August 7, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Kelvin Wickham, James Robertson, Rachel Shearer, Phil Duncan, and Hamish McKay.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's the Country Podcast with Jamie McKay Thanks to Brent.
You're specialist in John Deer construction equipment.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
How do you explain ever falling in a little with
a gull like me? And the first please turn around
said that I'm the worst thing. I guess sound a.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Problem, your miss, Never do no wrong if I'm so awful?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
The badu stick round this long in their fast whiskey.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Wife, keep getting New Zealand. Good afternoon or welcome to
the Country. The show's brought to you by Brent cooing
Country on a Friday, just because we can. I'm Jamie McKay,
Morgan Wollen, I'm the problem. Well, Morgan's not really the problem.
The problem was Jasunder and Co. When they had the
oil and guess ban in twenty eighteen. Now, the capuoni
(00:58):
Urea plant operational since nineteen eighty two, employing around one
hundred and eighty one hundred and twenty people, might have
to be moth board because they can't get any gas.
Even if they do find some gas, it's going to
cost them a whole lot more. This work eyed dealistic
idea of not being not using natural gas is really
(01:19):
coming back to bidas in the backstid. We're going to
kick off the show today with the chief executive of
Balance Agri Nutrients. The Caperni plant really has been a
bit of a jewel in their fertilizer crown. His name
is Calvin Wickham. James robertson. We're going to preview next
week's Xander MacDonald Awards summit on the Gold Coast with
the young man who holds a unique place in New
(01:40):
Zealand farming history. Rachel Sharer on the Wall Market. I
think DAGs are worth something again, hallelujah. Pell Duncan on
the weather and Hamish McKay on sport, Barry Sooper on politics.
So I can track cousin Barry down as well. But
let's kick it off with the chief executive of Balance Agrinutrients,
(02:00):
Calvin Wickham. Calvin g how many years ago was it
that you and I were chatting when you were the
I think the chief executive of Global Ingredients or the
boss of Global Ingredients for Fonterra A while ago.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Eh, Good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, it was a while ago,
probably five or seven years back before I moved to
Amsterdam with Fonterra then coming back into to the balance
role about two years ago.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Now, well, ye're the big dog, you're the top dog there.
I mentioned that the capuni Urea Planters has been a
bit of a jewel in the in the balance Aggrenutrients
Fertilizer Crown because am I right in saying it's the
only place in New Zealand where we make.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Your ear and that is correct? So it provides about
one third of are you rare for New Zealand than
two fair to be imported between ourselves and other players
in the market. So yeah, it's been certainly a key
part of the New Zealand scene to have some resilience locally.
And as you know, we definitely need niction available for
spring to boost that past your growth and crop growth.
(03:01):
We wouldn't just want to be totally beholden on global
supply chains for our nution.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So are you going to have to mothball the plant?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Certainly that's not the intense Jamie, and we've been talking
at the moment about a short term shut to help
us bridge the gap. We're looking some short term gas
supply as we look to find that probably the pretty
horrible price, but that does keep us going. And the
reason we're trying to bridge the gap is that the
market is very dynamic at the moment. There is some
talk about potential new supply coming on, there's potential other
(03:32):
demand side players may not be able to stay and last.
So if we can see our line of sight to
a year, there's opportunity potentially for us to find some
gas at affordable price, because clearly we have to produce
you rere international price here have to be competitive against those.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Inputs obviously, but are you going to be able to
find gas at an affordable price? As I said, industrial
users are now facing a fifteen to thirty percent increase
in gas prices.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
And in some cases a lot more than that, so
that is a challenge at the moment. I think it's
perhaps a bit distorted, and we would think that in
the maybe in a year's time it might look different.
We have to wait and see. And also it's not
a uniform price across the year. Certainly really peak high
pricing across window because the need for thermal generation for electricity,
(04:22):
but I can fall back to a very low marginal
cost at other times of the year. So perhaps that's
one of the opportunities for us is how do we
perhaps instead of make a full year make do we
make on a seasonal basis and then supplement with inputs
like we do.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Now, do you praise the Lord for Shane Jones?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Shane's got some good, strong views out there, But I
suppose I can say it's great to see people looking
to take initiatives and looking to take some action, and
we applaud this government any future government so we can
look to find some solutions to what's really a New
Zealand energy issue here. How do we have reliable, affordable
energy that supports our local industry and go export industries.
