The Country

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Craig Piggott, Stefan Vogel, Chloe Butcher-Herries, George Dodson, and Dr Jacqueline Rowarth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister comments on the fuel crisis, the tax credit relief package, Winston Peters and Halter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virtual fencing and herd-system firm Halter has doubled its valuation in less than a year to $3.4 billion (US$2 billion), as Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund leads a $377 million capital raise. This is the largest ever by a New Zealand company. We ask the founder and chief executive what he’s going to do with all that money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sydney-based general manager of RaboResearch crunches the numbers on fuel and fertiliser coming out of the Middle East - and those numbers don’t make good reading. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer panel features two young farmers concerned about Safer Farms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading primary sector academic says, “Never in history has food been so abundant, so varied and so safe to eat”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Hamish sits down with North Canterbury farmer Charles Douglas‑Clifford and local veterinarian Erin Riley to unpack the growing risk of Facial Eczema in the South Island. With farmers already spotting early signs of the fungus responsible for the disease, the conversation explores what this means for animal health and farm management. They also dive into the sheep poo study on Charles’s farm and reveal how the data gathered is helping to power the Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts Programme. Their insights highlight how South Island farmers can use this information to stay one step ahead of the disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Jim Ward and Farmer Tom Martin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supporters of a proposal to make Molesworth a “station for the nation” have taken it a step further by meeting the DoC’s March 20 deadline for expressions of interest in the station’s lease. Former Molesworth Station manager Jim Ward is spearheading a proposal to have Molesworth run by a charitable trust as a self-funding farm operation, preserving the station’s high-value natural and historical assets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our UK Farming Correspondent talks about taking the Government to court over the controversial inheritance tax. Plus, he outlines some of the financial pain facing farmers as a result of the Middle East War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Miles Hurrell, Andrew Hoggard and Grant McCallum, Kate Scott, Richard Wyeth, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Fonterra has today released the FY26 interim results, showing continued momentum in its performance with revenue of $13.9 billion in the first half of the financial year.   Fonterra announced an interim dividend of 24 cents per share, fully imputed from continuing operations and confirmed a special Mainland dividend of 16 cents per share, fully imputed, representing 100% of Mainland Group’s FY26 earnings while under Fonterra ownership. The Co-op has also lifted its forecast Farmgate Milk Price midpoint for the season from $9.50 per kgMS to $9.70 per kgMS. And what about Winston and the job with NZR?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's farmer/politician panel ponders fuel, fert, food and Fonterra. Who was that nodding behind Nicola Willis at Marsden Point? And what about Winston and mad dogs in Northland?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Horticulture NZ talks Maadi Cup, hort exports into the Middle East, fuel/fert/chemical imports out of that region and a tough time for some vegetable growers supplying Watties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Synlait, Synlait Milk has reported on a net loss after tax of $80.6 million with a reported ebitda loss of $34.7m. The Canterbury-based dairy processor reported its half-year results on Monday and provided an update on its recovery plan under new leadership, which it described as “stabilise, simplify, scale”. Its revenue increased $32.3m to $949m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday's resident Weather Man on some serious rain heading for the North Island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Peter McBride, Damien O'Connor, Jane Smith, Todd Charteris, and Winston Peters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Wayne Langford, Mike Casey, Dom Jones, Emma Poole, Tim Dangen, and Chris Brandolino.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The President of Federated Farmers comments on his political aspirations, Mike Casey, the Rural Mental Health Fund announcement, and the PINZ Awards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Electric Cherries grower who was recognised last night at the New Zealander of the Year Awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The managing director of Origin Capital Partners, a Kiwifruit Managed Fund, on the prospect of a very good third season in a row for the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s brother and sister farmer panel features the 2022 and 2023 Young Farmers of the Year - dairy farmers at the opposite ends of the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday’s weatherman from Earth Sciences NZ.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We get the NZ First leader’s take on the state of our economy. Does the most grumpy and curmudgeonly politician in the land want to be our oldest PM? And why is he slamming retiring Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Otago farmer and former winner of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards reckons it’s taken a war for this country to realise that net zero will leave us cold, hungry and poor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take our monthly look at the state of the rural market with PGG Wrightson’s General Manager, Livestock and Real Estate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent says weight loss drugs are great news for dairy farmers and that rain is trumping Trump on sheep farms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this DairyNZ Dairy Update, Michelle talks to Shaun Hazelton, Senior Regional Policy Advisor at DairyNZ ,about effluent management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Mike McIntyre, Todd Charteris, Eric Gorlier, and Hunter McGregor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade agrees that the disruption in the Middle East makes an FTA with India even more important. Does he have an update, and how much of our trade is currently stalled? Are there alternative trade routes and markets, and how bad could the cost of fuel and fertiliser get? Do we have a Plan B for Kapuni and Marsden Point to make us more resilient? And finally, what about Winston Peters slamming Miles Hurrell?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jarden analyst reviews last night’s GDT auction, up 0.1%, the sixth consecutive rise. While the result remained basically unchanged, “unders and overs” were all over the place. Whole milk powder down 4%, skim milk powder up 5.2%, anhydrous milk fat up 6.4%, butter down 0.9%, and cheddar up 0.1%. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s chief executive says that, following a dip in the final quarter of 2025, farmer confidence has reversed course and inched higher in the first Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey of the year. The latest result extends a lengthy run of elevated farmer confidence, with net positive readings recorded across the last seven quarters dating back to September 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with Nestle’s Swiss-based Head of Procurement Commodities and Sustainability, who’s in the country to visit Synlait, Fonterra and Open Country Dairy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Shanghai-based correspondent updates the Chinese economy, which is faring better than many because of its closer ties to Iran for oil supplies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Being Farmstrong, Michelle Watt sits down with Farmstrong Champion Deanne Parkes to talk about women’s mental health on and around the farm. They dig into why so many women just keep pushing through, what that “invisible load” really looks like, and how taking just a moment to pause and check in with yourself can make a massive difference. They also get into the differences between men and women, and how you can better support the partner, wife, mum or friend in your life who might be carrying more than you realise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Cameron Bagrie, Damien O'Connor, Todd Clark, and Kelvin Wickham.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independent economist on the exchange (down) and interest rates (up), fuel and fertiliser prices, and a change in world order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Labour’s Trade spokesperson if, as a good Irishman on St Patrick’s Day, he’s looking forward to a pint of Guinness and a good argument later in the day. We also discuss the trade implications of the Middle East conflict and reminisce about the Carless Days of 1979-80. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Kentucky-based US farming correspondent is looking forward to spring and to an end to the Iran War. He also reflects on his recent farming tour of New Zealand and what he learned on his travels. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Ballance Agri-Nutrients comments on the supply and price issues for the fertiliser industry as a result of the Middle East conflict. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Peter McBride, David Seymour, John Fagan, Tom Young, and Phil Duncan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.