The Country

National’s agriculture and trade spokesman wants the top job come October 14. But does he face stiff competition from the likes of Act’s Andrew Hoggard? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra’s head of co-operative affairs comments on another pleasing lift in the GDT auction (plus 4.6 per cent) and he previews tomorrow’s annual results announcement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Otago farmer, award-winning environmentalist, and co-chair of the newly-founded Methane Science Accord. Today she talks wind, hot wind from politicians, and rattling a few cages in Wellington. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take our weekly look at Heartland Rugby, courtesy of Ged Rushton, the chair of Mid Canterbury Rugby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to Federated Farmers, this week we are bringing you a series of informative speakers for Mental Health Awareness Week. Today it’s the turn of the advocate behind “Lean on a Gate. Talk to a Mate”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Kate Broadbent, Nathan Penny, and Lance Burdett.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade comments on last week’s Ag Leaders Debate and the prospects for tonight’s Leaders Debate. What does he make of the kickback from the industry-good bodies about methane taxing? And the newly-formed farmer group, the Methane Science Accord? Could the Esk Valley turn into a 1939-like dust bowl if it’s not seeded - as government funding for silt removal dries up i...

Is a Port Waikato/Raglan farmer and noted Coopworth sheep breeder (with a great back story). We picked on her Facebook post/opinion piece about methane madness so we ran with it on our website.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac’s rural economist previews tonight’s season-defining GDT auction, looks at the prospects for red meat for the coming season, and denies that greedy banks are ripping off farmers with inflated risk margins on farm borrowing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to Federated Farmers we are bringing you a series of informative speakers for Mental Health Awareness Week. Today it’s the turn of a former Police Crisis Negotiator, turned mental health supporter, who’s doing a lot of work in the Ag space. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, Wayne and Tyler Langford, Bryce McKenzie, Phil Duncan, Stu Loe and Stu Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party leader comments on a raucous campaign launch. Co-governance (is he racist and anti-Māori?). Is he a beneficiary basher when it comes to drug addicts and mental health sufferers? Is there tension between National and Act? And could Winston cut his lunch, sneak through the back door and cosy up to Luxon? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and Federated Farmers is leading the charge, with the President and First Lady to the fore! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Groundswell’s co-founder about the “Drive 4 Change” - leaving Invercargill at 9.30 am on Friday, September 22,  arriving in Auckland at (Ellerslie Racecourse) 12.30 pm on Sunday, October 1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a geography lesson as we discuss 240 km/hour winds at Cape Turnagain on the East Coast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer panel pays tribute to a former All Black and discusses the prospects of farming through a Big Dry, courtesy of El Niño. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Michael Every, Christopher Luxon, Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters, Gary Knight, and Dr Jaqueline Rowarth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Rowena Duncum, Kate Acland, Kevin "Smiley" Barrett, Chris Brandolino, and Barry Soper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find our well-travelled producer in Auckland on the "morning after" last night's Ag Leaders Debate at Mystery Creek. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ does her best impersonation of Switzerland when asked who won last night’s debate, plus, she says her industry-good organisation has not done a back-flip over methane emissions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Farmside Footy with the sire of three All Blacks! But is he drinking red wine in Toulouse or is he milking cows on this coastal Taranaki farm? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NIWA's weather guy talks about a new drought indicator tool, developed in association with MPI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our political correspondent pondered the winners and losers from the rural (Mystery Creek) and finance (Queenstown) debates last night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan, Winston Peters, Andrew Gibson, Chris Russell, and Rowena Duncum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the moderator ahead of tonight’s Ag leaders’ Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek brought to you by Federated Farmers, B+LNZ and DairyNZ. The big issues are emissions pricing (our insistence on being a world leader), over-regulation and suffocating compliance, knee-capping productivity, and why tax cuts are resonating, while free dental care and GST off fruit and vegetables aren’t...