Sarahs Country

Chef-turn-broadcasters-turn-farmers are super passionate about bringing the connection to eaters about where their food comes from, but there's a unique skill in going down a wormhole on the topic of soil and communicating the benefits of it in a way that everyday people can understand. Matthew Evans, renowned in Australia for his TV series 'Gourmet Farmer', was a chef by trade and then a restaurant reviewer for the likes of the Sydney Morning Herald before heading to their own farm in Tasmanian to grow their own to find out why certain food tastes better. He persisted when his publisher was unsure of his desire to not write yet another cookbook, but a hymn to the soil. His research for the book explains how healthy soil is connected to our human physiology's ability to instinctively know what food is more nutrient-dense, as it's naturally more flavoursome. Sarah & Matthew catch up at a recent event at Greystone Wines to discuss how close technology is a way for consumers to be able to do the same thing through an app on their phone. Matthew explains this will be a game-changer for food purchasing based on what's both more pleasurable to eat and healthier. Could the time for New Zealand farmers & growers who focus on soil health be rewarded just around the corner? This event was hosted by Eat New Zealand and Quorum Sense. Links to learn more: SOIL by Matthew Evans (Buy the Book) Fat Pig Farm - Tasmania

When your world feels like farming & growing food for the future is just getting a bit too hard, listen to our panel's discussion on what excites them about New Zealand's future. Sarah Perriam-Lampp recently hosted six guests at the Lakeside Memorial Hall at Leeston, Canterbury for a dinner event sponsored by ESAI to discuss how we can grow our farming destiny in the context of what we can control and the opportunities before us. Panel includes: Hamish Gow - Global Value Chains, Lincoln University Rhys Roberts - CEO, Align Farms Gabi & Doug Micheal - Owners, Gladfield Malt Mandy Bell - Chair, Deer Industry NZ & NZFAP+ Farmer Tim Jones - B-Corp certified consultant, The Grow Good Guy LINKS: Value Chain Innovation Tour (watch this space, another tour coming in 2023/24) with Hamish Gow More about Align Farms (Rhys Roberts) More about Gladfield Malt (Doug & Gabi Michael) More about WAI Wānaka & Criffel Station (Mandy Bell) More about getting B Corp certified with The Grow Good Guy (Tim Jones) More about ESAI - Ellesmere Sustainable Agriculture Inc who hosted the panel at the Lakeside Memorial Hall at Leeston. CONTACT THE SHOW: Email: sarah@sarahscountry.com Website: sarahscountry.com

Food production and not using fossil fuel seem like a headache of a problem to solve, but not for these Kiwi ex-pats who returned home to Central Otago to grow New Zealand's first cherries 100% electric. Mike & Rebecca Casey set up Forest Lodge Orchard as well as co-founded New Zealand Zero, a fossil-free food certification and loves opening his gates near Cromwell and the books to show all types of farmers & growers how they too can control the carbon narrative. LINKS: New Zealand Zero: https://www.nz0.com/ Winning the Green Premium Webinar (as discussed in this episode): https://ourlandandwater.nz/outputs/winning-the-green-premium-beverage-sector-webinar/ CONTACT THE SHOW: Email: sarah@sarahscountry.com Website: sarahscountry.com

Scratching your head on how you are meant to navigate farming with uncertainty? Do you need consent? What if I've already put in my crops? Will I be fined? Do my regional council rules or the national government rules apply to me? We have all your questions about regulations coming around intensive winter grazing and freshwater farm plans answered in one place! In the first edition of "How to Keep Farming with Uncertainty" co-hosts Sarah Perriam-Lampp (Sarah's Country), Duncan Humm (NZ Farming) and Rowena Duncum (The Country) host a panel of guests from the Ministry for the Environment, regional councils, farm advisors and farmers from across the country. This is the on-demand episode of a Livestream from Monday 5th December 2022. Special Guests include: Farmer Panel - Dani Darke (King Country), Ben Dooley (Southland), Emma Crutchley (Otago) & Kerry Worsnop (Gisborne) Council & Advisor Panel - Brent Sinclair (Waikato Regional Council), Fiona Young (Environment Southland), Brent Paterson (MyEnviro) & Rebecca Hyde (Hurunui Landcare Group). What does 2023 look like: The freshwater farm plan system is being phased in over several years from 2023 across 16 regional council areas starting with Southland, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay & Otago. Councils will prioritise catchments within their own regions for the introduction and implementation of FW-FP, including a transition from any existing regulated farm environment plans to the new system. The latest information: Intensive Winter Grazing Freshwater Farm Plans If you have something you'd like answered, please email Ministry for the Environment: freshwaterfarmplans@mfe.govt.nz

Sarah's Country has your sneak peek into E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit speaker lineup at the highly anticipated June 2022 event is set to catalyse the future of Aotearoa's primary industries and you could get on the guest list to Sarah's Country E Tipu Cocktail Party when you enter the draw to win a double pass to E Tipu & dinner with Sarah Perriam at 5th Street (valued at $2,500!)  Sarah Perriam sits down with three of the E Tipu 2022 keynote speakers ahead of the event which gives you a preview of the insightful, thought-provoking discussions you need to be a part of in Christchurch on 21-22 June 2022. Sarah discusses topics ranging from the changing world of the director responsibilities and how it's led to as he describes ‘gun-shy, arse-protecting governance' halting progress from one of our country's most esteemed and influential professional directors, how we can bolster mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori in our agricultural science with a young AgResearch scientist, and how New Zealand agritech business needs greater ambition with an expat US-based vertical farming CEO. Arama Kukutai - CEO, Plenty and Partner, Finistere Ventures — Aotearoa FundLouise Hennessy - Scientist and early career ambassador, AgResearchRob Campbell - Chair of Interim Health, Environmental Protection Agency & NZ Rural Land Co. CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN E TIPU 2022 TICKETS & DINNER WITH SARAH! All entries will receive an exclusive invite to Sarah's Country E Tipu Cocktail Party at O.G.B's in Christchurch on Tuesday 21st June. The prize draw closes on Sunday 5th June 2022 ABOUT E TIPU 2022 E Tipu 2022 features two days of talks from global and local leaders in food and fibre, plus interactive workshops, expert panels and special Q&As, innovative exhibits, valuable cross-sector networking and more. Designed for changemakers from across the food and fibre sector, the summit tackles major questions around how we can be more innovative, collaborative, sustainable and profitable — now and into the future. E Tipu 2022 is a truly hybrid event — offering an in-person summit at Christchurch Town Hall and a virtual experience for attendees from around the world. In-Person and Virtual Early Bird Tickets are available now at etipu.boma.global

 In an environment where farmers & growers may be thinking it's all coming at them, Becks Smith can see the light at the end of the tunnel when we condense the overwhelm and see the challenges through a more holistic approach.   New Zealand farmers naturally have an inter-generational view of stewardship of their land, but sometimes need support to bring the right expertise together when they are on the next level of their sustainability journey. Becks Smith discusses with Sarah Perriam, host of Sarah's Country, how her career journey as a vet in Central Otago, alongside farming with her husband's family, is evolving into the social enterprise The Whole Story. She shares her insights into how to take small steps towards change and how important to pull an advisory board around our farmers that are all on the same page.   "We sometimes make changes and don't reflect on what the outcome was. I am seeing powerful changes when farmer's bring the right support around them to help them reflect on their decision making," explains Becks Smith, The Whole Story.

