Support that makes a difference | Ep. 123

WEBVTT
00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:03.839
Kyota and welcome to Talking Dairy.
00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:06.240
I'm your host Jack McGowan from DairyNZ.
00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.240
It's great to have you with us.
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:17.359
If you've had a challenging season, whether it's been managing people, navigating change on farm, or dealing with the impact of weather, you're not alone.
00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:20.800
Many farmers are working through similar pressures right now.
00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:29.440
Today we're talking about the practical support available when things get tough and the steps you can take to reset well for the season ahead.
00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.759
Joining us are two people who work closely with farmers across the country.
00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:41.439
Jane Muir is the senior people specialist at DairyNZ, focused on helping you build strong teams and positive workplaces.
00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:53.520
And Michelle Ruddell, National Chair of the Rural Support Trust, leads the network that supports farmers, families, and rural communities through personal, financial, and environmental challenges.
00:00:53.759 --> 00:01:06.159
Together we'll look at the common issues coming through right now, how the DairyNZ and Rural Support Trust partnership helps you get the right support at the right time, and simple actions you can take to stay well and connected.
00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:08.480
Let's get into the conversation.
00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.760
Alright, let's start with quick intros.
00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:14.319
Michelle, tell us a bit about yourself.
00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:16.480
Yeah, hi Jack and hi Jane.
00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:17.680
Thanks for having me here.
00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:25.920
Michelle Ruddle, I am a born and bred Northland girl, and my background is in health science, where I trained to be an occupational therapist.
00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:34.480
And so my background with rehabilitation and marrying a dairy farmer saw me work with the rural support trust firstly as a facilitator.
00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:39.200
So I was out there helping support farmers, particularly through MVIS.
00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:50.959
And then progressed from there into a Northland trustee and then became Northland Chair and now am National Chair for the Rural Support Trust, which I am immensely proud of.
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:51.760
Awesome.
00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:52.719
Thank you, Michelle.
00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:53.760
How about you, Jane?
00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:54.879
Tell us about yourself.
00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:01.200
Well, I grew up on a sheep and beef farm and I have a master's in chemistry, but now I'm focused about people.
00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:09.680
So I work across the sector with farmers and partners to support dairy farmers in New Zealand to have great people and great jobs and great workplaces.
00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.360
And I love doing that.
00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:19.919
There's a huge effort by a lot of people across the sector to attract, grow, train, retain health, safety, and well-being initiatives.
00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:26.639
And we want all people working in dairy to be able to thrive in both their jobs and their lives and achieve their goals.
00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.000
And that's where I work.
00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:29.439
Thank you, Jane.
00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:36.960
Now, to start us off, what are you hearing from farmers about the pressures they're facing at the moment as we move into autumn?
00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.560
Yeah, well, I can um kick that part off, Jack, if you like.
00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:47.759
One of the biggest pressures that, well, the biggest pressure that we're getting with our rural support phone line is employment pressures.
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:53.120
So 16% of our callers are calling because of the employment issues that they're having.
00:02:53.439 --> 00:03:00.560
After that comes in the natural disaster and the effects that the natural adverse weather events are having on their business.
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:05.680
And relationships and mental health make up the next 20% of our phone calls.
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.240
So slightly different themes in those issues, but some very important ones that impact their day-to-day.
00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:18.080
Rural Support Trust is always taking a number of really, really tough calls.
00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:22.000
That's its purpose is to be there for people in times of need.
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:27.439
Outside of that, in general at the moment, we are seeing farmer confidence as quite high.
00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:34.400
So if I talk to the regional teams across New Zealand and when I'm talking to farmers, there is a lot of upbeat and positiveness.
00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:40.560
That's sort of on the back of a relatively strong summer and most people having a lot of feed around.
00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:45.599
There's, of course, these people dealing with really the cleanup from the adverse events, and that's super tough for them.
00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:48.000
I spoke to a couple of those farmers last week.
00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:56.639
And I think now increasingly everybody's keeping an eye on the war and the potential of fuel availability or lack of availability and pricing.
00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:58.560
I think that's starting to have an impact.
00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:04.319
As Michelle said, I really think farm team capability is a growing concern for people.
00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:06.000
It's a weight on people's shoulders.
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:18.079
Just how to get the best out of people, how to manage rosters, hours of work, provide work-life balance, and really how to do that when there just isn't a heap of additional people available in rural New Zealand to employ.
