Farmers Weekly Podcast

AgFirst’s James Allen outlines how some small changes to farm management can realise big gains in profit on Waikato and Bay of Plenty dairy farms. He says being smarter with fertiliser and focusing on feed quality can really help the bottom line.

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty vice-president Sandra Faulkner takes a look at how the government’s local government reforms are tracking, with many regions submitting a Head Start plan that outlines how they propose to structure councils in the future.

(00:00:00) Full Show | August 7

(00:02:19) Solar farms and tallow: Two rural trends to watch

(00:09:33) Lamb markets signal a slight correction

(00:18:43) How local government reform could weaken biosecurity

(00:30:27) Regulations strangling pest management

This week we examine the issues shaping rural New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay Council’s Sophie Siers discusses biosecurity reform, AgriHQ’s Mel Croad explains the lamb market outlook, Neal Wallace looks at solar farm expansion and rising demand for tallow, and Federated Farmers' Brent Mountford outlines why pest control regulations are becoming a growing concern for volunteers.

A new report warns that proposed structural changes to local government could undermine New Zealand's biosecurity programmes. Commissioned by the country's 16 regional and unitary councils, it examines the risks of reducing or pausing these programmes. Hawke's Bay Regional Council chair Sophie Siers joins the show to unpack the findings and their implications.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace has been looking at the spate of solar farms being built or planned, and finds some people are worried they will displace good, productive land. He’s also been investigating the rise in popularity of tallow, which is being used in everything from skincare products to cooking to fuel.

AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad says farmgate returns for lamb have been held high by a procurement battle, but there’s been a bit softening in key export markets and we should expect prices to ease a little in the coming months.

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president Brent Mountford says regulations are putting volunteers off doing pest management, as the cost of certification for managing pest management tools like Feratox become prohibitive.

(00:00:00) Full Show | July 31

(00:02:10) What climate policies are parties pitching?

(00:07:58) Ewe market steady as lambs enter mix

(00:13:56) Indian appetite for strong wool grows

(00:21:47) How to farm smarter through El Niño

(00:31:29) Feds take issue with ACT hunting policy

This week on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, senior reporter Neal Wallace examines the political parties' climate policies and what they could mean for farmers, before looking at how declining global livestock numbers are supporting New Zealand's red meat outlook. AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie reviews the ewe market, Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson discusses opportunities for strong wool in India, Ravensdown's Mike White shares El Niño advice, and Federated Farmers responds to ACT's proposed game animal policy.

Ravensdown chief scientist Mike White joins the show to talk through some of the key things farmers should be thinking about as El Niño progresses.

Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson visited India recently to attend its massive textile fair, and says buyers there are hungry for our strong wool. He says there’s an opportunity to strengthen partnerships with businesses there and raise farmgate returns further.