Did you know that globally agriculture is one of the last industries to digitise? And for those farmers that will embrace the market access requirement to prove the provenance and verify the farm practices will ultimately win. But imagine if technology as a tool actually made you a better farmer? Perhaps more tolerant to climatic conditions, faster decision making in risky situations and free up time to actually do the thing you enjoy... farming... or boating/golf/fishing! As the Farmax annual conference wraps up, Sarah Perriam catches up with the two CEOs on the merger of Farmax, the predictive modelling farm software and Farm IQ, the farm management software - Will Noble & Gavin McEwan.    "If NZ's pastoral agriculture wants to retain its place as a premium supplier to the world, we need to digitise our supply chain and the supply chain starts at the farm," explains Gavin McEwan, Farmax LINKS Learn more about Farm IQ Learn more about Farmax   This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Tell us what you really think! hosting the opinions of those involved intimately with some of the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector.

In a special episode for 'Shaping our Future' on Sarah's Country released on 2022 International Woman's Day, Sarah Perriam discovers where women's role has come, the current is and can to in the New Zealand primary sector with female empowerment leader in rural New Zealand, Lindy Nelson. Lindy is a woman on a mission farming with her husband David, is the Chair of Safer Farms and founded the Agri-Women's Development Trust which has unleashed the confidence and talents of over 4,000 women who have found leadership roles that are shaping our future. In this episode, Lindy provides her wisdom to all listeners on the tipping point of women's contribution to agriculture at a time of great importance from social division to climate change. "In Native American wisdom, they describe the wings of humanity as one male wing & one female wing. The male wing has been flying too strongly and the female wing is unfurling to bring new strength and balance. If we look at women's role as we aren't fighting for a place, we are bringing balance and support," Lindy Nelson This episode is a part of our new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Shaping our future' where we help New Zealand farmers & growers navigate the big issues to be more prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead!

 How do those tasked with implementing environmental policy best engage with farmers to come up with solutions that are best for the land and are fit for purpose? Ministry for the Environment has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers. In this third and final episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke, meets Rangitikei Rivers Catchment Collective Chair and three-generation farmer, Roger Dalrymple along with dairy farmer, Greg Maughan.  Sara is joined by her colleague, Gin Loughnan, Manager of the Climate & Water Agriculture team at the Ministry for the Environment who is keen to work together with catchment groups to ensure that freshwater farm plans are workable and avoid duplication.   "The first thing we have to do is get farmers to understand why they are putting their environment plans on paper when bankers will tell you we can't get farmers to pull together farm budgets yet. It's a massive leap!" stresses Roger Dalrymple, Waitatapia Farming TOP 10 things in THIS EPISODE Sara Clarke & Gin Loughnan sits down with the Rangitikei farmers to discuss: 1. Over 300 farmers have joined the sub-catchment groups of the Rangitikei Rivers Catchment Collective "which will tell you that if you give farmers the challenge they will be empowered to create the solutions" 2. Farmers need environmental policy guidance that is apolitical and doesn't change between government terms where the pathway doesn't change on them. 3. The narrative that New Zealand farmers are doing it all wrong and portraying our practices as third-world when dairy farmer, Greg Maughan was working in Indonesia and reading this message looking at polluted waterways. 4. Gin asks how the government can support the community ownership of the solution around freshwater quality. 5. Roger's experience with dealing with a spectrum of farmers to bring them along and to educate them on where the changes need to happen takes time, more collaborative science and improved connectivity.  6. Can freshwater farm plans be justifying what farmers are already doing and change the conversation around proving the good work than it being led as a government, box-ticking exercise?  7. Roger & Greg explain that community catchments only work for 3-6 months of the year for farmers as calving, lambing, shearing, harvesting and weaning takes their focus and therefore the milestones to achieve outcomes need to be set at a time that works with the farming calendar. 8. Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) under Horizon District Council cost between $12-$14,000/per farm that was funded by Horizon for erosion control and soil mapping are great management tools. 9. Roger advises against the integrated environmental farm plan being digital-only due to internet accessibility and the digital literacy of farmers but may lead to catchment support to help all farmers to get farm environment plans.   10. Gin & Sara want to know what role industry bodies are playing in supporting farmers. Roger points out that the industry groups don't have the time to bring farmers along on the journey because the government's policy consultation timeframes are too tight.    links Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans   This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Table Swap' out discussing the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector around farmers' kitchen tables working on ways to move forward collectively.   WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)! CLICK HERE (Entries Close 7th March 2022)

How do those tasked with implementing environmental policy best engage with farmers to come up with solutions that are best for the land and are fit for purpose? Ministry for the Environment has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers. In this first episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke, to meet Grant Charteris at Forest Road Farm, farming with his wife Sally in the Ruahine foothills at the top of the Tukituki River catchment. After a farm tour of the work the Charteris' have done that saw them win the 2021 Elworthy Award for the premier environmental accolade for deer farmers, Sara meets also with local young farmer Hugh Abbiss at Foley Farming Enterprises to sit down for this episode.   "It's really hard to make a plan when the goalposts keep shifting, with the layers of rules between regional council & national policy statements. There's too much misinformation and direction," stresses Grant Charteris, Forest Road Farm. TOP 10 things in THIS EPISODE Sara Clarke sits down with Hawke's Bay farmers, Grant Charteris & Hugh Abbiss to discuss: 1. How will or won't Overseer continue to play into the proposed freshwater farm plans and what about measuring outcomes versus the move to regulating input controls & farming practices? 2. The Tukituki catchment are already working within Farm Environment Management Plans under Plan Change 6 with Hawke's Bay Regional Council, so how is more layers of rules from the national policy statement going to make a difference to the path they are on? 3. The frustration of getting clear direction from their local regional council who aren't getting clear direction from the central government so it stifles farmers appetite in investing in environmental work with a lack of security of the direction. 4. The leading farmers will pave the way to pull the laggard farmers up but not all farmers are in the financial position to achieve the Ministry's gold standard and it will take a decade of actions to sustainably fund it within the cost structures of farming the way they are. 5. They have recently formed the Mangonuku Catchment Group and have shared goals that every landowner can get in behind and believe it's the best forum for getting useable data for change as well as the support needed. 6. Hugh discusses the changes he's implemented such as direct drilling, catch crops and nutrient management and how to make more from less. 7. What does "fit-for-purpose" really mean when the freshwater farm plans aren't thinking about the whole integrated approach to make it sustainable to work. 8. Grant learns that not everyone from Wellington doesn't listen, and really excels in explaining his farming system and environmental actions actually out on his farm. 9. Better understanding needs to be taken into account through true farmer consultation, not hand-picking a panel based on the outcome you have already 10. If you stifle innovation you won't get the desired outcome all because the government want change to happen too fast, otherwise the leading farmers will sell to pine trees.   LINKS Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans    This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Table Swap' out discussing the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector around farmers kitchen tables working on ways to move forward collectively.   CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!

