Farmers Weekly Podcast

Senior reporter Neal Wallace unpacks the latest news stories he’s been following this week, including a big drop in the amount of fertiliser applied in the past year and the government’s announcement it’s putting the brakes on implementation of the Significant Natural Areas legislation. 

Bryan hands over the microphone for this week’s feature interview to senior reporter Richard Rennie, who is in Australia right now. Richard catches up with farmer Neils Olsen whose Soilkee Renovator provides a solution to farmers looking to plant diverse pasture species with minimal tilling. He also chats with Hamish Hunt, a Central Victorian who is farming on land not typically suited to dairying...

Bryan hands over the microphone for this week’s feature interview to senior reporter Richard Rennie, who is in Australia right now. Richard catches up with farmer Neils Olsen whose Soilkee Renovator provides a solution to farmers looking to plant diverse pasture species with minimal tilling. He also chats with Hamish Hunt, a Central Victorian who is farming on land not typically suited to dairying...

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford unpacks the latest rural confidence survey that shows sentiment is improving slightly, although farmers are still doing it tough .

Senior reporter Neal Wallace tells Bryan that drought conditions are now being felt in South and North Canterbury and Wairarapa as well as Marlborough. He also discusses a new satellite that’s been launched that will map methane emissions across the globe.

Bryan’s feature guest this week is Alison Dewes , a fourth generation dairy farmer and second generation vet from Bay of Plenty. She’s involved in a successful catchment group there and is an advocate for ground-up solutions to our environmental challenges and she tells me what she’s learned while helping lead a catchment group. Then Federated Farmers GM policy and advocacy Paul Melville talks to...

Bryan’s feature guest this week is Alison Dewes, a fourth generation dairy farmer and second generation vet from Bay of Plenty. She’s involved in a successful catchment group there and is an advocate for ground-up solutions to our environmental challenges and she tells me what she’s learned while helping lead a catchment group.

New Zealand’s climate policy should look at the practical reality the world faces, and our politicians should be making decisions based on what is going to happen in the real world, not what we wish would happen in a perfect world, says Paul Melville , Federated Farmers GM policy and advocacy.

Senior reporter Richard Rennie is in Australia finding out how farmers there are tackling the key issues of climate change, advancements in genetic technologies and the constant drive for more value .

Bryan catches up with ACT MP Mark Cameron , who chairs the Primary Production Select Committee. He reckons it’s easier getting things done with a committee that understands farming on a personal level. And he outlines the coalition plans to help farmers flourish this year. We also talk to Federated Farmers Waikato dairy vice-chair Phil Sherwood , who not only spent the summer milking cows, he also...

Bryan catches up with ACT MP Mark Cameron , who chairs the Primary Production Select Committee. He reckons it’s easier getting things done with a committee that understands farming on a personal level. And he outlines the coalition plans to help farmers flourish this year.

Bryan talks with Federated Farmers Waikato dairy vice-chair Phil Sherwood , who not only spent the summer milking cows, he also opened a maze constructed from maize that has attracted big numbers of visitors.

Senior reporter Richard Rennie discusses his upcoming trip to Australia, where he’ll investigate how our neighbours are tackling the issue of carbon farming.

Bryan talks with Fish and Game Southland manager Zane Moss, who addresses claims they’re blocking vital work to remove gravel in rivers and streams. New Federated Farmers Taranaki president Leedom Gibbs also shares how she’s come full circle after leaving the family farm at 18 to seek a career in the city, only to finally find her happy place back on the land. And, senior reporter Neal Wallace dis...

This week Bryan talks with Fish and Game Southland manager Zane Moss , who addresses claims they’re blocking vital work to remove gravel in rivers and streams.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace discusses worrying news from the Rural Support Trust which is seeing increasing numbers of dairy farm owners and workers seeking their support . He also has some advice for farmers from Fire and emergency NZ on how to avoid disaster this summer .

It’s not her high school ambition for a ‘high heels and business suits’ career in the city, but Leedom Gibbs has found her niche as a farmer. The Federated Farmers Taranaki president told Bryan her involvement with the federation has proven to be a “massive part” of her strategy for good mental health.“Being involved in something bigger than oneself is so good for the soul”.

Farmers are often told that they need to tell their story better in order to gain more value from the food and fibre they produce. But what should that story be and how should they tell it? This week Bryan talks with David Downs who heads up NZ Story – an organisation funded by various government departments – which carries out market research in key markets. He has some insights into what the wor...

Farmers are often told that they need to tell their story better in order to gain more value from the food and fibre they produce. But what should that story be and how should they tell it? This week Bryan talks with David Downs who heads up NZ Story – an organisation funded by various government departments – which carries out market research in key markets. He has some insights into what the wor...

Claims that large agribusiness corporates are making extraordinary profits globally have been challenged by a Lincoln University Professor of Agribusiness, as Richard Rennie explains.

Chris Dillon from Federated Farmers in Southland has a bone to pick with Fish and Game , which he says is blocking plans to remove gravel from rivers that would make them more resilient to flooding.

Valentine’s Day marks one year since Cyclone Gabrielle ripped through the eastern North Island. Farmers, growers and communities faced a massive recovery as they worked to rebuild infrastructure, supply chains and get the land back into productive shape. For this week’s show, I sat down with Rod Vowles , who farms just east of Waipawa a few kilometres from the Tukituki River. His story of survival...

In this week’s show, Bryan chats with Rod Vowles, who farms just east of Waipawa, a few kilometres from the Tukituki River. His story of survival is astonishing.

Karen Morrish, from Apples and Pears NZ, tells Bryan how Hawke’s Bay growers are faring as the harvest gets under way.

Federated Farmers national board member Sandra Faulkner shares how Tairāwhiti farmers are getting on up the coast.