Ag in Conversation

043 | With December around the corner and Christmas on our doorstep we asked the question - what is the actual impact of our sneaky (sometimes guilty) Temu purchases on the small business landscape of NZ, particularly rural NZ? We also covered off Fonterra's latest happenings - rising milk prices and what's happening with the consumer brands and back over to banking - the wild profits coming out o...

042 | Jumping on the bandwagon of all anyone everywhere is talking about we dive into the outcomes of the US Election - Donald Trump was annouced president for his second term. What does that mean for the world of ag both in the US and around the globe? There are a few recommendations and links throughout the podcast this week Meat the Need Auction - https://meattheneed.org/trademe-auction/ Discov...

041 | The rural banking inquiry, we have all heard about it but were we really aware of how necessary it was! We certainly weren't form Reserve bank policy settings to the actual banks themselves and even as farmers how we handle the situation. And overhaul is well called for. Thanks to the team at NZAB (not sponsored, just really liked their info) for putting together such thorough, informative i...

040 | This week we are joined by guest co-host Dr Ellen Joan Ford, a leadership expert. Dr Ellen was recently invovled as a co-researcher in the Rural Leadership report devloped in partnership by the Food and Fibre CoVE and Rural Leaders. The report is available here . We also touched on Ellen's own research and her leadership framework - belogning, automony, purpose and how that applies to the fo...

039 | A fully electric ute is about to hit the NZ market - with a petrol generator to provide range, its electric its a hybrid, listen along to find out more. We have also celebrated the winners at the Beef and Lamb NZ awards and the woos of the arable farmers coming into their season. This week we explore the Canadian dairy market, it's not currently somewhere we export a great deal of products t...

038 | This week Emily dove into the differences in milk on our supermarket shelves, aside from price why do prices vary so greatly? Does it make a difference nutrtionally and importantly are the farmers earning more from some of your purchases than others? In the news we touch on a new tech device out of the University of Canterbury - LuMoo that supports early detection of Johne's disease (their g...

037 | With all the extreme weather events both here in NZ and around the globe, it seemed obvious that we should dig into the wide reaching impacts of these types of events. We dig into the impacts of climate change on the insurability of our farms and assets. It's a scary thought but one that is forseeable in the not to distant future. Make sure you take a look at our new website (we are very exc...

026 | We are back to normal programming, bringing you global ag conversations to your ears. This week we dig into the Amercian Farm Bill, just what is it and why can't they agree on it. Is it going to impact us in NZ? In the news we cover the new free trade agreement with the UAE, the closing of Alliance's plant in Timaru - Smithfield and the new approach to planting natives - via drones. Finally,...

035 | Week 4 of our Rural Women's Mental Health Series - we are joined by Kate Steadman, a registered Clinical Psychologist based in Fielding. She is the owner of Second Nature Psychology where she specialises in rural mental health, offering psychological assessment and therapy for individuals and couples. To learn more about Kate and her life changing work, check her  webiste  out, or...

034 | Week 3 of our Rural Women's Mental Health Series - we are joined by Annabelle Matson, a Christchurch based Coach who talks us through strategies and practical tools to keep well and thrive in our daily lives. To learn more about Annabelle and her life changing work, check her webiste out, or find her on instagram or Facebook or jump into her podcast . Our Rural Women's Mental Health Series s...

033 | Week 2, a partners persecptive. Tyler Langford joins us to talk us through her family's journey through depression. Our Rural Women's Mental Health Series shines a spotlight on an important and often overlooked topic - rural women’s mental health. We delve into the unique challenges rural women face and explore how mental wellness plays a crucial role in their everyday lives. From the strugg...

032 | This week we kick of our Rural Women's Mental Health Series, we’re shining a spotlight on an important and often overlooked topic - rural women’s mental health. We delve into the unique challenges rural women face and explore how mental wellness plays a crucial role in their everyday lives. From the struggles of moving to the country and adjusting to life away from familiar surroundings, to...