Not all NZ farmers have their heads in the sand about He Waka Eke Noa as Sarah discovers a group of them have done your homework on the alternative pricing options for you to simply listen and make a submission on our weekly panel, "Tell us what you really think!". Farmers Mark McCoard (Taihape), Kerry Worsnop (Gisborne) & Graeme Gleeson (Waikato) shed some frank reality with host, Sarah Perriam on what amendments to the farm-level levy could look like to have a fairer emissions reduction and payment scheme. Download the group's flyer & open letter to farmers below.   "He Waka Eke Noa is merely an accounting system and who gets inspired to change based on an accounting system! It should be an aspiration for the sector to be warming neutral by 2030 and when we have achieved that the pricing should stop," urges Kerry Worsnop, Gisborne farmer. LINKS: Download the group's Open Letter to Farmers (PDF, 120 kb). Download the group's suggested changes in this flyer (PDF, 2.2 MB).  Learn more about He Waka Eke Noa  Attend a roadshow throughout February on the options developed by the He Waka Eke Noa partnership as alternatives to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).   LATEST UPDATE The consultation will now close in late March 2022 and the He Waka Eke Noa Partnership will report its recommendations to Ministers by 31 May 2022 (rather than 30 April 2022).    This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Tell us what you really think! hosting the opinions of those involved intimately with some of the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector.   CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!

The level of data now being collected on farms on a daily basis is massive but it's not working together in a collaborative way for farmers to manage the data. It is also useful for brands to verify the environment's regeneration when sourcing their product. NZ Merino has recently partnered with Silicon Valley technology company, Actual to provide insights into each ZQRX growers' sustainability credentials. Guided by science and starting with carbon emissions, this work will include the ability to model mitigations on-farm to guide future investment, arm brands with information to source responsibly manufactured wool, and provide growers with tangible plans to further their positive environmental impact   "Our objective is to partner with the global best on each index point of the 15-point ZQRX regenerative framework such as Actual, Savoury Institute & Toitu Envirocare," - Tim Loftus, NZ Merino.   Tim Loftus has recently joined NZ Merino as the General Manager of Sales & Marketing at NZ Merino following a career in marketing sustainability with Kathmandu & icebreaker. Sarah discusses with Tim the global signals from the consumer and what it truly means to be market-led as well as the importance of farmers data ownership. This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Shaping our future' where we help New Zealand farmers & growers navigate the big issues to be more prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead!   CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!

How do those tasked with implementing environmental policy best engage with farmers to come up with solutions that are best for the land and are fit for purpose? Ministry for the Environment has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers in this new series, Table Swap. In this first episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke, to meet Grant Charteris at Forest Road Farm, farming with his wife Sally in the Ruahine foothills at the top of the Tukituki River catchment. After a farm tour of the work the Charteris' have done that saw them win the 2021 Elworthy Award for the premier environmental accolade for deer farmers, Sara meets also with local young farmer Hugh Abbiss at Foley Farming Enterprises to sit down for this episode.   "It's really hard to make a plan when the goalposts keep shifting, with the layers of rules between regional council & national policy statements. There's too much misinformation and direction," stresses Grant Charteris, Forest Road Farm. TOP 10 things in THIS EPISODE: Sara Clarke sits down with Hawke's Bay farmers, Grant Charteris & Hugh Abbiss to discuss: 1. How will or won't Overseer continue to play into the proposed freshwater farm plans and what about measuring outcomes versus the move to regulating input controls & farming practices? 2. The Tukituki catchment are already working within Farm Environment Management Plans under Plan Change 6 with Hawke's Bay Regional Council, so how is more layers of rules from the national policy statement going to make a difference to the path they are on? 3. The frustration of getting clear direction from their local regional council who aren't getting clear direction from the central government so it stifles farmers appetite in investing in environmental work with a lack of security of the direction. 4. The leading farmers will pave the way to pull the laggard farmers up but not all farmers are in the financial position to achieve the Ministry's gold standard and it will take a decade of actions to sustainably fund it within the cost structures of farming the way they are. 5. They have recently formed the Mangonuku Catchment Group and have shared goals that every landowner can get in behind and believe it's the best forum for getting useable data for change as well as the support needed. 6. Hugh discusses the changes he's implemented such as direct drilling, catch crops and nutrient management and how to make more from less. 7. What does "fit-for-purpose" really mean when the freshwater farm plans aren't thinking about the whole integrated approach to make it sustainable to work. 8. Grant learns that not everyone from Wellington doesn't listen, and really excels in explaining his farming system and environmental actions actually out on his farm. 9. Better understanding needs to be taken into account through true farmer consultation, not hand-picking a panel based on the outcome you have already 10. If you stifle innovation you won't get the desired outcome all because the government want change to happen too fast, otherwise the leading farmers will sell to pine trees.   LINKS Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans  This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Table Swap' out discussing the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector around farmers kitchen tables working on ways to move forward collectively.   CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!  

 With so much concern circling around the consultation on the alternative pricing options for New Zealand's greenhouse gas tax/levy (call it what you wish!), we break down the reality of the challenge with our esteemed guests on the first in our weekly panel, "Tell us what you really think!". Agricultural economist, Phil Journeaux, and rural commentator and former agriculture professor, Keith Woodford, have a candid discussion with host, Sarah Perriam on how pastoral livestock farming would look if its 5% carbon emissions were taxed under the Emissions Trading Scheme. "We have huge change occurring and the rules are getting put in place now and farmers don't understand the long-term impact," stresses Keith Woodford. LINKS Learn more about He Waka Eke Noa  Download the consultation document (PDF, 4.8 MB). Attend a roadshow throughout February on the options developed by the He Waka Eke Noa partnership as alternatives to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).   LATEST UPDATE The consultation will now close in late March 2022 and the He Waka Eke Noa Partnership will report its recommendations to Ministers by 31 May 2022 (rather than 30 April 2022).    This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Tell us what you really think! hosting the opinions of those involved intimately with some of the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector.   CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!

High-value crops are often discussed on Sarah's Country as the potential to return more to farmers from fewer inputs. Whilst the industry for hemp seed and oil is becoming more established in New Zealand, the agronomic and market development for fibre has a way to go. In late December 2022, NZ Natural Fibres (co-owned by Carrfields NZ & Hemp NZ) received a $3.2million Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures Fund to develop its hemp growing, processing and marketing capability to“go further, faster” towards taking a global leadership position in the development of industrial and consumer products made from hemp fibre.   "Once you get past wool-hemp hybrid yarns there's smart fibres such as carbon fibre in high-performance sport equipment, satelittes or America's Cup boats and even using hemp for carbon storage like batteries," - Colin McKenzie, CEO, NZ Natural Fibres.   Carrfields was originally approached by Hemp NZ when they were looking for a factory to process the hemp fibre and the partnership was born with Carrfields contracting history and field experience with growing specialty crops.   "It grows very quickly in a short amount of time so it might have less fertiliser requirements than other crops and oftern fertiliser can be quite a large part of a crop's carbon emissions," - Travis Ryan-Salter, Senior Research Officer, Carrfields. links Learn more about NZ Natural Fibres MPI backs project to establish internationally competitive hemp seed processing plant (MPI.govt.nz) Agricultural firms team up to make wool and hemp blended products (Stuff.co.nz)   This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Shaping our future' where we help New Zealand farmers & growers navigate the big issues to be more prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead! FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription valued at $200: https://www.sarahscountry.com/articles/win-farmax

