The Country

We ask the NZ First leader and Minister of Foreign Affairs about “survive to ’25” and “the fix for ’26”. We also discuss the latest polls, RMA reforms, an FTA with India, and Stuart Nash. Plus, how many more elections does the 80-year-old have left in him? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s latest report, our national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is up 1% on last season, driven by stronger ewe performance in most regions. We catch up with the chairwoman of Beef + Lamb NZ to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our final Farmstrong farmer for  2025, we head to the Hauraki Plains and a contract milker milking 330 cows.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent talks about a live cattle trade running out of ships and why a 5-10% recovery in the US beef herd would pose a big problem for the Lucky Country.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Wayne Langford, Professor Will Happer, and Campbell Parker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister ponders an FTA with India, the RMA reforms, the latest 1News poll, and whether lamb beats ham for Christmas in the Luxon household. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The President of Federated Farmers applauds the RMA reforms, and we count down the Feds’ “12 Pests of Christmas”.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strong attendance at climate change events with world-renowned Princeton physicist Will Happer demonstrates support for a serious conversation about climate change policy. So says Groundswell. But is the good doctor simply a climate change denier? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of DairyNZ releases the latest break-even price ($8.50) for milk production, and celebrates some good wins in 2025 on the biosecurity and research fronts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Mike Petersen, Richard Dawkins, Todd Charteris, Farmer Tom Martin, and Jo Luxton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hawke’s Bay farmer and former special ag trade envoy and chairman of Beef + Lamb NZ. Today we yarn about the big dry, progress on the Tukituki dam, an FTA with India, Trump’s tariffs and Petersen’s Ag Person of the Year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marlborough farmer and Federated Farmers’ Meat and Wool Chair. Today, he talks about the “Twelve Pests of Christmas” and why there are no politicians on the list. We also preview today’s RMA announcement from the Government and discuss the big dry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Rabobank comments on the bank’s latest farmer confidence survey, which sees farmer sentiment dipping from near-record highs, with dairy farmers now less confident.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our UK farming correspondent discusses one of the worst grain harvests on record (three of the worst five on record have happened since 2020). We also discuss the worst government ever for British farmers and one of the better English rugby sides.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s Agriculture Spokesperson comments on the RMA, an FTA with India, carbon farming, the associated wildfires, and the latest poll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Lorin Clarke, Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCallum, Richard Loe, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the daughter of iconic Kiwi comedian John Clarke (aka Fred Dagg) ahead of tomorrow night’s premiere in Palmerston North of her movie/doco “Not only Fred Dagg”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer/politician panel discusses Fred Dagg, a big RMA announcement tomorrow, changes to micro abattoir rules, a hornet update, doing battle with Chlöe Swarbrick over emissions and Shane’s latest flip-flop on fishing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we find a former All Blacks hard man doing the hard yards on the drafting gate at the Waikura Station on-farm sale in the back of beyond - with 12,000 lambs, 1000 ewes and 1000 cattle up for grabs! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's up with the weather? We find out with our guy from weatherwatch.co.nz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie talks to Andrew Lumsden (aka Te Radar), Derek Daniell, Jen Corkran, and Shane Jones.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamish McKay talks to Todd McClay, Andrew Alderson, George Dodson, James Robertson, and Chris Brandolino. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister of Agriculture (and Forestry) on Ikea planting trees in Hawke’s Bay, and his next trade trip to India. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for McKay on Sport. Today, we catch up with a Newstalk ZB Sport newsreader, who’s in Hagley Park for day four of the test against the West Indies. Plus, his commentary on the Ashes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer panel comprised the 2024 Young Farmer of the Year and the 2019 Young Farmer of the Year. They talk about the milk price and what inspires them to get out and achieve in the ag sector.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.