The Country 14/11/25: Wayne Langford talks to Jamie Mackay

The president of Federated Farmers on a breaking story around farm consents, which is coming out on Monday.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we were going to be talking to former All
Black prop and hard man Richard Lowe, who was sitting
in for his mate Hamish mckaye for Mackay on Sport.
But he's gone missing an action. So from one great
front rower to another. Wayne Yolo Langford, president of Federated Farmers,
very useful in the front row.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
I'm told Wayne, best welcome I've had in a long time. Jane,
that is absolutely true. And I'll live up too small
to be in the front row. Be surprised what I
can do.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, well, I mean you're old. Your predecessor, Andrew Hoggard,
there was a man who was built for the front row.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yes, yes, I'll tell you a bit of a yarn
about that. We played a game of rugby, you know,
Feds vs. Parliament and blah blah blah. I had him,
had Andrew out on the out, on White on the wing,
had him in space, threw the ball out to him.
What did he do? He cuts back. He was definitely
not going White. Good work.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Okay, Now that I hear through the grapevine and there
was a lot of whispers going on this morning about
some big story breaking with Federated Farmers on mondays something
to do with consents. Do you want to fly a kite?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Gee? You must have You must have your head to
the ground. You must know what's going on within the
Let's be honest. You fed s ganged up on me
this morning and chewed my ears. Hey, everyone's heard about it,
this issue with consents where they're going and the fact
that it's absolutely ridiculous the money that farmers are having
to pay. And so we'll be beginning our campaign on
this next week next Monday, and no doubt you'll have

(01:24):
us back on the show to talk about it more.
But it is a huge issue for farmers, not only
here in Canterbury but across the country. How do we
tack this money that's been wasted on consents with a
new RMA coming and get a roll over these consents
that's going to help these farmers going forward.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, the poster boy for Federated Farmers on this one's
a former member of Federated Farmers or spokesperson, David Clark,
and he was in the ridiculous situation on his Canterbury
arable farm of costing him fifty grand to get a
consent to farm and the easiest way for him to
get a consent was to apply to convert his arable
farm to dairy farming. How does that work?

Speaker 2 (02:02):
It's absolutely insanity, right, And what are we trying to achieve?
And that's why we need to go right back to
the start of here. What are we doing and where
are we going with it? And I think when you
look at the changes that they're looking to the RMA
and what they're doing there, that's what that's all about.
And so that's why we're saying, hey, let's roll these over,
wait till this new RM is in and then and
then we'll get these consents sorted from there.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
So how are things in the Tasmud and Molson Bay region,
Because I know we've talked about Southland, Southwest Otargo, we've
talked about North Canterby. They've both been hammered in recent
times by wind events. But you guys got sucker punched twice,
didn't you with storms in the winter months.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, we did. Yeah, And it was definitely a rough time.
And we're bouncing back in the still you can still
certainly see the effects of where the floods have been,
but we're bouncing back. Probably more of the issue is
just this cold, gray, wet weather. You know, I think
it's a bit similar to the Southland spring of last year.
So I mean everyone's kind of break even on milk
production and where we're taking a lot. It's just we're

(03:00):
missing a bit of the cream off the tops.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Were you getting a bit dry up there?

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Well, we had a week with no rain and it
looked like that pavement down there on the road. It
was as hard as the rock. And we got some
rain yesterday morning as I was saiding off to Wellington,
So yeah, we'll be right.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
So what are the other big issues coming across your
desk as the president of the Federated Farmers.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Definitely wilding pines and this peace wilding pines and peat issue. Hey,
we think we're getting somewhere with that, and so I
look forward to updating on that one soon. I got
another meeting meeting in Wellington on that one on Tuesday,
So let's hope we get somewhere with that. Yeah, we've
got some issues getting getting the lights of the key.
We save a deal across the line. We were having
to have that one before Christmas. Let's hope we can
get that. But ultimately too we're heading out on the

(03:41):
road with the Prime Minister. I think over the next
couple of weeks. Jeez, I'm probably dropping that one a
bit early too.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah, and that's news and so.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
You'll hear a bit more about that as we work
our way into the Christmas Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
Okay, Hey, well, Wayne Langford, we're going to take a break.
I don't know where the hell Richard Lowe's gone. You
might have to fill in for running low what's your
sports knowledge? Like?

Speaker 2 (04:01):
We just saw a young Farmer of the Year walk
past George George.

Speaker 1 (04:06):
I've got George on the run sheet, but a wee
bit later in the air he's on the farmer panel
with old Stut. When I say old Stew Duncan, he's
my advantage. Stu Duncan and George Dodson our farmer panel,
young and old. We also have Kate Ackland from Beef
and Lamb New Zealand is going to wander along here.
Chris Brandolino from Newhare He ain't at the show today,

(04:27):
but we want to catch up with him and see
if we can get some follow up brain for the
dry parts of the country.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
I'm heading down to Silver and Farms for a bit
of beef brisket. I think they've got on the menu
down there, so that's where I'm heading. My mother in
law before she comes up to me and she says, oh,
how do I sneak into silver and Farms to get
some of this beef brisket for lunch? I was standing
standing there talking to Dan Bolton and he said, well,
maybe you might want to talk to me because I'm

(04:53):
the boss, right.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
I am hearing unofficially that the best lunch here at
Field Days is at Silver Fern Farms. I'm going to
catch a plane as soon as i can get off there,
so I mightn't be able to avail myself