This episode features Andrew Hoggard, Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety and the Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare, Skills) and for the Environment discussing stock exclusion changes, wetlands management and the shift to farm plans.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

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This episode features Lindy Nelson, Chair, Safer Farms discussing practical steps to reduce on-farm risk and improve safety outcomes.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

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This episode features Jaiden Drought, Owner, Farm Trader & President, Tractor & Machinery Association (TAMA) discussing what equipment sales are telling us about real farm spending.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features Mark Ross, CEO, Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA)  discussing the sector’s election manifesto and the role of the India Free Trade Agreement.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features Steve Abel, Agriculture Spokesperson, Green Party discussing calls for an inquiry into agriculture and what it actually means for farmers on the ground.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features Taine Randell, NZ First Candidate & Former All Black Captain discussing energy, water and immigration, and why he’s stepping into the political arena.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

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This episode features Dr Nic Lees, Senior Lecturer, Department of Agribusiness, Lincoln University discussing capital returns, the Mainland sale, and whether the co-op is finally focused on delivery.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

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This episode features Andrew Watters, CEO, MyFarm discussing where capital is going and what’s driving confidence in horticulture.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

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• Stock Exclusion Rules Get Overhaul
• Beef Up, Sheep Numbers Down
• Interest Rate Hikes On Horizon

Rural News is in partnership with Farmlands as part of CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp - our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

 

Stock Exclusion Rules Get Overhaul

The Government is overhauling Stock Exclusion Regulations, replacing blanket national rules with locally tailored decisions based on on-farm risk and regional conditions.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the previous approach was widely seen as inflexible and in some regions disproportionate to the environmental benefit.

The key change amends Regulation 17 of the Resource Management Act's Stock Exclusion Regulations, so beef cattle and deer that are not intensively grazing are no longer automatically excluded from natural wetlands supporting threatened species.

Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says well-managed low-intensity grazing near wetlands can provide natural weed control, reducing the need for chemicals.

Hoggard says the focus is now on fit-for-purpose farm plans tailored to specific catchments and on-farm risks — rather than one-size-fits-all directives from Wellington.

 

Beef Up, Sheep Numbers Down

New Zealand's beef cattle herd grew four percent in 2025 to 3.8 million head, according to final figures from Stats NZ's Agricultural Production Survey.

The increase of 153,000 animals continues a longer trend, with beef cattle numbers up eight percent over the past decade.

Dairy cattle numbers dipped one percent to 5.7 million, while the sheep flock fell one percent to 23.3 million at 30 June 2025.

The longer-term picture shows a more significant shift — sheep numbers are down 20 percent over ten years, and dairy cattle have fallen 11 percent from their peak.

New Zealand's grassland base remained stable at 7 million hectares, suggesting the shift in numbers reflects changing land use priorities rather than any reduction in farming activity.

 

Interest Rate Hikes On Horizon

New Zealand farmers are facing a rising interest rate environment, with RaboResearch’s latest economic update forecasting the Reserve Bank will begin hiking the Official Cash Rate from October — potentially earlier if inflation pressures prove harder to contain than expected.

The OCR currently sits at 2.25% following the Reserve Bank's March decision to hold, but the Bank has already revised its June quarter inflation forecast sharply upward from 2.7 to 4.2 percent.

The Reserve Bank says weak economic growth may slow how quickly firms can pass higher costs on to consumers, giving it some breathing room before acting.

But RaboResearch warns the Bank may be underestimating oil price risks from the Middle East conflict.

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Fonterra’s Execution Phase – Dr Nic Lees (Lincoln University) on capital returns, the Mainland sale, and whether the co-op is finally focused on delivery.

Randell Enters Politics – Taine Randell (NZ First) on energy, water and immigration, and why he’s stepping into the political arena.

Greens Push Ag Rethink – Steve Abel on calls for an inquiry into agriculture and what it actually means for farmers on the ground.

Forestry & Processing Agenda – Mark Ross (WPMA) on the sector’s election manifesto and the role of the India Free Trade Agreement.

Machinery Sales Signal Confidence – Jaiden Drought (Farm Trader/TAMA) on what equipment sales are telling us about real farm spending.

Hort Investment Flows – Andrew Watters (MyFarm) on where capital is going and what’s driving confidence in horticulture.

Safer Farms Focus – Lindy Nelson on practical steps to reduce on-farm risk and improve safety outcomes.

Dairy Sector Outlook – Tracy Brown (DairyNZ) on the season ahead and key takeaways from the SIDE event.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.