Podcast appearances and mentions of Andrew Little

This month we are joined by Dr. Jordan Giese, Research Assistant Professor at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, to talk about prairie strips and his research on bird responses to prairie strips in row crop acres. From songbirds to Ring-necked pheasants, Dr. Giese shares how prairie strips can be beneficial for a range of wildlife within agricultural landscapes. Whether you are interested in birding, hunting, wildflowers, or soil health, prairie strips offer immense benefits for farmers across the Midwest.  Resources: Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) Prairie Strips farmer and landowner testimonials   Dr. Jordan Giese [website, @birdnbiologist] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

This month we are joined by Dr. Jordan Giese, Research Assistant Professor at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, to talk about prairie strips and his research on bird responses to prairie strips in row crop acres. From songbirds to Ring-necked pheasants, Dr. Giese shares how prairie strips can be beneficial for a range of wildlife within agricultural landscapes. Whether you are interested in birding, hunting, wildflowers, or soil health, prairie strips offer immense benefits for farmers across the Midwest.   Resources:  Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS)  Prairie Strips farmer and landowner testimonials    Dr. Jordan Giese [website, @birdnbiologist]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Agreement from Wellington's Mayor over council rates needing to be kept in check. The Government's proposing to cap rates increases at 4% a year, with only water rates and other non-rates revenue to be excluded. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says rates increases are due to decades of under-spending. However, he told Ryan Bridge the Government's tapped into a justified concern. Little says a lot of people are watching rates rise astronomically along side other costs, and councils need to do a better job at controlling this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Andrew Little is in studio for his last of the monthly catch ups for 2025 with Nick Mills. He answers questions from Nick and listeners on the state of the city and the latest in council news. They discuss regional council changes, the Golden Mile review, the Deloitte report plus the $48 billion cost of local water reforms. And on December 13th James Cameron brings the Avatar Fire and Ash Australasia premiere to our city. How are the council preparing for this day – which also included a cruise ship arrival, black caps test and Te Papa exhibition opening. Will Wellington be ready? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least one Wellington mayor says it's time district councils combined into one. The Government's proposing replacing regional councillors with boards of district mayors. They'll have two years from establishment, to put up a regional plan for future local Governments. Porirua mayor Anita Baker says the Wellington region should grab this opportunity. She explained Hutt City and Porirua residents have already said yes to amalgamation, and Wellington city mayor Andrew Little doesn't seem opposed either. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council has hit pause on its Golden Mile central city revamp after learning of another budget blowout. Wellington mayor Andrew Little spoke to Corin Dann.

Wellington's mayor says scrapping the controversial Golden Mile project would be relatively easy, but they want to act in good faith. Councillors voted 12-4 to hold fire, after warnings the project could balloon to $220 million up from the 2021 budget of $160 million. Doing up Courtney Place could cost up to $25 million more than approved. Andrew Little says there's no contract or exit costs - but there's an agreement with NZTA. "We actually need to maintain that relationship with NZTA, we've got some big projects scheduled for Wellington now too." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes the Great Plains such a productive agricultural hotspot? And why are some fields just more productive than others no matter what? It turns out the secret is in the soil. This month we are joined by Dr. Ray Ward, founder of Ward Laboratories, to discuss how our soils came to be and how a better knowledge of your soil can lead to healthier farms and ecosystems overall. With a PhD in Soil Fertility and personal farming experience, Dr. Ward shares how practices like cover crops and diversifying an operation can lead to massive benefits – in soil health, water quality, wildlife abundance, ecosystem health and farmer profitability.  Resources: Ward Laboratories Ward Labs Resources   Dr. Ray Ward [website] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