(05:04):
And that's the key challenge and at the moment what's
lacking perhaps a bit of certainty. The settings are clear
so that people can invest for the long term wherever
you are in the value chain, if you're upstream doing
expirations and drilling for gas, or if you're downstream like ourselves,
there's some certainty in the setting so we can invest
with some confidence over time.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Now I'm looking at the Rabobank August Agribusiness Monthly and
on the farm input section where they have the commodity outlooks,
they're saying fertilizer prices continue to track or continue to
track higher in July, with Yourrea leading the way plus
twelve percent month on month. I take it that that
number is only going to head in one direction from
(05:45):
here on in.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Well, it's a bit hard to read. I think we're
probably approaching what we would say is the top end
of price at the moment, and all that that increases
driven by a lot of strong demand out there, in
there and elsewhere, and restricted input through to restricted exports
from China, and certainly it is a bit top here
today across all of the fertilizer products. However, you know,
(06:08):
we are a very small player at the end of
the end of the planet, and just we'll have to
see how those global dynamics play out. The positive thing is,
from our perspective, there's the real confidence in New Zealand AG.
The underline business is strong, strong autumn, looking for a
great spring. Disappointing disappointments. We do have this New Zealand
gas issue and the companion the team to work with there.
(06:31):
But outside that, you know, the business and Farmerland's looking great.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah, indeed, and the overall tenor of the Agribusiness monthly
from Rabobank is very positive. Could we ever get to
the stage where we could make one hundred percent of
our urea in this country? It's it's not probable.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Is it probably something we wouldn't look towards and you
really need a really cheap energy sourcing and gas at
the moment. Longer term you can see renewable energy in
New Zealand and full electrification of a u EAR process
and the technology and the cost comes towards us, and
that would probably be a New Zealand ink plate, So
(07:08):
that will require power company, energy company and potentially looking
at the let's say at eighty to one hundred percent
of New Zealand's requirements. That's a long term play. The challenge,
of course, for now is we need to get to
the future, so we need to survive the short term.
Having said all that, we know we've covered any potential
shortfall from Caperni through imports, We've got boats on the water,
(07:30):
we've got alternative sources of nitience, so you know self,
I'd ever known near dimonium phosphate here as well to
cover any potential shortfall. So confident that we'll have product
available for our farmer suppliers. It's just a longer term
solution for New Zealand. How much resilience do we want
locally and how do we have an energy sector that
supports New Zealand acuty business of the world.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, okay, And if people are wondering why this is
such an important issue, I was reading in your press release, Calvin,
that forty one percent of ag exports are enabled by
Balance Fertilizer. Obviously another forty percent probably by Ravenstown, and
I'm not sure what the splitters these days in market
share with the other fertilizer companies around the place. But
(08:14):
it's very important that we have the ability to maximize
pasture growth and take advantage of these really good dairy
and red meat prices at the moment.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Absolutely nutrients in quality exports out. That's the focus. We need.
Those nutrients in the soil, grow that pasture growth crops
feed the exports am out, so that important to other
thing is lost on anyone. The challenges, of course, how
we get that good mix of local manufacturer and imports
(08:46):
to deliver cost effective nutrients per head there through our
farmers and growth.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Okay, Calvin Wickhome Chief Executive of balance agra nutrients. Good
to catch up again.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Nice to talk to you, Jamie. Thanks, there we.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Go Shane Jones. Shane might solve the problem. Look, we
broadcast the country from the Westpac building here in Dunedin.
We're on level two. If you want to come and
visit us and say hello, feel free to come bearing
gifts if you want to. But we look straight across
the road at the A n Z Bank with one
(09:17):
block from the Octagon in Dunedin, so it's central Dunedin
and all day there's been protesters out there and be
fair to say Shane Jones is getting a bit of
a roasting. They're protesting at A and Z or outside
A and Z about them supporting fossil fuels. I just wonder,
(09:38):
I just wonder, looking at them from afar, how many
of them have a job? HM Up next a man,
a young man. If we had more people like him
in this country, we would be cooking with gas, with
natural gas. James robertson next week's Zander MacDonald Awards Summit
(09:58):
Design on the Gold. This guy holds a unique place
in New Zealand farming. We're going to tell you all
about it next.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Then, what do you steal around this. If he got
a God dream, do him if he.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Got from then to prove God proving nobody clear. You're
we we like talking to smart young people in agri
business in this country. This guy is young and he's smart.
He's still in his twenties and he's the chief of
staff at Ontario and he holds a special place in
New Zealand Young Farmer history, the only person to hold
(10:42):
the Young Farmer of the Year title for two years
in a row. Let's welcome onto the show, James Robertson, James,
I guess that's courtesy of COVID.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Hey, Jamie, Yeah, it's too kind that a few years
ago now that I was forting enough to and comorrow
to one of the Young Farmer Year, but and code
made it twice as long. So appreciate the opportunity and
the networks that that's provided.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Do you still hold the record for being the youngest
ever Young Farmer of the Year at twenty two years
of age? Because I know George Dodson wasn't very old
when he won it last year.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
Yes, yeah, I believe still the youngest at twenty two.
But it seems like we're just getting more and more
talented young people coming through, so I'm sure that someone
will take it off my hands in the coming years.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Okay, yes, you're far too modest. You are heading to
Australia next week for the Xander Awards summit. Of course,
my old mate Shane mcmanaway is behind this. What a
fantastic bloke. He is an agribusiness in this country. The
interesting thing about the Xander McDonald Awards, which I guess
recognizes trans tasmin excellence in the primary sector, leadership and entrepreneurialism,
(11:51):
is the fact that you were good enough to win
the Young Farmer of the Year in twenty nineteen James,
but you got pipped at the post for the Xander
McDonald Award the year after.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
Yeah, yeah, that's right. We had an amazing guy, Jack
Brohue who works for Partner, who took it out in
my years. But for me, I suppose the opportunity is
more about the network that your credit rather than the
award itself. So really looking forward to getting over to
the Gold Coast next week and connecting in with a
range of Egrey business leaders that are just like Shane,
all about sharing their knowledge and connections can't wait, and
(12:22):
it's an awesome opportunity.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Well, as I said, your chief of staff at Fonterra
is still in your twenties. How many doors did well?
Obviously the Young Farmer of the Year coupled with your
involvement in the Xander McDonald Awards. How many doors has
that opened for you and the primary sector?
Speaker 5 (12:41):
You know, I was always told about your network network
is more like your networth. It's probably quite true, but
you've really got to back up with a bit of
hard work and some of these awards and opportunities and
the aggrey sector really do a lot of those doors.
But I suppose you still have the courage and grip
to sort of walk through them and the opportunities when they.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Do pop ups for the twenty twenty six Zanda McDonald
or water opening in October, they run for the entire month.
Why would you encourage young leaders in the primary sector
to enter, because you've got a reasonably wide age range.
You can enter from the age of twenty one up
to thirty five, so you've got another five years on
(13:19):
the young farmers there.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Yeah, there's no limitations to really apply, so there's nothing
that you've got to lose, and you do get to
build a network right across the sector. I'm looking forward
to connecting them with this year's winners, Megan and Jack.
So yeah, there's really no downside. The worst you can
come away with us learning a bit more about yourself
and the best you can come away with us as
learning a bit more about others. So really encouraging anyone
to give.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
It a cock.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
How valuable was valuable was the judge and component of
it for you?
Speaker 5 (13:48):
It is good, but it is good that makes you
reflect really upon who you are, where you want to
go and what you really want to go back to
the rural community. But at the same time you're sitting
there in front of judges like Seane mcmanaway, who's come
away being a good friend, the mentor, and that wouldn't
be possible without those sort of opportunities. So yeah, it's
a really special opportunity.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
How do you get on being the chief of staff
at Fonterra when you're you know, and you're what you
were you were twenty two when you wanted in twenty nineteen,
if I had six years to that, what does that
make you now twenty eight?
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Yeah, your mess is pretty good. Yeah, I think are
sort of chief of staff is and what it does,
but it's probably a bit of a noxy wore on.
I don't have any staff, so I more like a
shepherd without any sheep, I guess. But get to work
for Males Harrell, our CEO, and right across our lead
team on sort of strategic projects and making sure that
we're working on the right things at the right time.
(14:38):
But at the end of the day, I just really
love working for the co op and knowing with everything
that we do deliver is right back to eight thousand
farming shareholders and family, so gives you a real strong
sense of purpose and makes you enjoy of work.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Of course, you were heading up Fonterra's operations in Shanghai
before that.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Yeah, enough, heading up the operations is quite the way
I've described it, but was a key part of the
team and love being based up in Shanghai. It's a
fantastic market up and up in China, one that's really
important for our New Zealand angry exports and as a
place I suppose not many keyious get the opportunity to experience.
I really enjoyed our time up there, and we send
a round about a third lay product up into the
(15:17):
China market. So getting to see that in operation and
contributing to that was an awesome opportunity for three years.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Well, you're working in a good company co Op Fonterra,
Miles Hurrald, he's the chief executive of the year. And
I think the understated star as Peter McBride, your chairman.
Smart man, understated but smart, and I think the good
ship Fonterra has definitely turned around from some troubled times
a few years ago. James Robertson and you enjoyed the
Zander Award summit. Next week on the Gold Coast, will
(15:46):
catch up with Shane mcmanaway over there. Chairs.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Thanks Shemmy, I hope to talk so thank you.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
What a smart young bloke James Robertson is just trying
to talk to and read the text machine at the
same time. Bloke should never multitask Michelle Muzz, who's a
bitter and twisted man from Hawks Bay's texted and he's
got a fantastic voice for radio Jamie, unlike your high
(16:13):
pitched and squeaky voice. I think that's a bit harsh. Muzz.
I've got the man flu at the moment, so that
might add a few decibels have screeched to it. I
don't know. Hello, Michelle, how are you YEA? Now? I
sent you over this morning with strict instructions to go
and get a picture of the Shane Jones banner that
the protesters had outside the ASB Bank ASB Let's try
(16:37):
A and Z Bank. You failed.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
I failed.
Speaker 8 (16:40):
I think they got told to put it away because
when I went down there it was gone. So now
I'm thinking you imagined this whole banner because I've no
I drove.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Past it this morning. It's definitely there. But yeah, they're
out there. How do these people think that we're going
to power the nation?
Speaker 9 (16:57):
Right?
Speaker 8 (16:58):
I want to know how they got the well?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I dare say they probably did walk and anyhow, up
next the Wall Market, The Good, the Bad, the Ugly,
and the DAGs with Rachel Sharer from PGG Rights and.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Baker.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Then a fun song game on today's piece of useless
but interesting trivia comes from the GM of Wolf for
PGG Rights, and her name is Rachel Scharer. Now Shara
(17:34):
is obviously a very good name for the GM of Wolf,
But Rachel, you were telling me your Christian name obviously Rachel,
and Hebrew means gentle as a lamb or does it
mean an old you?
Speaker 7 (17:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (17:50):
Well, according to my mother it means a gentle as
a lamb, but if you google it it means you
a female sheep. So I'm going to go with the
gentle as a lamb.
Speaker 9 (17:59):
That sounds funice.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Yeah, well, no one wants to be caught on old you.
Not at your age, Rachel, No, not at all. You've
still got all your teeth, haven't you?
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Most of them?
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Now?
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Good news, bad news scenario for wall at the moment.
The mid micron stuff's had a real surge, which is good,
But most of the wall we produce in this country
isn't mid micron. Most of it's strong crossbred wall. It
weakened again yesterday at the Napier sale Strong Wall indicator
down sixth cents. And here's another piece of useless trivia
(18:33):
for you which will surprise farmers. Certainly surprised me as
a former sheep farmer. Bellies and pieces are currently close
in price to fleecewall. What the hell's happening?
Speaker 6 (18:44):
I know who would believe it, and I think during
the COVID days when bellies and pieces are around forty cents.
Everybody stopped sending in their oddments and now bellis and
pieces are not far off good quality shares. It's odd,
but what we're seeing and what we're believing is that
because of those low prices, a lot of exporters have sold,
(19:07):
have forward sold into particularly the Asian markets where they're blended,
and now now they're struggling to fill that supply. So
it's a classic supply and demand story. But who would
have believed it on bellies and pieces?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Absolutely, which begs the question I've got to go further
down this rabbit hole. What about DAGs? Are they now
worth something?
Speaker 7 (19:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (19:27):
DAGs are definitely worth something. And I think the thing
with DAGs as well is there's a great dag industry
here in New Zealand, a real cottage industry across the country,
and so DAGs are definitely worth sending in as well.
So as we're seeing the b trains roll through at
the moment, I'm hoping that growers get the message that
you know, it's worth bundling those up and putting them
(19:49):
in for our teams to teams to put on the market.
There is a market there for them.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Yeah, but don't most farmers hock their DAGs off for cash.
I used to in the good old days. That was
my bear money after rugby. Yes, I shouldn't say that
the Inland Revenue Department might be listening, Rachel.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
They might be. No, it's definitely worth taking the time
to send in the elements, that's so sure, Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Explain to me this surge or relative surge in the
mid micron market twenty two to thirty one micron.
Speaker 6 (20:17):
Yeah, so it's up sort of around twenty seven percent
up on the same time last year, and once again
we're seeing that strong activity come from the Asian markets.
