Federated Farmers Podcast

Ben Purua is an award-winning dairy farm manager, but 15 years ago his life was heading in a very different direction. Hear Ben’s story of how he found farming while in prison, how he managed to turn his life around, and the pivotal role farming’s played in his transformation. Links www.facebook.com/FarmUpNZ www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/saved-by-farming-ben-puruas-story Got a podcast idea for us...

If you’re thinking of planting trees on your farm, or you’ve done so recently, don’t miss this expert advice from Adam Thompson, owner of Restore Native nursery in the Waikato. Adam loves helping farmers not only plant more trees on their land, but in the right way, so you’re not wasting your time and money.  Adam walks us through the process from preparation to maintenance, with a focus on ‘right...

It was a wet, muddy day in Southland in December 2018 that local dairy farmer Jason Herrick decided to take his life. Months of heavy rain, the pressure of excessive regulation, negative sentiment towards farming, and an inability to share his feelings had left him at breaking point. To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week in New Zealand, we’re very fortunate to be joined by a now happy and...

Our guest today is Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, who’s here to talk about the huge opportunities out there for farmers to save money and reduce emissions by electrifying their farm.  Mike's seen these opportunities first-hand. In 2019 he established the world’s first electric cherry orchard – saving him tens of thousands of dollars a year on energy costs and creating a new revenue str...

With farm confidence at rock-bottom, what’s the Government been doing to get things back on track? Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay joins us to discuss his first nine months in the job, cutting red tape, the banking inquiry, KiwiSaver for young farmers, new trade opportunities, and how he thinks we’ll double exports over the next 10 years.  Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and giv...

Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, joins us to discuss tools and technologies being developed to help farmers reduce their methane emissions. Find out what's in the pipeline, what reductions they could help farmers achieve and, importantly, when farmers might get their hands on these new tools, which range from a methane-inhibiting bolus to low-emissions pasture.    Useful links: htt...

We all know something's broken in the way agricultural policy has been made in New Zealand, but what's the solution? How do we get farming regulations that actually work? Kerry Worsnop is a Gisborne sheep and beef farmer who's been on a mission to find answers through her Nuffield Scholarship. In this episode, Kerry explains what's wrong with the current policy-making process,...

What is a trust, why might a farmer want to set one up, and what are some common mistakes to avoid? David Boyce from Perpetual Guardian joins us in this episode to give a thorough overview of trusts, including what the recent trustee tax rate rise might mean for the average farm trust. He also explains wills and enduring power of attorney.  Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your...

Where are things at with an independent inquiry into rural banking since the Government gave the go-ahead last month? Richard McIntyre, Federated Farmers banking spokesperson, explains how things are progressing, why Feds is cautiously optimistic, what we want to see covered by the inquiry, why the banks should see it as an opportunity and not a threat, and how Feds' banking petition may have...

 With a highly contagious strain of bird flu now in Antarctica, the risk of it entering NZ has increased. What could its arrival mean for our agriculture sector, and what can farmers do to beef up on-farm biosecurity? Find out from Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ chief veterinary officer. Note: some statistics mentioned in this podcast have become out of date since recording. ...

Our guest for this episode is Sarah Adams, Gallagher’s GM of Global Strategy & New Ventures, who explains how virtual fencing works, what benefits it offers, what problems it can solve, and some common misconceptions. Sarah also covers other emerging technologies, and how tech is helping to bring greater precision to farming, particularly to those in remote areas.   Got a podcast idea for us?...

What’s happening with live cattle exports? If allowed again in NZ, what measures would be in place to ensure animals are safe and comfortable on their journey and at their destination? Hear from Richard McIntyre, Federated Farmers national board member, and Brian Pearson, general manager at livestock export business BeefGen. Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this...

If you’re working towards farm ownership, what are some ways to build equity for a deposit outside of traditional strategies like going sharemilking or putting money in the bank? And how can farmers at the other end of their careers safeguard their wealth when transitioning out of farm ownership? Hear some expert advice from Michael Raynes, a financial adviser at Federated Farmers partner Forsyth...

Get solid advice on how to succeed in sharemilking from Federated Farmers national dairy chair Richard McIntyre and experienced Waikato dairy farmer Tony Wilding. They cover the benefits and challenges of sharemilking, what a strong due diligence process looks like, the financials, building a good relationship between farm owner and sharemilker, timing your entry and exit, and more.  Useful links:...

Want some practical advice on how to hit the ground running as a contract milker? Our guests Danielle Hovmand, Federated Farmers Waikato dairy vice chair, and Sam Ebbett, our Taranaki dairy chair and national sharefarmer chair, share what they learned as contract milkers, including how to do your homework, manage the money, not burn yourself out, and deal with challenges in the partnership.  Got a...

What steps can farmers take right now, and over the next few years, to get a lower interest rate from the banks? ASB’s Rural GM Aidan Gent joins us to explain how farmers can strengthen their position with the banks, including showing up with a clear budget and strategy, knowing your business’s strengths and weaknesses, and demonstrating how you behave in a downturn. Useful links: Federated Farmer...

Farm confidence has bounced back from last year’s record lows, but is this the start of a genuine lift in confidence or a 'dead cat bounce'? Auckland farmer Tim Dangen and Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford join us to discuss our latest Farm Confidence Survey results. They talk about what's driving the shift in mood, what's concerning farmers, and how to see th...

Why are farmers feeling under pressure from the banks, who's to blame, and what needs to happen to fix the issue? In this episode, our guests are Federated Farmers national board member Richard McIntyre and New Zealand Agri Brokers director Scott Wishart. They’ll discuss why we need a banking inquiry, but also what farmers can do now to negotiate lower interest rates.  Got a podcast idea for...

To mark the one-year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle, Gisborne farmer Sam Hain and Federated Farmers national board member Sandra Faulkner join us to recount their experiences of the event, how the rebuild has unfolded in the past 12 months, and what still needs to happen with the recovery.   Useful links:  www.commencetherefence.co.nz   www.farmyarmy.co.nz www.farmersweekly.co.nz/opinion/one-yea...

To kick off the new Federated Farmers Podcast, we hear from national president Wayne Langford, who discusses his journey from Golden Bay dairy farmer to taking the helm at Feds.  Wayne reflects on recent policy wins for farmers, challenges faced, and outlines his strong vision for a united agricultural sector over the next two-and-a-half years. He also discusses his commitment to agricultural advo...