The best way to kick back into gear for 2022 is of course with the chunkiest talking point in smoko rooms, dairy sheds and board tables in the primary sector "What is He Waka Eke Noa and why should I care?"  With the stresses in the face of Omicron affecting processing plants, tractors parked up waiting for the deluge of rain to bugger off to harvest crops it may seem too hard to wrap your head around another complicated pressure.   "Doing nothing is not an option, so I've created a whole episode for you to understand what it means for you," - Sarah Perriam, host Sarah's Country.   New Zealand's agriculture emissions will be in the ETS regardless, but how is still up for discussion. However, we are short on time with feedback to the Minister's presented by the partnership in May 2022. This is a massive deal for our & the next generation as we determine how New Zealand's agriculture sector can balance pastoral farming's financial viability let alone survival in the face of pines towards 2050 whilst paying our fair share for greenhouse gas emissions.   "As a sector, we have to accept our emissions, reduce and adapt. Otherwise, farming is in ETS and the cost of it will be out of our control," - Jim van der Poel, Dairy NZ Chair   IN THIS EPISODE He Waka Eke Noa is a partnership with industry, Māori and Government. It's the largest pan-sector collaboration in history with negotiations spanning 2 years. In this episode, Sarah Perriam breaks this down with: - Kelly Forster, Director of He Waka Eke Noa - Andrew Morrison, Chair of Beef + Lamb NZ - Sirma Karapeeva, CEO Meat Industry Association  - Jim van der Poel, Chair Dairy NZ - Innes Moffat, CEO Deer Industry NZ - Anna Heslop, Communications Manager, Foundation for Arable Research  LINKS Learn more about He Waka Eke Noa  Download the consultation document (PDF, 4.8 MB). Attend a roadshow throughout February on the options developed by the He Waka Eke Noa partnership as alternatives to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).   LATEST UPDATE The consultation will now close in late March 2022 and the He Waka Eke Noa Partnership will report its recommendations to Ministers by 31 May 2022 (rather than 30 April 2022).   

The angst and noise of 2021 have led to a division in New Zealand's primary sector. However, the division appears to come down to whether farmers & growers are in the camp of a mindset that is optimistic, open-minded to change and unfearful of the future. Or not.   "Positivity doesn't mean your ignoring life's stress, you're just approaching hardship in a productive way," explains Dana Muir, Head of Natural Capital, BNZ.   As the last Sarah's Country Sister for the year, Dana Muir, Head of Natural Capital at BNZ, explains how the New Zealand farmers & growers focused on the megatrends of our global consumers are well advanced to be successful, future-fit businessmen and women. And there may be more of them than you realise!   BNZ's 'Shift Happens' survey shows that 53% of farmers & growers feel that the changing landscape of the primary sector was an "opportunity for their business". Also, 42% of farmers & growers said they "would diversify their land use to meet consumer expectations", but the majority of those surveyed do believe that the pace of regulations pace is too fast. Dana explains that regulations appear to be merely aligned to megatrends globally as well as corporates rising demand of ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) considerations in their decision making of the sourcing of their products in their supply chain. She urges that farm environment plans & emission reduction plans will help our farmers & growers tell a better story of the food & fibre from their farms. Sustainability-linked loans that BNZ pioneered with Southern Pastures can help incentive change and support farmers & growers with the right tools to be more ambitious than regulation.  The rise of the conscious investor has seen the global market for sustainable investing in 2021 surge from USD $50 billion in Q1 2021 to USD $150 billion by Q4 2021. BNZ aspires to have $10 billion of sustainability linked loans by 2025. __________________________ "Have a wonderful, well-deserved break! Set your sights on a prosperous 2022 where we can continue to be defiantly hopeful. Let's strive for more than the bare minimum of what is required of us to get ahead of the global signals. Thank you for being a valued member of Sarah's Country's community with record listenership in 2021, and I value your continued support more than you will ever know!! Merry Christmas" - Sarah Perriam

When the directive from global food giants, such as Danone and Nestle pledges to source nearly a quarter of their milk globally from regenerative dairy farms by 2025, you pay attention. Announced this week was a unique partnership between Synlait Milk and Danone, AgResearch and the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund to study soil health between conventional and regenerative practices on 10 farms in Waikato, Canterbury & Otago over five years. This week's Change Maker, Hamish Reid, Head of Sustainability & Brand at Synlait says we will achieve added value by profiting from purpose and regenerative meet our consumer's demands. Thanks to our partners at Farmlands for supporting Sarah's Country this season.

The one thing this current government has given us is a lot to talk about in rural media! Recorded on the Saturday prior to the Groundswell protest, ACT Party Leader David Seymour joined Sarah to discuss a wide range of government policy that is overwhelming the primary sector that has seen them take to the streets in their tractors. They discuss the sector's representation in Wellington, hate speech by politicians towards farmers to Rogernomics. Sarah has an entertaining one-hour chat with the ACT Party leader's stance on the RMA, the Zero Carbon Act through to Mental Health and pine trees. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season!

As the COP26 Climate Change Summit has concluded, a serendipitous scientific finding at Lincoln University virtually eliminates the methane emitted from effluent ponds and if uptook by 2030 will half dairy's emmission targets. As this week's Sarah's Country Change Maker, Mike Manning, General Manager Innovation and Strategy at Ravensdown, explains the breakthrough discovery of the EcoPond system to target methane with an additive normally used in the treatment of drinking water. Nearly all dairy farms use effluent ponds and they are the second-largest source of on-farm methane emissions. An average NZ dairy farm of around 400 cows that installed EcoPond could cut total farm methane emissions by about 4 to 5%, depending on the individual farm. They also found that EcoPond reduced the risk of Dissolved Reactive Phosphate loss to water by up to 99% meaning that this essential nutrient can be recycled with reduced risk of water contamination. The EcoPond system also strips out E.coli so that the dairy effluent is much safer to irrigate to pasture. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season!

What led me to Sue was a string of fate, and now I want to share her with the world as this week's Sarah's Country Sister. Sue McGaw is a specialist native plant consultant from North Canterbury who works with farmers to design their riparian plantings into biodiversity nodes to ensure 99% success rate, all year round bird feed, resilence from pests, weeds, droughts, and floods and Rongoā Māori, the traditional healing properties. At 63 years old, after 25 years of landscape design, Sue's imposter syndrome that she no one would listen to her without a Master's she embarked on completing in Ecology. Sue's lifelong mission is to pass on her knowledge to catchment groups and farmers to get it right the first time and not just plant what you like the look of! To connect with Sue feel free to email her, gayton.gardens@xtra.co.nz.

We are excited for you to meet the three emerging food and fibre sector leaders who have been awarded the 2022 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships. This group comes from the most diverse range of backgrounds we have seen in recent times and each of the scholars brings talent, passion, perspective, and a track record of performance.  Covid 19 restrictions mean this year's scholarship recipients' formal awards ceremony at Parliament, will be delayed until February 2022, when Minister O'Connor will award the scholarships in person.   In this episode, you will meet the 2022 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarship recipients along with CEO for the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (NZRLT), Chris Parsons as this week's Change Makers. Parmindar Singh, a Waikato based Dairy Farm Manager, Company Director, and recent master's graduate.  Anthony Taueki, a horticulturalist from Hawke's Bay, Tū Te Wana Kaiako at Fruition Horticulture, and a Councillor for the Youth Food and Fibre Network.  Completing the trio is Wellington-based Lucie Douma, Principal Adviser for the Ministry for Primary Industries. Lucie is a master's graduate from Oxford's Mansfield College and from a Southland farming background along with CEO of Rural Leaders, Chris Parsons. For more on the 2022 Value Chain Innovation Programme: Rural Leaders have made the decision to shift the Value Chain Innovation Programme date from Mid-January to May next year. For more information on the programme and how to apply: https://ruralleaders.co.nz/value-chain/ Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season

Brave leadership has been a fabric of our primary sector for the past century and now is a time to continue that attitude in the face of what many think is just a New Zealand government challenge when our farming cousins around the world are facing the same challenges. Science entrepreneur and agri-business commentator, Anna Campbell, is walking the talk transitioning from AbacusBio, a highly respected science, and technology firm operating from offices in Dunedin and Rotorua New Zealand, and Edinburgh, United Kingdom, to co-founding natural health business, Zestt Wellness, to support immunity and improve lung health.  As this week's Sarah's Country Sisters, Anna and Sarah discuss: - Her opinion's on New Zealand food & fibre's science commercialization moving to private equity and offshore capital markets. - Her empathy attending the last farmer protest with her farming mum and her son of agriculturalists turned off a career in the sector along with the international animal scientists saying they feel they will be the last generation, the pressures on the livestock industry is a global challenge. - The opportunities for New Zealand's natural health products from plants are being hindered by our antiquated regulation and international scientific collaboration.  - Her advice on women leadership in the sector by men leading that change by opening doors and taking women seriously, as well as women deepening their networks with other women. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season.

