The Country

Jamie Mackay talks to James and Rob Fraser, Todd McClay, Stephen Guerin, Mike McIntyre, and Peter Newbold. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the father-and-son team behind Stern Angus. They discuss their South Canterbury yearling bull sale, with James serving as stud principal and Rob representing the fourth generation of the Fraser family at the stud. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade reflects on PGG Wrightson’s 175-year history and the importance of farming to New Zealand’s economy. He also defends investment in AgriZeroNZ and discusses redirecting foreign aid funding toward medicines for Kiwis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PGG Wrightson chief executive celebrates the company’s 175th anniversary, sharing stories of its evolution and resilience through wars, depressions and droughts. Plus, he explains why strong commodity prices remain vital for farmers and the wider economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jarden's head of commodities says stronger GDT results support confidence in another high-milk-price season. He also explains why whey proteins are becoming increasingly valuable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PGG Wrightson's General Manager, Livestock & Real Estate, says strong livestock prices and wider online bidding are supporting confidence in rural markets. Plus, he highlights the ongoing importance of the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Cameron Bagrie, Scott Mackereth, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Farmer Tom Martin, and Jo Luxton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent economist comments on exchange and interest rates, inflation, the fuel crisis and why writing off student loans is not the best use of the education budget. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the winner, alongside his wife Stacey, of the Share Farmers of the Year title at the 2026 NZ Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua. The Mackereths contract milk for Fortuna Group at Edendale, milking 1400 cows on 464ha. Entries for the 2027 awards opened yesterday and close on Dec 6. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask a scientist, who is also a DairyNZ and Ravensdown board member, whether we are getting bang for our buck from the AgriZeroNZ investment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our UK farming correspondent talks tough times down on the farm, a dearth of young British farmers, and whether there could be another Brexit vote under Andy Burnham. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s agriculture spokeswoman comments on whether Chloe Swarbrick will be the Minister of Finance, whether farms are exempt from her party’s capital gains tax, and we talk about water storage and changes to the Sharemilkers Act. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Rob Hewett, Mike Casey, Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCallum, Kevin Barrett, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the AgriZero board chairman to learn more about Farmlands and Alliance joining the AgriZeroNZ partnership, alongside other industry investors that jointly own 50% of AgriZeroNZ: The a2 Milk Company, ANZ, ANZCO, ASB, BNZ, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms and Synlait. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party’s Electrify NZ 2.0 policy has been given the tick of approval from Federated Farmers (and the Electric Cherry Guy), which says energy is a major concern for farmers this election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s panel features two dairy farmers with a good off-farm income in Wellington. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We stick with the dairy farming theme as we talk farming, footy and organics with a Taranaki cow cocky. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday’s resident weather expert. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Paul Henry, Damien O'Connor, Ben Picton and Winston Peters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Brandolino, Tim Dangen, Tom Slee, Sir David Fagan, Marc Gascoigne, and Barry Soper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s “Friday’s Favourite Weatherman” from Earth Sciences NZ with his long-range forecast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s Southland farmer panel features the 2022 and 2026 Young Farmers of the Year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to a shearing legend, busy fencing on his Te Kūiti farm, ahead of the first event for competition season, the NZ Merino Shears in Alexandra. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month’s Farmstrong farmer is a well-known Cambridge cow cocky who’s biking the length of the country on his Top2Toe2Talk Tour, intending to have 3000 conversations with rural folk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our political correspondent ponders Winston Peter for Prime Minister! Stranger things have happened. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Winston Peters, Ray Smith, Jane Smith, and Chris Russell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ First leader is at his combative best as he educates us on the Indian FTA, National Super, the Opportunity Party, Chloe Swarbrick as Finance Minister, whether he still wants to be Foreign Minister, plus he throws in some free healthy diet advice for good measure! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The director general of MPI comments on methane mitigation and whether we’ve broken our climate change policies. We also discuss El Niño, bird flu, and the yellow-legged hornet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Otago farmer and environmentalist gets stuck into the Opportunity Party and passes judgement on last night’s Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent talks bird flu, diesel prices, fertiliser prices, wheat prices and whether he’s most looking forward to the NRL Final or the Bledisloe Cup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Kent Bacus, Ben Picton, Dominic Jones and Colin Hurst. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister ponders the curse of being an Air New Zealand CEO. Plus, we discuss tonight’s Rural Issues Debate, the diesel crisis, the age of eligibility for National Super, Chippy’s flawed CGT and the dangers of strategic voting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the executive director of government affairs for the US National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, who was a keynote speaker at yesterday’s Red Meat Sector Conference in Wellington. We get his thoughts on what’s going on in Washington. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s chief economist comments on rising OCR rates, both here and in Australia, the Red Meat Sector Conference, and whether there is an end in sight for the Middle East conflict and associated fuel crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The managing director of kiwifruit fund manager Origin Capital Partners disputes claims from a high-profile fruit grower that Zespri is “fat and lazy” and that the industry needs a shake-up. We also discuss the new growing season and how you can invest in this dynamic industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president of Federated Farmers previews tonight’s Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, which will be livestreamed on the Herald website from 7:30pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Mark de Lautour, Maegen Blom, Jack O'Connor, Dr Victoria Hatton, and Nick Beeby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find Labour’s trade spokesman at the Red Meat Sector Conference in Wellington, where he was part of the Political Debate Panel this morning. We discuss the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update and whether there is a spare $18 billion in the coffers to pay for pay equity, write off student loans and pay for three free doctor’s visits. Is he looking forward to having Chloe (16%) as his Minister of Finance? And what does he make of the Opportunity Party’s five bottom lines? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Open Country Dairy comments on his farmer roadshows, getting out of the Paris Agreement, challenging DIRA, and whether he’s interested in buying Synlait. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s “Surf and Turf” Zanda Panel includes the 2025 transtasman winners, as we encourage entries for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award (for emerging professionals in the primary industries, aged 21-35). Entries are open all month in October. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head back to the Red Meat Sector Conference to talk to a futurist from Food HQ about her upcoming address this afternoon: “Who Cares Enough About The Future”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wrap up the Red Meat Sector Conference with the chief executive of the Meat Industry Association. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Paul Henry, Dean Rabbidge, Kate Acland, Kaitlin Bates, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act’s star candidate is sitting in for his leader, David Seymour, today, and he’s not backward in pushing his candidacy forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s reaching a crisis point for many southern farmers as Mother Nature continues to deal out some brutal blows, with winter biting well into spring. We catch up with a Southland sheep and beef farmer and trustee of the Southland Rural Support Trust to ask what help is available and how farmers can look after their mental health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the chairwoman of Beef + Lamb NZ ahead of the Red Meat Sector Conference beginning today in Wellington, and we preview Wednesday evening’s (7-30pm) Rural Issues Election Debate at Mystery Creek organised by Fed Farmers, DairyNZ and B+LNZ. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a great yarn with a Farmlands business development manager who is also just one of three women who are premier grade referees at first-grade level. Plus, we tell you how you can win $50k in prizes for your rural club with the Rural Rugby Legends promotion (closing Oct 3). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We plead with Monday’s resident weatherman for some decent weather down south. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Callum McCallum, John McCaw, Richard Allen, and Daniel Eb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Brandolino, Christopher Luxon, Hamish Marr, and Rachel Shearer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.