Chef-turn-broadcasters-turn-farmers are super passionate about bringing the connection to eaters about where their food comes from, but there's a unique skill in going down a wormhole on the topic of soil and communicating the benefits of it in a way that everyday people can understand.

Matthew Evans, renowned in Australia for his TV series 'Gourmet Farmer', was a chef by trade and then a restaurant reviewer for the likes of the Sydney Morning Herald before heading to their own farm in Tasmanian to grow their own to find out why certain food tastes better.

He persisted when his publisher was unsure of his desire to not write yet another cookbook, but a hymn to the soil. His research for the book explains how healthy soil is connected to our human physiology's ability to instinctively know what food is more nutrient-dense, as it's naturally more flavoursome.

Sarah & Matthew catch up at a recent event at Greystone Wines to discuss how close technology is a way for consumers to be able to do the same thing through an app on their phone. Matthew explains this will be a game-changer for food purchasing based on what's both more pleasurable to eat and healthier. Could the time for New Zealand farmers & growers who focus on soil health be rewarded just around the corner?

This event was hosted by Eat New Zealand and Quorum Sense.

Links to learn more:

SOIL by Matthew Evans (Buy the Book)

Fat Pig Farm - Tasmania

When your world feels like farming & growing food for the future is just getting a bit too hard, listen to our panel's discussion on what excites them about New Zealand's future.

Sarah Perriam-Lampp recently hosted six guests at the Lakeside Memorial Hall at Leeston, Canterbury for a dinner event sponsored by ESAI to discuss how we can grow our farming destiny in the context of what we can control and the opportunities before us.

Panel includes:

Hamish Gow - Global Value Chains, Lincoln University

Rhys Roberts - CEO, Align Farms

Gabi & Doug Micheal - Owners, Gladfield Malt

Mandy Bell - Chair, Deer Industry NZ & NZFAP+ Farmer

Tim Jones - B-Corp certified consultant, The Grow Good Guy

LINKS:

Value Chain Innovation Tour (watch this space, another tour coming in 2023/24) with Hamish Gow

More about Align Farms (Rhys Roberts)

More about Gladfield Malt (Doug & Gabi Michael)

More about WAI Wānaka & Criffel Station (Mandy Bell)

More about getting B Corp certified with The Grow Good Guy (Tim Jones)

More about ESAI - Ellesmere Sustainable Agriculture Inc who hosted the panel at the Lakeside Memorial Hall at Leeston.

CONTACT THE SHOW:

Email: [email protected]

Website: sarahscountry.com

Food production and not using fossil fuel seem like a headache of a problem to solve, but not for these Kiwi ex-pats who returned home to Central Otago to grow New Zealand's first cherries 100% electric.

Mike & Rebecca Casey set up Forest Lodge Orchard as well as co-founded New Zealand Zero, a fossil-free food certification and loves opening his gates near Cromwell and the books to show all types of farmers & growers how they too can control the carbon narrative.

LINKS:

New Zealand Zero: https://www.nz0.com/

Winning the Green Premium Webinar (as discussed in this episode):

https://ourlandandwater.nz/outputs/winning-the-green-premium-beverage-sector-webinar/

CONTACT THE SHOW:

Email: [email protected]

Website: sarahscountry.com

Scratching your head on how you are meant to navigate farming with uncertainty?

Do you need consent?

What if I've already put in my crops?

Will I be fined?

Do my regional council rules or the national government rules apply to me?

We have all your questions about regulations coming around intensive winter grazing and freshwater farm plans answered in one place!

In the first edition of "How to Keep Farming with Uncertainty" co-hosts Sarah Perriam-Lampp (Sarah's Country), Duncan Humm (NZ Farming) and Rowena Duncum (The Country) host a panel of guests from the Ministry for the Environment, regional councils, farm advisors and farmers from across the country.

This is the on-demand episode of a Livestream from Monday 5th December 2022.

Special Guests include:

Farmer Panel - Dani Darke (King Country), Ben Dooley (Southland), Emma Crutchley (Otago) & Kerry Worsnop (Gisborne)

Council & Advisor Panel - Brent Sinclair (Waikato Regional Council), Fiona Young (Environment Southland), Brent Paterson (MyEnviro) & Rebecca Hyde (Hurunui Landcare Group).

What does 2023 look like:

The freshwater farm plan system is being phased in over several years from 2023 across 16 regional council areas starting with Southland, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay & Otago.

Councils will prioritise catchments within their own regions for the introduction and implementation of FW-FP, including a transition from any existing regulated farm environment plans to the new system.

The latest information:

Intensive Winter Grazing

Freshwater Farm Plans

If you have something you’d like answered, please email Ministry for the Environment:

[email protected]

Sarah's Country has your sneak peek into E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit speaker lineup at the highly anticipated June 2022 event is set to catalyse the future of Aotearoa’s primary industries and you could get on the guest list to Sarah's Country E Tipu Cocktail Party when you enter the draw to win a double pass to E Tipu & dinner with Sarah Perriam at 5th Street (valued at $2,500!) 

Sarah Perriam sits down with three of the E Tipu 2022 keynote speakers ahead of the event which gives you a preview of the insightful, thought-provoking discussions you need to be a part of in Christchurch on 21-22 June 2022.

Sarah discusses topics ranging from the changing world of the director responsibilities and how it’s led to as he describes ‘gun-shy, arse-protecting governance’ halting progress from one of our country's most esteemed and influential professional directors, how we can bolster mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori in our agricultural science with a young AgResearch scientist, and how New Zealand agritech business needs greater ambition with an expat US-based vertical farming CEO.

• Arama Kukutai - CEO, Plenty and Partner, Finistere Ventures — Aotearoa Fund
• Louise Hennessy - Scientist and early career ambassador, AgResearch
• Rob Campbell - Chair of Interim Health, Environmental Protection Agency & NZ Rural Land Co.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN E TIPU 2022 TICKETS & DINNER WITH SARAH!

All entries will receive an exclusive invite to Sarah's Country E Tipu Cocktail Party at O.G.B's in Christchurch on Tuesday 21st June. The prize draw closes on Sunday 5th June 2022

ABOUT E TIPU 2022

E Tipu 2022 features two days of talks from global and local leaders in food and fibre, plus interactive workshops, expert panels and special Q&As, innovative exhibits, valuable cross-sector networking and more.

Designed for changemakers from across the food and fibre sector, the summit tackles major questions around how we can be more innovative, collaborative, sustainable and profitable — now and into the future.

E Tipu 2022 is a truly hybrid event — offering an in-person summit at Christchurch Town Hall and a virtual experience for attendees from around the world.

In-Person and Virtual Early Bird Tickets are available now at etipu.boma.global

 In an environment where farmers & growers may be thinking it's all coming at them, Becks Smith can see the light at the end of the tunnel when we condense the overwhelm and see the challenges through a more holistic approach.  

New Zealand farmers naturally have an inter-generational view of stewardship of their land, but sometimes need support to bring the right expertise together when they are on the next level of their sustainability journey.

Becks Smith discusses with Sarah Perriam, host of Sarah's Country, how her career journey as a vet in Central Otago, alongside farming with her husband's family, is evolving into the social enterprise The Whole Story.

She shares her insights into how to take small steps towards change and how important to pull an advisory board around our farmers that are all on the same page.

"We sometimes make changes and don't reflect on what the outcome was. I am seeing powerful changes when farmer's bring the right support around them to help them reflect on their decision making," explains Becks Smith, The Whole Story.

Did you know that globally agriculture is one of the last industries to digitise? And for those farmers that will embrace the market access requirement to prove the provenance and verify the farm practices will ultimately win.

But imagine if technology as a tool actually made you a better farmer? Perhaps more tolerant to climatic conditions, faster decision making in risky situations and free up time to actually do the thing you enjoy... farming... or boating/golf/fishing!

As the Farmax annual conference wraps up, Sarah Perriam catches up with the two CEOs on the merger of Farmax, the predictive modelling farm software and Farm IQ, the farm management software - Will Noble & Gavin McEwan. 

"If NZ's pastoral agriculture wants to retain its place as a premium supplier to the world, we need to digitise our supply chain and the supply chain starts at the farm," explains Gavin McEwan, Farmax

LINKS

Learn more about Farm IQ

Learn more about Farmax

This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Tell us what you really think! hosting the opinions of those involved intimately with some of the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector.

In a special episode for 'Shaping our Future' on Sarah's Country released on 2022 International Woman's Day, Sarah Perriam discovers where women's role has come, the current is and can to in the New Zealand primary sector with female empowerment leader in rural New Zealand, Lindy Nelson.

Lindy is a woman on a mission farming with her husband David, is the Chair of Safer Farms and founded the Agri-Women's Development Trust which has unleashed the confidence and talents of over 4,000 women who have found leadership roles that are shaping our future.

In this episode, Lindy provides her wisdom to all listeners on the tipping point of women's contribution to agriculture at a time of great importance from social division to climate change.

"In Native American wisdom, they describe the wings of humanity as one male wing & one female wing. The male wing has been flying too strongly and the female wing is unfurling to bring new strength and balance. If we look at women's role as we aren't fighting for a place, we are bringing balance and support,"

Lindy Nelson

This episode is a part of our new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Shaping our future' where we help New Zealand farmers & growers navigate the big issues to be more prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead!

 How do those tasked with implementing environmental policy best engage with farmers to come up with solutions that are best for the land and are fit for purpose?

Ministry for the Environment has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers.

In this third and final episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke, meets Rangitikei Rivers Catchment Collective Chair and three-generation farmer, Roger Dalrymple along with dairy farmer, Greg Maughan. 

Sara is joined by her colleague, Gin Loughnan, Manager of the Climate & Water Agriculture team at the Ministry for the Environment who is keen to work together with catchment groups to ensure that freshwater farm plans are workable and avoid duplication.