Brave leadership has been a fabric of our primary sector for the past century and now is a time to continue that attitude in the face of what many think is just a New Zealand government challenge when our farming cousins around the world are facing the same challenges. Science entrepreneur and agri-business commentator, Anna Campbell, is walking the talk transitioning from AbacusBio, a highly respected science, and technology firm operating from offices in Dunedin and Rotorua New Zealand, and Edinburgh, United Kingdom, to co-founding natural health business, Zestt Wellness, to support immunity and improve lung health.  As this week's Sarah's Country Sisters, Anna and Sarah discuss: - Her opinion's on New Zealand food & fibre's science commercialization moving to private equity and offshore capital markets. - Her empathy attending the last farmer protest with her farming mum and her son of agriculturalists turned off a career in the sector along with the international animal scientists saying they feel they will be the last generation, the pressures on the livestock industry is a global challenge. - The opportunities for New Zealand's natural health products from plants are being hindered by our antiquated regulation and international scientific collaboration.  - Her advice on women leadership in the sector by men leading that change by opening doors and taking women seriously, as well as women deepening their networks with other women. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season.

Whatever your thoughts or knowledge are about cannabis, the New Zealand government believes in the future of establishing evidence-based medical cannabis cultivation practices with the awarding of funds to Lincoln University-based, Greenlab. Greenlab aims to generate standard cultivation protocols for a range of New Zealand genetics with the optimized pharmaceutical compounds required by doctors and needed by patients to improve their quality of life. Dr. Rupinder Brar & Dr. Parmjit Randhawa, co-founders of Greenlab join Sarah as this week's Change Maker to explain how the unique research could position New Zealand as the market leader in herbal medicine as the pharmaceutical industry is running out of options for healthcare. Whilst New Zealand farmers and growers won't necessarily be able to capture a slice of the green pie on the ground, there are some excellent messages in the global trend for nutraceuticals - let food be thy medicine - and our agronomic knowledge to apply that. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands for supporting Sarah's Country this season! To contact the show email sarah@sarahscountry.com

The last 5 years for New Zealand's largest rural supply co-operative have been disruptive to ensure they are positioned to support their shareholders into the future. Newly appointed CEO, Tanya Houghton has a fresh approach to leadership that is being well-received across the board. Sarah caught up with Tanya as part of Sarah's Country sisters to discuss how to lead a team in a time of uncertainty, her thoughts on balancing the books of farmers with lower prices and that of the co-operative and her plan to navigate the challenges ahead in her own style of leadership. Following the recent announcement of an $8.1 million net profit before tax and rebates for the 20/21 financial year described by Chair Rob Hewett as a pass mark with a $2.7 billion turnover, Tanya has turned her first efforts to people & culture. Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com

Many farmers across New Zealand fear the future sheep farming faces is the viability of the business model in the face of trees on hill country. The merger of Primary Wool Co-Operative & Wools of New Zealand closes on the 4th of November and maybe the ticket to contracting the fragmented industry to provide more value behind the farm gate. As this week's Change Maker, Sarah catches up with Richard Young, Chair of Primary Wool Co-Operative to discuss what the merger will mean for growers, where the strong wool price needs to be to be sustainable, and how the capitally constrained industry can emerge from the doldrums to capture the value of 'eco-consumerism'. For more information on the merger, visit: https://primarywool.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Information-booklet.pdf Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season.

Positive community outcomes are what drive this Central Otago sheep & beef farmer who has found herself supporting the diversity of opinion towards environmental progress.    Emma Crutchley, farming with her husband in the Maniototo, has a wide range of experience from a career in agronomy to governance in water management aware that her biggest strength she offers is facilitating challenging conversations.    "I've learned that you have a limited time so don't spread yourself too thin. Try and find the spot where you can use your skillset to have the biggest influence with the time you have available to contribute," Emma Crutchley. As this week's Sarah's Country Sister, Emma has many pleas for the farming sector to come together around the various strategies to achieve environmental excellence and that outside thinking is needed.   Tiaki Maniototo is an example of Emma's involvement in sourcing $4.5million in government funding to plant 90,000 native plants, 200km of fencing, preserve the rare native fish and enhance recreational areas for all of the community to access the newly planted areas.   Sarah & Emma discuss how projects can bring the wider community together on their shared values bridging the divide so they have a collective sense of achievement and connection to their catchment.   Click here to read Emma's Kellogg's report "Water sharing in a water-short catchment"  Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com    

Did you know that New Zealand farmers in their 40's are having heart attacks? It's time to reframe what it means to be a top farmer. It's not about what people think of you as the stress unbalances the economics of your farm and life. Being a Triple-A farmer is assessing, adapting, and adjusting your farm to have a holistic approach to wellbeing. From the books to the bed, being successful is having your physical, mental, social, and business wellbeing in order right across the board.  In this week's Opinion Maker, Sarah discusses the fundamentals of having a balanced life as every aspect is interconnected. Physical pain creates fatigue which leads to poor mental performance and ultimately business performance. Throughout this episode, Sarah talks to others involved in a unique new program, FarmFlex, from a rural accountant, personal trainer, environmental consultant, insurance advisors. In this week's Opinion Maker, Sarah discusses the fundamentals of having a balanced life as every aspect is interconnected. Physical pain creates fatigue which leads to poor mental performance and ultimately business performance. Throughout this episode, Sarah talks to others involved in a unique new program, FarmFlex, from a rural accountant, personal trainer, environmental consultant, insurance advisors. In this episode, we learn about great tips and advice from: - Elle Perriam, founder of Will to Live NZ Charitable Trust, supports farmers with free private phycologists and what she's discovered about the fundamentals of stress. - Erica Van Reenan, managing director AgFirst Manawatu, in how she's learned that to achieve good environmental and business outcomes people are at the heart of decision making. - Rahui Corbett, partner at rural accountancy, Morrison Creed on how to cashflow forecast in uncertain times. - Matt Wells, wellness coach at The Rec Room, hits home the importance of physical health on overall performance and reducing fatigue from niggly injuries. - Pierre Schroeder, the principal adviser at Thrive, highlights the value of human resources in your farming operation and how putting yourself & people first can save you money. For more information about FarmFlex launching on 5th November 2021, visit https://www.facebook.com/Farmflex2021 or contact the team at Thrive. Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com

