Ag Proud NZ nurturing rural wellbeing at Southern Field Days

Mossburn farmer and Ag Proud member Jason Herrick is promoting the positive side of farming. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

It's been a tough time to be a farmer in the South.

But, as he helped man the Ag Proud New Zealand stand at the Southern Field Days at Waimumu last week, Mossburn dairy farmer Jason Herrick was still wearing a beaming smile.

Herrick is heavily involved with the Ag Proud NZ initiative, set up last year to promote positive farming practices and raise awareness of rural people's mental health.

In August last year, the group hosted a winter barbecue in the centre of Invercargill to bring together - and help strengthen the bond between - town and country. It was then rolled out nationally, and other main centres hosted similar events.

Recent flooding in the South has caused major problems; Herrick's property did not have too many issues, despite his catchment getting 205mm of rain in just under 72 hours.

If it had not been so dry before the deluge, then it would have been "a whole lot worse", he said.

He had spent time helping out with the Federated Farmers-organised Farmy Army, joined by his wife and children, to assist those farmers in worse positions.

While they had helped clear and repair fences, there was a lot of grass damage that could not necessarily be seen with the naked eye, he said.

Ag Proud NZ started after negative backlash over winter grazing practices in the South which had been very detrimental to farmers, Herrick said.

Before Christmas, many had not sowed winter crops, so there was already a shortage of winter feed.

The recent flood had "just made it worse"; there was now a "massive" shortage.

Herrick was aware of a lot of farmers sending their cows out of Southland.

Farmers were "running scared" of public perception and what he described as misinformation given to the public.

Field Days, though, was about farmers and the rural community all coming together, and standing behind one another.

Ag Proud NZ did not believe there was the oft-mentioned rural-urban divide, rather just a weakened connection.

The group was getting plenty of support from the urban section and was getting its name known.

While Herrick's involvement had been a big learning curve, it had also been "just awesome".

"The job is going to be long and hard but we will get there, I think, as long as the right information is getting out there," he said.

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.