By CountryWide Media
Bringing' you the best of rural New Zealand for nearly 50 years via your mailboxes, now it’s time for our seasonal stories from the magazine to weekly updates straight to your ears.
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The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.
The light at the end of the tunnel is coming for the red meat sector, but how can farmers start planning ahead to stay out of the boom-and-bust cycle that seems prevalent in the sector? Hear from RaboResearch Senior Animal Protein Analyst Jen Corkran on the opportunities available to red meat farmers going forward, and Australian Independent Livestock Analyst Simon Quilty on what opportunities we can glean from the Australian market.
Guests include:
Jen Corkran, Senior Animal Protein Analyst, RaboResearch
Simon Quilty, Independent Livestock Analyst
Hosts:
Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media
Senior Animal Protein Analyst with RaboResearch, Jen Corkran, has delivered her report “Watering the green shoots in New Zealand sheep meat”, identifying three pathways to lift our earnings in the sector. She discusses the opportunities for red meat farmers to look into, avoiding a boom-and-bust economy, and what overseas markets we could break into.
Independent Livestock Analyst from Australia, Simon Quilty, discusses what he’s forecasting for the sheep meat sector over the next 12 months, and what he sees happening coming out of tough farming and financial times, through to 2028. This includes potential markets for Australia and New Zealand, and how the Australian market bleeds into ours.
Read Simon’s article in the latest SHEEP Country journal here.
Learn more about Global AgriTrends here.
Interested in learning more? Buy a copy of the 2024 SHEEP Country today, while stock lasts.
Other links from this podcast:
Make the smart call. Click here to contact an Agri Manger.
Read the Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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Changing a farm system is no small feat, and Banks Peninsula farmer George Masefield, and his wife Emma, have spent the past eight years making significant changes to the family’s farming operation. In almost a decade they’ve been able to transform the business, enabling them to finish all of their lambs on their dryland hill country and buy in trading stock.
In this episode hear from George Masefield, and PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative Robert Trott, who has been part of the farm transformation. We also catch up with AgResearch about their latest project: a brand new podcast exploring the big questions facing New Zealand agriculture, and Jasper Van Halder CEO of Agnition about the exciting opportunities available to farmers through their pilot farmer network.
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Hosts:
George Masefield is a sixth generation sheep and beef farmer on Banks Peninsula, and is currently almost a decade into transforming the farm to get the most from their dryland system. He discusses the benefits of doing it yourself, rather than relying on contractors, and how as a family they’ve made their plans possible.
CEO of Agnition Jasper Van Halder discusses the exciting opportunities available through Agnition. Agnition’s dual mission is to generate returns from innovations and to accelerate innovation in the ag sector in NZ. Agnition also facilitates a pilot farm network where twice a year, 100+ curious farmers and growers act as ‘beta tester’ for pre-commercial solutions ready for on-farm deployment.
Agronomist Robert Trott from PGG Wrightson has been along for the journey with the Masefields while they transform their farm. He discusses the vast array of different crops they’re trying on the Masefield’s farm, and what he himself has learned along the way.
‘What’s Next? from AgResearch’ is a limited series podcast exploring the big questions facing New Zealand agriculture. Senior Marketing and Communications Advisor Eryn Breading discusses the work AgResearch is doing, covering everything from soil health and composition, to what lives and grows in that soil, to the wellbeing of the livestock that eat what grows in the soil, to the food and fibre produced by those animals and the health impacts on consumers.
Read the Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards are a highlight of the farming calendar, to come together and celebrate the hard work and excellence of the sheep and beef sector. The judges had their work cut out for them this year, with many notable figures in the industry up for awards, from science and technology, to farming leadership and community involvement.
In this episode, hear from three farmer award winners. Let’s take the chance to celebrate the hard work being done in our sector.
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Hosts:
The Ravenwood family, who own Fernglen Farm, won The Gallagher Innovative Farming Award. Jeff Ravenwood discusses their diversification journey, establishing a 1300 flock of milking ewes at their Wairarapa farm, enabling all five family members to work in the business together.
Waikato sheep and beef farmer Graeme Gleeson won the Regional Leadership Award at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards for his involvement in farmer advocacy and industry-good activities. He discusses his experience in the advocacy world, from the 1980s to now, with He Waka Eke Noa and emissions reduction plans.
Te Kuiti farmer Mitchel Hoare won The AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award, for his motivation and innovation towards farm ownership. He discusses his progression through the farming industry, and his community involvement in the sheep and beef sector.
