Deferred grazing could be a great option for your farm, to reduce costs, and improve soil health, with environmental benefits too, and could be as simple as shutting the paddock gate. In this episode, hear from a Waikato farmer who has implemented this practice on his farm, and a scientist behind the research into deferred grazing. We also hear from Property Brokers about what changing land use regulations could mean for the rural property market going into 2025.. 

Guests include:

1. Bill Garland, Waikato Sheep & Beef Farmer

2. Conrad Wilkshire, General Manager Rural, Property Brokers

3. Dr. Katherine Tozer, Senior Scientist, AgResearch

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Waikato sheep and beef farmer Bill Garland discusses how he’s used deferred grazing as a low cost pasture renewal tool, and the environmental benefits he’s noticed. He says managing biodiversity is a big part of their operation, with five QEII covenants on their land. He shares how deferred grazing has reduced input costs, and benefitted the environment and their farm system. 

• Read more about Bill’s story here.

Property Brokers General Manager for Rural Conrad Wilkshire discusses the impact of changing regulations around full farm to forestry conversion, and what this means for the rural property market. He says we collectively need more information about what this means for the property market, but it does create an opportunity for farmers to look at land use change opportunities. 

AgResearch Senior Scientist Katherine Tozer discusses how to get started with deferred grazing for pasture renewal, and what the benefits are. She discusses how deferred grazing improves soil quality, and can lead to increased root depth. She says not to think of it as wasted feed that’s not eaten, but instead that it’s part of the pasture rejuvenation process. 

• Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here.

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2025 could be a window of opportunity for farmers to get into the deer industry, as the sheep industry faces tough times. With new market access opportunities opening up in China and South Korea, and the benefits of mixed species farming in mind, could it be the year of the deer for New Zealand farmers?

Guests include:

1. Rhys Griffiths, CEO, Deer Industry New Zealand

2. Mark McCoard, Chairman, New Zealand Deer Farmers Association

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Taihape deer farmer Mark McCoard farms a velvet focussed operation in his mixed species farm, alongside cattle and sheep. He is also the Chairman of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA). He says the beauty of having deer as part of his operation is that once you have the deer fencing up you can run anything behind it, and this could be a great opportunity for the next generation of farmers. He also discusses how deer could help in the battle against drench resistance.

• Learn more about the NZDFA here.

Velvet access to China has been a challenge for Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), but with market access restored, it’s opening up the market for New Zealand. The new CEO of DINZ, Rhys Griffiths, discusses the deer market at the moment, including what a Trump administration in the USA will mean for exporting to America, what the Chinese and South Korea markets are looking for, and more about the upcoming Deer Industry Awards next year.

• Find out more about the awards and nominations here.

• Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here.

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In this episode we look at the ways farmers can get the most out of their four-legged farm workers, and give them the best care possible. Learn about a Massey University project looking at the DNA and behaviour of working dogs in New Zealand, and hear advice from a Hunterville vet on how to best care for your working dogs throughout their life, from a pup through to old age.

Guests include:

1. Jaime Watters, Mixed Animal Veterinarian, Hunterville Vet Club

2. Matt Littlejohn, Professor of Animal Genetics, Massey University

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Hunterville Vet Club mixed animal veterinarian, Jaime Watters, discusses providing your four-legged companions with the best care, including giving your puppy the best start, the importance of diet, and what to check for regularly health-wise.

Massey University Professor of Animal Genetics, Matt Littlejohn, discusses a study that hopes to shed light on the origin of the Huntaway and heading dog breeds, and identify predispositions to genetic conditions, such as twisted gut. They’ve teamed up with Ancestry to provide testing kits to sample dogs taking part in the study, and you can get your farm dogs involved in this study too.  

• Read more about the study here.

• Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here.

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Recruiting and keeping great employees is always relevant in the success of farm businesses, and is the focus of the special report in Country-Wide Summer. In this episode find out more about what employees are looking for when it comes to work contracts, how we’re doing as a sector when it comes to remuneration, and how you can attract good employees through your recruitment process. 

Guests include:

1. Richard McIntyre, Employment Spokesperson, Federated Farmers

2. Gretchen Parkes, Manager, Rural Directions

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. Luisa Osborne, Podcast Producer, CountryWide Media

Federated Farmers Employment Spokesperson Richard McIntyre discusses the importance of the total value package, one that benefits both an employee's work and personal life. He says agriculture is at risk of workers taking better paid jobs in towns, and so farmers need to provide good progression pathways. 