Cherry-picking facts and non or discounted 'accounting' is happening everywhere across the conversation of climate change and food production.  One New Zealand scientist wants the narrative to include the full energy analysis of our food production which doesn't look good for plant-based proteins or vertical farming.  Craig Anderson's webinar "Is energy the Achilles heel of agriculture" has caught many people's attention and highlighted the opportunity to focus on the full life cycle analysis, instead of just greenhouse gas emissions. As this week's Change Maker, Sarah learns more about the observations Craig is making when we shift our thinking to the energy or calorie profile of food. "The green revolution of agriculture has seen more energy/per kg used to produce 1kg of calories. Whilst we can all make reductions on farm, lot of that is coming from the process after the farm-gate. New Zealand has an opportunity to reframe the story," explains Craig. More resources as explained in the podcast: - Craig's presentation - watch here - Craig's latest opinion piece on Newsroom 'The energy dilemma of eating' - read here  Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com

What has been polarising the New Zealand farming community for some time is a word! Yep, that's right. The word 'regenerative'. Unable to be pigeonhole or tamed by certification. So why do we care so much about it? It's because the principles of regenerative resonate so deeply with New Zealand's essence of how we naturally care for the environment that we have become so passionate about our identity being under threat. In the Regenerative Agriculture Market Scan & Consumer Insights report released this week, showed here is a significant opportunity for New Zealand to position itself to take advantage of the global regenerative agriculture trend, according to research commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW). In this week's Opinion Maker, Sarah discusses how we can lead the world with our farming practices on the groundswell surrounding the word, 'regenerative.' This episode features the report's author, Mike Lee from Alpha Food Labs (USA), Steve Smith, Chair of Primary Sector Council and representing the NZ Winegrowers as well as Beef + Lamb NZ's Market Development Manager, Nick Beeby. For more information about Sarah's Country, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Did you know over 200,000 treated and broken timber vineyard posts every year discarded wood destined for landfills? Greg Coppell found himself looking to fence off his farm on a shoestring budget and Stu Dudley his mate works in the viticulture industry which was the onus for creating REPOST, this great company in Marlborough recycling what has been a waste product for the vineyard industry into a new life of farms repurposing posts as a cheap, no-fuss fencing solution for fencing off waterways on farms across the country. This truly is saving money and the environment as Sarah's Country's Change Maker this week! For more information on REPOST visit, https://repost.co.nz/about/ Thanks to our mates at Farmlands for partnering with us this Spring. As NZ's largest farmer-owned co-operative head to shop.farmlands.co.nz for your knowledge & advice across the country. visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

She oozes passion for our food storytellers to lead the next generation of New Zealand's identity as a proud food-producing nation. But she says there is no time to rest on our laurels and we must come together around our proposed national food strategy, Mana Kai, for which she is on the steering group for.   "We have had the moral and environment high ground for so long. The push back that we are better than the rest of the world is really dangerous as other countries can frog-jump us with our complacency," Angela Clifford, Eat NZ. This week's Change Maker is Angela Clifford, founder of Eat New Zealand, a non-profit organisation on a mission to be the bridge of the New Zealand food movement dedicated to connecting people to our land, through our food.    Eat New NZ is a collective of chefs, producers, media, tourism, and event operators, who have all been inspired to create a national platform to promote and champion our best food, drink, and culinary tourism opportunities.   Sarah & Angela discuss opportunities to capture our national & indigenous values with our own form of geographical indicators, provenance & terroir.  Angela, along with her wine-maker husband spent 15 years in the Barossa Valley, Australia deeply involved in the storytelling through wine events & farmer markets. When they returned home to North Canterbury, where Nick was involved in the establishment of Greystone Wines, Angela spread her wings to wrap the food of the region together with the wine involving chefs, tourism, and media.   Now in 2021, Eat New Zealand is holding the next installment of the Food Hui in Christchurch 1-2 November to discuss how we can incorporate a values-based framework or national food strategy into our food system, the development of food communities through local food networks, and regenerative food tourism to understand how they'll play an important role in our food security and food celebration moving forwards. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands for partnering with us this Spring. As NZ's largest farmer-owned co-operative head to shop.farmlands.co.nz for your knowledge & advice across the country. visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

We are heavily assuming if you are reading this article you are already well educated on the nutrition and climate science that supports grass-fed, pasture-raised beef and lamb from New Zealand. But to also go on to assume that just because consumers may be wealthy and educated, doesn't necessarily mean they will choose to purchase red meat as often as they once did. They have been afforded the privilege of having a food identity. You can throw all of the complex science at the human health vs planetary health debate or the plant vs meat debate, but it will mean nothing without cohesive global storytelling as this week's guests from around the world highlight. Over the course of 3 months, Sarah Perriam has been collecting interviews from experts across the globe for this very special Opinion Maker episode to try and answer the burning question for New Zealand's sheep & beef farmers, "How does meat compete with the negative narrative globally?" This episode features : Prof. Frederic Leroy, Professor of Food Science and Biotechnology Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, presented at both the 2019 Red Meat Sector Conference (NZ) and presented at Multiscapes, the international virtual conference in 2021 (NZ) and explains the complex, binary discussion surrounding meat.  Fiona Windle, Head Nutritionist at Beef + Lamb NZ who highlights the ever-evolving narrative towards meat that lacks nutritional importance when discussing climate change off the back of the Barnsley report published in 2021 that illustrates substituting meat from the average diet would lead to only a 3-4% decrease in an individual's lifetime global warming impact. Anne Mottet, Sustainable livestock development at United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation, France, discusses balancing the Sustainable Development Goals of nutritional needs as discussed at the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit with the climate needs on the table at 2021 UN COP26.   Kate Gower-James, Aitkens Ranch based in San Francisco about the US Wholefoods consumer, the trends of food identity, trusting your meat marketer to keep up with the latest consumer trends, and how positioning accredited storytelling on meat is important. Laura Ryan, the co-founder of the Global Meat Alliance, has rallied the global red meat community to work together on the common challenges, collaborating through COVID in the lead-up to COP26. Dave Courtney, Silver Fern Farms chief customer officer discussing their research and pilot for carbon-neutral meat and regenerative agriculture and how NZ sheep & beef farmers can prepare themselves for these trends.

From farm to fork, food is the least digitized supply chain. However, with the recent advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, and for the first time in human history, it's now practical to digitize agriculture and its supply chain. The billion-dollar space race is allowing connectivity to sensors like never before which will transform how we collect data in areas without cellphone coverage.  This week's Change Maker is Dr. Sara Spangelo, Founder & CEO of Swarm who are rumored to have just sold their company to Elon Musk's SpaceX, about how New Zealand is leading the pack in buying up low-cost satellite technology. Rural connectivity in New Zealand, but also globally, is renowned for being unreliable and frequently nonexistent. Ground-based network solutions like cellular and point-to-point networks have limited range, where their signals only travel a few dozens of kilometers. But then satellite has been really expensive, until now. Swarm created the world's tiniest satellites in orbit which you can purchase a small compact low-power tile to collect data from any sensor. "There are so many wonderful companies in New Zealand doing agriculture and IoT. New Zealand is the one country that we have sold the most devices so far. There is a huge interest because you are forward-thinking towards innovation and technology," Sara Spangelo, Swarm  By deploying internet-connected sensors and robotics into the field data can be continuously collected to monitor crop and soil health, detect pests, and automate tasks like irrigation, fertilizing, and harvesting. Growers can now make data-informed decisions about production to optimize for profitability and market-driven volume. These technologies also significantly reduce the waste of precious resources like water.  Dr. Sara Spangelo worked on small satellites and autonomous aircraft at the University of Michigan and was a lead systems engineer at both NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and Google X. She holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and in 2017 was a Top 32 Canadian astronaut candidate. For more information on how Swarm is being used in agriculture, visit https://swarm.space/applications/agriculture

This is the one episode in nearly 900 episodes where I teared up editing it! Meet one of my great mates, Anna. As an open-minded, intelligent, technologically advanced sheep & beef farmer in her 30's she is trumped, not at why change is needed, but how. Anna Fisher, a passionate farming mother of 2-under-5 gives an authentic insight into life on farm navigating the rise in demands from every level and why farmers took to the streets in protest.  "Most of our friends in the farming industry are pretty upbeat sort of people. You don't ever see them angry or down and out but now they are saying, geez, I've had enough. There are just so many pressures on farming, you feel like a minority that people just hate you," explains Anna.

