Servicing the most important tool on the farm

Thursday, 19 March 2026

Making sure the mind and body is in good health can be just as important as getting a farm vehicle or tool checked.

Amid the hundreds of exhibitors at the Central Districts Field Days, which started at Manfeild on Thursday, a Government boost was confirmed for organisations focused on farmers’ wellbeing.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay revealed the 18 organisations that would be the recipients of a share of a $4 million rural wellbeing fund, which was announced at last year’s Budget.

McClay told the Manawatū Standard the fund was targeted to help farmers’ mental health and resilience.

“Being in a rural area can be isolating, and when weather events or economic shocks come we know that manifests itself much more, and it can be the farmers, the man or the woman on the farm, but it does have an impact on their families as well.”

One of the organisations receiving funding was the Surfing for Farmers Charitable Trust. McClay said this was a good example of people getting off the farm and meeting others to talk about their work and personal lives, as many traditional gathering places such as rugby clubs weren’t commonly used now.

“This is a way of lifting them up, dragging them away and finding better solutions to making sure their mental health and other wellbeing is in a good place.

“Secondly, it does filter through to others in the community and their families. When there is pressure and stress in any business, particularly on a farm, then ultimately everybody in that household and the households around them will feel it.”

One of the groups receiving funding is the NZ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, which is getting $585,000.

The group’s chairwoman and Rongotea dairy farmer Kate Denholm said the funding would be used for supporting the resilience and wellbeing of its 2000 members nationwide.

“We are the next generation, whether it’s working on farm, running the farm businesses or owning the farm business. It’s really important for us to have strong mental wellbeing and be resilient on farm in our current roles, but then for ourselves to be resilient in the future when we are taking over these businesses.

“Our generation, we are more aware of our mental health, and we know the importance of having days off and the importance of getting out and about and having holidays and having something else to do as well.”

An issue for young farmers was thinking about their future, such as whether they would be able to own a farm.

Denholm said a lot of young farmers went through mental health issues, but being part of the organisation meant they always had a friend they could call on for support.

Others to receive large chunks of funding were the Whatever With Wiggy Charitable Trust, the Whānau Ora Community Clinic, the Seafood Sector Support Network Trust and Farmstrong Charitable Trust.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said the funding would allow the organisations to continue their work “and not worry about spending half their week fundraising and trying to keep the lights on”.

One of the exhibitors helping farmers look after themselves was Rural Health and Wellness, which had a van at the event where people could get a general health check, including blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol.

Stacey McKerchar, the chairwoman of the Carr Family Foundation which funds Rural Health and Wellness, said the van travelled to rural communities, events and sales across the country.

“It’s people that don’t get off farm to go see a doctor, or it might take two or three weeks to get into one. They just put it off.”

Checking people’s mental health was another part of their work, with bad weather often making life hard for farmers.

“It’s just a chance to open up to someone. You can often pick when someone's not 100% or looking after themselves.”