00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:23.279
We do have an increasing unemployment rate, but we don't in rural New Zealand so much.
00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:24.959
I think that weighs on people.
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:32.399
Yeah, so as Michelle said, employment questions make up a big share of the calls to rural support trust.
00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:36.639
What's driving that and how might farmers prevent this?
00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:38.319
Michelle's exactly right.
00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:44.160
The numbers every month, every quarter, Rural Support Trust put out a note with where the calls are.
00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:46.639
And employment's pretty much always right at the top.
00:04:46.800 --> 00:05:00.639
And when you dive into it, I think it says employment agreements, harassment, dismissal, tenancy, and wages are right up there with what those calls are about, which is really concerning, actually, because some of that's quite the basics.
00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:04.319
So it just shows the importance of getting that stuff right.
00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:15.360
And the best way of doing that is always communication, clear expectations and understanding between employer and employee, you know, at the beginning, of course, but always ongoing.
00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.319
And having those critical things documented.
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:24.319
And then I would add, always staying above the line in terms of behaviour, even in times of stress.
00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:31.279
The other thing Michelle really alluded to this as well is that RST always gets involved because of tough times.
00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:42.319
So tough times exaggerate any relationship challenges, whether that's impersonal or employment-related relationship challenges.
00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:57.920
So what the ideal situation would be is that when those tough times hit, those relationships are your resilience, like your team, your family, your relationships actually form a level of resilience rather than a stress.
00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:06.399
So I think those numbers are a good reminder to prioritize the people in your life and in your business so that they can help you do that.
00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.360
But I'm sure Michelle's got a lot to add on that one.
00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:15.279
No, I think you've touched on it too, is that expectations between employee and employer is really important.
00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:20.480
And there's a lot of expectation that all employers know how to do it right.
00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:24.800
But equally, employees don't know any different sometimes.
00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:36.079
So there's really got to be some education and connection around how do we help those employees become more knowledgeable and empowered when they are negotiating these contracts.
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:46.800
Because to have the contract as one of the number one reasons and dairy farm assistants being the number one group of callers, you know, there's something that's not quite aligned there.
00:06:47.040 --> 00:07:04.319
And at Rural Support Trust, we like to empower to enable so that the next time the tough time comes along or the next time they're looking at their contract, they're actually more informed and they understand a little bit more better perhaps than that time that they've experienced where it hasn't gone as well.
00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:09.040
And I think we're all responsible for participating and actioning in that.
00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:14.639
So Michelle talked about employees calling Rural Support Trust.
00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:17.839
We also have the Rural Employee Support Hub.
00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:20.160
Jane, can you tell us more about that?
00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.439
Well, you know, Jack, this is one of my favorite topics.
00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:35.759
So the Rural Employee Support Hub, or more commonly called RESH, was established in 2020 by Dairy and Z, and it's specifically for employees working on any farm in New Zealand.
00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.240
It's not just for Dairy Farmers, it's for any farm.
00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:47.600
And it's about answering their questions, most commonly about their employment situation or their mental health and ensuring they have answers to the access and support they need.
00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:57.519
Because of the reasons Michelle said, we're just trying to level up so that there's good communication and expectations on both sides, and both sides can get the information that they need.
00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.319
So that service, it's delivered by RST, which is a perfect fit.
00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:03.920
It's an absolute perfect fit.
00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:07.040
And it includes access to legal advice if required.
00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:18.399
So what I really encourage employees who have a question about what's happening on farm or who are feeling down or alone, is to reach out and ring 0800-694-121.
00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:26.399
Because the goal of RESH is really to help retain people on farm and to ensure they're supported so that we keep people.
00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:31.759
If you're in a bad situation, we want people to reach out and get the information.
00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:41.279
So RST across the board, if you're an employer, if you're self-employed, or you're an employee, RST is there to help all those groups of people.
00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:45.360
If you're an employee, often the best places to start is RESH.
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:48.559
So that's 0800-694-121 Jack.
00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.159
Very good, Shane.
00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:50.799
Thank you.
00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:57.440
Now, we've been talking a lot about the employment side of things, tough employment situations.
00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:01.440
Michelle, you talked about other calls, about other things.
00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:08.559
What kind of support can the Royal Support Trust provide when a farmer or a family is dealing with a tough situation?
00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:19.919
Why I think RST is so impactful in the work that we do is because we are that constant through that entire period of someone experiencing a tough time.