031 | We take a political theme to the news this week, covering ACT's suggestion to sell of PAMU/Landcorp's assets, look at the latest rates bill increases felt across the country and also the fast track bill and its latest changes. We then dive into Generative AI - What is it? How will it change our lives? and How is it going to contribute to doubling our exports? We're sure you all have lots of...

030 | Inspired by last weeks news item, Myfanwy leads us on a deep dive into the potential Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, why this needs to be mutally beneficial and stand the test of time. In the news this week we look at a new business Landify who is changing the way people can get into and exit from farming, Clarkson's Farm and their push to support mental health and finally, how protec...

029 | Does NZ have a secure food supply? We dig into what's happening out there between rising food prices, fragile and volatile supply chains and the way our food production is geared for exporting. In the news we talk about Bostocks selling to Inghams, the US propping up red meat exports and discussions about a Free Trade Agreement with India. Big thanks to our partners Cinta Insights for suppor...

028 | We are joined by Philippa Cameron from Whats for Smoko (her amazing instagram page), she is also a multiple, best selling author and amazing wife and mother hailing from Otematata. Pip joins us for a chat about the myth or truth of the rural urban divide, we debunk it based on some research completed in 2023 by Massey University as part of the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge -...

027 | The Olympics are on and like most of the country we are fixated on all things sporting and Olympics. Alongside becoming armchair experts in every sport we have never heard of, we've done a deep dive into how agriculture is featured at the games and news flash - its through everyone attendings belly's! They are going to serve up 13 million meals over the month of Olympics and Paralympics and...

026 | Myfanwy took us deep into the world of dairy farming this week - inspired perhaps by the early calves arriving at her place. We talk immigration policy, UK farm income and the impact of Tik Tok bans in the US on meat and diary consumption. Before discussing precision fermentation - what it is, what it could be used for and the impact it might have on the NZ dairy industry. To learn more abou...

025 | It's an exciting week at Ag in Conversation HQ, not only did we record this episode in person! Only our second ever! We are also welcoming our first partner to the podcast! Cinta Insights, an award-winning full-research, market research & insights agency providing high quality services to our clients for the past 20 years. We encourage every listener to join their community - https://www...

024 | Before we dove deep into the world of electrification and solar on farms we touched on Denmark's latest annoucement - the first country in the world to tax agri emissions but its not law yet! - will they make it further than anyone else? The UK have had a change in govt, what does it mean for ag and trade? and finally maze maze the amazing maize, well not quite so quickly! there are huge sup...

023 | The FOMO is real! UK Groundswell have brought music concert vibes to farming with their latest "conference" (not sure you can call it that) bringing together farmers, foodies and everyone in between to talk about regenerative agriculture - this one is on the bucket list for sure! We also discuss the NZ rural banking inquiry and AgriZERO's work in reducing methane emissions via practical tool...

022 | This week we were joined by Hon Jo Luxton, Labour's spokesperson for agriculture to discuss how we can get more enduring change in government despite the changing parties every 3,6,9 yrs. We also touched on Alliance's woolshed meetings, a big win for NZ's poultry farmers in reducing their antibiotic usage and Waitrose supermarkets in the UK willing to pau for sustainability. Finally Future F...

021 | It's been a busy week in NZ Ag largely due to field days at Mystery Creek last week - a highlight in the annual calendar for many. This saw KPMG lunch their Agribusiness Agenda for 2024 , The Govt confirm on their election promise of keeping ag out of the ETS, and the announcement of the Fieldays innovation awards Young Innovator - Mark-It (St Peter's Cambridge) Prototype - Fleecegrow Earlys...

020 | Are we in NZ sure we have the sustainability of our workforce covered? Can we honestly say that we use best practice in staff relationships and with Sharemilkers/Managers and Owners? Do we have the framework to support our farmers to be great in this area? And how do we measure our success or lack there of? Does this have the potential to be the underbelly of NZ Ag that is just waiting to be...

019 | In a busy week all round the girls sat down for a well deserved cuppa and dug into the live export ban on sheep in Australia - what, why, who? Alongside this, we provide an overview of National's budget for the coming year, have a look into the results coming out of the Farmers Voice survey and talk about Pegasus Bay Winery, in their own words a small family owned vineyard taking home the be...