Ag in Conversation

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...

018 | A new study out of the University of Portsmouth has shown that consumers value animal welfare over environmental impact when making purchasing decisions, Ben Purua has been awarded young Maori Dairy Farmer of the year at the Ahuwhenua awards recently, and Fonterra - why what and how - the selling of consumer brands. This week we discuss farming for nature - is this NZ's next big unique selli...

017 | We are joined by the one and only Steph Borowski, maybe the funniest farmers wife on the internet. We traverse all things from homeschooling wild and free farm kids, regen ag, the wellness properties of red meat, to the good, bad and ugly of a modern day rural community. There isn't much that isn't talked about this week. So light the fire (it's that time of year), grab a cuppa and a bikkie...

016 | A major Southland windfarm is to proceed through the new fast tracking consenting process, a survey examining the profitability and carbon footprints in regenerative agriculture, and the continuing decline in farm sales and prices all hit the news desk this week. We delve Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, try to demystify the concept and provide a simple explanation that everyone can understand t...

015 | Our land and water have done more outstanding research, this time in the meals in school space and how this can connect children to agriculture ( here ), we jump the ditch and look at the effects of PFA contaminated water has on cattle and finally look at some very cool research out of China where they have grown rice successfully in less time in glasshouses, expanding the required growing c...

014 | Every industry needs disrupters but can NZ ag handle new comers throwing the baby out with the bath water and doing things their way? This week we dig into the book Meet you at the Main Divide written by Justine Ross with Geoff Ross owners of Lake Hawea Station. Order the book here or check out the rest of their mahi here . We cover the news of the week - the rain just keeps on pouring and p...

013 | Exciting news! We have a new podcast segment, each month we will be producing one episode with a guest host. And I know what you might be thinking, but you said you guys weren't doing interviews - well you're right, we are not - our guest host is joining for our usual discussion, adding extra insight, knowledge and humour to the conversations you know and love! This week we are joined by Jo...

012 | Bird flu, train spotting horse and half meat burgers The news this week comes from around the world with the worrying development of Bird Flu being found in Dairy Cattle in the US and two people in Texas with the flu. Flooding in the UK making lambing a nightmare for many and a horse taking a midnight stroll into a train station in Oz! Our deep dive this week is into the world of Harvest B a...

011 | Hot news topics were aplenty this week, we highlight the shipment of Australian fertiliser which landed at Primeport Timaru, the increasing demand for NZ beef in the US and the massive vertical farming operations being developed in Dubai. We then dug into the Our Land and Water Project - Farming for Good including the Food and Farming People’s Panel which was released last week which highlig...

Episode 10 | This week we have introduced a new segment, a quick overview of three news articles that have hit the headlines. This week we discuss Synlait requesting a trading halt Concerns surrounding the animal welfare gap TB vaccine We then dig into the economic situation in China, what's behind the property market issues and the weakening consumer behaviour and how this impacts agricultural pr...

009 | We give our "2 cents" on the Farm without Harm campaign to improve and highlight vehicle safety on farm. We then dive into some of the fascinating emerging technologies in the strong wool space - it's almost hard to fathom that wool is actually used in these products! Wool source Kera Kisses by Karen Murrell Shear Edge IronClad Pan - wool knives Terra Lana Barron Surfboards Woolchemy Finally...

008 | This wee we dig into the nitty gritty of the regulated farm plastics recycling requirements and aim to answer your questions, cause we had them to! We also take a look at the winners of the Zanda McDonald Award for 2024 and all that that involves. Finally, nominations are now open for this years Rural Champion. We all know people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the lights on in...

007 | We debrief our weekend at the Upper Clutha A&P show, better known as the Wanaka Show. Myfanwy was on an all expenses paid trip as part of her windfall from winning the Otago Daily Times Year of the Farmer competition, as part of this she got up to all sorts of fancy, formal engagements including the pinnacle - judging the terrier race! Emily made the most of the shopping (and saving on s...

006 | It’s International Women’s Day (March 8 2024) and to celebrate the day we have looked into the past, the present and the future of rural women in New Zealand. We dig into the land girls, who kept the lights on and the troops fed in WWII, without recognition until 2011!!!!!!!! Discuss the transition from city life to farm life in the early 60’s with Emily’s Nana - Margaret Gualter. Look into...

005 | Does the RMA confuse you? Us to! Listen along as we try to unpack what is actually happening, why local government is pushing on despite the new National Government saying they are repelling the reforms and what we can do about it. We also discuss Chris Luxon’s new hobby - water storage, why the water is important to everyone, not just farmers, how storage water can help mitigate the impacts...

004 | It's one year on from Cyclone Gabrielle creating havoc and mayhem everywhere it went, this week the girls dive into where all the kumara has gone and when it will be back on our shelves - spoiler alert fingers crossed very soon! and also the ongoing project - the check-in - to support those who have been and continue to be effected - it is a series of events and courses to support wellbeing....

003 | This week Myfanwy gives us an update on the developing situation in Europe with the protests, we discuss food security and could cross sector collaboration be a solution to feeding the world? and finally - why is the internet full of homesteading? should we all jump on board? Learn more about the UK Data Centre with Urban Farm Who is Ballerina Farm? @‌ballerinafarm https://ballerinafarm.com/...