The Country

We talk to the inspirational woman behind the Shepherdess rural magazine and the Shepherdess Muster on the East Coast on February 17-19.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand’s leading farming academics takes the gloves off to defend herself as Greenpeace starts to punch below the belt.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Todd Muller, Steve McManaway, James Kilmister, Kit Arkwright, and Justin Sherrard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the absence of Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor (who’s in the middle of a reshuffle), we catch up with National’s agriculture spokesman about the flooding devastation in his Bay of Plenty electorate. Plus, we talk about a surprise (for many) political poll, where Labour overtook National under the Chris Hipkins honeymoon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Te Puke kiwifruit grower is marooned on the No.4 Road after a bridge washout has left up to 30 farmers without commercial access. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hunterville sheep farmer estimates the financial breakeven point for his crossbred wool clip is between $4 and $5/kg. This year he will get about $1/kg for his 30,000kg – and face writing out a cheque for $25,000 to cover his shearing costs. Ideally, he believes the wool should be fetching $10/kg. If prices remain this low, he fears that in two to three years there will not be a wool industry...

Following on from Australia’s highly-successful promotion of lamb on Australia Day, the chief executive of Beef + Lamb NZ says we have a National Lamb Day too. But when is it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with Rabobank’s global sector strategist for animal proteins at the US National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Annual Convention in New Orleans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Phil Duncan, Kieran McAnulty, Lisa Kendall, Melissa Clark-Reynolds, Steve Wyn-Harris, and Grant McCallum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday’s sleep-deprived resident weather expert crunches the weather-bomb numbers and they don’t make good reading. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the Minister for Emergency Management, who’s just landed in Auckland, to survey the damage. And unfortunately, he warns, we have seen the last of the rain yet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The South Auckland farmer, and former grand finalist in the Young Farmer of the Year Contest, updates the flooding on her Karaka lifestyle block. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our keynote interview today is with a futurist, foresight practitioner and serial entrepreneur who has a great back story and a great connection to rural New Zealand. Today we ask her what is the future of farming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s panel features a Central Hawkes Bay sheep farmer and a Northland cow cocky. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, Jen Scoular, Angus Robson, Winston Peters, Chris Russell, and Farmer Tom Martin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Ben Noll, Grant Edwards, Stu Duncan, Stu Loe, John McOviney, and Barry Soper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NIWA’s weather forecaster on the ongoing dry in the south and continual wet in the north. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The general manager of PGG Wrightson wool remains optimistic despite strong wool being at an all-time low. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer panel discusses wool and why it’s worth persevering with a product that is now a by-product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Steelfort (and Waitomo sheep and beef farmer) announces the winner of the Cub Cadet LX547 ride-on mower valued at $5,999. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our political correspondent wraps a fascinating week in politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Russell, Farmer Tom Martin, Vitor Pistoria, Karen Williams, and Nathan Guy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Australia Day across the Tasman and we salute the Ockers for supporting their sheep farmers by eating lamb on their National Day. We also talk about ugly vegetables and beautiful tennis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We track our UK farming correspondent down in Wichita (Kansas) where he’s lamenting the loss of our Prime Minister and attending a farmer conference on regenerative agriculture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take the second of two trips across the Tasman today (on Australia Day) to talk to Rabobank’s Sydney-based farm inputs analyst about “where to from here” for world fertiliser prices as the Russia/Ukraine conflict shows no sign of easing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.