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Pathways to farm ownership can be hard to navigate, with young farmers having less access to the capital required to purchase land. Equity partnerships are a viable option that allow farmers to partner with investors to get a foot on the farm ownership ladder.
In this episode hear from Wairarapa farmers, Simon and Katie Falloon, who are equity managers in an equity partnership; Sarah How, Co-Founder of Landify, on how their platform sets up farmers with interested investors to make farm ownership possible; and MCI’s Sean Stafford, who helped put together the Falloon’s equity partnership, on the key elements of a successful equity partnership.
Guests include:
Hosts:
Simon and Katie Falloon have worked hard to make their Wairarapa farm a viable equity partnership, and discuss how they managed to build the reputation and networks that made it possible to find investors. They also took out this year’s Keinzley Agvet Wairarapa Sheep & Beef Farm Business of the Year, after only two years on their farm.
Co-founder of Landify, Sarah How, discusses why Landify was developed as a tool to connect farmers and investors to go into equity partnerships. They saw a gap in the market for young motivated farmers to access capital to purchase farm businesses, and decided to set up Landify to meet that need.
Sean Stafford is an Advisory Specialist with MCI & Associates, and helped put together the Waipuke partnership for Simon and Katie Falloon. He discusses what makes a good equity partnership, how they develop an exit plan at the end of the partnership, and what his advice is to those interested in an equity partnership.
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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This week we catch up with Country-Wide’s Spring issue Home Block columnists from around the country to find out what’s happening in their patch. From yearling bull sales and cyclone recovery in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, to challenging lambing conditions in Southland, our four farmers discuss the challenges and rewards of farming in each of their regions.
Guests include:
Hosts:
Hawke’s Bay farmer Max Tweedie discusses how the lambing and calving season has been going on his farm. He also tells us how the yearling bull sale went for him this year, and what he’s noticing about the traits customers are looking for over time.
Southland farmer Ben Dooley says it has been a relatively good winter, thanks to good grass covers to make sure sheep have feed, but it was a tough September coming into spring. Lamb survival has been impacted, and as he says, your whole year's work can be taken away by 18 days of bad weather. He shares some tips on how to keep motivated when times are tough.
Mid Canterbury farmer Anna Munro is in the thick of lambing, and has had a good run of weather for it, however feed levels have been low due to a dry autumn and winter. She also discusses her rural-focussed photography business, and participating in the autumn muster up at Lake Heron Station.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne farmer Sandra Matthews was the winner of the FMG Rural Champion Award at the 2022 Beef + Lamb NZ Awards, for her involvement in her local community. She discusses the impact land loss has had on their farming system, and the importance of having community - for her that has been Rural Women New Zealand.
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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Can we find common ground to solve the challenges facing the primary industries? AGMARDT has launched a thought leadership report with KPMG with the proactive title ‘Are industry good bodies good for industry?’ The report identified 150 different organisations from co-operatives to levy-funded and member organisations that drive forward positive outcomes for farmers, but are they working collaboratively together in a way that will take farming into the future?
In this episode we hear from farmer Phil Weir, who wrote his Nuffield report about how industry bodies can collaborate more effectively to tackle challenges in the sector, and Lee-Ann Marsh the General Manager of AGMARDT, about why they funded this report and what the next steps are for better industry collaboration.
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Hosts:
Waikato Farmer and Director on the board of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Phil Weir, wrote his 2020 Nuffield report on “Restructuring Industry Good for the Future”, which proposed a new industry body to oversee the challenges facing the farming sector. He says this isn’t about getting rid of the individual groups, but finding ways to work across the sector on common issues, for a more impactful outcome.
General Manager of AGMARDT Lee-Ann Marsh discusses why AGMARDT are funding collaborative partnerships that involve groups from across the sector, including the KPMG report, to bring better solutions to industry challenges. This would tackle issues such as duplicate applications for funding towards solving the same issue, rather than collaboration across the industry bodies for a common outcome.
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $79/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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With a goal of Predator Free 2050, it can seem ambitious with only 25 years to go. Is it a fantasy, or can it become our reality? In this episode we catch up with different groups working to tackle pests and weeds across New Zealand, from animals like ferrets, goats and possums, to weeds like wilding conifers.
Guests include:
Hosts:
Pete Oswald, skier and entrepreneur by trade, and self-titled passionate environmentalist, has been project manager for the Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group for 18 months. He discusses the impact of funding issues, and what this means for effectively tackling wild weeds in New Zealand.