Want to understand the proposed changes to the freshwater farm plan and intensive winter grazing rules? Are these changes more workable for land-owners, how will improvements be measured and audited, what on-farm tools will be used?   Bryan Smith, Chief Advisor for Freshwater from the Ministry for the Environment presented as part of this Livestream Q & A on Sarah's Country about the proposed changes to the freshwater regulations on Wednesday 22nd September 2021, prior to submissions closing on 7th October 2021. The panel featured Sam McIvor (CEO - Beef + Lamb NZ), Sam Lucas (Head of Agronomy at Farmlands), and Kate Scott (Director - Landpro) to dive into if the new changes. Watch the show on Sarah's Country on YouTube. Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Sarah is super excited about the future of wool after this episode - it is truly wool reimagined! New Zealand scientists at the Wool Research Insitute (WRONZ) have been exploring new uses for strong wool - nature's miracle fibre that is costing farmers to shear for animal health reasons. The game-changing development is the patented technology to break down the fibre into unique particles, powders and pigments with global export potential for applications as diverse as cosmetics, printing, luxury goods, and personal care. "One of the massive advantages is by taking wool down to a particle level, we can create a particle that frankly feels fantastic against your skin, still has moisture absorption capability and still takes colour really well. We've attempted to maximise the strengths and the unique properties of wool whilst getting rid of maybe some of the things that have made it a challenge and in modern markets,"explains Tom Hooper, Wool Source. This week's Change Maker is the CEO of the newly formed Wool Source, Tom Hooper who will lead the WRONZ initiative with the goal of the three-year programme aims to prove the commercial viability of the new deconstructed wool particle products. For more information on the show, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Curious about how 'those bureaucrats in Wellington' think? Sarah Perriam, host of Sarah's Country uncovers the nurturing nature of the woman with one of the hardest jobs in the primary sector right now. With policy flying out the door at pace from Minister Parker, her team has been elevated within the Ministry for the Environment as they have realized to achieve the outcomes they need to work with farmers and growers on the ground and provide better feedback loops.   Sarah has an in-depth yarn to Sara Clarke, Director - Policy Implementation and Delivery at MfE understand the humanity behind the women tasked with implementing climate and freshwater, the Overseer review, and intensive winter grazing regulations being rolled out and she wants to do this with relationships across the sector to work together to see progress.    "We need to have all parties in the room leading this change in order to design something that's going to land well and be implementable at the end of the process, potentially to something like emissions pricing, which ultimately will affect 20 to 30 thousand farms across New Zealand," says Sara Clarke. To learn more about the show, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

It goes without saying when you are in a relationship, the ultimate glue to the longevity of that relationship is trust. New Zealand is a trading nation exporting 95% of our products and is the largest industry geographically so there are multiple relationships to keep the trust to the highest possible level to continue to exist. In this week's Opinion Maker series, Sarah dives into the world of technology that has the potential to digitally connect with all farms in New Zealand, ultimately returning more value to food & fibre produced to high standards. Alongside that, there is fatigue on-farm and across the supply chain in ticking boxes for compliance barriers, duplication is strangling innovation and siloed powerhouses of data have refused to allow farmers data to talk to other devices. Sarah talks across the primary sector to unearth the progress being made to answer the looming question "How do we turn compliance into value with trust & transparency?" This episode features : Maury Leyland Penno, Chair of Trust Codes and former Fonterra executive who handled the crisis management of the botulism scare in infant formulaGreg McSkimming, in his role with the newly incorporated NZ Farm Assurance Plan body that his company, Silver Fern Farms works alongside dozens of other red meat & wool companies to bring a cohesive single assurance to consumers of on-farm practicesBrent Paterson, founder of My Enviro and Hawke's Bay farmer and agri-business professional on the launch of his digital farm environment plan that will simplify information required by regulatorsJefferson Harcourt, founder of Eco Detection, a real-time automated water quality monitoring tool.Semaine Cato, co-founder of Trust Alliance NZ, with Chris Claridge where she works in the blockchain with her company Trackback to validate the data across the supply chain. Watch the presentation about the Trust Alliance NZ from the 2021 Primary Industries Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1c5xRslgg8 To learn more about Sarah's Country and listen to past episodes, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Parents for generations have tried to preach to their children that apples are packed with good nutrients, yet lunchboxes plenty have been returned with the trusty snack. From the orchard gate in New Zealand through to the packaging of its product in Japan, RockitTM apple is not only the world's first snack-size apple but also a brand and business model that will make you sit up and take notice of how great brands are created by more than just great marketing.   "It's high in antioxidants, high in Vitamin C with a huge amount of daily fibre and it's kind of an underpinning story. But what will really connect with consumers is how relevant it is to them in their daily lives and then you've got a really winning formula," Julian Smith, Rockit.   This week's Change Maker is the General Manager of Global Marketing for Rockit, Julian Smith who brings to the Hawke's Bay-based company his experience with Jazz Apples, Les Mills as well as over 10 years working under New Zealand food & fashion brand guru, Brian Richards Sarah discusses with Julian: - Their unique vertically integrated value chain at Rockit and differentiating marketing strategy - How they work to optimize their systems on a daily basis to work with their orchard managers to produce a world-class product - How they are managing the global licensing of Rockit to scale up and plan for the rise of counterfeit products - Why they chose to focus on the Japanese market first and their partnership with Costco - His learnings on how products marketed with great stories can achieve price premiums For more information on the show visit, www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

A short message from Sarah Perriam to share the excitement of being back with three new episodes every week from Monday 13th September in partnership with Farmlands Co-operative.