What makes the Great Plains such a productive agricultural hotspot? And why are some fields just more productive than others no matter what? It turns out the secret is in the soil. This month we are joined by Dr. Ray Ward, founder of Ward Laboratories, to discuss how our soils came to be and how a better knowledge of your soil can lead to healthier farms and ecosystems overall. With a PhD in Soil Fertility and personal farming experience, Dr. Ward shares how practices like cover crops and diversifying an operation can lead to massive benefits – in soil health, water quality, wildlife abundance, ecosystem health and farmer profitability.   Resources:  Ward Laboratories  Ward Labs Resources    Dr. Ray Ward [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little joins Nick Mills for the first of his monthly in studio chats, to talk about how his first few weeks have been in the new job. Live in studio, Little talks his pick for deputy mayor, his choices for the committees and their chairs, his priorities before Christmas and the removal of the waterfront fencing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss for his weekly interview, the Public Service Commissioner is questioning whether the PPTA is committed to reaching a deal, former Labour leader Andrew Little has been voted Wellington's new mayor by a landslide, and Jacquie Grant looks set to be voted mayor of Westland at the age of 81.

Former Labour leader Andrew Little has been voted Wellington's new mayor - winning in a landslide. He spoke to Corin Dann.

Well, better late than not at all. On Saturday morning, I went upstairs and said to my daughter, "Have you seen the orange envelopes that had all the voting?" "Oh, hell. Today, isn't it?" she said. "Yes." So we scrambled around and found it in that drawer that has everything, where they'd been since they arrived in the mail. And we had until midday to vote, so both got down to it, and I took hers in with mine to drop into the local library. I knew who I wanted to vote for, so that was relatively simple. And picked up her voting papers in the sealed envelope and mine, and went to our local library, and dropped them in. Which is what I did last local body elections. Scrambled around, but I had to make a special vote because I couldn't find my papers and posted them in Hamilton, at a library in Hamilton, just on the stroke of midday. I didn't even know if my vote counted, but hopefully it did. Hopefully I made it in time, and this time it certainly should. I wasn't the only one leaving it to the last minute, and I wasn't the only one scrambling around trying to get a special vote, as I'd done in the previous local body elections. The library was absolutely chocker when I went in there to post the envelopes. There was probably around about 30 odd people sitting on chairs and another 20 waiting to cast a special vote. At least we were trying to have our say. At least, even though we'd left it to the very last minute, we were trying to have our say in local body elections. And hopefully, by the time all of the special votes have been counted, the voter turnout will come up slightly because at the moment, it's the lowest voter turnout in 36 years. Less than a third of us, 32.65%, bothered to have our say. Of those who did, typically, it's the lazy city goers who were the most useless. In metro areas, only 28.8% cast their votes. Those in the provinces, 38.3%. While the rural turnout, yet again, it's the rural folk doing the heavy lifting, 43.6%. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch saw mayors elected with a landslide, if you can call it that when you've got such a low proportion of voters turning out. Local Government New Zealand wants to get voter turnout to 80%. As they say in the Placemakers ad, tell him he's dreaming. Mayor Brown called it a strong endorsement to finish what he started, which is over-egging the omelette. Andrew Little felt thrilled, excited, and somewhat daunted by the job ahead as Wellington Mayor. And Phil Major was surprised at the size of his majority. To be honest, I'm not particularly enthused about re-electing Wayne Brown. I did, but because there was very little in the way of options. He's not the most engaging of personalities, but, you know, when you're looking for a mayor, he turns up sober, gets things done, hasn't bonked anyone in the Ngati Whatua room. You know, so go Wayne. Better than you can say about other mayors around the country and in the past. And that's kind of how you get elected these days. If you're vaguely adequate, then people voters just think, thank heavens, and give you the tick. How on earth do we get a better turnout and more engaged communities? Councils matter. In 2024, councils across the country were responsible for $217 billion dollars' worth of assets and employed 39 and a half thousand staff. They had a collective spending power of $20 billion dollars. It really matters. That's our money. Political parties know the power of controlling these assets. Blocks of politically motivated people try to get on councils to push their agendas through. And they can do that because of the apathy of the voters. I mean, look what happened in Wellington. But what do we do? I think I'm preaching to the converted here. I imagine most of you would have been very sensible and cast your vote long before Saturday morning like me. But you and I are interested in politics. We know that we have a responsibility to vote. Don't we? I'm imagining that most of you would have turned out. If you didn't, I'd love to know why. If you did, how do we get more people to take an interest? The good councillors, and you know the ones in your area, I know the ones in mine, do their level best to get out there an show you what they're doing, show you how they're spending your money, exhorting you to take an interest in what they're doing, exhorting you to critique their performance. I don't know how it can be too hard. Maybe reading up on the backgrounds of the candidates, maybe reading what they want to spend your money on is hard. But so too is finding out that something you're vehemently opposed to or that your rates are going up and you've got no idea why. That's hard too. Choose your hard. Maybe having polling booths, maybe not having so long, because otherwise they go in that drawer where everything goes. I don't know. I would love to hear your ideas. Because it matters. It really does matter - $217 billion dollars worth of assets and a collective spending power of $20 billion dollars and two-thirds of New Zealand goes, "yeah, whatever." