India FTA Pressure Builds – Joshua Tam (ExportNZ) on the open letter pushing Government to sign, and the political tension around the deal.

Young Farmer Finalists Set – Te Radar on standout performers and what to expect from the FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final.

Water in the Wrong Place – Karen Williams (IrrigationNZ) on storage, the Tuki Tuki Dam, and what farmers want this election.

AI on Farm – James Allen (AgFirst) on how artificial intelligence is starting to shape farm decisions and productivity.

Dairy Workforce Insight – Jane Muir (DairyNZ) on strong retention but ongoing challenges with rosters, pay and management.

Forestry Integration Debate – Peter Handford on how forestry is being worked into sheep and beef systems.

Across the Ditch – Libby Price on fuel shortages and fertiliser supply pressures hitting Australian farmers.

At the Farm Gate – Dean Rabbidge and Chris Lewis on season conditions, fuel costs and farmer sentiment.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode features Craig Carr, managing director of Carrfields discussing: 

• Development of natural fibers and hemp industry with their innovations at Rubisco
• The market shifts and global demand for bio-based products Craig is seeing on his travels
• How Carrfields strategically pivoted their livestock business following the end of live export

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 Luke and Nicole Kane, farming at West Otago following their win as the Regional Supreme Winners at the 2026 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

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 Hon. Todd McClay, Minister of Agriculture & Trade discussing where the trade negotiations with India are at and why it's urgent the NZ parliament sign it. He also talks about the impacts of geopolitics on agriculture with the Iran-US war, as well as how our standards and regulations in farming in New Zealand vs imported food from other countries is viewed in trade agreements.

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 Bevan Weir, mycologist at the Bioeconomy Science Insitute explores the latest research on facial eczema with new scientific discoveries about that there is more to the fungi that causes the livestock disease after 70 years of misidentification.

Since the 1950s, farmers have sent grass samples off to labs to count fungal spores and predict facial eczema risk. New research has revealed that for 70 years, labs have been counting two similar spore species as if they were the same – but only one of them produces the toxin that causes facial eczema. This explains why spore counts and actual disease sometimes didn't correlate, which has baffled farmers and vets for decades. 
This collaboration between the Bioeconomy Science Institute, Beef + Lamb NZ and Livestock Improvement Corporation has been recognised as a finalist in the Collaboration for Impact category of the Science New Zealand Awards 2026 (this is why you’re hearing from me rather than BSI comms; I’m working for Science New Zealand to build the media profile of the award finalists).

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 Jasper van Halder, CEO, Agnition discussing how UK and NZ collaborations are accelerating adoption of cutting-edge solutions tailored for pasture-based farming systems.

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 Tom Hooper, CEO, Wool Source discussing how WoolSource is transforming wool into innovative products like screen printing pigments, and exploring the future of sustainable, nature-based materials for brands such as Kathmandu.

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 Rob Scott, Southland Mayor, discussing the complexities of local government reform in Southland, New Zealand. He explores the challenges of regional governance, the potential for reorganization, and the importance of local democracy.

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 Tony Leggett, the former owner of CountryWide and veteran agricultural journalist, discusses the role of cooperatives following the special report in CountryWide Autumn.

They also celebrate the evolution of CountryWide into a daily digital news show alongside the print magazines of which Tony is proudly still a regualar contributor.

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 George Dodson, farming in Canterbury discussing his journey through the dairy industry, his approach to social media, and insights on farm ownership pathways and industry adaptation.

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.