Rural mental health can now benefit from a simple, effective Kiwi invention that attracted crowds at Fieldays. Farmers find it hard to get off-farm due to the tie of feeding their working dogs daily, as the Manawatu farmer-turned-inventors knows personally so he set out to do something about it! I wondered about heading to the coast for a fish for the weekend, with the hope the manager could feed my dogs for me. He mentioned he had a bit on with family, so that made my decision for me - I wasn't going to go away.  With the vision to ‘feed freedom' for both the farmer and the dog, Gerard along with his partner Claire created Durafeed, an automatic dog feeder. As a Change Maker this week in Sarah's Country, Gerard discusses: How he vividly remembers a stinking hot day in the sheep yards, back in December 2016, when he was working with the dogs to push sheep up the race for processing, that the idea of an automated dog feeder, known today as Durafeed, first came to mind.The real challenge for farmers both employees and employers alike, to get off farm to spend time with their family and take a break is the reason there is so much interest in such a simple innovation.The process of developing the Durafeed automatic dog feeders and the route to commercialising the invention for dog owners to purchase. About Gerard Richards: A rural Manawatu born and bred farmer, Gerard, along with partner Clare and their young daughter, are currently leasing a hill country block in Northern Horowhenua, where they're farming sheep and beef.  He's always had an interest in working with animals, as they always find a way of keeping him on his toes and teaching him something new from season to season. Gerard's connection to the land runs deep, having had previous roles on a cattle ranch in Australia, in the live export industry as a stockman for 4 years at sea but his heart was firmly at home, eventually coming back to NZ to get his feet back on solid ground with a team of dogs. Learn more about the Feeder Contact Gerard: feedingfreedom@durafeed.nz For more information on Sarah's Country: www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

The early findings of a survey show that New Zealand sheep farmers' are feeling they are hamstrung to meet the expectations of ‘transitioning to sustainability' until the information collected and the wider system they operate in can tell the full picture. The government's role is to create an environment where businesses can solve problems. If great businesses and farming is one of New Zealand's largest businesses, gets out and shows how it's done, then the policy can be led by that. Lincoln University Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce economics researcher and research & development lead at Webtools, Jemma Penelope's fascinating combined experience in and passion for policy, ecology, commerce and technology pair beautifully to be researching solutions for the New Zealand sheep industry. As a Change Maker this week in Sarah's Country, Jemma discusses: Her research survey asks New Zealand sheep farmers what a sustainable future looks like beyond the farm gate which is collecting a range of perspectives.Farmers can't be sustainable behind the farm-gate, if the system beyond the farm gate they are operating in doesn't support change.Feedback so far from the survey is that farmers feel that the information collected doesn't reflect the full picture of the positive contribution sheep farming makes to tell the full story. About Jemma Penelope: Jemma Penelope is an economics and accounting researcher, currently undertaking her second Master in Commerce and Management. Combining her earlier academic career in biology, conservation and environmental markets with her subsequent commercial experience in accounting and business management today she specialises in sustainability via impact business and social entrepreneurship – where the commerce tools of business, economics and accounting are used to address and solve this generations' complex and challenging social and environmental issues. She compliments this through her role in political party management, speaking to her interest in the macro-level changes required on national and international levels to bring political and economic solutions to issues of sustainability in business and industry. Complete the survey (closes mid-August 2021) Connect with Jemma on LinkedIn Contact Jemma: jemmapenelope@gmail.com Connect with Jemma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemmapenelopemisjp/?originalSubdomain=nz  For more information on Sarah's Country: www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

It turns out, according to new research, that Kiwis - urban and farmers - share similar views on what sustainable farming looks like. They both share concerns that big retailers, like supermarkets and regulators, are putting pressure on producers and holding back a healthy food system with more and more Kiwis ready to shop with their farmers in mind whether buying direct, at farmers markets or labelled NZ-grown. "Urban and rural dwellers have a similar vision for sustainable farming. They don't just agree on the issues, but also on the solutions!” says Dr Turner. As a Change Maker this week in Sarah's Country, Dr James Turner, Our Land and Water science leader & senior AgResearch scientist, shares the insights: The research by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge and Open Farms (a nationwide Open Farm day event), suggests that direct relationships between farmers and citizens could be a pathway towards more sustainable farming practices.Urban and farmer respondents generally share a vision of more diverse landscapes, fewer chemical inputs, and farming practices that improve soil and water health.These findings support Ministry for Primary Industries research that found the divide between urban and rural attitudes to farming is smaller than perceived.Urban and farmer respondents agreed that the biggest barrier to sustainable farming is the purchasing and pricing power of large market players, like supermarkets.At 29%, purchasing food directly from the farm was ranked as the most effective sustainable food action customers could take, followed by buying NZ grown food at 21%.Visiting a farm builds a connection between those who grow and those who eat food. On-farm experiences also positively change how people view sustainability in farming, perceive the complexity of farming and encourage more considered food purchasing behaviour. For more information visit: A longer-form version of the release & infographic at the Our Land and Water website.The Farmers' Market NZ study comparing supermarket/market prices, as referenced above and in the release.The Consumer NZ submission to the Commerce Commission echoes the concerns raised by survey respondents. To watch the show, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Following Covid Consumers like never before are wanting to stay healthy and are searching for ethically produced foods that have quantified health benefits and New Zealand's natural product has a huge opportunity to capitalise on this trend. “The interesting opportunity is how to develop a branded ingredient from New Zealand primary produce that has quantified health benefits. We have a programme that takes the concept right through to commercialization, everything from evaluating what the IP situation might be like through to all of the regulatory hurdles and how to access global markets,” explains Samantha Gray, BioEquitas. As a Change Maker this week in Sarah's Country, Samantha Gray explains: BioEquitas works with small start-ups to large global brands on branded ingredients to branded products and she sees the next big opportunity is how to create a branded ingredient from NZ primary produce.Their programme supports right through to commercialization, everything from evaluating what the IP situation might be like through to all of the regulatory hurdles and possible deals of developing a product that can access global markets. Samantha is on the board of Natural Health NZ and is doing a lot of work on regulatory reform to encourage further innovation. For information visit, https://www.bioequitas.co.nz/ To watch the show, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Having known Abby France for over a decade as a friend, this episode provides an insight into two 30-something females having an honest yarn about how they see the future of New Zealand's primary sector. In this fortnight's Sarah's Country Sisters, Abby discusses her work with farmers attitude towards risk in FMG, resilient communities in her work as a Rural Support Trust trustee and community event organiser and her passion for the deer industry as a former young farmer with her husband Dave. Sarah & Abby discuss women's roles changing in the sector and the need for younger voices in governance.

Deep knowledge of what is happening amongst the vines is now able to be collected in the process of carrying out standard tasks such as mowing, mulching, leaf removal and trimming. What was a lifestyle move from Auckland to Marlborough for an industrial engineer marks the start of a new era of technological advancement in vineyards with Smart Machine's, Oxin. “If you can be solving a fundamental industry problem, your value proposition ends up looking pretty good,” Andrew Kersley, CEO, Smart Machine. As a Change Maker in Sarah's Country this week, Andrew explains: Labour shortages for manual tasks in vineyards were apparent prior to Covid, but the design problem was more than a shortage of hands but the consistency of the outcome of humans.The artificial intelligence of the Oxin autonomous tractor can collect data on the health and yield of the plants whilst it carries out the tasks providing the hardware for the ecosystem of decision making for growers. His opinion's on data sovereignty and interoperability “We need to be developing ecosystems that are beneficial for the growers as a whole, not trying to own our own little pieces of it” For information visit https://oxin.nz/ To watch the show, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

Despite the government's efforts to reduce our reliance on migrant workers, there has always been an issue with the pathway's into the primary industry. However, Covid also brought about a chance to co-design a solution with Primary ITO taking the lead to facilitate an industry-wide collaborative project to address the gapping labour shortage. As a Change Maker this week in Sarah's Country, Eve Williams, Project Lead at Primary ITO explains their winter workshops and the outcomes they are working to achieve so this is more than a 'talk fest'. To watch the show, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

A great tale of the next generation making change to the orchardists have been price-takers of commodity products for too long. For information 73 Citrus visit, https://www.73citrus.co.nz/ Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

NZ farmers' simplified focus on protein & energy in pastures needs to move to understanding mineral compounds impact on animal health. For more information on 5th Business Agri visit, https://www.5thbusinessagri.nz/home Subscribe to Sarah's Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah's Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahscountry  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry