The Country

The Prince of the Provinces, the self-titled Matua Shane, comments on yesterday’s Budget, where a highlight was his baiting of the Greens over his spend-up on fossil fuel energy. But should he who has sinned cast the first stone? 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Zespri comments on the strong demand and market returns from Zespri’s largest-ever crop, which has seen the kiwifruit marketer top $5 billion in global sales in the 2024/25 season, exceeding the goal set in 2015 of $4.5 billion by 2025.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NIWA’s weather guy on our Indian summer, which is heading into winter.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month’s Farmstrong farmer and champion is a well-known Taranaki cow cocky and author of the best selling book Tools for the Top Paddock.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country’s Rural Commercial Lead is just back from a 10-day trek of the Australian Outback, where her touring party ventured to some great Aussie Outback stations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Wayne Langford, Chris Hipkins, and Chris Russell.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president of Federated Farmers on the love-in with Labour and the battle with Groundswell, NZ Farming and the Methane Science Accord. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Budget Day! So, what would the Leader of the Opposition do if he were running the cutter?  Why the love-in with Federated Farmers? And why are we not seeing any agricultural policy from Labour?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent talks about a six month cattle drive to educate city-dwellers about food security, the social license around Roundup use, and why the Lucky Country is a land of droughts and flooding rains.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Richard Allen, Anna Nelson, Lucas Fuess, and James Denholm.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask the PM about tomorrow’s Budget, but more importantly, where’s the money’s coming from to balance the books? We talk Mystery Creek and whether dairy conversions will be the hot topic du jour? And why has carbon capture and storage (CCS) at Kapuni fallen over as an option to meet our 2030 emissions target?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the results of the final GDT Auction for the 24/25 season with Fonterra’s president of global markets ingredients. Plus what is the Fonterra team doing in Shanghai?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, Silver Fern Farms Co-operative held its AGM in Dunedin. It was Nelson's first as the co-operative's chairwoman, and Rob Hewett’s last with the company after serving 17 years as a Director. Nelson has officially taken over Hewett’s former role as co-chair of Silver Fern Farms Limited. But has SFF gone woke over emissions reductions?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A US-based senior dairy analyst for Rabobank is visiting NZ and presenting alongside Emma Higgins at several of the bank's events across the country, covering the latest developments in global dairy markets and what they mean for New Zealand’s dairy sector. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toyota’s Palmerston North-based New Vehicle Operations Manager gives us a Fieldays preview, including some hot deals on the new Hilux. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Richard McIntyre, Mark de Lautour, Farmer Tom Martin, Kate Acland, and Corina Jordan. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers dairy chair says Feds is calling on the Government to deliver on National’s pre-election promise to change KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the chief executive of Open Country Dairy ahead of the last GDT auction of the season tonight. Plus, we look at the prospects for the 25/26 season.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our UK farming correspondent talks about the driest spring in nearly a century and the Labour government not backing down on the controversial inheritance tax.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.