Farmers Weekly Podcast

Senior reporter Neal Wallace checks in from Amsterdam and tells Bryan about his visits to Wageningen University and to a Dutch dairy farm. He says the methane research going on there is promising and NZ farmers should be aware that emissions efficiencies are improving in the EU and other key food producing countries.

Federated Farmers turns 125 this year and president Wayne Langford joins Bryan to reflect on the past century and a bit. Following a recent restructure Wayne says Feds is ready for its next challenge as it works to ensure farmer voices are heard.

Silver Fern Farms has partnered with Wellington-based Lynker Analytics to form a new company, Prism Earth, to help farmers better understand and capitalise on their natural vegetation and biodiversity. Managing director of Prism Earth, Matt Lythe, tells Bryan the company will help primary producers face up to critical challenges such as developing diversified revenue streams, adjusting to changing...

Silver Fern Farms has partnered with Wellington-based Lynker Analytics to form a new company, Prism Earth, to help farmers better understand and capitalise on their natural vegetation and biodiversity. Managing director of Prism Earth, Matt Lythe, tells Bryan the company will help primary producers face up to critical challenges such as developing diversified revenue streams, adjusting to changing...

Roving reporter Neal Wallace calls in from Brussels to update Bryan on the first week of his Meeting the Market tour. He’s been in the United States where some of our biggest customers are, including Mars and McDonald’s. Neal says they love NZ food but there are a couple of things we need to improve if we’re to remain as a supplier of first-choice.

A survey by Federated Farmers reveals its members are spending big money on pest control but are barely making any headway. And, as its pest control spokesperson, Richard McIntyre tells Bryan having the Department of Conservation as a neighbour only makes the fight harder.

Rocketing power prices and uncertainty about generating more are keeping many people up at night, but Mike Casey reckons farmers have everything they need to power up right now. The chief executive of Rewiring Aotearoa has transformed his cherry orchard into a solar powered operation and he reckons every farmer should do the same. To Mike, it’s just a sound business decision as his power bills hav...

Rocketing power prices and uncertainty about generating more are keeping many people up at night, but Mike Casey reckons farmers have everything they need to power up right now. The chief executive of Rewiring Aotearoa has transformed his cherry orchard into a solar powered operation and he reckons every farmer should do the same. To Mike, it’s just a sound business decision as his power bills hav...

Reporter Gerhard Uys checks in to give an update on the dry conditions in North Canterbury. Farmers have been emptying the stores of supplementary feed and really need some rain to recharge the land. Another worry is that low groundwater levels could mean restrictions on irrigation being implemented earlier than usual this year.

A new report from Our Land and Water that suggests our passion for pines will hobble the sheep and beef sector has Toby Williams from Federated Farmers concerned. He says the independent research backs up what the farming group has been saying for some time and he’s urging for regulatory reform to give high country farmers some assurance.

Entries are open for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards and last year’s supreme winners – Simon and Hamish Guild from High Peak Station – say that entering was one of the best things they’ve done. The Guilds run a diverse operation with sheep and cattle, honey and tourism all contributing to the operation. They say the key to their success is doing what works best for the land they have and that...

Calls for a national food strategy are growing as the cost of living crisis leaves many unable to afford nutritious food here, despite living in a food producing powerhouse. Lincoln University’s Professor Alan Renwick says it will take a holistic approach as there are many aspects to consider – health, social development, commerce and agriculture. He says the changing climate will force us to reth...

Calls for a national food strategy are growing as the cost of living crisis leaves many unable to afford nutritious food here, despite living in a food producing powerhouse. Lincoln University’s Professor Alan Renwick says it will take a holistic approach as there are many aspects to consider – health, social development, commerce and agriculture. He says the changing climate will force us to reth...

New data from Farm Focus highlights the significant financial challenges farmers have faced over the past year. The agri-business software platform supports $9 billion in farming annual income, an analysis of which paints a clear picture of what farming businesses are facing.  Farm Focus CEO Auriga Martin said farmers are increasingly hands-on with their business finances and recognise the importa...

Federated Farmers says the terms of reference announced for the upcoming inquiry into rural banking will leave the banks nowhere to hide.  Its banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says there had been a concern that the terms would limit the reach of the inquiry, but those fears have been allayed.

Two South Island farmers have launched an online platform, Landify, which helps young farmers looking to get into farm ownership find investors and sellers. Co-founder Sarah How tells Bryan that while the sector has talked about the problem of succession for years there has been relatively few tools developed to deal with the problem. Landify is a place where succession conversations can begin and...

Two South Island farmers have launched an online platform, Landify, which helps young farmers looking to get into farm ownership find investors and sellers. Co-founder Sarah How tells Bryan that while the sector has talked about the problem of succession for years there has been relatively few tools developed to deal with the problem. Landify is a place where succession conversations can begin and...

Skyrocketing power prices are hitting farmers and processors hard. Senior reporter Richard Rennie says it looks like a challenge that will be here for some time as there’s no obvious fix on the horizon. Meat and dairy processors, orchardists and irrigators are all grappling with the problem and many are looking for efficiencies and ways to trim costs in other areas.

Federated Farmers is celebrating regulatory changes that exempt those who supply drinking water to fewer than 25 people from costly and time-consuming administration. Its local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says the changes are a win for common sense. She says the process of registering, testing and reporting on their water supply would have added significant cost, risk and hassle for ab...

A feature documentary film, Six Inches of Soil, has been screening in NZ cinemas recently. It follows three young British farmers through their first year of transitioning to regenerative practices. The film has been brought here by regenerative farmer network Quorum Sense and its chair Becks Smith talks with Bryan about the network, the film and why we’ve been talking about regen the wrong way. O...

A feature documentary film, Six Inches of Soil, has been screening in NZ cinemas recently. It follows three young British farmers through their first year of transitioning to regenerative practices. The film has been brought here by regenerative farmer network Quorum Sense and its chair Becks Smith talks with Bryan about the network, the film and why we’ve been talking about regen the wrong way. –...

Senior reporter Neal Wallace says there are big challenges ahead for the red meat sector as it grapples with lower stock numbers and over-capacity. One processor in Oamaru has already laid off staff and Neal says there may be more rationalisation to come.  He also discusses the ongoing push to get more rural GPs trained and working in our communities. – Read the latest news and market analysis on...

Ongoing issues farmers have been having when trying to clear migrant workers through immigration appear to have been fixed, with a stopgap measure introduced to ensure calving is a bit easier. Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre updates Bryan about the changes and what he’s doing to make sure an enduring solution is found. – Read the latest news and market analysis on Farmers Weekly . –...

Bryan talks with JD Roussouw, head of vegetables research and development at Bayer Crop Science, in his only NZ interview, about how new genetic technologies are transforming seed production and how our strict regulations may hamper our ability to compete.  Then, Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford outlines the results of the latest rural confidence survey, which paints a dismal picture of...

Bryan talks with JD Roussouw, head of vegetables research and development at Bayer Crop Science, in his only NZ interview, about how new genetic technologies are transforming seed production and how our strict regulations may hamper our ability to compete.