Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Opinion: Courage needed when farming through the dry

The Country
20 Apr, 2019 08:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Photo / Alan Gibson

Photo / Alan Gibson

Farming during drought or drought-like events is always tough on the mental health of those involved and their families, writes Federated Farmers Rotorua/Taupo provincial president Alan Wills.

We are well into drought-like conditions here in the Rotorua/Taupo area.

Pasture covers are low and by now, people should have all culls and any excess animals off the farm.

For many it will mean a short milking season with probably not much production coming in from the end of April.

Farmers will have a focus on cow condition, the amount of supplement available, and the fact that frosts from now on will slow down pasture growth. It is known as a late drought and can be a stressful time for many.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Read more from Federated Farmers here.

Farming during drought or drought-like events is always tough on the mental health of farmers involved and their families.

Our industry is not for the faint of heart. We are dependent on weather patterns and product prices. Life throws up challenges we could do without. In continuing dry periods, we need to review our farm situations regularly.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

I have heard some people say to survive a drought, and a late drought at that, requires courage and the ability to look ahead.

I want to address my point about courage. Your courage is so important now. Courage is what you need to employ if things are beginning to weigh on your mind.

If you can no longer focus or are becoming inward-looking and withdrawn you need to talk about it openly with someone you trust.

Maybe you are trying to live up to expectations we all naturally impose upon ourselves.

During droughts or drought-like conditions, please be aware depression is very real.

Federated Farmers Rotorua/Taupo provincial president Alan Wills. Photo / Supplied
Federated Farmers Rotorua/Taupo provincial president Alan Wills. Photo / Supplied

Stress is very real. If your situation is beginning to affect you, please reach out to a supportive person or please contact one of the local or national mental health agencies.

Do not bottle your emotions up. You are of no use to anyone if you become
unreachable.

Please understand you are not in this alone. Virtually every farmer is where you are or has been there. Use your courage to reach out for help.

During these weather events, I find looking forward helps.

Yes, it is difficult now, but we need to be proactive and organise our way through the winter and in four months we will be well into the spring with new life and new growth.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Where to get help:

Rural Support Trust: 0800 787 254
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633
Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Tearful hunter admits shooting and killing friend

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

11 Jul 05:00 PM

The Magic play the Pulse in the ANZ Premiership at Baypark Arena on Saturday.

Tearful hunter admits shooting and killing friend

Tearful hunter admits shooting and killing friend

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM
Pair deny charges over death of Paige Johnson in alleged hit-and-run

Pair deny charges over death of Paige Johnson in alleged hit-and-run

11 Jul 12:26 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP