The Country

If you do nothing else today, listen to this powerful story of a South Waikato farm manager’s amazing transformation from gang life (and a manslaughter conviction) to milking cows. On Friday night he was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award.

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The Act Party leader comments on Sid Going, the Greens, the Reserve Bank's monetary policy and charter schools. 

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Some serious rain is coming. Will it cause flooding or is it a drought-breaker? We ask Monday's resident weather expert.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Steve Smith, Jane Smith, Miles Hurrell, Jen Corkran, and Christopher Luxon.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Emma Poole, Chris Brandolino, and Rowena Duncum.

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The Minister of Agriculture and Trade has his say on the Fonterra "step-change in strategic direction", his recent trade trips and the current Woolshed Tour around NZ.

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It's 55 days until FMG Young Farmer Grand Final in Hamilton (11 July) so we chat to the 2023 winner (and new mother) about what to expect in the Tron. She also comments on the Fonterra step-change in its strategic direction and the how the season has treated Waikato dairy farmers. 

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NIWA Weather Guy on the prospect of a dry winter.

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The past producer and current fill-in host of The Country previews the Ahuwhenua Awards and the Century Farm and Station Awards coming up tonight and tomorrow respectively.

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The Country's Rowena Duncum and John Caradus - Senior Scientist and CEO of Grasslanz Technology, a subsidiary of AgResearch - look at what we collectively know as Genetic Technologies and its place in agriculture, both now and in the future.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Miles Hurrell, Ray Smith, Jen Corkran, Peter Newbold, and Chris Russell.

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The chief executive of Fonterra announces a step-change in its strategic direction.  As part of this, the Co-op has announced it is exploring full or partial divestment options for some or all of its global Consumer business, as well as its integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka. Is Fonterra selling the family silverware? And what will it do with the money?

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It's been a tough day at the office for the Director General of MPI as he announces the slashing of jobs to meet the Government's requirement of a 7.5% saving across the board. But how will this affect front-line services, biosecurity and the farming fraternity?

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Rabobank's animal protein analyst comments on the ban of live animal export (sheep by sea) in Australian from May 2028. What does this potentially mean for New Zealand sheep farmers?

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The GM of PPGW Real Estate takes his monthly look at the state of the rural market.

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Our Australian correspondent pulls no punches on the ban of live animal export (sheep by sea) in Australian from May 2028. Plus what, if anything, was in the Budget for Aussie farmers?   

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Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Lance Kerr, Jane Smith, Nadine Tunley, Craig "Dairyman Hickman and Grant Farquhar.

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The PM ponders the reintroduction of live animal exports (after the Aussies plan to ban sheep by sea by 2028), balancing the books, charter schools, the Christchurch Call and that oh-so-tight Highlanders jersey.

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Could farming sheep under solar panels be the next big thing? We ask a Waikato beef farmer who plans on doing just that.

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