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders have voted against steep rates rises in the local elections. Auckland's Wayne Brown and Christchurch's Phil Mauger have both been re-elected over the weekend, with a commitment to keep rates rises lower. Wellington's Andrew Little and Hamilton's Tim Macindoe have indicated they'll rein in their cities' steep rates rises. In Dunedin - Sophie Barker has won the mayoralty over incumbent Jules Radich. Newstalk ZB's Callum Proctor, Claire Sherwood, Max Towle and Michael Sergel joined Ryan Bridge to recap the results so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's new mayor-elect Andrew Little joins Nick Mills in studio this morning. They discuss his successful election campaign and his hopes and priorities for his term. Little says he is already reviewing the Golden Mile project and has talked to all the councillors, as he prepares to step into the top job in the capital's council. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, guess what - according to Local Government NZ, voter turnout around the country for the local body elections has been dismal. Surprised? On Friday afternoon, 983,466 votes had been received around the country, which represented 28.49 percent of all eligible votes. That's under 30 percent. Blimey. As of Friday, our biggest city, and one with a multitude of issues apparently, had the lowest voting percentage of 21.8 percent, followed by Hamilton City with 22.98 percent and Porirua City with 25.11 percent. Council Governance and Engagement general manager Lou-Ann Ballantyne encouraged people to vote if they hadn't already. She reminded us that if you don't vote, you're letting someone else choose who represents you. Which is true. Or as Ray Chung so eloquently put it after his defeat in the Wellington mayoralty race: “This is your decision. Live with it.” But we still don't seem to care. By the end of Saturday, the overall percentage of voting around the country was 32.65 percent of eligible voters. Rural communities were much more engaged with 43.6 percent voting, provincial came in next at 38.3 percent, followed by metro results of 28.8 percent. We don't have final data yet, but the stats tell us voting turnout in Auckland is on track to be the lowest in the city's history. So, what's wrong with us? I thought most home owners cared about the increase in rates, our rubbish collections, the cost of consents, the state of speed limits on our local roads, the water prices. People always seem to have an opinion on their council and how well or how badly they're performing. Apparently we've never been more disappointed in our councils. So why don't people tick a couple of boxes, let democracy do the talking, and tell our councils what we want? Maybe it's because people complain about council but also appreciate many of the services they offer communities. They cancel each other out. The status quo is ok. Apathy rules. But there's also a lack of key challenges. Where was another strong candidate to challenge Wayne Brown, or Andrew Little? There's also a lack of candidates. Two mayors will be elected unopposed and around 200 candidates were elected by default. And then there's the lack of easily accessible information on candidates - their values, and more importantly their vision. Not everyone has the time to get to a candidate meeting. Why is it so hard to find out how a current councillor or mayor has voted on issues throughout a term? Too many people are making decisions based on terrible photos in lacklustre voting booklets. And then there's the reality that it's all just a bit boring. Candidates generally campaign on the same things - keeping rates low, reducing excessive spending, maintaining infrastructure and making their city or region an affordable place to live. It's all well-worn and hardly gripping stuff, and it's difficult to differentiate between candidates, unless they're wearing a silly hat. Which is all a terrible shame. Decisions councils make affect our lives daily in many ways. We need to change the voting system, postal voting isn't working, and attract better leadership to these thankless roles. We need to stomp out abuse and harassment, pay more - and then hopefully more smart, reasonable people will step up. Perhaps then we will get off our butts and vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Results from this weekend's local elections are still rolling in, with some races still too close to call. But Auckland's Wayne Brown and Christchurch's Phil Mauger have definitely won second terms with decisive victories. Andrew Little's the new mayor in Wellington, and Tim Macindoe's won in Hamilton. Voters in just 17 council areas have opted to keep Māori wards, with voters in 25 opting to scrap them. Newstalk ZB election reporter Michael Sergel says Sophie Barker is leading Dunedin's mayoral race, but this outcome could change on final results. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Little is laying out his priorities as he takes the Wellington mayoral chains. He won a landslide in the capital, getting more than 34,000 votes. His nearest competition was Karl Tiefenbacher on 8807 votes. He's acknowledged leading Wellington is a big job, but he's determined to take the necessary steps. "I'm serious about a council where everybody has a role, has a place and a stake in what we do - and then sort of knitting that together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington mayoral candidate and former minister Andrew Little joins Nick Mills in studio for the final of Wellington Morning's mayoral interviews. Little discussed how he would handle local government compared to central and the reality of a 0% rate increase claim. And on the Golden Mile Little says he would need to take a look at disruption and financial strain before continuing with the project. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we are joined by Dr. Jesse Bell, Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the School of Natural Resources within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also serves as the director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at UNMC and the director of Water, Climate and Health at the University of Nebraska's Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. Following our previous episodes on nitrate issues in drinking water, Andy and Nate chat with Dr. Bell about the specific health risks associated with nitrates in drinking water. They dive into what the science tells us about adverse health outcomes, who should be concerned, and things we can do to help mitigate against these risks. Resources: UNL Water – Nitrate Water, Climate and Health Program Reducing nitrate intake and health complications from drinking private well water   Dr. Jesse Bell [website, academic profile] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin  

