The Country

The National Fundraising Manager for the IHC Calf and Rural Scheme joins us in the studio to discuss how farmers can donate to this wonderful charity.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Horticulture NZ is calling for urgent changes to the RMA to protect fruit and vegetable production. Plus she updates the 2024 harvest season and the export prospects for kiwifruit and apples.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we find the former Ag Minister (now Opposition spokesman for Trade) at Bruce Bay on his bike. On the agenda is trade with India, selling farm land to foreigners and the contentious live animal export industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Te Radar, Glenn Sutton, Doug Avery, and Mark Dillon.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find the Minister of Agriculture and Trade in China and ask him what he's doing there. We also talk about the Methane review, the Woolshed tour and whether he's told the Chinese to keep their hands off our Kiwifruit plants!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The voice of FMG Young Farmers Contest wraps the last of the regional finals, Northern, where Caleb Eady made it through to the Grand Final in Hamilton in July. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is a Dunedin Joiner who's running 617 km (the long way from Milford Sound to Dunedin), over four and a half days, over the hilliest country he can find to raise money for suicide awareness for Farmstrong. He leaves tomorrow. We salute him today and tell you how you can help him raise money and awareness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask the Resilient Farmer, who's forgotten more about droughts than most farmers can remember if we've seen the end of the Marlborough drought. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We missed him at our 30th birthday party in Riversdale on Friday (he's the next-door neighbour) and that's because he was in the Waikato winning the NZ Ploughing Championships! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, David Buick, Cameron Bagrie, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Jen Corkran, and Christopher Luxon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Grant Nisbett, Kit Arkwright, Todd Charteris, Tom Shallard, Eric Roy, Rowena Duncum, Grant McCallum, Damien O’Connor, Sir John Key, Greg Menzies, Barry Soper, Michael Boggs, and Jason Winstanley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Nisbett: The legendary rugby commentator soaks in the sights and sounds of the woolshed and talks a bit of footy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef+Lamb NZ’s chief executive congratulates Mackay on 30 years and talks about how B+LNZ is supporting Kiwi athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris - before discussing his favourite cut of lamb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Rabobank’s mum lives in Riversdale, so he’s returned from Hamilton to celebrate The Country’s 30th and give an overview of how Kiwi sheep farmers are faring. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country is broadcasting live from Mark and Tania Shallard’s farm. Mark is a bit media-shy so he’s let his son talk about the family’s sheep stud and global markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The local MP for Awarua in 1994, and former Government Chief Whip, is now a Southland farmer. He pops in to say hello to his old mate Mackay and look back on 30 years of farming and politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country’s ex-executive producer is in Greymouth for day one of AgFest and she’s found National MP Grant McCallum and former Ag Minister Damien O’Connor to wish Mackay well for 30 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former Prime Minister makes a surprise phone call to thank Mackay for his “truly remarkable effort” in rural broadcasting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emerson’s Marketing Manager and purveyor of the Tiny Pub congratulate PTS Logistics for getting the pub to Riversdale all the way from Auckland - before talking about what’s on offer behind the bar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country’s longest-standing political correspondent is also from a Royal Riversdale bloodline. He pays homage to the Mackay family and The Country’s 30 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mackay cheekily asks NZME’s chief executive for a pay rise before asking him what it’s like to mix with rural New Zealand. Then The Country host says thank you to NZME’s head of radio for putting up with him over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay and Grant Nisbett talk to Sir Bill English, Warwick Catto, Don Carson, Graeme Smith, Tim Myers, Murray Deaker, and Chris Russell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the former National MP for Wallace, and former Prime Minister, who reckons Mackay had “a lot of guts” to stop farming and take up the mic. He reflects on a long political career and comments on the current government. He also reveals how his farming background helped him in politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1995 Young Farmer of the Year, and the man responsible for backing the show from day one through SouthFert (later became Ballance Agri-Nutrients). He pays homage to The Country’s legacy and remembers the legendary Christmas parties of the early years, saying “Thank goodness social media wasn’t around back then”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wool Board’s PR man from 1993-2000 and our second-to-longest serving correspondent. He commends Mackay for ignoring every sales rep who told him there was no commercial future in rural broadcasting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.