Blue Shed Diary

Blue Shed Diary went to Fieldays 2026 to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. A relatively new mover and shaker is Heather Sorensen. She was appointed the new President of Rural Women New Zealand in April, though she has been a faithful member since 1979. Milton Munro spoke with Heather about her new role and the evolution of the organisation.

Blue Shed Diary went on the road to Mystery Creek in June for Fieldays. We interviewed the movers and shakers of the primary industry. One of the biggest advocates in the sector for Rural Communities, whānau, and women is Rural Women New Zealand. For over 100 years they have been offering support and lending their voice on the issues important to women and their communities. Joining the conversati...

Blue Shed Diary is at Fieldays! We're talking to the movers, shakers, and innovators of the agricultural sector! Joining the conversation at Fieldays is Caitlyn AI. It's an artificial intelligence platform aimed at providing accurate information to its users and is targeted to address the needs of the agricultural sector. Among its customers: Beef & Lamb and FAR. Milton sits down with...

Blue Shed Diary is at Fieldays— interviewing the movers and shakers attending the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere. One of the most iconic moments on the agricultural calendar, besides Fieldays, is the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest. NZ Young Farmers is the organisation behind this event. For nearly 100 years, they have been supporting and developing young farmers while...

Blue Shed Diary @ Fieldays! We hit the road, hitchhiking our way to Mystery Creek to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the primary industry. One of the biggest movers and shakers is Lindy Nelson, Chair of Safer Farms and Farm without Harm Ambassador. She's on a mission to ensure every Farmer, Grower, and Worker gets home safely after a day on the tools. She's behind Safer F...

Blue Shed Diary -- your favourite podcast for Farmers and Growers is recording from your favourite annual event -- National Fieldays. We packed up our microphones and headed to Mystery Creek to talk to the movers and shakers of the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere. Joining the conversation to take a peek behind the operational curtain is National Fieldays CEO Richard Lindroos.

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary — the ultimate podcast forFarmers, Growers, and the Rural Community. We've hit the road and are at Mystery Creek to interview the movers and shakers of Fieldays. ⁠Future Farmers⁠ is passionate about fostering a healthy,sustainable, and profitable food and fibre sector. They are working on the next evolution of farming to create a more resilient and thriving industry....

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary — the ultimate podcast forFarmers, Growers, and the Rural Community. We've hit the road and are at Mystery Creek to interview the movers and shakers of Fieldays. ⁠Future Farmers⁠ is passionate about fostering a healthy,sustainable, and profitable food and fibre sector. They are working on the next evolution of farming to create a more resilient and thriving industry....

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary — the ultimate podcast for Farmers, Growers, and the Rural Community. We've hit the road and are at Mystery Creek to interview the movers and shakers of Fieldays. Future Farmers is passionate about fostering a healthy, sustainable, and profitable food and fibre sector. They are working on the next evolution of farming to create a more resilient and thriving industry....

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary! We are your go-to podcast forFarmers, Growers, and the Rural Sector. We have hit the road and headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays to talk to the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. It's not every day you can walk down the street and see politicians from all sides of the aisle, but at Fieldays you can - especially this year! In November, New Zealand heads...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary! We are your go-to podcast for Farmers, Growers, and the Rural Sector. We have hit the road and headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays to talk to the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. It's not every day you can walk down the street and see politicians from all sides of the aisle, but at Fieldays you can - especially this year! In November, New Zealand heads...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary! We are your go-to podcast for Farmers, Growers, and the Rural Sector. We have hit the road and headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays to talk to the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. It's not every day you can walk down the street and see politicians from all sides of the aisle, but at Fieldays you can - especially this year! In November, New Zealand heads...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary! We are your go-to podcast forFarmers, Growers, and the Rural Sector. We have hit the road and headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays to talk to the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. It's not every day you can walk down the street and seepoliticians from all sides of the aisle, but at Fieldays you can - especially this year! In November, New Zealand heads t...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary! We are your go-to podcast forFarmers, Growers, and the Rural Sector. We have hit the road and headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays to talk to the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. It's not every day you can walk down the street and seepoliticians from all sides of the aisle, but at Fieldays you can - especially this year! In November, New Zealand heads t...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary! We are your go-to podcast for Farmers, Growers, and the Rural Sector. We have hit the road and headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays to talk to the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. It's not every day you can walk down the street and see politicians from all sides of the aisle, but at Fieldays you can - especially this year! In November, New Zealand heads...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary, the go-to podcast for Farmersand Growers from PGG Wrightson. We recorded from the PGG Wrightson tent at Fieldays to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the primary industry. Wool is having a moment -- prices are up and wool growersare reaping the rewards. What is behind the renaissance? Joining the conversation is Rachel Shearer, PGG Wrightson GM of Wool.

Bringing you the sights and sounds of Fieldays 2026 -- Blue Shed Diary travelled to Mystery Creek to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the Primary Industry. Most Farmers and Growers are on a first name basis with their banks; these institutions are essential to helping our Primary Industry thrive. In a year where farmer confidence continues to soar, what does this mean for our lead...

Blue Shed Diary at Fieldays! The podcast left the studio for the PGW tent at Mystery Creek to have conversations with all of the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. For many farmers, the infrastructure supporting their rural communities is not up to the task. From roads to water, many in the provinces feel investment is primarily funnelled to the big cities. Fighting to change that is Ch...

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary, PGG Wrightson's podcast forFarmers and Growers. We were at Mystery Creek to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the primary sector. The highest honour in Māori Agriculture is the AhuwhenuaTrophy. Established 93 years ago by Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe, the competition tests the skills and proficiency of Māori farmers. PGG Wrightson was chuffed...

Blue Shed Diary, your go-to podcast for Farmers and Growers, is at Fieldays having conversations with the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries. For our inaugural Fieldays special episodes, we talk to PGG Wrightson CEO Stephen Guerin about the mood of the sector, PGG Wrightson's role in supporting Farmers and Growers thrive, and what we should expect in the next few months and years.

The Environmental Protection Authority, or EPA, wants your input. They propose restricting the use of the insecticide bifenthrin, a synthetic pyrethroid. Bifenthrin is a common insecticide that has been around for years. It's used to control pests in agriculture and your home. However, studies show it is harmful to aquatic life and bees, therefore the EPA is taking another look at how this ins...

The new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Penny Simmonds, wants to give additional funding to New Zealand's burgeoning advanced technology sector. However, recent reporting shows the likely source of this new funding will be the existing funding already allocated to agriculture, the environment, and human health. What does a potential loss of funding mean for future farming innovati...

This May, New Zealand Young Winemaker National Finalists for 2025 won a field trip to the Wairarapa region for a behind-the-scenes look at how the region's top winemakers make their finest drops. They visited incredible vineyards in Greytown, Masterton, and Martinborough to meet and learn from winemakers who have their own approach to creating wines that celebrate the land on which it is grown...

The continuing conflict in Iran is putting greater pressureon the Ag sector in New Zealand. From petrol prices to supply chain squeezes, the uncertainty is making life harder for our farmers and growers. The Middle East is one of the world’s main exporters of Urea, which is used in Nitrogen fertiliser production, and New Zealand imports some 500-thousand tonnes of it annually. With no end to the c...

Keeping your ewes fed and healthy comes down to a balanced diet and maintaining Body Condition Score in late winter. Any loss in body condition impacts lamb survival, so getting the balance between protein and carbs right makes all the difference. PGG Wrightson Technical Expert for Animal Production, Dr Andrew Dowling, joins the conversation with advice on your winter-feeding system to maximise pr...