This month we are joined by Dr. Jesse Bell, Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate, and Health in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the School of Natural Resources within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also serves as the director of the Water, Climate and Health Program at UNMC and the director of Water, Climate and Health at the University of Nebraska's Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. Following our previous episodes on nitrate issues in drinking water, Andy and Nate chat with Dr. Bell about the specific health risks associated with nitrates in drinking water. They dive into what the science tells us about adverse health outcomes, who should be concerned, and things we can do to help mitigate against these risks.  Resources:  UNL Water – Nitrate  Water, Climate and Health Program  Reducing nitrate intake and health complications from drinking private well water    Dr. Jesse Bell [website, academic profile]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Eviction coming for Miramar's Chocolate Fish cafe and Andrew Little's position in the mayoral race as local election voting comes to an end.

On Friday Faceoff this week Nick spoke to Franks Ogilvie director Stephen Franks and former cabinet minister Peter Dunne. They discussed the council desk saga, privacy within the council, gave their thoughts on Andrew Little and the Wellington mayoral race and their live reaction to the Loafers Lodge fire guilty verdict. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. He is currently providing PR support for Andrew Little's Campaign for Mayor of Wellington, on a voluntary basis.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This month we are joined by Jackson Stansell, Founder and CEO of Sentinel Ag. Following our previous episode on nitrate issues in drinking water with Crystal Powers, Andy and Nate chat with Jackson about how his team at Sentinel is tackling the nitrate issue head on – while also helping farmers be more profitable and efficient. From being good stewards of our land and natural resources to the importance of rural prosperity for the benefit of all, we cover the ins and outs of nitrogen in farming and how new innovations are helping to build a healthier future for people, wildlife, and the land. Resources: Sentinel Ag UNL Water – Nitrate   Jackson Stansell [website, X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

