The Country 12/02/26: Tim Dangen talks to Jamie Mackay

We find the 2022 NZ Young Farmer of the Year on the ground on day two of the Southern Field Days at Waimumu.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here's a north Islander who's now on adopted Southland at
Tim Dangel twenty twenty two Young Farmer of the Year,
Rowena has described it as a heat wave. Wayne Langford
said she doesn't handle the heat very well. What do
you call it, Tim, because you're used to warmer climbs
than Southland, being a west Auckland.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
A good afternoon you could have to known, Jamie, good
to be here. It's a bit of northern weather, all right.
The sun is teaming in. There's a light nor westerly
breeze though, so I can call in the shade. But no,
it's very boyant down here, Jamie. It's good to see
and there's a lot to be happy about in the
culture sectret at the moment, isn't there. Red meat really
sending some records there, and dairy farmers off the back

(00:37):
of a good payout last year and improving GDT auctions
this year. It's looking very promising all round. So I'd
say there'll be some deals then done down on the
field days.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Well, I think the interesting one from the dairy farmer's
point of view, the Fonterra dairy farmers I'm talking about,
they've got the capital repayment as well. That is an
average across the board of about four hundred thousand dollars
is a tax free capital are repayment. So I'm thinking,
if you're ever going to upgrade some gear, get a
new track, to buy a new ute, or whatever, if

(01:07):
times have been a bit tough in the past few years,
this would be the year to do it.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Absolutely, Jamie. I think farmers will be looking carefully where
they can reinvest their capital, isn't it. So if there's
productivity benefits on farm by upgrading machinery or creating a
better workplace, than now's the time to do it, for sure.
And it's exciting to see a bit of caresh been
going around, particularly in an election year. I think it's
it's real time and opportunity for politicians to be able
to really shine the spotlight on their primary center and

(01:34):
show just how well we're doing and the opportunities that
are out there for all people, isn't it. It's great
to see.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
I'm going to have a yarn when I get down
there tomorrow morning before we go to here to some
of the tractors, salespeople and the utes and the ones
who are selling the big ticket items, the farm machinery,
just to see what the vibe is are you. Are
you there to spend money or you just tire kicking, Tim.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
We'll break the wallet out for a few things. We've
picked up another con for another farm next season, so
we've got a little bit of capital to invest somewhere.
So yeah, we'll be doing a few deals hopefully, Jamie.
But I can't really see any reason why people wouldn't
be spending money here that things are very buoyant, and
the weather's good and the stores are looking fantastic. So
it's an exciting time to be in the primary sect

(02:17):
for sure.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Southland and Otago and well southwest Otago and parts of
Canterbury got walloped by that wind back in late October
of last year. I know the recovery has been a
painful process for many people. How has the season treated
you getting recovering from that, because I also know you've
got to weep it dry.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yes, we did get dry for a bit, and I
think if you take the wind event out of things,
it's actually been a pretty good season all around down here, Jamie,
talking out the farmers, I think hole on hole, you'd
take it on most seasons. So although we did get
a little bit dry, there's been some sort of frequent
rain coming through and there's a little bit coming tomorrow.
So I'll bring you gun boats if you're going to
come along to my murmur. But no, all and all

(03:01):
are very good season down here, really Okay.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
Well, we'll let you go. How's your sister Emma getting on.
We spoke to her a couple of weeks ago, mother
of three vet former Young Farmer of the Year as well.
I understand, like the Maze crops aside that the Waikato
regions having a very good grassy summer as well.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, they're having a bumper, an't they. So it's interesting
to see because certainly from volume wise, supplies looking very
good around most of the country from the dairy sector,
so it'd be interesting to see if this payout does
shift upwards or not with the volumes staying high. But no,
she's going very well here and Chris are very busy.
They're just starting to have some early calves up there,
so they'll be into the autumn carving side of things shortly,

(03:42):
which obviously keeps them very busy. And along with the
three kids, Emma's got a handful handful, but she manages
to balance at all. Jamien does very well there, you
know that well, mother.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
Of three, vet dairy farmer, celebrity speaker. And if that's
not enough carving twice a year, you need spare.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Time, eh. Not the Pool family, that's for sure. But no,
they're going for a Jamie and it's awesome to see
them really reaching out and capitalizing on some of the
opportunities that are out there at the moment. It's it's
widespread and I see it certainly down in the South
and that the doors are open for quality people that
want to work hard and try and get ahead. And
it's yeah, I think it's an exciting time the next

(04:22):
ten to fifteen years when we see a lot of
succession plans follow through and a lot of opportunities pop
up for young people. So it's a good time to
be in the primary seat of forsure.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
Jamie, you mentioned reaching, You reached into your pocket, Get
that wallet out and share the love at way Moomo.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
We'll do Jamie, it says

Speaker 1 (04:37):
Tim danjon There twenty twenty two Young Farmer of the
Year