00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:29.840
So we can be there from the moment they ring us through to the moment they feel they're back in control and don't need that same level of support anymore.
00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.200
So that's really key.
00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:35.759
So we aren't about advice, but we are there with them through the journey.
00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:45.519
And we help them bring in that professional advice along the way, whether it's accounting, whether it's banking, whether it's legal, whether it's counseling or it's health.
00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:52.879
We're not the expert in those fields, but we are the expert in supporting that person or that family or that business through their tough time.
00:09:53.120 --> 00:10:01.519
And that's why it's so individual and it's about how support looks for that person in their family at that particular time.
00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.440
And it's not the same for everyone.
00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:15.440
So yeah, that's where our facilitators who are farmers themselves often or have been have got that rural background, they understand those challenges that we face in the rural sector.
00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.960
It sounds a little bit like health navigators almost.
00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.240
Have you heard of that?
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.679
Yes, I have.
00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:22.240
Yes.
00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:27.440
And I do think of them as navigators, um, although that's a term used in other sectors as well.
00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:35.840
But a facilitator is that person that's helping someone navigate that tough time, because often we can't see the wood for the trees.
00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:50.799
And they may be ringing about one thing, but when that person gets in there to support them, that one thing has impacted so many different parts of their business that they probably didn't realise they'd lost control or they'd lost touch on that.
00:10:51.360 --> 00:11:11.440
And that's why I'm not surprised to see that after employment and natural disasters that relationships are the next top issue people phone about because we live and breathe our work and our home life together, and naturally that's going to take its toll on us when those external factors impact our home life.
00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.879
And you mentioned weather, adverse events.
00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:18.240
I imagine the response to those is a little bit different.
00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:25.440
So, what does rural support trust's role look like in those early days and weeks after a weather event?
00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:33.919
Yeah, so the beauty with having our individual regions is that we can respond to our community the way we know our people.
00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:37.360
But essentially it is doing that needs assessment.
00:11:37.519 --> 00:12:01.360
You know, we've got the networks across the region and we can use that to fully understand the impact that has occurred in our rural community and therefore help assess the possible needs that are going to be immediately felt, but then also those ongoing needs and helping communicate that across industry partners, up into government, and really being a voice for our rural communities.
00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:05.679
What tends to make the biggest difference for farmers during recovery?
00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:23.600
Well, there's a few things, but I'd say one of the biggest things is to stay connected, sharing with each other, making sure you get off farm to that local barbecue, to the local hall, hearing how others are doing it in your area and how they're responding and adapting to what's going on to that same event.
00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:30.000
It's really quite powerful when you get farmers in a room together over some food and they just chat.
00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:33.200
You know, there's nothing else but to hear chew the fat.
00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:50.320
But then that leads into more, you know, connections and sh sharing ideas helps you prepare for next time, but it also helps you prepare for tomorrow when you know you've got that massive tree that you've got to clear to get the cows fenced in so that they can stay contained.
00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:56.399
It helps farmers to kind of break down those challenges that they've got practically on farm.
00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:59.120
So keeping connected is really important.
00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:07.519
Jane, how does DairyNZ's people and technical support complement the work that Rural Support Trust does in those moments?
00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:12.559
Well, I think Michelle mentioned it's a real team effort in these adverse events.
00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:26.399
So one of the things DairyNZ does is work with partners such as RST and their work, and that might be providing technical expertise or helping cook one of those barbecues or local gatherings that Michelle talked about.
00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:31.440
And obviously, Feds often oversee a bit of a feed program, so we work in with them.
00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:37.679
Other things that we do is sometimes we're asked or we deliver our own events to support farmers.
00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:47.440
They're about providing critical information on farm systems and ideas to manage, but also just providing that opportunity to connect with others and ensure people don't feel alone.
00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:54.799
We also get out, visit farmers, listen, encourage people to reach out when they need and connect to people who can help.
00:13:55.039 --> 00:14:06.879
And of course, our website, it's you know, in adverse events, that's an area that a lot of effort goes into just because it's a good way of getting a lot of information to everybody quickly.
00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:16.399
So making sure that's up to date with how to manage different areas of the farm to support decision making from milking frequencies, feed, animal health, people and environment.
00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:25.039
If people have information, they can take a little bit of stress off their shoulders, knowing they have that information to support a good decision.
