Feed for Thought

Field Operations Manager, Duncan Grant, shares his decade-long journey from field technician to leading the field operations in Gisborne. Discover the strategies and challenges of coordinating contract growers to maintain seed purity and manage cross-pollination risks. Learn from Duncan's insights the dynamic planning needed to tackle logistical hurdles presented by unpredictable weather cond...

In our first episode of the year, Logan Dawson, 2024 Waikato Share Farmer of the Year (alongside wife, Sian Dawson), joins Wade and Matt to share his farming journey to managing an 880-cow share milking business in the Waikato.  The team explores Logan and Sian’s system, examining how split calving and precise diets boost milk production. Logan explains balancing pasture and supplements to achieve...

In our last episode for the year, Matt and Wade are thrilled to be joined by a familiar face and former Feed for Thought host, Ian Williams. Ian's travels to the US earlier this year brought him face-to-face with exceptional farming practices and an unforgettable salmon fishing trip guided by a former scientist. With Ian's vivid storytelling, you'll hear about the shared dedication...

In this episode, the team unpack the intricacies of managing one of Australia’s largest feedlot operations with special guest, Ben Carrigan, the General Manager of Commodities, Farms, and Transport at Mort & Co. Australia.  You’ll gain insights into the complex feed composition and innovative practices that set Mort & Co. apart. Ben takes us through their diversified business model that in...

With a rich family history in dairy farming, Michael Phillips and Andrew Evans (Bubbles) join Matt and Wade to discuss the strategy behind cows, comfort and compost at Dannevirke-based dairy farming operation, Waka Dairies.   Michael and Bubbles discuss the strategic shifts made as part of Waka Dairies' succession plan, with leadership and team culture, and infrastructure improvements at the...

Simon Nitschke, the Arable Farmer of the Year, Maize Farmer of the Year, and National Pioneer Yield Cup winner, joins Matt and Wade to discuss the strategy and success of Rangitikei enterprise, Arable Solutions.    This episode explores supply and demand management, particularly for maize grain. We discuss the impact of market fluctuations, the importance of forward planning, and how collaboration...

With a passion for dairy farming, Logan Scott, Te Awamutu East and South Waikato Area Manager and small block owner brings a unique perspective on land and crop management, maize and agronomy.  This episode delves into Logan’s agronomy knowledge, sharing strategies for identifying potential issues and guiding effective management decisions, particularly through the critical V3 to V6 growth stages...

Rural Professional of the Year and Senior Lecturer in Agribusiness and Management at Lincoln University, Dan Smith, joins Wade and Matt on this episode to share his strategies for nurturing future-ready students. You'll hear about his dynamic approach to equipping students with timeless skills covering the key competencies for young agricultural professionals to succeed in the rapidly evolvin...

Interested in understanding how you can mitigate feed quality losses? In this episode, Matt is joined by Shaun Body, our Portfolio Manager, and Helen France, our Hawke's Bay, Tararua & Wairarapa Area Manager, to discuss the value proposition of inoculant and how to get more value from your grass silage by minimising the drop in quality. If you have any questions about using spring inocula...

Join us as Jo Bills, Director for Global Insights at EverAg, breaks down the differences in supply chain dynamics, pasture-based efficiencies, and export strategies between New Zealand and Australia. Learn how Australia’s more productive cows compare to New Zealand's pasture-based herds. We also touch on greenhouse gas emissions and Fonterra's strategic manoeuvres, providing a comprehens...

In this episode, international guest Grant Groene, the former Global Seed Agronomy Lead for Pioneer US, joins Dr. Rowland Tsimba, National Research and Agronomy Manager, Wade and Matt to delve into global agronomy and future crop development. Together, the team discuss the process of genetic development in maize, from the rigorous testing of hybrids to the impressive yield advancements achieved in...

Raewyn Densley joins us to discuss AgFirst’s recent Our Land and Water funded project. Our Land and Water aims to enhance the production and productivity of New Zealand’s primary sector while maintaining and improving the quality of the country’s land and water for future generations.  Raewyn covers the global grain market shift during the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical tensio...

