The Country

New Zealand is hosting this year’s IDF World Dairy Summit. The event kicks off on Sunday,  November 15, at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland and runs through to Wednesday,  November 18, followed by two days of optional technical tours. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Ray Smith, David Seymour, Mike Whitty, Karn Dhaliwal, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The director general of MPI updates the latest on the bird flu after Mainland Poultry, the country’s largest egg supplier, is putting hundreds of thousands of free-range chickens into lockdown following two positive cases last week.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader denies the election will be fought by celebrities more interested in glitz than graft. Plus, he comments on NZ First’s oil and gas policy and why we should make life easier for agricultural drone users. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ravensdown’s chief operating officer updates us on the fertiliser fallout from the ongoing Middle East war and what it means for New Zealand farmers this spring.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Zanda McDonald Award winner is a highly regarded agricultural entrepreneur. At 32, he is the founder and owner of Ohinewai Harvest Ltd and Dhaliwal Ag Ltd in the Waikato, recognised for building a diverse cropping and horticultural business from the ground up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday’s resident weatherman says a wintry blast is on its way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Daniel Eb, Tom Martin, Tracy Brown, and Winston Peters.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Mark Hooper, John Moorby, Steve Wyn-Harris, and Riley Kennedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers banking and RMA reform spokesman talks about the latest banking survey and why Feds are sounding the alarm over councils rushing to sign new Iwi partnership agreements before the RMA is replaced.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and Debbie Moorby are large-scale Waikato dairy farmers and the proud parents of All Black Josh, who will make his starting debut at Eden Park tomorrow night against Ireland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer has been a long-time observer of weather patterns. Today, he gives us his take on the prospect of a super El Niño. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the absence of Niall Browne, chief executive of Dawn Meats, we catch the BusinessDesk senior journalist, who has written a good piece on how the Irish processor has moved quickly to reshape the Alliance Group.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Winston Peters, Shane McManaway, Peter Newbold, and Chris Russell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ First leader comments on bird flu, celebrity candidates, being called a clown by a former Prime Minister, and we have our obligatory argument over the Indian Free Trade Agreement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent tells us everything you need to know about bird flu but were afraid to ask. Plus, we talk about Winston Peters and lamb access to the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The GM of PGG Wrightson Real Estate updates a buoyant rural market and puts on his livestock division hat to talk about the threat of a Super El Niño. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A flood-affected Wairarapa farmer has headed down to Kaikōura to help with the clean-up of a bigger mess on his son’s dairy farm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of  The Country Podcast , brought to you by Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Hamish McKay catches up with Michelle and Tony Roberts of Top Deck Trading in Southland, winners of the 2026 Ballance Farm Environment Awards National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming & Growing and the prestigious Gordon Stevenson Trophy.  Together, they discuss their farming journey, the innovati...

Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Jane Smith, Tracy Brown, Jim Hopkins, and Lindy Nelson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade is sitting in for the Prime Minister this week, and again, he has to defend the Indian Free Trade Agreement from Winston Peters’ criticism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A North Otago farmer and award-winning environmentalist has plenty to say about climate change, methane, Top and the colourful candidates in the Waitaki electorate.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DairyNZ chair says margins are being squeezed on-farm with a forecast milk price of $9.25 offset by a breakeven milk price of $8.79. We also compare cows and countries, following her recent trip to Ireland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An old hand in local body politics comments on what can be done about escalating rural rates. Plus, he has a wonderful ’60s tale to tell about his pirate radio connection with the late great Sir Sam Neill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wairarapa farmer, Safer Farms director, and Farm without Harm ambassador. Today, we look at the fall in farm-related ACC claims and what can be done to reduce them further. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.