00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:35.919
And for the farmers that may have been going through a tough time, wanting to reset for next season, what are some practical steps that help, whether that's planning or conversations?
00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:40.879
I mean, I'm big on thinking about what success looks like for a person.
00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:45.679
So both for your own life and for your business and kind of making a plan to achieve that.
00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:49.840
For dairy farmers, we know that once the season starts, carving is so busy.
00:14:49.919 --> 00:15:12.879
So heading into that with both, you know, everybody on farm rested, warm and dry housing, the firewood stacked, like making sure the team's trained to do what they need to do to be competent and successful, that they understand the why, especially if they're new to dairy farming and what you're trying to achieve, that the employers understand the employees' goals.
00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:28.159
And really putting that those weeks that you have before carving starts into making sure you've got the right tools to do the job and that you've had some fun and that you've got camaraderie and like a team spirit kind of going on, that stuff's a really good start.
00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:35.840
So it's about investing into the people in your life and in your farming business so everyone feels valued and excited.
00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:37.840
Yeah, exactly.
00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.519
Just what Jane said.
00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:42.320
It's about those expectations, isn't it?
00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.039
And understanding what success looks like.
00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:52.240
But using that downtime to really just stop and pause and then reflect and prepare.
00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.240
I think's really critical.
00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:59.360
And as business owners, we often do that without realizing we're doing it.
00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:09.679
But it's about bringing your team along on the journey with you and ensuring that they're part of those decisions and understand the decisions being made so that they can be part of that success.
00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:12.799
And then in that you'll get a healthy and thriving team.
00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:21.679
And I think that's critical and that communication is critical as well for the dairy team and for any farming team to have a successful season.
00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:29.279
And how does the partnership between Dairy and Z and Rural Support Trust make support more accessible for farmers?
00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.519
This partnership is so valuable.
00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:38.240
We are just so grateful for this partnership and it is critical and is so easy to access for our farmers.
00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.600
And I think that's the intention.
00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:50.399
I know Jane mentioned earlier, like we just want those who are going through tough times to know that when they pick up the phone, there's someone at the end of it that cares, who understands and can actually make a tangible difference.
00:16:50.960 --> 00:17:00.159
Yeah, I'd add, look, DairyNZ, we just know that RST are incredibly good at what they do, which is supporting farmers in tough times primarily.
00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:12.799
And our partnership and the funding that we provide is about supporting RST to continue with that good work because they do it best, and we don't want them constantly worrying about where funding is coming from.
00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:16.000
And of course, it's not just DairyNZ that fund RST.
00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.480
They've got a range of great partners.
00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:25.119
So there's other organizations sitting along DairyNZ and doing that, and it's a team effort just the way that it should be.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:35.359
And I'd really just like all people on, you know, farms in New Zealand to know, yeah, that there is someone just to reach out to and asking for help is a sign of strength.
00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:40.480
Michelle, what would you like farmers listening today to know about getting in touch with you?
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:54.640
I'd like them to know that they can do it, that they're brave, they're courageous, and whether it's picking up the phone or if it's going through our website and sending in a connection that way to get it for us to be in touch.
00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:57.440
We're here to listen, we're here to support.
00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:02.000
Um, we're free, we're impartial, and we're here to help you through your tough time.
00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:07.759
And just really encourage anyone that's experiencing that to um know that rural support trust are here.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:13.200
Our teams are your local community who have been through tough times themselves.
00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.319
Thank you.
00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.519
Thank you both.
00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:18.160
Thank you for sharing your insights today.
00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:26.400
If you're dealing with pressure on farm, whether it's people challenges, financial stress, or recovering from weather, you don't have to manage it on your own.
00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:31.359
Support is available and it's delivered by people who understand rural life.
00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:40.319
If you'd like to talk to someone or learn more about the services in your area, you can visit the Rural Support Trust website or dairynz.co.nz.
00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:42.400
Thanks for listening and we'll catch you next time.
00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.440
Matiwa.
00:18:49.839 --> 00:19:07.519
If you'd like to get connected with DairyNZ's latest advice, research, tools, and resources, whether it's reading, scrolling, listening, or in person, you can visit dairynz.co.nz forward slash get-connected, and don't forget to hit follow to keep up to date with our latest episodes.
00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:17.039
As always, if you have any feedback on this podcast or have some ideas for future topics or guests, please email us at talkingdairy at dairynz.co.nz.
00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:20.480
Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time on Talking Dairy.