This month we are joined by Jackson Stansell, Founder and CEO of Sentinel Ag. Following our previous episode on nitrate issues in drinking water with Crystal Powers, Andy and Nate chat with Jackson about how his team at Sentinel is tackling the nitrate issue head on – while also helping farmers be more profitable and efficient. From being good stewards of our land and natural resources to the importance of rural prosperity for the benefit of all, we cover the ins and outs of nitrogen in farming and how new innovations are helping to build a healthier future for people, wildlife, and the land.  Resources:  Sentinel Ag  UNL Water – Nitrate    Jackson Stansell [website, X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

With a week to go to the Nene Valley Rock Festival, held in the grounds of the magnificent Grimsthorpe Castle from 4th -7th September 2025, Progzilla’s roving reporter TV’s Roger Marsh recently chatted with two of the Festival Directors … Andrew Little and Tony Castle about this year’s event. Also included are the following tracks: […]

This month we are joined by Dr. Larkin Powell, Director of the School of Natural Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With years of research experience in the Great Plains and beyond, Dr. Powell narrates the story of how our agricultural landscapes have changed over time and the opportunities and challenges that come along with these changes. We also discuss Dr. Powell's upcoming book, "The Best of Intentions: A story of landscape change in the Great Plains." Resources: The Best of Intentions: a history of landscape change in the heart of the Great Plains by Dr. Larkin Powell USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service   Dr. Larkin Powell [website, academic profile, LinkedIn, @larkinpowell] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin  

This month we are joined by Dr. Larkin Powell, Director of the School of Natural Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With years of research experience in the Great Plains and beyond, Dr. Powell narrates the story of how our agricultural landscapes have changed over time and the opportunities and challenges that come along with these changes. We also discuss Dr. Powell's upcoming book, "The Best of Intentions: A story of landscape change in the Great Plains."  Resources:  The Best of Intentions: a history of landscape change in the heart of the Great Plains by Dr. Larkin Powell  USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service    Dr. Larkin Powell [website, academic profile, LinkedIn, @larkinpowell]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

The Wellington Mayoral race was supposed to be winding down into boring town. Tory went wild, had a tipsy whirlwind on Courtenay Place. A bit of booze, a bit of dine and dashing. It was salacious, it was scandalous. As stories of late-night escapades and unpaid bills and missed council meetings flooded the newspapers, the streets flooded, literally. Every time a scandal burst onto the front page of The Post, so did a pipe. It was as if Wellington's infrastructure were protesting the incompetence at City Hall. Poonamis. An onslaught of cycleways. Crime. And still no second Mount Victoria tunnel. It all came to a head, of course. Andrew Little entered the chat. Tory pulls out. And from here it was meant to get boring. You know in an action movie when all the crazy stuff happens, there's half an hour left on the clock, but the world's been saved by superhero XYZ? All the main cast is safe and well and life goes on happily ever after? That's where I thought we were with Wellington's Mayoral Race. Well, Wellington, you're getting a sequel – within the original. Mayoral candidate Ray Chung sent his colleagues an email, regaling them with a story a friend told him while he was out walking his dog. In it, he says, Tory Whanau had drug-fuelled tempestuous sex with a bunch of young guys. He also claims he was told that she had pendulous soft breasts. It's starting to smell a little bit like Ontario in Canada. Remember the mayor who was accused of smoking crack? Just scandal through a local election campaign. To get real for a minute, two things. One: Tory denies the story completely and utterly rejects it. Two: Ray sent this to three fellow councillors on their personal email addresses. So, it was a private email, he claims. And Ray reckons that one of those people has leaked it to Tory, who has leaked it to the press. So then you start to wonder, is one of Ray's former fellow council mates now turning on him, perhaps for political reasons? I don't know the answer to that question. All I really know is that Wellington, you need some popcorn because you're in for one hell of a tempestuous election campaign. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy join us to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved.  Resources: Natural Climate Solutions: How nature can fight climate change (TNC) Carbon Markets (TNC) Carbon Markets Resource Center (TNC)   The Nature Conservancy [website, NE chapter website] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin  

