The Country

Country Sport Breakfast: DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel tells BK what kind of farmer the board is looking for. He also talks about farming through lockdown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Sport Breakfast: Mike Cronin, Managing Director for Co-operative Affairs at Fonterra, gives BK an update on how the co-op keeps going through lockdown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 Rural Communicator of the Year takes an opposing view to Julia Jones about whether farmers are turning into a bunch of whingers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to the world's greatest shearer about how the industry is faring under Level 4 lockdown with a lot of pre-lamb shearing still in the pipeline. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Eureka-based Head of Insight for NZX poses an edgy question. Has Rural New Zealand turned into a bunch of whingers? And is one voice for farmers actually the answer? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By day he's the chief executive of Steelfort. By night he moonlights as a Waitomo sheep and beef farmer. Today we continue our series looking at how leading New Zealand businesses are operating under Level 4 lockdown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture offers his thoughts on the government's Covid response and the prospects of a Free Trade Agreement with the UK including dairy and red meat. Plus, we reminisce about catching up at a Rolling Stones concert in 2014. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interviews are with Damien O'Connor, Julia Jones, Sir David Fagan, John McOviney and Craig Wiggins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask our China correspondent how a nation of 1.4 billion people can have a labour shortage? Plus, we look at the strange new "lying flat" movement, amongst Chinese youth, which advocates for lying down instead of working hard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is an Independent Economist who comments on the cost of Covid for the primary sector and, perhaps more importantly, the cost of the international supply chain. Plus, we look at the OCR on hold and the equity markets on the charge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are our leading rural businesses operating under Level 4? We ask the chief executive of leading farm machinery company Norwood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our North Otago correspondent talks about the highs and lows of life on the farm under Level 4 lockdown and about the "inconvenient truth about methane". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interviews are with Cameron Bagrie, Barbara Kuriger, Christopher Luxon, Jane Smith and Hunter McGregor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's panel features a couple of National MPs who are none-too-pleased about the Water Services Bill and the imposition it will place on rural NZ. And is Luxon just happy to be the MP for Botany? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We last chatted to this iconic New Zealand sportswoman (and former Race Relations Commissioner) on May 20, 2020, when she rolled up her sleeves to pack kiwifruit. Today we talk about the wonderful achievements of West Coaster Paul Coll after he won the British Squash Open overnight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask the Act Party leader if the vaccine rollout is a national lottery and why we should get a jab? And what's with the salacious press releases about sex toys and ice cream? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interviews are with David Seymour, Dame Susan Devoy, Kit Arkwright, Steve Wyn-Harris, Grant McCallum and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many butchers want to open during Level 4 to serve their communities, not to make a profit, Retail Meat New Zealand spokesman Kit Arkwright says. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interviews are with Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Miles Hurrell, Chris Russell, Emma Higgins and Matt Chisholm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's farmer panel contemplates life on the farm under Level 4 Covid lockdown and why we should, or shouldn't, get vaccinated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We compare Covid lockdown notes with our Australian correspondent who's freely roaming in Western Australia with little hope of getting back to his hometown of Sydney. Plus, we look at the ever-expanding mouse plague and his chances of seeing the All Blacks in Perth next weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interviews are with Chris Russell, Stu Loe, Jeremy Rookes and Chris Brandolino and Barry Soper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country Sport Breakfast: Fonterra’s CEO for Greater China updates BK on how the team is dealing with Covid-19. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the leading figures in New Zealand agriculture, and the founder of the Zanda McDonald Awards, encourages young ag entrepreneurs and leaders to enter the awards which close on August 31. We also discuss weather and track conditions on his Wairarapa farm and update the progress on the Five Rivers Health Centre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank's senior animal proteins analyst comments on the game-changing Delta variant, not only here in New Zealand, but also for our off-shore customers. Plus, we look at this week's GDT auction and this season's red meat prospects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.