(00:00:00) Full Show | October 17

(00:01:33) Navigating the future of dairy in the Netherlands

(00:09:39) Stortford Lodge welcomes new season lambs

(00:15:32) Arable code of conduct on the way

(00:23:14) The Final Word

In this week's Farmers Weekly Podcast we discuss key issues in New Zealand's food and fibre sector. The episode features insights from Neal Wallace on dairy farming innovations in the Netherlands, challenges faced by Dutch farmers, and the impact of weight loss drugs on food consumption.

Suz Bremner also provides an update on the livestock market, particularly the new season lambs, while David Birkett discusses a new code of conduct for the arable sector aimed at preventing disputes. 

The episode concludes with reflections on New Zealand's climate targets and sustainability efforts.
 
News Wrap | Navigating the future of dairy in the Netherlands 
1:35 – Senior reporter Neal Wallace, who is on a Meeting the Market tour, shares insights from his recent visit to the Netherlands, focusing on dairy farming practices, the political landscape surrounding nutrition, and the challenges faced by farmers due to government policies and technological advancements. He tells Bryan the impact of weight loss drugs on food consumption and the evolving preferences for high-quality protein in diets.
 
Market Insights | Stortford Lodge welcomes new season lambs 
9:40 – AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner was at the big sale at Stortford, where the first crop of new season lambs hit the pens. She says vendors left very happy, with last season’s sky-high prices carrying over into this new season.

Feds Focus | Arable code of conduct on the way 
15:33 – Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett gives an update on the new arable code of conduct, which has been developed to give growers and buyers more certainty around dispute resolution. David says the code will lay out who is responsible for each aspect of the process from planting, growing, and harvesting through to storage. 
 
The Final Word
23:15 – The reduction of New Zealand’s methane targets was celebrated by the farming sector, but will the world see it as a win? The reduced targets, a product of the concept of “no additional warming” might be viewed as a lack of ambition by those who buy and consume our food exports.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace, who is on a Meeting the Market tour, shares insights from his recent visit to the Netherlands, focusing on dairy farming practices, the political landscape surrounding nutrition, and the challenges faced by farmers due to government policies and technological advancements. He tells Bryan about the impact of weight loss drugs on food consumption and the evolving preferences for high-quality protein in diets.

AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner was at the big sale at Stortford, where the first crop of new season lambs hit the pens. She says vendors left very happy, with last season’s sky-high prices carrying over into this new season.

Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett updates Bryan on the new arable code of conduct, which has been developed to give growers and buyers more certainty around dispute resolution. David says the code will lay out who is responsible for each aspect of the process from planting, growing, and harvesting through to storage.

In this episode, Neal Wallace reports from Europe on trade tensions, regenerative farming and the Anuga Food Fair. Back home, AgriHQ’s Fiona Quarrie covers booming yearling sales, while Gallagher’s Mark Maitland discusses the surge in farmers adopting tech to boost efficiency and meet regulatory demands.

News Wrap | Meeting the Market – Stockton to Cologne
1:30 – Senior reporter Neal Wallace, who is on a Meeting the Market tour, checks in from Brussels, where he’s been meeting up with European Union officials to hear how they’re dealing with the challenges of war in Ukraine and the US trade war. He also talks about regenerative farming in Stockton, Illinois and the Anuga food Fair in Cologne, Germany.

Market Insights | Young cattle fetching top dollar in the south
8:34 – AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie is in the South Island and the big news is the yearling cattle sales, which are going great guns as buyers vie for stock.

Feature | NZ primed for a tech transformation
13:50 – Mark Maitland of Gallagher Animal Management joins the show to talk about the uptick in enquiries he’s seeing from farmers looking to utilise technology on-farm. He says high farmgate returns, regulatory requirements and farm diversification are all driving farmers to find out how technology can help them create more value and save time.

Feds Focus | Boy racer legislation needs more grunt
26:37 – Federated Farmers police spokesperson Karl Dean says while he’s behind the tougher stance on boy racers, he’s keen to see farmer interests protected, with issues like animal welfare on farm thefts included.

The Final Word
31:35 – The Police have submitted to public pressure and withdrawn a plan to reduce staffing numbers in Canterbury. While budget pressures are a reality for them, moving police from country to city is no way to make ends meet. Law and order is built on a foundation of agreement between citizens and the state, and the backdown shows the citizens still have sway.

Mark Maitland of Gallagher Animal Management joins the show to talk about the uptick in enquiries he’s seeing from farmers looking to utilise technology on-farm. He says high farmgate returns, regulatory requirements and farm diversification are all driving farmers to find out how technology can help them create more value and save time.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace, who is on a Meeting the Market tour, checks in from Brussels, where he’s been meeting up with European Union officials to hear how they’re dealing with the challenges of war in Ukraine and the US trade war. He also talks about regenerative farming in Stockton, Illinois and the Anuga food Fair in Cologne, Germany.

AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie is in the South Island and the big news is the yearling cattle sales, which are going great guns as buyers vie for stock.

Federated Farmers police spokesperson Karl Dean says while he’s behind the tougher stance on boy racers, he’s keen to see farmer interests protected, with issues like animal welfare on farm thefts included.

With two feature guests this week, this episode discusses into issues in New Zealand's food and fibre sector, including the proposed Dawn Meat deal by Alliance Group, the celebration of 100 years of Rural Women New Zealand, and the ongoing connectivity challenges faced by rural communities. 

Feature | Alliance’s Next Move: Insights from Farmer Meetings
1:39 – Alliance Group chair Mark Wynne joins Bryan to discuss how farmers are reacting to the proposed investment by Dawn Meats. He’s been fronting a series of farmer meetings and says there have been some insightful questions asked.

Feature | 100 Years of Empowering Rural Women
13:53 – Rural Women NZ chief executive Sandra Matthews tells Bryan how the 100-year celebrations are going for the organisation. She says it’s a year of both looking back with pride, while ensuring they’re primed to take on the years ahead.

Feds Focus | Rural Connectivity Shows No improvement
27.24 – Federated Farmers telecommunications spokesperson Mark Hooper reveals the findings of the latest rural connectivity survey, which shows internet access hasn’t improved in rural areas, and some are reporting that it is getting worse.

The Final Word
35:55 – Synlait’s annual results show that the milk processor is back on track, with a proposed sale of its North Island operations imminent. But, like Fonterra, Synlait has slimmed down its strategy and discarded some projects. Have NZ processors realised they can’t do everything and should stay out of some parts of the supply chain?