Farmstrong's Live Well, Farm Well Podcast: Hamish Murray

Clarence River Valley farmer, Hamish Murray. Photo / Supplied

Content brought to you by Farmstrong

Hamish Murray runs Bluff Station in the Clarence River Valley - an operation involving 5500 merino ewes, 950 Angus and Hereford breeding cows, 750 beehives and a team of seven full-time staff.

Murray suffered burnout in 2014/15 during a prolonged drought and decided from then on he wanted to farm differently.

Instead of tackling every challenge and decision on his own, Murray realised he needed to delegate and empower his team.

Here, he speaks to The Country's Rowena Duncum about how he overcame burnout and the tools he now uses to avoid that trap again.

Listen below:

About Farmstrong:

Farming is a job with a unique set of challenges.

Many are hard to predict or control. They range from climate events like drought and flood to fluctuations in commodity prices, changing government legislation and new technology.

Along with these external factors, come the demands of running any business – financial and production planning, managing cash flow, hiring and managing staff, succession planning etc.

These pressures aren't going to disappear so it's vital that farmers develop the skills and resilience to cope.

Research shows many farmers are great at looking after their equipment and stock, but, like other New Zealanders, they can neglect their own wellbeing.

As an industry, we can't afford to let these pressures reach the point where they damage productivity and affect the lives of families.

Farmstrong is an initiative to help farmers, growers and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business.

Find out more about Farmstrong here.

Read more about Hamish Murray's story here.