The Country

Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Mark de Lautour, Maegen Blom, Jack O'Connor, Dr Victoria Hatton, and Nick Beeby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find Labour’s trade spokesman at the Red Meat Sector Conference in Wellington, where he was part of the Political Debate Panel this morning. We discuss the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update and whether there is a spare $18 billion in the coffers to pay for pay equity, write off student loans and pay for three free doctor’s visits. Is he looking forward to having Chloe (16%) as his Minister of Finance? And what does he make of the Opportunity Party’s five bottom lines?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Open Country Dairy comments on his farmer roadshows, getting out of the Paris Agreement, challenging DIRA, and whether he’s interested in buying Synlait. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s “Surf and Turf” Zanda Panel includes the 2025 transtasman winners, as we encourage entries for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award (for emerging professionals in the primary industries, aged 21-35). Entries are open all month in October.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head back to the Red Meat Sector Conference to talk to a futurist from Food HQ about her upcoming address this afternoon: “Who Cares Enough About The Future”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wrap up the Red Meat Sector Conference with the chief executive of the Meat Industry Association.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Paul Henry, Dean Rabbidge, Kate Acland, Kaitlin Bates, and Phil Duncan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act’s star candidate is sitting in for his leader, David Seymour, today, and he’s not backward in pushing his candidacy forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s reaching a crisis point for many southern farmers as Mother Nature continues to deal out some brutal blows, with winter biting well into spring. We catch up with a Southland sheep and beef farmer and trustee of the Southland Rural Support Trust to ask what help is available and how farmers can look after their mental health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the chairwoman of Beef + Lamb NZ ahead of the Red Meat Sector Conference beginning today in Wellington, and we preview Wednesday evening’s (7-30pm) Rural Issues Election Debate at Mystery Creek organised by Fed Farmers, DairyNZ and B+LNZ.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a great yarn with a Farmlands business development manager who is also just one of three women who are premier grade referees at first-grade level. Plus, we tell you how you can win $50k in prizes for your rural club with the Rural Rugby Legends promotion (closing Oct 3).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We plead with Monday’s resident weatherman for some decent weather down south.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Callum McCallum, John McCaw, Richard Allen, and Daniel Eb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Brandolino, Christopher Luxon, Hamish Marr, and Rachel Shearer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday’s Favourite Weather Guy steps in for the Prime Minister and comments on a series of cold fronts moving up the country, with snowy, wet and windy conditions expected on Sunday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister joins us in the studio, and we ask him why he’s campaigning in a Labour stronghold. We also discuss/debate the Paris Agreement, the agriculture portfolio, why Labour is more trusted on the five key issues, stalling local government reform, and supermarkets. Plus, is the Opportunity Party a wolf in sheep’s clothing?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Arable Week here on The Country, and we wrap it up with a Mid Canterbury mixed cropping farmer (and former special agricultural trade envoy).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The general manager of PGG Wrightson Wool reviews yesterday’s sale, which saw an easing of the market for strong crossbred wool.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Richard Allen, Steve Abel, Scott Champion, Chris Russell, and Riley Kennedy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd has today reported its FY26 annual results, delivering $27 billion in revenue and nearly $20 billion in cash returns to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders. The chief executive tells us his favourite number!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party agriculture spokesman riles up our audience with his comments on emissions reductions, organic farming and why the Greens didn’t support the Indian free trade agreement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Arable Week here on The Country, and today it’s the turn of the chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research to look at the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent talks about irrigation issues, a 47,000-strong petition to ban live animal exports, and an Aussie sports administrator to admire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior journalist at BusinessDesk discusses Fonterra and former chief executive Miles Hurrell’s pay packet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to John McCaw, Daniel Eb, Danielle Adsett, and Brigid Crawford.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Arable Week here on The Country, and today we're talking to a Methven cropping farmer who, along with his wife Mel, was crowned the Arable Farmers of the Year at the 2026 Arable Awards. John was also the 2006 Young Farmer of the Year, and he’s Richie’s cousin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opportunity Party deputy leader and agriculture spokesman defends his party’s agricultural emissions policy, and we debate whether he’s trying to kneecap NZ’s most productive sector. And is Opportunity really a centrist party when the centre-right has already ruled it out?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the chief executive of NZ Apples and Pears on the eve of her departure to India, as we look to cash in on the newly ratified FTA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Rabobank Upper North Island client council member and Te Puke kiwifruit grower talks about the season and the Rabobank HortPathways programme attended by 25 emerging leaders from across the horticulture sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Dr Robyn Dynes, Callum McCallum, Jo Luxton, and Grant Weller.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Trade and Agriculture celebrates the ratification of the Indian FTA. Could it be, as the Prime Minister suggested, a free trade agreement that far exceeds expectations? And does he face a challenge from Andrew Hoggard for his agriculture portfolio?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Arable Week here on The Country, and a leading agricultural scientist asks what the risks are if we outsource all our feed, food and seeds to international markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the director of McCallum Bros, the company awarded the Government contract to provide future shipping services to the Chatham and Pitt Islands. We discuss the challenges of shipping to the Chatham Islands and what this new service means for the region's farming future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s agriculture spokeswoman is on the receiving end of some rare praise on today’s show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southland sheep and beef farmer and the 2011 winner of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Today we discuss the third consecutive saturated September in the deep south as El Niño bites hard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCallum, Blair "Blocka" Drysdale, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, and Phil Duncan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer/politician panel ponders “making farming fun again”, supermarkets, primary sector monopolies and duopolies, and whether the Nats will get any List MPs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Arable Week on The Country, and we kick off proceedings with a Northern Southland farmer growing wheat, barley and peas but looking to diversify more into livestock due to poor returns for his cropping operation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our leading primary sector academics has her say on the future of arable farming and supermarkets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Monday’s resident weatherman got any good news for southern farmers as El Niño makes life a misery? The North Island is showing signs of being a bit dry, but more wet weather is coming. The main headline this week is about polar air nationwide and frosts/windchill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Being Farmstrong Hamish McKay chats with General Manager of Ngai Tukairangi Orchards Andrew Wood, who shares why putting people’s wellbeing first is critical for long-term success in farming. He discusses the opportunities and pressures facing the industry, practical ways to support wellbeing on-farm, and how investing in people can strengthen performance, resilience, recruitment, and retention. Andrew also reflects on his involvement with Farmstrong’s Live Well, Grow Well resource and shares his top advice for those starting out in the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Cameron Bagrie, Anna Palairet, Todd Charteris, and Christopher Luxon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.