Mike Perry has been the Manager of DOC’s new National Wild Animals Management Programme for two years, having spent 10 years with them already, and working in the bush and backcountry for over 20 years. He discusses the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition that is back for 2024, and encourages those who farm and hunt to either enter or sign up to the new landowner category.
Keen to get involved? Find out more here.
Professor James Ross of Lincoln University discusses whether Predator Free 2050 is a reality or a fantasy, and how replicating what has been done on our uninhabited islands to tackle pest problems can be used on the mainland to achieve the same outcome. He discusses the projects he’s worked on, and what technology we need to meet our goals.
Read more in Country-Wide Spring:
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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We have less than five seasons until overseas 2030 emissions targets begin to impact our overseas exports, and we may still yet need to be able to minimise and measure our own emissions domestically. With this in mind, farmers might be wondering what tools are out there to help them tackle their emissions, in ways they can integrate into their existing systems.
Hear from two agricultural organisations working to develop tools to minimise methane emissions, and a farmer utilising genetics to breed low-methane sheep.
Guests include:
Hosts:
AgrizeroNZ’s Ruth Leary discusses the various tools they are investing in to provide solutions to lower methane emissions, such as a vaccine for animals. She says this would integrate well into farm systems as farmers are already in the routine of administering vaccines to their livestock.
Ruminant Biotech is a New Zealand start-up that AgriZeroNZ has invested in to develop tools for farmers. CEO Tom Breen discusses the tools they're developing such as slow-release methane inhibitors and boluses which they’re working towards releasing in 2027.
Alastair and Ann Reeves were the Supreme Winners in this year’s Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards, and have a history of using genetics to address animal health and environmental challenges, including methane. He discusses why and how he’s included methane in his breeding objectives.
Read more in Country-Wide Spring:
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Listen to the Barenbrug Podcast: Better Pastures Together here.
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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Investing off-farm in property or shares can be a daunting prospect, however it’s an increasingly appealing way to future proof your funds and diversify wealth away from land. Navigating how to start, what to invest in, and how to manage the risks should be top of mind for anyone interested in investing.
Learn more about how managing your wealth can help with farm succession, retirement, and preparing your rainy day fund. We also cover the importance of estate planning and insurance when it comes to key people in your business.
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Hosts:
Rival Wealth Co-Founder Carissa Fairbrother discusses the importance of making sure you are financially organised when self-employed. This will improve stress management for yourself now, but also in the worst case scenario if the key farm worker is unable to work. When it comes to estate planning she says it's especially important to front foot it, and be proactive. Don’t wait until it’s too late - have a well fenced ‘financial’ paddock, do it once and do it well.
CEO & Director of PMG Funds, Scott McKenzie, discusses investing in property, and how to get your foot in the door. He covers where PMG Funds invest and why, and why they favour investing in commercial property for its longevity.
Jarden Wealth Management Advisor Angus Marks discusses whether all your wealth should be held in your land, and how investing could help diversify onfarm income. He talks about understanding your risk, and how investing can actually help reduce risk by spreading your wealth. Diversification also helps when it comes to the succession and retirement process.
Read more in Country-Wide Spring:
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Find out more about how a Trev subscription could work on your farm at mytrev.com
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
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When the traditional income streams are not delivering enough to the bottom line, is it time to diversify into activities that don’t rely on the cyclical nature of farm commodities? It can be hard to know what options are out there to diversify onfarm income, and how they can be integrated into your farming system. In this episode we hear about different options for diversifying, from raising goats for cashmere to horticulture and viticulture.
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Hosts:
NZ Cashmere’s Olivia Sanders says the time is now to get into the goat business, and shares some helpful insights for farmers who are interested in integrating goats into their farm system. She also discusses the realistic maintenance required for goats - such as when to shear, when to drench, and how to keep them contained.
Craigmore Sustainables CEO Che Charteris discusses the options for diversifying farm business through horticulture. He talks about how to manage the volatility of horticulture and viticulture, what opportunities there are with both climate change and water consents across the country, and what advice he has for sheep and beef farmers to avoid pitfalls when diversifying their land-use options.
ANZ’s Marcus Bousfield discusses whether it’s a good time for farmers to look at diversifying their income, and what those options might be. This includes solar, agritourism, and tree plantings with a potential ETS in mind. He says the weigh up would be whether you could get more value out of having beef or sheep on that land, or if trees could bring more income in future carbon credits.
Read more in Country-Wide Spring:
Read the new Spring issue of Country-Wide Magazine here
Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/
SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE WEEKLY EMAIL
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.