a lot more labour intensive.”

“Bigger farms in the Bay are struggling to keep in their bubbles; if you have five or six staff it’s not easy.” Reduced capacity at meat works, he explains, means that some farmers may be carrying more stock than they would wish into the winter months. “There are a few concerns around [not] sending away surplus animals.” But he points out that the crippling drought farmers suffered during the summer has one

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Health news

THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 17 APRIL 2020

JEANINE TAYLOR

The Community Coordination Group (CCG) Zoomed in for its fourth weekly meeting on Tuesday. Now, over halfway through the Alert level 4 lockdown, the consensus was that the signs are positive with members of the Golden Bay community looking out for each other. The main points of the meeting are summarised below. Mohua Social Services: It has been a positive week, with no family harm reports over Easter. The feeling is that self-resilience has been amazing, with neighbours touching base with each other and helping out with the shopping. Food is going out of the food bank and MSS are working with schools to ensure that food parcels are reaching families in need. The Community Gardens have also donated boxes of fresh vegetables and fruit. Age Concern: Is still keeping in touch and educating vulnerable elderly people, trying to reduce anxiety and fear. Golden Bay Community Health: It is important to spread the message that GBCH is still open and people should not hesitate to contact them if they feel unwell. Covid-19 testing is still taking place on weekdays, but people wanting to be tested must phone GBCH before arrival. A lot of effort is going into reassuring their elderly residents, who are noticing the reduced activities created by the lockdown. They are feeling the effects of not being able to see their families in person and so staff have been arranging Zoom meetings with families to keep the residents connected. Schools: Golden Bay schools are preparing for online learning, with devices being sent out to students who need them. Increased anxiety is being experienced by some students and whanau around online learning. The message is to try not to worry; if online learning doesn’t work for some students, they will be looked after when school resumes properly. At this stage the Ministry of Education is indicating that schools may start back in a reduced capacity on 29 April at the earliest. There is still a lot to resolve still around social distancing, bus transport and class sizes before this can happen. Ministry for Social Development: There has been an increase in applications for benefits and services. Supermarket: The group acknowledged the efforts FreshChoice supermarket is making. Employees are feeling supported by their management and by the general public.

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upside. “Because we had the dry season, most have already gone early.” Although the farming industry is coping well with the current crisis, the economic outlook may not be quite so rosy. In a recent press release, the national president of Federated Farmers, Katie Milne, warned of softening prices resulting from the global economic slowdown. “Meat that was getting $5-something a kilo is now bringing in $3, if we can get it off the farm. The milk returns (per kg of milk solids) had $7 in front of it this year but there are predictions next year it will be $5.” Farmers have little influence on primary product prices, so Wayne is focusing on the farming calendar and sticking to the immediate tasks in hand. “Farming is all about timing; even a week can make a big difference. Just now, the maize needs to be harvested and paddocks need to be seeded and fertilised.” As for his three young sons, Wayne says they are also carrying out important duties with the future in mind. “The boys are bringing firewood into the shed and sowing daffodils along the driveway.”

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