In this episode: 

News Wrap | Growers face a variety of issues
1: 29 – Senior reporter Richard Rennie outlines major concerns with our plant variety pipeline, saying growers face long waits and large bills when trying to import new plant variety types. He says Biosecurity NZ is aware of the issue and is reviewing regulations.

Market Insights | Aus processors struggling to maintain margins
7: 42 – AgriHQ analyst Alex Coddington provides an update on the Australian market, where processors are struggling to maintain margins after paying top dollar for lambs. The Aussies are pumping out the beef, though and with the cattle population at high levels that will continue for a couple of years.

Feature | Woolworths backing regenerative approach
11:18 – Bryan catches up with Woolworths NZ sustainability manager Catherine Langabeer about a regenerative management project run with partners Leaderbrand and Plant & Food Research. Growers found using cover crops and adding compost improved yields and soil health.

Feds Focus | Contractors facing weighty issues
20:50 – Arable chair David Birkett says we need a stop-gap measure to ensure contractors don’t face being fined as they go about their work this season. Last year some were found to be overweight when moving around the country and David says this is down to larger machinery, not larger loads.

The Final Word
27:15 – While all the talk is about the march of pines, some sheep and beef farmers are looking to grow their businesses, in a sign that confidence is returning to the hill country. After calls to “save our sheep” in the past few months, are sheep now beginning to save themselves?