Droughts, floods, earthquakes, farm debt, M bovis, looming water quality reforms and climate change legislation have Canterbury farmers feeling under the pump. Ashburton farmer and Federated Farmers' board member, Chris Allen, said nothing brought home just how many farmers were battling depression than a funeral. Scott Evans is a farmer and chair of Waimakariri Next Generation - a group set up to support young farmers and lobby for change. Sarah Barr, who is from an Ashburton farming family, worries about those farmers who don't have anything but the farm. Photo: RNZAgriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said high numbers of suicide were a harsh reality for farmers.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 31, 2019 19:41 UTC