The Country

This autumn is shaping up to be a strong one for farmers, with warm soil temperatures and plenty of moisture driving excellent pasture growth across the country. It’s the perfect time to think about nutrient applications that not only finish the season well but also set farms up for winter and next year’s production. The Country’s, Hamish McKay talks with Katie Aitkenhead, Scienc...

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Michael Harvey, Maegen Blom, Jack O'Connor, and Matt Bolger.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB’s lead rugby commentator and deputy sports news editor discusses Dave Rennie being named as the new All Blacks coach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM ponders the latest GDT Auction (up 5.7%), Trump's attacks on Iran, the media’s attacks on Luxon, and the Golden Shears and World Shearing Champs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s Australian-based Senior Dairy Analyst comments on the surge in the GDT auction, and we also look at the trade challenges of the Middle East War for the world economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of next week’s Impact Summit and Zanda McDonald Awards, today’s panel features the 2025 Zanda award winners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra’s Managing Director of Co-op Affairs reviews another stunning GDT result overnight (up 5.7%) with SMP leading the charge at 9.1%. We also look at staff safety and operations in the Middle East. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Cameron Bagrie, James Robertson, George Dodson, Jo Luxton, and Kevin Bevan.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independent economist comments on the state of the world economy as war breaks out in the Middle East. We talk trade implications, interest and exchange rates, inflation, oil prices, equity markets, consumer demand and time frames for the conflict. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s Young Farmer panel features the 2019 and 2024 grand final winners. We discuss the Zanda McDonald Awards and Impact Summit, the safety of Fonterra staff in the Middle East, and the folly of young farmers buying new utes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s agriculture spokeswoman is almost voiceless, quite literally, when it comes to talking about her party’s Ag Policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welshman living in Scotland who did his Master’s of Ag Science at Lincoln in the 1980s. He spent three years in NZ and returned to the UK, working for the government farm advisory service and then Scottish beef and lamb. He’s now an agricultural economist, involved in Ag reform post Brexit, and works with the Scottish government. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know, the shearing industry’s been under the pump lately, with fewer people in the sheds, longer days, and tougher conditions all around. And when the pressure ramps up like that, it really can take a toll on your mental fitness. In this first episode of the Being Farmstrong podcast series Live Well, Shear Well, Hamish McKay chats with shearing legend Rowland Smith about the launch of Li...

Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, Wayne Langford, Bruce Weir, Riley Kennedy, and Phil Duncan.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader comments on Trump’s bombing, Trump’s tariffs, “degenerate dog owners” in Northland, and selling Air New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president of Federated Farmers talks about farmers using KiwiSaver, the pyjama party with Labour, his political aspirations, and a challenging world trade environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

General manager of Country Banking says to celebrate the landmark tenth edition of their annual Good Deeds competition, Rabobank is giving away a massive $100,000 to improve rural community halls, schools, clubrooms and marae throughout New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BusinessDesk’s senior rural journalist says T&G Global’s apples business could grow 80% in the next 10 years as the market for premium fruit grows overseas. The horticulture company has fully funded that growth as forecasts point to demand for premium, branded apples to grow to $52.7 billion by 2035 – a compound annual growth rate of 7.6%. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Monday’s resident weatherman on our Autumn prospects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Jacob Siermans, Mark Leslie, Allan Dippie, Jen Corkran, and Christopher Luxon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Brandolino, Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCallum, Jen Corkran, Stu Wyeth, and Barry Soper.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday’s Weather Guy from Earth Sciences NZ farewells summer - for those of us lucky enough to have had one! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find today’s farmer/politician panel at day two of the Northland Field Days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s senior animal protein analyst says New Zealand’s beef supply is likely to lift modestly in 2026, supported by strong pricing signals and improved confidence across finishing systems, according to Rabobank’s Q1 Global Beef Quarterly report. The 2025 New Zealand season marked a production low, with the country’s smallest annual beef output since 2017. Plus, we look...

We announce the winner of our Great Southern Escape promotion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.