Joining us this month on the podcast are Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved.   Resources:  Natural Climate Solutions: How nature can fight climate change (TNC)  Carbon Markets (TNC)  Carbon Markets Resource Center (TNC)    The Nature Conservancy [website, NE chapter website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/  Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Joining us this month on the podcast is a local Nebraska landowner, Merlyn Nielsen, to talk about his experiences implementing conservation practices on his farmland. From creating habitat to hunt pheasants and improve sustainability to a tip for reduced land taxes, Merlyn shares the joys and benefits of his conservation projects as well as some of the barriers encountered along the way. Resources: Natural Resources Conservation Service | USDA Farm Service Agency | USDA Seward County (NE) Pheasants Forever   Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

Joining us this month on the podcast is a local Nebraska landowner, Merlyn Nielsen, to talk about his experiences implementing conservation practices on his farmland. From creating habitat to hunt pheasants and improve sustainability to a tip for reduced land taxes, Merlyn shares the joys and benefits of his conservation projects as well as some of the barriers encountered along the way.    Resources:  Natural Resources Conservation Service | USDA  Farm Service Agency | USDA  Seward County (NE) Pheasants Forever    Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. He is currently providing PR support for Andrew Little's Campaign for Mayor of Wellington, on a voluntary basis. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party memberGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The race for the Wellington mayoralty took a turn last month, when Andrew Little came out of political retirement and threw his hat in the ring. 

Andrew Little is being seen by many as the frontrunner to be Wellington's new mayor after Tory Whanau announced she was bowing out. But there are five others who've got their eyes on their mayoral chain. Wellington Issues Reporter Nick James has been talking to them.

Have you ever struggled to find areas to hunt? Especially in Nebraska, where over 97% of the state is privately owned land, access to hunting can be difficult to come by. We know from previous research that a lack of access is also a top reason why people stop hunting or don't start at all. But public access programs like Open Fields and Waters and the Nebraska Community Access Partnership are tackling this issue head-on. For any hunter interested, these programs provide access to quality private lands to hunt; for landowners, it's another way to bring in a little extra income. This month we are joined by Adam Kester, Access Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Addie Piernicky, NCAP Coordinating Wildlife Biologist at Pheasants Forever, to learn all about how these programs are transforming hunting access in Nebraska and beyond.   Resources: Nebraska Community Access Partnership Open Fields & Waters (website) Open Fields and Waters: Expanding Hunter Opportunity (via YouTube) Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Offices: Alliance: 308-763-2940, Bassett: 402-684-2921, Kearney: 308-865-5310, Lincoln: 402-471-5561, Norfolk: 402-370-3374, North Platte: 308-535-8025   Addie Piernicky [website] Adam Kester [website] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin  

