The Country

What is a wilding pine? Is Radiata a wilding pine? We ask the PR Guy for the NZ Forest Owners Association. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Gisborne District Councillor and farmer is one of the signatories to the Open Letter to farmers in the NZ Farmers Weekly about He Waka Eke Noa. Today she laments the loss of two high-profile East Coast sheep and beef properties to pine trees and comments on why He Waka Eke Noa is letting farmers down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Kerry Worsnop, Don Carson, Chris Brandolino, Tim Myers, Smiley Barrett and Barry Soper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Sydney-based correspondent comments on a worldwide shortage of labour and why Australia is truly the Lucky Country when it comes to digging stuff out of the ground and exporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another 7100 hectares of sheep and beef pastoral land have been given OIO approval to go to forestry. The Minister of Forestry says he doesn't agree with good pastoral land going to forestry and carbon farming, but what is he going to do about it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The He Waka Eke Noa Programme Director responds to claims made by concerned sheep and beef farmers in an open letter in the NZ Farmers Weekly "Waka adrift - Farmers urgent call for change". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Groundswell co-founder comments on the Auckland Harbour Bridge protest, He Waka Eke Noa, carbon farming and SAFE exposing poor winter grazing practices.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Bryce McKenzie, Kelly Forster, Stuart Nash and Chris Russell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our viticulture correspondent, courtesy of Fruit Fed Supplies, updates the Nelson/Marlborough flooding and cheers us up on the last day of winter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank's red meat agricultural analyst comments on the bank's just-released Q3 Beef Quarterly Report which paints a bright picture for beef exports in the coming season, off the back of increased global demand for cheaper cuts and a favourable exchange rate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rural raconteur takes Winston to task over his "maniacally malignant policies" comment. Plus, he asks, has Local Government New Zealand sold its soul to the Government for Three Waters and 30 pieces of silver? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This long-serving Wairarapa farm consultant was awarded a life membership at this week's NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management conference in Hamilton. Today we look back on 40 years in the industry and at the future of pastoral farming on the east coast of the North Island, as the threat of forestry and carbon farming looms large. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ First leader reflects on the passing of Norm Kirk and Mikhail Gorbachev and he points the finger at Jacinda's "maniacally malignant policies", saying Labour has ruled itself out of a potential coalition with NZ First. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Winston Peters, Chris Garland, Jim Hopkins, Genevieve Steven and Blair McLean. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This high-profile business leader has written an excellent column in the Weekend Herald - Three Waters doesn't pass the sniff test - supposed reforms are actually a recipe for failure and fragmentation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This prominent rural leader is also the 2017 Dairy Woman of the Year, and current Ruralco chair, She's just been appointed as an independent director to the NZPork board. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Shanghai-based correspondent comments on the longest and hottest China heatwave since national records began in 1961 and the lowest water levels in the Yangtze River since 1865. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This leading NZ sheep breeder is one of the many farmer signatories of an open letter to fellow farmers urging action over He Waka Eke Noa.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade updates the Nelson/Marlborough flooding, comments on farmer criticism of He Waka Eke Noa, the spread of wilding pines and whether the Government is suffering as many woes as the All Blacks.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Derek Daniell, Hunter McGregor, Jessie Chan and Bruce Cotterill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's panel ponders time off the farm, water storage and last night's Country Calendar programme about an East Coast Māori farming incorporation cutting down native bush to plant pines for carbon farming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday's resident weather expert on flood recovery weather and the prospect of a La Nina summer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Maniototo farmer is also Federated Farmers' Otago Arable Chair. She's a passionate supporter of a collaborative approach for the whole community/catchment to solve some of the big challenges around climate, biodiversity and freshwater quality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party leader comments on distancing himself from Apostle Brian, farm environment plans, Auckland becoming the Johannesburg of the South Pacific, and blaming Jacinda for the All Blacks' woes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, Emma Crutchley, Phil Duncan, Sam Owen and Vanessa Winning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.