Join us as we explore the intersection between farm efficiency and reducing emissions with Malcolm Ellis, Fonterra's Strategic Advisor. Malcolm shares the difference between emissions intensity and absolute emissions and discusses Fonterra's strategic initiatives to support farmers in making impactful changes.    The team balances animal efficiency and environmental sustainability by exa...

In this episode, we delve into the pivotal role of sustainability in shaping the future of dairy farming. We are privileged to have Charlotte Rutherford, Fonterra's Director of Sustainability, join Wade and Matt in a thought-provoking discussion. Together, they explore the transformation of environmental efforts from basic compliance to tackling global sustainability challenges.  Charlotte hi...

Join Dr. Rowland Tsimba, National Research and Agronomy Manager, Wade, and Matt as they sit down to discuss optimal plant populations and the impact this has on crop yield and quality.  The team brings a global perspective to the discussion by comparing maize planting strategies in the United States and New Zealand. They highlight the importance of managing plant populations for silage versus grai...

In this episode, Lower North Island Regional Manager Mark Burke shares insight on the maize grain market opportunities and considerations. Mark delves into the pressures of regional demands, maize contracts, and pricing tactics and how these factors converge to shape the current grain market. The team discusses the methods growers use to ensure profitable sales, highlighting the significance of ca...

In an episode packed with technological advancements, adaptive strategies, and a love for the agriculture industry, join Wade and Hamish as they sit down with David Wordsworth, Northland maize grain grower and cover of our 2024 grain catalogue.  David shares the family's journey from dairy and beef farming to introducing maize into the grain industry in the 1970s. The team discusses the growt...

From dairying in Otago to the Chief Executive of Pouarua Farms, an iwi-owned 2200-hectare operation in the Hauraki Plains, Jenna Smith, the cover of our 2024 Maize Silage catalogue, joins Wade and Brent Bishop, Upper North Island Regional Manager, to recount her remarkable journey.  This episode covers the details of farming on peatlands into the larger narrative of ecological stewardship. The evo...

Join Wade and Matt as they sit down with Adrian Ball to the delve into the story of the Ball family's Waikato farm that's seen transformation from traditional cattle grazing to a beacon of dairy and beef production excellence.  You'll hear how success isn't just counted in output but in the wellbeing of staff, the welfare of animals, and the stewardship of the environment. The...

In our latest episode, joining Matt and Wade are Waikato based, John Numan, farm owner and Brian Basi, herd-owning sharemilker. Together, they explain how they develop and maintain a strong owner share-milker relationship and share some of the farm systems and business fundamentals that support their businesses to achieve the goals of both parties.

The choppers are out, and we're approaching the pointy end of the 2023/24 maize season. Wade and Matt caught up with Craig Maxwell, the Central North Island Regional Manager, to chat about the discussions the Pioneer team are having with growers and contractors leading up to harvest. 

With harvest underway around the country, the boys welcome Shaun Body, Pioneer's Portfolio Manager, back onto the podcast.  The team discuss the science and value proposition of inoculant and how to get more from your maize silage by minimising the drop in quality throughout the harvest, ensiling, and feeding out process. 

Welcome to Season 2 of Feed for Thought; kicking off the new season is our first farmer story with Roger Dalrymple of Waitatapia Farming. In this episode, Roger shares how the family business has developed over the years from lupin-dominated, low-intensive farming to a diverse enterprise. Farming dairy, forestry, vegetables, and everything in between, the Dalrymple's have navigated the highs...

In Ian's final episode on the show, the team challenge him with the question of what the future of the industry looks like. Ian covers topics around future farm systems, government regulations, and what farming may look like in the future.

With retirement on the horizon for Ian Williams, the boys caught up to yarn about what Ian has seen in the past 25 years of his career, winding back to farm systems in 1999 and how they have changed and developed over time. This is the first episode of two that pay a special tribute to Ian Williams and his long-standing service to Pioneer. Tune back next week to hear what Ian has to say about wher...