Blue Shed Diary

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary, the go-to podcast for Farmersand Growers from PGG Wrightson. We recorded from the PGG Wrightson tent at Fieldays to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the primary industry.

Wool is having a moment -- prices are up and wool growersare reaping the rewards. What is behind the renaissance?

Joining the conversation is Rachel Shearer, PGG Wrightson GM of Wool.

Bringing you the sights and sounds of Fieldays 2026 -- Blue Shed Diary travelled to Mystery Creek to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the Primary Industry.

Most Farmers and Growers are on a first name basis with their banks; these institutions are essential to helping our Primary Industry thrive. In a year where farmer confidence continues to soar, what does this mean for our leading agricultural lenders?

Joining the conversation at Fieldays is Dan Huggins, BNZ Managing Director & CEO.

Blue Shed Diary at Fieldays!

The podcast left the studio for the PGW tent at Mystery Creek to have conversations with all of the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries.

For many farmers, the infrastructure supporting their rural communities is not up to the task. From roads to water, many in the provinces feel investment is primarily funnelled to the big cities.

Fighting to change that is Charlie Reynolds, Federated Farmers Provincial President for Gisborne and Wairoa.

He joined the conversation on Wednesday from Fieldays.

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary, PGG Wrightson's podcast forFarmers and Growers. We were at Mystery Creek to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the primary sector.

The highest honour in Māori Agriculture is the AhuwhenuaTrophy. Established 93 years ago by Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe, the competition tests the skills and proficiency of Māori farmers.

PGG Wrightson was chuffed to the have the actual trophy inour tent at Fieldays (at least for a short time) - and with it, the Chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee, Nukuhia Hadfield. She joined the conversation from our tent at Fieldays to discuss the history of the event, the winners of this year's cup, and the importance of supporting Māori Agriculture.

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary, PGG Wrightson's podcast for Farmers and Growers. We are at Mystery Creek to have conversations with the movers and shakers of the primary sector.

The highest honour in Māori Agriculture is the Ahuwhenua Trophy. Established 93 years ago by Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord Bledisloe, the competition tests the skills and proficiency of Māori farmers.

PGG Wrightson was chuffed to the have the actual trophy in our tent at Fieldays (at least for a short time) - and with it, the Chair of the Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee, Nukuhia Hadfield. She joined the conversation from our tent at Fieldays to discuss the history of the event, the winners of this year's cup, and the importance of supporting Māori Agriculture.

Welcome to Blue Shed Diary, the go-to podcast for Farmers and Growers from PGG Wrightson. We are at Fieldays to talk to all the movers and shakers of the primary industry.

Wool is having a moment -- prices are up and wool growers are reaping the rewards. What is behind the renaissance? Joining the conversation is Rachel Shearer, PGG Wrightson GM of Wool.

Blue Shed Diary, your go-to podcast for Farmers and Growers, is at Fieldays having conversations with the movers and shakers of the Primary Industries.

For our inaugural Fieldays special episodes, we talk to PGG Wrightson CEO Stephen Guerin about the mood of the sector, PGG Wrightson's role in supporting Farmers and Growers thrive, and what we should expect in the next few months and years.

The Environmental Protection Authority, or EPA, wants your input. They propose restricting the use of the insecticide bifenthrin, a synthetic pyrethroid.

Bifenthrin is a common insecticide that has been around for years. It's used to control pests in agriculture and your home. However, studies show it is harmful to aquatic life and bees, therefore the EPA is taking another look at how this insecticide is used in New Zealand.

Joining the conversation is the Acting Hazardous Substances Application Manager for the EPA, Dr Shaun Presow.

To learn more about the proposal, and have your say on Bifenthrin, visit: Proposed restrictions for the synthetic pyrethroid bifenthrin | EPA

The new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Penny Simmonds, wants to give additional funding to New Zealand's burgeoning advanced technology sector. However, recent reporting shows the likely source of this new funding will be the existing funding already allocated to agriculture, the environment, and human health.

What does a potential loss of funding mean for future farming innovation? Is this a bad idea for one of New Zealand's highest-performing sectors? And can private funding fill the void?

Joining the conversation is Brendan O'Connell, CEO of AgriTech New Zealand

This May, New Zealand Young Winemaker National Finalists for 2025 won a field trip to the Wairarapa region for a behind-the-scenes look at how the region's top winemakers make their finest drops. They visited incredible vineyards in Greytown, Masterton, and Martinborough to meet and learn from winemakers who have their own approach to creating wines that celebrate the land on which it is grown. One of the tour guides was Fruitfed's very own Mark Cairns. As a former winemaker himself, he was the perfect shepherd. What advice does he have to the young people entering the industry, he tells us in this month's Fruitfed Tech Talk.