Farmers Weekly Podcast

For the final episode of 2024, Bryan chats with senior reporters Neal Wallace and Richard Rennie about the big news stories of the year. Both reporters travelled overseas during the year to find out more about farming practices and customer and consumer preferences. Back home there was plenty of big news in the food and fibre sector. They discuss meat industry woes, dairy’s resurgence and some of...

Toby Williams of Federated Farmers has an update on the wool industry. He decided not to sell his clip at auction this year but reports that he got about the same price for it as he would have anyway. He’s got some concerns about how the supply chain is structured. 

Beef + Lamb NZ has commissioned a report looking at how governments around the world support their farmers with emissions reduction. Its climate change programme manager Madeline Hall tells Bryan that farmers here are on their own when compared with farmers overseas, who enjoy direct funding for sustainability initiatives. Federated Farmers is celebrating a change in regulations that rules out tre...

Beef + Lamb NZ has commissioned a report looking at how governments around the world support their farmers with emissions reduction. Its climate change programme manager Madeline Hall tells Bryan that farmers here are on their own when compared with farmers overseas, who enjoy direct funding for sustainability initiatives.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace has been at the NZ Agriculture and Climate Change conference in Wellington as both a reporter and a presenter. He reflects on his presentation outlining the key findings from his Meeting the Market tour earlier in the year and sums up the key themes to emerge.

Federated Farmers is celebrating a change in regulations that rules out trees on certain land classes from being entered into the Emissions Trading Scheme. Toby Williams tells Bryan that it will give farmers more control over their futures and also help with succession planning.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says its Scope 3 emissions plan is a cost of doing business, with players across the co-op’s value chain demanding emissions reductions. He tells Bryan that Fonterra is in a good place with a strong balance sheet and a streamlined strategy as it faces up to an uncertain global economic and geopolitical future. Federated Farmers has revealed some worrying stat...

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says its Scope 3 emissions plan is a cost of doing business, with players across the co-op’s value chain demanding emissions reductions. He tells Bryan that Fonterra is in a good place with a strong balance sheet and a streamlined strategy as it faces up to an uncertain global economic and geopolitical future.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace takes a look at Alliance Group’s search for new capital. He outlines the options on the table and the likelihood of farmers pitching in. Neal also has an update from Southland on the wet weather that’s been hampering farmers.

Federated Farmers has revealed some worrying statistics, with a large percentage of farmers having to look for off-farm income to bolster their balance sheets. Toby Williams tells Bryan that sheep and beef farmers especially are doing it tough and many are having to put in extra hours to make ends meet.

Farmlands rural supplies co-operative has declared another trading loss, of $14.3 million, after revenue came down by 8.5% to $740m in the 2024 financial year ended June 30. Chief executive Tanya Houghton tells Bryan that while it has been a very tough year, the co-op has been working to right-size its operation and is set to offer great value and service to shareholders. Senior reporter Richard R...

Farmlands rural supplies co-operative has declared another trading loss, of $14.3 million, after revenue came down by 8.5% to $740m in the 2024 financial year ended June 30. Chief executive Tanya Houghton tells Bryan that while it has been a very tough year, the co-op has been working to right-size its operation and is set to offer great value and service to shareholders.

Senior reporter Richard Rennie gives an update on some work the horticulture sector is doing to forge new export markets. Zespri, T&G Global and others are linking up with businesses in India and Thailand with a focus on partnership, not product.

Canterbury sharemilkers Eugene and Sarah Cronin have been named the supreme winners of the 2024 Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards in Wellington. They milk 500 cows on Falstone Farms near Methven through their sharemilking business Kilmurry Farm. Bryan caught up with Eugene to talk about sustainable irrigation, his journey from dairy farming in Ireland to making a home in Canterbur...

Canterbury sharemilkers Eugene and Sarah Cronin have been named the supreme winners of the 2024 Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards in Wellington. Eugene and Sarah milk 500 cows on Falstone Farms near Methven through their sharemilking business Kilmurry Farm. Bryan caught up with Eugene to talk about sustainable irrigation, his journey from dairy farming in Ireland to making a home...

Senior reporter Richard Rennie has just returned from Thailand where he’s been looking at the opportunities there are for food exporters. The Thai market accounts for  $1.5 billion of exports, with the vast majority being dairy products.

Westpac and BNZ have some serious questions to answer after it came to light that they’re both unfairly targeting Kiwi farmers on emissions reductions targets, says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre. He told Bryan that the banks were asking New Zealand farmers to reduce emissions more than those in Australia.

Leading food scientists from around the world will gather in Palmerston North next week for the 17th International Hydrocolloids Conference. The Riddett Institute’s Cr David Everett, acting chair of the organising committee, tells Bryan all about hydrocolloids, which form the building blocks of food and influence food texture, flavour, shelf life, digestion and nutrition.  Federated Farmers presid...

Leading food scientists from around the world will gather in Palmerston North next week for the 17th International Hydrocolloids Conference. The Riddett Institute’s Cr David Everett, acting chair of the organising committee, tells Bryan all about hydrocolloids, which form the building blocks of food and influence food texture, flavour, shelf life, digestion and nutrition. 

Senior reporter Hugh Stringleman joins Bryan to reflect on the latest GDT auction, a possible cash windfall for Fonterra shareholders, and he previews next week’s Fonterra annual meeting.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is touring the country with the Prime Minister in an effort to boost farmer confidence. He tells Bryan that the three events will offer farmers a chance to hear about the government’s plan for the food production sector.

Rural Contractors NZ has launched a safety campaign targeting fatigue. Bryan talks with chief executive Andrew Olsen about the campaign and its messages, which target workers, farmers and managers. Andrew also highlights some of the challenges contractors face during the busy season and has a plea to the public for patience if they encounter contractors on the roads. Federated Farmers Taranaki dai...

Rural Contractors NZ has launched a safety campaign targeting fatigue. Bryan talks with chief executive Andrew Olsen about the campaign and its messages, which target workers, farmers and managers. Andrew also highlights some of the challenges contractors face during the busy season and has a plea to the public for patience if they encounter contractors on the roads.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace talks about two big issues down south. The wet weather has hit farmers in Southland with milk production down, pasture growth non-existent and paddocks badly damaged by stock and vehicles. There’s also a storm brewing between farmers and councils over interpretations of the RMA and the implementation of freshwater plans and now central government is involved.

Federated Farmers Taranaki dairy chair Sam Ebbett previews the share farmer information roadshow next month. The events around the country bring together experts from across the industry who will offer advice on how to get the best out of share farming agreements and what to avoid.