Federated Farmers Podcast

Labour’s agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton joins us for a candid chat about her upbringing, the tough chapters in her life, and her connection to farming.

She shares what she’s hearing from farmers, what she'd prioritise if she became Minister of Agriculture, and how she responds when farmers say Labour hates them.

Feds and Labour don’t always agree, but it’s important we have a relationship and can talk things through when we need to. Jo sits at the centre of that relationship, keeping lines of communication open on the issues that matter most to farmers. 

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Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton joins us to break down the company’s 2025 turnaround, including what’s driving the strong results and whether better prices are here to stay. 

We dive into the challenges behind falling livestock numbers, the pressures on processors’ margins, and the role of global markets and geopolitics in shaping New Zealand red meat.

Dan also shares insights on the balance between value-add strategies and efficiency, the ongoing importance of sustainability claims, and what farmers can do on-farm to prepare for future opportunities. 

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Fuel supply is front of mind for farmers right now, with rising uncertainty around availability, pricing and logistics.

In this episode, Fern Energy CEO Chris Gourley joins us to cut through the noise and explain what’s really going on. Are we at risk of running short? What’s driving the pressure in the supply chain? And what does it mean for on-farm operations in the weeks and months ahead?

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Do Kiwi farmers need to be concerned about getting their hands on fertiliser?

Ravensdown chief operating officer Mike Whitty joins us to explain how conflict in the Middle East is shaping the global fertiliser market right now.

He tackles the key question on farmers’ minds: how much fertiliser is actually on hand, and what’s being done to secure supply ahead of spring.

Whitty also explains where New Zealand’s fertiliser comes from, how exposed we are to international volatility, and what’s driving price movements across key products like urea and DAP.

This is a clear-eyed look at what’s really happening behind some of the alarmist headlines, and what it means for Kiwi farmers.

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Stretching across nearly 68,000 hectares in northern Southland, Glenaray is a sheep, beef and deer station that’s quietly challenging assumptions about high-country farming.

In this episode, we’re joined by station manager Simon Lee and owner David Pinckney to explore the rich history of Glenaray, and how it operates today, including using innovative approaches like Halter. 

They also discuss the strong culture behind their team, and why they've agreed to host this year's High Country Field Day on March 27. 

This is a fascinating conversation about a type of farming, and part of New Zealand, that few Kiwis get to see. 

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In this episode, Waikato lawyer Andrew Clements explains why farm succession can fail even when the balance sheet looks rock solid. He breaks down the five types of capital that really determine long-term success, and why focusing on just one can undermine the rest.

Andrews shares real examples of farming families that have learned this stuff the hard way, and he provides practical advice on how to build a farm business with something stronger than just a healthy bottom line. 

This episode will challenge how you think about wealth and farm succession.

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New Zealand's arable farmers are facing some of their toughest conditions in years, with margins collapsing and growers exiting the industry.

It's a "crisis" that will have flow-on effects for dairy, sheep and beef farmers, says David Birkett, Federated Farmers’ national arable chair. 

Birkett and Chris Dillon, an arable farmer in Southland and former Southland president, join us on this episode to explain what's going on, what the mood's like out there, and what needs to change for arable farmers to start making money again. 

This is a must-listen for all farmers. 

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In this episode, we’re joined by Waikato dairy farmer Carla de Wet, who shares an honest look at building a career in farming as a young woman today.

Originally from South Africa, Carla talks about her journey to New Zealand just before Covid, settling into rural life, and finding her place in a family dairy business. As former chair of the Morrinsville–Ngarua Young Farmers club, she reflects on leadership, confidence, and the value of getting involved beyond the farm gate.

Being relatively new to this country, she has some really interesting perspectives on our farming systems, the role farmers play, and the access we have to politicians. 

We also explore what’s motivating young farmers right now — and what’s worrying them — from wellbeing and workload to major changes like KiwiSaver access. 

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In this episode, we sit down with Mike Siermans, the new CEO of Federated Farmers, to talk about what’s next for the organisation and for farmers.

Mike shares his journey from growing up around farming in rural South Auckland to a commercial career in the pharmaceuticals industry — including helping launch Viagra in New Zealand — and why he’s now taken on one of the most influential roles in rural New Zealand.

We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing farmers, how Federated Farmers can strengthen its advocacy, and how to modernise a 125-year-old organisation while staying true to its roots.

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This is the first episode in a new series where we sit down with good keen Kiwi farmers and simply have a chat – how they got into farming, what drives them, and what they’ve learned along the way. We’ll release one each month. 

For our first ‘Meet the farmer’, we’re joined by Jimmy Emmett, a South Canterbury dairy farmer who took an unconventional path into the industry. 

A self-confessed city boy, Jimmy swapped hospitality management for contract milking 17 years ago and hasn’t looked back. He’s now the South Canterbury dairy chair for Federated Farmers, was named Dairy Advocate of the Year in 2025, and before all that, was running a popular bar in downtown Christchurch. 

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