CountryWide CONNECT

In February 2024, the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approved seven foreign buyer sales to pine trees under the eye of the current coalition government.  It has hill country sheep and beef farmers scratching their heads as to whether National and ACT were even listening to the drum being beaten by the “ 50 Shades of Green ” movement at all? But what about the private property rights of retiring...

Globally old chemistry is being withdrawn from the market and being more selective is encouraged for both avoiding insecticide & pesticide resistance whilst also bringing down onfarm costs.    So how do you control pests without relying on an overuse of pesticides? Three science experts believe there is a major knowledge gap on pests and  diseases in pasture, forage and cereal crops.   They sa...

Shearing & animal health costs outstrip the income from strong wool and one academic believes it’s a no brainer to lean into Wiltshires (shedding sheep). But when one former shearer-turned-Wiltshire-farmer goes against his passion for wool for profit you get curious! Rebecca uncovers the benefits of the breed from the research trial at Massey University along with the inspirational story of on...

If anyone is going to put life, farming and resilience into perspective, Rosie Dowling is one of the best with her incredible story.  On the first day of Covid lockdown she was in Starship hospital when police arrived to share the news of Gav Dowling’s tragic on farm death. With three young children and debt in their first farm, Rosie wasn’t going anywhere and was determined to carry on farming de...

The government has scrapped the proposed Significant Natural Areas (SNA’s) regulation, so what opportunities does that present for sheep & beef farmers to receive income from these areas?   There has been a single focus on carbon, but now the concept of receiving funds or credits for planting native bush rather than pine trees on farms could encourage farmers to retire sensitive land to regene...

Are you having to balance a lack of feed and holding ewe condition in a dry Autumn?  This episode is jam-packed with technical knowledge from two farmers - Mark Zino & Alistair Bird - as well as a Marlborough veterinarian. Mating time is the time to wrap your ewes in cotton wool, says Mark as he shares how to juggle feeding grain and silage to not overdo it. Alistair shares why he’s not mating...

There’s never been a greater interest in shearing given all the world records in New Zealand in the last 6 months, but at the same time we have a significant decrease in farmer appetite for the costs of shearing due to the price they are receiving for strong wool. With Golden Shears 2024 being packed with crowds and the share number of women coming into both shearing and wool-handling, how do we k...

Is it possible to truly forecast a drought? Country-Wide editor, Rebecca Greaves speaks to three passionate industry experts working to support New Zealand farmers to avoid being caught out by drought by staying one step ahead of mother nature.  Whether it’s fancy new forecasting technology or a drastically improved water strategy, it’s not going to speed up farmers in drought stricken areas right...

Are you poised to take advantage of opportunities as they come along? Country-Wide editor, Rebecca Greaves is taking their farm through integrated farm plan workshops in 2024 so they can  better understand the value. Guests include: Rachel Joblin, Agribusiness Consultant, BakerAg Sara Clarke, General Manager - System Establishment and Support - Ministry for the Environment Annie Cates, Wairarapa s...

A recent national report shows a third of sheep farmers have triple drench resistance - what does that mean for you?  Well, imagine finding out you're leaving $100,000 on the table every year due to having 20% lower growth rate on your lambs by not addressing drench resistance?  Wherever you are on the drench spectrum, taking control and making management changes by knowing your parasites can reap...

In a special bonus episode with independent nutrient advisor, Melinda Turner , helps balance animal health with the soil nutrients we are applying to ensure we aren’t curbing the animal’s performance in the meantime. Guests include: Melinda Turner, Farm Nutrients Advisory Hosts: Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Melinda see’s great value when farmers treat their advisors as...

Guests include: Ed Harrison, farm consultant, Baker Ag Dr. Todd White, Head of Product and pasture scientist, Farmax Frazer Weir, Head of Agri, BDO Christchurch Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media   When a typical North Island hill country farm budget for this year shows a potential $176,000 loss this year, it’s pretty easy to fly...

Guests: Carlos Bagrie, Royalburn Station, 'Nadia's Farm' & 2024 Nuffield Scholar Greg Coppell, Repost Alex Campbell, Awapapa Station  Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media A picture of a thousand poplar poles a year says a thousand words when it comes to how Alex Campbell’s Awapapa Station near Gisborne was relatively intact from...

Guests include: Natalie Smith, Retired Working Dogs Michelle Simpson, Ovis Management (Sheep Measles)  Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media   In this episode, we celebrate our working, those loyal companions who play a vital role on our farms.  Editor of Country-Wide, Rebecca Greaves along with her co-host Sarah Perriam-Lampp discus...

Guests include: Craig Smith, Devold NZ Danielle Morton &  Anastasia Tristram, Floating Peaks woollen popular poles Tom O’Sullivan, Campaign for Wool. Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Episode Summary: From the discovery of real-time smartphone micron testing to tracing the journey of wool from sheep to shop, we delve into the...

Guests include: Krissy Mac, Hear 4 U Lindy Nelson, Safer Farms Kathryn Wright, Rural Counsellor & Phd candidate for the impacts of afforestation on rural mental health Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media The strength of the thread of any rural community is built over time and through connection, however due to many land-use cha...

Guests include: Prof. Hugh Campbell, University of Otago Brent Paterson, MyEnviro Hon. Todd McClay, Minister for Primary Industries & Trade Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media   The 2023 New Zealand general election showcased a shift in voting patterns, with a decline in the National Party's influence and a rise in support for...