Manager of Rural Directions Gretchen Parkes discusses how farm business branding will help when it comes to recruiting employees to your farm, and what this could look like. She also gives some tips for employees looking for jobs, and how to pitch themselves to employers. 

• Read the special report here.

• Read the Summer 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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Keeping young people engaged in the farming industry is vital to the long term success of our sector. Nurturing and growing the next generation of farmers is something we should all care about. In this episode we look at the programmes that exist to upskill our future farmers, and give them the tools to have a long and rewarding career. We also dive into the current property markets as we head into spring and summer, and what we can glean from iconic sheep and beef farms hitting the markets.

Guests include:

1. Wendy Paul, CEO, Growing Future Farmers

2. Conrad Wilkshire, General Manager of Rural, Property Brokers

3. Shane Boderick, Team Leader Trades Academy Tutors, Primary ITO

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Growing Future Farmers CEO, Wendy Paul, discusses the role Growing Future Farmers has taken in developing the skills of young people going into the farming industry. The programme sets up 16-20 year-olds on farms for a two year programme to get practical farming experience, and learn valuable life skills. 

General Manager of Rural at Property Brokers Conrad Wilkshire discusses the spring property markets, as a number of iconic sheep and beef properties go on the market, what this means for land values, and whether farmers should be concerned. 

Team Leader Trades Academy Tutors at Primary ITO Shane Boderick discusses the Trades Academy Programme, and how it gives students hands-on experience and skills to get into the primary industries. He says it’s been part of his own journey, and helps a lot of school students to find something they’re talented at, and get real world experience. 

• Make the smart call. Click here to contact an Agri Manager.

• Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here.

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Farm businesses, like any other business, thrive better when there’s good leadership, from large multi-farm businesses to family owned-and-operated farmers. But how do you become a good leader, and what actually makes one? In this episode we delve into Pāmu’s leadership programme model, and talk to a Marlborough farmer investing in good leadership and team culture on his farm. 

Guests include:

1. Bernadette Kelly, Chief People, Safety and Reputation Officer, Pāmu

2. Fraser Avery, Marlborough Farmer

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Pāmu’s Chief People, Safety and Reputation Officer, Bernadette Kelly, discusses how they’ve developed a culture of good leadership to do the best by their staff. This includes making sure there are opportunities for growth, development, and having each other’s back. She says people often leave workplaces due to poor leadership, so it’s critical to get it right.  

Marlborough Farmer Fraser Avery works hard to create good team culture on his farm. He says it’s something that farmers often don’t learn about when they’re training, and is overlooked. He’s been looking for ways to learn from others about effective leadership styles and team culture, to do the best by his farm team. 

Read more in the Special Report “Leadership It Starts at the Top” here.

Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here.

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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:

1. Jen Corkran, Senior Animal Protein Analyst, RaboResearch 

2. Simon Quilty, Independent Livestock Analyst

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

2. 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.

Guests include:

1. George Masefield, Farmer, Banks Peninsula
2. Jasper Van Halder, CEO, Agnition
3. Robert Trott, Technical Field Representative, PGG Wrightson
4. Eryn Breading, Senior Marketing and Communications Advisor, AgResearch

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

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.

• Read more about George Masefield’s story here

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.

• Become part of the pilot farm network, simply enter your details at www.agnition.ventures/pilot-farm-network/join
• Join the next webinar at 7pm on October 29th to learn more: http://www.agnition.ventures/join 

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.

• Find the podcast wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts, or via the website www.agresearch.co.nz/podcast
• If you’ve listened to the podcast and you’re interested in partnering with us – that could be funding research, participating in work, or commercial investment - visit our website www.agresearch.co.nz

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. 

Guests include:

1. Jeff Ravenwood, Fernglen Farm, winner of The Gallagher Innovative Farming Award
2. Graeme Gleeson, winner of The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Regional Leadership Award
3. Mitchel Hoare, winner of The AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

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. 

• 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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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:

1. Simon and Katie Falloon, Sheep and Beef Farmers, Wairarapa
2. Sarah How, Co-Founder, Landify
3. Sean Stafford, Advisory Specialist, MCI & Associates

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

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. 

• Click here to read more about Simon and Katie’s story in Country-Wide Spring

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.

• Click here to find out more about Landify

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

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