Have you ever struggled to find areas to hunt? Especially in Nebraska, where over 97% of the state is privately owned land, access to hunting can be difficult to come by. We know from previous research that a lack of access is also a top reason why people stop hunting or don't start at all. But public access programs like Open Fields and Waters and the Nebraska Community Access Partnership are tackling this issue head-on. For any hunter interested, these programs provide access to quality private lands to hunt; for landowners, it's another way to bring in a little extra income. This month we are joined by Adam Kester, Access Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Addie Piernicky, NCAP Coordinating Wildlife Biologist at Pheasants Forever, to learn all about how these programs are transforming hunting access in Nebraska and beyond.    Resources:  Nebraska Community Access Partnership  Open Fields & Waters (website)  Open Fields and Waters: Expanding Hunter Opportunity (via YouTube)  Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Offices: Alliance: 308-763-2940, Bassett: 402-684-2921, Kearney: 308-865-5310, Lincoln: 402-471-5561, Norfolk: 402-370-3374, North Platte: 308-535-8025    Addie Piernicky [website]  Adam Kester [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Tory Whanau has bowed out of the Wellington mayoral race but won't rule out running for the capital's top job in 2028. Ms Whanau, who's had a turbulent time as mayor, said she will instead be running to be a councillor for the Maori ward. It comes after former Labour Party heavyweight Andrew Little threw his hat in the ring for the city's top job. Wellington Issues Reporter Nick James reports.

Wellington will elect a new mayor later this year after Tory Whanau confirmed she won't run for a second term. Her decision came less than 12 hours after long-serving Labour politician Andrew Little won the backing of the Wellington Labour Party to run for the mayoralty. Little spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, former Labour Party leader and Cabinet Minister, Andrew Little, has announced he will stand for mayor of Wellington, senior doctors are preparing to walk off the job for 24 hours next month, the government says it's doing so well in lowering violent crime that it's surpassing its own best-case-scenario target, the Environmental Protection Agency is taking a closer look at what is in the ink many New Zealanders have under their skin, and Mokotron was recognised as overall winner on Tuesday night at the Taite Awards for his recent "urban marae" album Waerea.

Former Labour Party leader and Cabinet Minister, Andrew Little, has announced he will stand for mayor of Wellington. Little spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Former Labour Party leader and Minister Andrew Little says he's actively considering running for Wellington Mayor. Spinoff Wellington Editor Joel MacManus spoke to Alexa Cook.

This month we are joined by Crystal Powers, Research and Extension Communication Specialist at the Nebraska Water Center, to talk all about nitrates in our water systems. We talk about what nitrates actually are, best practices for keeping them out of our water supply, and how to mitigate them once they are there.  Resources: UNL Extension | Water Nebraska Water Center (Twitter, Facebook) Water testing in Nebraska   Crystal Powers [website] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin  

This month we are joined by Crystal Powers, Research and Extension Communication Specialist at the Nebraska Water Center, to talk all about nitrates in our water systems. We talk about what nitrates actually are, best practices for keeping them out of our water supply, and how to mitigate them once they are there.    Resources:  UNL Extension | Water  Nebraska Water Center (Twitter, Facebook)  Water testing in Nebraska    Crystal Powers [website]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. 

This month we are joined by Chris Helzer, Director of Science and Stewardship at The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, to talk about the importance of habitat diversity. Whether you have a small urban yard or 10,000 acres with cattle, Chris walks us through why messy, shifting habitat is ideal and how to create it. Resources: The Prairie Ecologist The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska [@nature_ne] Ranch Management for Wildlife | The Prairie Ecologist   Chris Helzer [website, @prairieecologist] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin  

This month we are joined by Chris Helzer, Director of Science and Stewardship at The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, to talk about the importance of habitat diversity. Whether you have a small urban yard or 10,000 acres with cattle, Chris walks us through why messy, shifting habitat is ideal and how to create it.    Resources:  The Prairie Ecologist  The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska [@nature_ne]  Ranch Management for Wildlife | The Prairie Ecologist    Chris Helzer [website, @prairieecologist]  Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]  Nathan Pflueger [website]  AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]  Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]    Watch these podcasts on YouTube  If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!    Music by Humans Win  Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin 

This month we are joined by Dr. Mike Chamberlain, National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia to talk about the state of the wild turkey across the country and what the future looks like for this iconic bird. Resources: ·      Wild Turkey Lab ·      Ongoing research: Wild Turkey Ecology in Western Nebraska   Dr. Mike Chamberlain [website, @wildturkeydoc] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin