What are the biggest risks involved in going contract milking, sharemilking or being a share farm owner? And how do you manage or mitigate those risks? For our final episode of 2024, we’re talking to Taranaki dairy farmer Sam Ebbett, who’s Federated Farmers’ national sharefarmer chair.

Useful links

Federated Farmers contracts 

Federated Farmers Podcast: Advice for new contract milkers | EP 06

Federated Farmers Podcast: A guide to sharemilking success | EP 07

Gisborne farmer and Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams joins us to discuss what’s going on for Kiwi sheep and beef farmers right now, where he thinks things are going in 2025, and what he reckons might need to change for sheep farmers, in particular, to get back in the black. 

How could Donald Trump’s second term in the White House affect Kiwi farmers? What should we expect to see with international trade and market access? To get some insights, we catch up with Todd Muller, former leader of the National Party and now co-host of a podcast that helps explain American politics to a Kiwi audience. 

Feral animals are costing Kiwi farmers a fortune, so how are we going to control them? Landcare Research scientist Bruce Warburton and Federated Farmers pest spokesperson Richard McIntryre join us to quantify the impact pests have on farming and biodiversity, discuss the science behind pest management, outline best practice control methods, and more.

Ben Purua is an award-winning dairy farm manager, but 15 years ago his life was heading in a very different direction. Hear Ben’s story of how he found farming while in prison, how he managed to turn his life around, and the pivotal role farming’s played in his transformation.

Links

www.facebook.com/FarmUpNZ

www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/saved-by-farming-ben-puruas-story

If you’re thinking of planting trees on your farm, or you’ve done so recently, don’t miss this expert advice from Adam Thompson, owner of Restore Native nursery in the Waikato. Adam loves helping farmers not only plant more trees on their land, but in the right way, so you’re not wasting your time and money. 

Adam walks us through the process from preparation to maintenance, with a focus on ‘right tree, right place’. He covers the ideal-sized tree to buy, when to plant, whether fertiliser is necessary, how to release, and much more. He also discusses common mistakes farmers make, and common challenges.

www.restorenative.co.nz

It was a wet, muddy day in Southland in December 2018 that local dairy farmer Jason Herrick decided to take his life. Months of heavy rain, the pressure of excessive regulation, negative sentiment towards farming, and an inability to share his feelings had left him at breaking point.

To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week in New Zealand, we’re very fortunate to be joined by a now happy and well Jason, who’s president of Southland Federated Farmers.

Hear how Jason climbed out of that hole six years ago, what changes he's made to his 'Southern Man' mentality, and what his message is to other farmers going through the same battles.   

Useful links

https://www.rural-support.org.nz/
https://1737.org.nz/
https://farmstrong.co.nz/

Our guest today is Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, who’s here to talk about the huge opportunities out there for farmers to save money and reduce emissions by electrifying their farm. 

Mike's seen these opportunities first-hand. In 2019 he established the world’s first electric cherry orchard – saving him tens of thousands of dollars a year on energy costs and creating a new revenue stream. 

He’s now on a mission to show that what he’s done on his property is possible for other farmers too.

With farm confidence at rock-bottom, what’s the Government been doing to get things back on track? Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay joins us to discuss his first nine months in the job, cutting red tape, the banking inquiry, KiwiSaver for young farmers, new trade opportunities, and how he thinks we’ll double exports over the next 10 years. 

Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, joins us to discuss tools and technologies being developed to help farmers reduce their methane emissions. Find out what's in the pipeline, what reductions they could help farmers achieve and, importantly, when farmers might get their hands on these new tools, which range from a methane-inhibiting bolus to low-emissions pasture.   

Useful links:

https://www.agrizero.nz/