The Country

Rabobank’s chief executive discussed the bank’s Fieldays breakfast, where Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke about her clear vision for the primary sector, including using wool carpets in Kāinga Ora in state homes. He also talks about a positive result in the Federated Farmers banking survey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An All Blacks legend talks about life after rugby. He also celebrates Farmstrong’s 10th anniversary and how he’s been an ambassador for the nationwide rural wellbeing programme for nine of those years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horticulture NZ's chief executive, on an impressive season for the sector, after a "tough couple of years". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the man behind the Rural Support Trust's dinner, which raised over $300,000 last night. Plus, an FMG Young Farmer grand finalist who wants to plug tomorrow night's "Party in the Tron". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breeding hoggets can be a smart way to lift overall lamb numbers - but only if it’s done right. In episode two of Optimising Lamb Survival, a podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, we’re diving into hogget lambing. The Country’s Rowena Duncum sits down with Professor Paul Kenyon, Head of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University and Riverton farmer Geor...

Fieldays Day One: Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Mark de Lautour, Jack Fagan, Steve Wyn-Harris, Rick Ladd, Dame Valerie Adams, Richie McCaw, Monty Betham, and Mike Casey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is at Fieldays to discuss the tax break on equipment for farmers, new legislation on carbon farming, reducing emissions, and KiwiSaver options for those wanting to buy their first farm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open Country Dairy's chief executive is enjoying a busy day one of Fieldays. He talks about Fonterra's forecast milk price, US tariffs, a new butter plant, and gives away some cheese. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with a top shearer to discuss why we should pay more for strong wool, and an update on the dairy farm he got into with his parents nine years ago. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Hawke's Bay farmer and broadcaster on chasing meteorites in his semi-retirement, and how he's written a children's book about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brandt's director of sales talks about selling big green tractors - and little green tractors - at Fieldays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sporting royalty joins Jamie at Fieldays to discuss keeping fit after retiring from sport and their roles as Toyota Brand Guardians. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More sporting royalty joins The Country, this time boxing and league. Betham talks about the upcoming match between Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen, and sings the Warriors' praises. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The innovative Central Otago cherry orchardist says Fieldays is a “dream come true” and his favourite day of the year. He talks about encouraging farmers to farm energy through solar panels, and an “epic” cherry season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Rowena Duncum, Farmer Tom Martin, Hunter McGregor, Chris Russell, Kevin Mortensen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With one sleep to go, we get a scene set from Mystery Creek from our woman on the ground! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our UK farming correspondent comments on the driest spring in 132 years, and NFU warns that farms face financial ruin unless the Treasury rethinks its “destructive” inheritance tax. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guy in Shanghai is a Kiwi selling venison and red meat to the Chinese. Today, we talk about “summer plum rains”, green shoots in the economy, and Trump’s tariffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent says Trump’s tariffs are making absolutely no difference to record exports of Aussie beef to the US. Plus, we ask, “Who’s got the biggest” when it comes to Agricultural Field Days? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wrap “International Day” here on The Country by heading to the exotic locale of Pio Pio in the King Country, as we take our monthly look at the state of the livestock market with the team from PGG Wrightson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special bonus episode of  Drench Wise Farm Smart , brought to you by Zolvix Plus from Elanco, dives into new research findings from a joint PGG Wrightson and PGGW Seeds trial, exploring how crops can significantly help manage worm burdens, support growth rates and reduce drench reliance. The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Elanco’s Colin McKay and one of the team behind...

Jamie Mackay talks to Nathan Guy, Mike Petersen, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Meat Industry Association chairman, and former Minister for Primary Industries, talks tariffs, record meat prices, and whether he supports Federated Farmers' SOS (Save Our Sheep) campaign.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't blame the pine trees! So says the former President of Beef + Lamb NZ, when it comes to the loss of more than two million sheep (45% of the total flock) in the past 32 years. He also looks at how water will transform the farming landscape in his home patch of Central Hawkes Bay.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our leading primary sector academics looks forward to the big Rural Support Trust debate at Fieldays and the networking opportunities Mystery Creek affords all and sundry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.