"The first thing we have to do is get farmers to understand why they are putting their environment plans on paper when bankers will tell you we can't get farmers to pull together farm budgets yet. It's a massive leap!" stresses Roger Dalrymple, Waitatapia Farming

TOP 10 things in THIS EPISODE

Sara Clarke & Gin Loughnan sits down with the Rangitikei farmers to discuss:

1. Over 300 farmers have joined the sub-catchment groups of the Rangitikei Rivers Catchment Collective "which will tell you that if you give farmers the challenge they will be empowered to create the solutions"

2. Farmers need environmental policy guidance that is apolitical and doesn't change between government terms where the pathway doesn't change on them.

3. The narrative that New Zealand farmers are doing it all wrong and portraying our practices as third-world when dairy farmer, Greg Maughan was working in Indonesia and reading this message looking at polluted waterways.

4. Gin asks how the government can support the community ownership of the solution around freshwater quality.

5. Roger's experience with dealing with a spectrum of farmers to bring them along and to educate them on where the changes need to happen takes time, more collaborative science and improved connectivity. 

6. Can freshwater farm plans be justifying what farmers are already doing and change the conversation around proving the good work than it being led as a government, box-ticking exercise? 

7. Roger & Greg explain that community catchments only work for 3-6 months of the year for farmers as calving, lambing, shearing, harvesting and weaning takes their focus and therefore the milestones to achieve outcomes need to be set at a time that works with the farming calendar.

8. Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) under Horizon District Council cost between $12-$14,000/per farm that was funded by Horizon for erosion control and soil mapping are great management tools.

9. Roger advises against the integrated environmental farm plan being digital-only due to internet accessibility and the digital literacy of farmers but may lead to catchment support to help all farmers to get farm environment plans.  

10. Gin & Sara want to know what role industry bodies are playing in supporting farmers. Roger points out that the industry groups don't have the time to bring farmers along on the journey because the government's policy consultation timeframes are too tight. 

links

Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans

This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Table Swap' out discussing the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector around farmers' kitchen tables working on ways to move forward collectively.

WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!

CLICK HERE (Entries Close 7th March 2022)

How do those tasked with implementing environmental policy best engage with farmers to come up with solutions that are best for the land and are fit for purpose?

Ministry for the Environment has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers.

In this first episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke, to meet Grant Charteris at Forest Road Farm, farming with his wife Sally in the Ruahine foothills at the top of the Tukituki River catchment.

After a farm tour of the work the Charteris' have done that saw them win the 2021 Elworthy Award for the premier environmental accolade for deer farmers, Sara meets also with local young farmer Hugh Abbiss at Foley Farming Enterprises to sit down for this episode.

"It's really hard to make a plan when the goalposts keep shifting, with the layers of rules between regional council & national policy statements. There's too much misinformation and direction," stresses Grant Charteris, Forest Road Farm.

TOP 10 things in THIS EPISODE

Sara Clarke sits down with Hawke's Bay farmers, Grant Charteris & Hugh Abbiss to discuss:

1. How will or won't Overseer continue to play into the proposed freshwater farm plans and what about measuring outcomes versus the move to regulating input controls & farming practices?

2. The Tukituki catchment are already working within Farm Environment Management Plans under Plan Change 6 with Hawke's Bay Regional Council, so how is more layers of rules from the national policy statement going to make a difference to the path they are on?

3. The frustration of getting clear direction from their local regional council who aren't getting clear direction from the central government so it stifles farmers appetite in investing in environmental work with a lack of security of the direction.

4. The leading farmers will pave the way to pull the laggard farmers up but not all farmers are in the financial position to achieve the Ministry's gold standard and it will take a decade of actions to sustainably fund it within the cost structures of farming the way they are.

5. They have recently formed the Mangonuku Catchment Group and have shared goals that every landowner can get in behind and believe it's the best forum for getting useable data for change as well as the support needed.

6. Hugh discusses the changes he's implemented such as direct drilling, catch crops and nutrient management and how to make more from less.

7. What does "fit-for-purpose" really mean when the freshwater farm plans aren't thinking about the whole integrated approach to make it sustainable to work.

8. Grant learns that not everyone from Wellington doesn't listen, and really excels in explaining his farming system and environmental actions actually out on his farm.

9. Better understanding needs to be taken into account through true farmer consultation, not hand-picking a panel based on the outcome you have already

10. If you stifle innovation you won't get the desired outcome all because the government want change to happen too fast, otherwise the leading farmers will sell to pine trees.

LINKS

Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans 

This episode is the first in a new weekly series for 2022 on Sarah's Country 'Table Swap' out discussing the big issues facing New Zealand's primary sector around farmers kitchen tables working on ways to move forward collectively.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FEBRUARY PRIZE DRAW! WIN ONE OF THREE PREMIUM PASSES TO THE FARMAX CONFERENCE (9th & 10th March 2022) complete with a Farmax subscription (valued at $200)!