There's some outstanding orders there and that's probably once again
that classic supply and demand story dwindling supply here in
the Southern Hemisphere as pushing up the demand in that
(20:38):
mid micron space. So if that's anything to go by,
we believe we're pretty well positioned for the final Wolves
when they start to hit the market in a couple
of weeks time.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah. I was going to say the pre lamb with
the Marinos is happening as we speak, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Ensuring's actually a little bit ahead of where it was
last year, and we've had a really good growing season
if you remember. But last year climatic conditions meant that
the fleece weights were back. Production on the sheep sheep's
back was back up to that ten percent. So the
classes and the growers and the reps are all saying
that the wall coming off is looking really good, really
(21:15):
strong quality. As far as the tensil strength says, production
looks to be up.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
So yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
All the feedback coming through from the sharing sheds is
that those white packs that are rolling in to our
stores at the moment are full of good quality. So
we're looking forward to the Marino season for sure.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Rachel Sharer there, great surname, great Christian name, gentle as
a lamb. We'll chat to you again next month. Hopefully
the wall market we can see some recovery for the
strong wall.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
We certainly hope, so I'm not forward to talk to
you next month.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
One thank you, Rachel. Some text traffic coming in well,
Verry soaper is looking after two kids who have the flu,
so he won't be on the show today, Big ste Duncan,
there's texted in from the Toto, the mayor of Where
to Burn. He says, we just tipped them in the hole.
(22:05):
I presume he's talking about the DAGs rather than the
protesters outside the a n Z bank. Maybe they could
both go in the dead. Oh, I shouldn't say that.
I'll get in trouble anyhow. He's just tipping the DAGs
into the hole. But stew you might be missing a
bit of a trick there. According to Rachel, they're worth something. Now,
I did find it interesting, Michelle. Do you know anything
(22:26):
about wool it comes from a sheet? Yeah, no, no,
but I mean you know what bellies and pieces are. No,
I won't go there.
Speaker 8 (22:32):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
No, not as much, but well, I used to be
a sheep farmer. But the thing is the fact that
they're worth close to what the strong crossbred fleecewallers is.
You know, kind of weird, to be perfectly honest, because,
as I think Rachel said when she was chatting, in
the COVID years, the bellies and the pieces, the oddments
(22:54):
were basically worthless. And I know a lot of people
are using DAGs these days. For when you're planting your trees,
your native trees, hopefully not pine trees. Dennis Nielsen. When
you're planting your native trees. You go and use the
DAGs and they're a good weeds suppressant. Plus obviously because
(23:14):
their sheep poo, they're good fertilizer as well for your tree.
Speaker 8 (23:17):
Yeah, they're very good on the garden eggs.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Yes, experience they are indeed. Okay, so Barry soap is unavailable.
Imagine two kids with the flu.
Speaker 8 (23:30):
Is it worse than one of you with the flu?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Oh? No, I've got the man flu and I'm just
battling through it bravely. But I have had two kids
at home all this week The Australian grandchildren going to
miss them terribly this weekend on the golf course. But yeah,
like it's quite hard work. Barry's got a few years
on me. I admire them, admire them for being a
(23:55):
a father.
Speaker 8 (23:56):
He's a very patient man.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
While he is a patient man. Anyhow are you saying
here the dup Alan's not patient. Oh, just be careful
where you go with that one there, Michelle, don't you
do me anyhow?
Speaker 8 (24:06):
No?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Oka, will you go and come up with the latest
in rural news while I pre read sports news of.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
The countries, World news with cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit Steelford dot Cot dot
NZ for your local stockist.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
New Zealand and Indonesia have signed a new agreement to
boost agricultural trade and corporation. Minister of Agriculture, Trade and
Investment Todd McLay met with his Indonesian counterpart in Jakarta
yesterday to formalize the deal, which aims to open new
commercial opportunities for farmers and agribusiness in both countries. The
agreement covers areas like livestock development, smart farming, biosecurity, streamlined
(24:43):
trade processes, and it also establish establishes a consult of
forum to align technical standards and reduce red tape for exporters.
During his one day visit, McKay also met with senior
Indonesian ministers and a s E A n S Secretary
General to strengths in the regional trade tie. And we
did interview Tom McClay earlier this week. You can catch
an interview on air podcast.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Okay, there we go. I've got a bit of country
music in there. Shall I just leave it bubbling underneath
the sports news? Why not? Shall I do sports news?
Why not? Yeah, let's do sports we've got to keep
the walls from the door. And Tom Young happy it's AFCO.
He'll be on the show, by the way on Monday
talking about red meat and the big story, the big
(25:25):
red meat story next week will be on Tuesday. I
think we hear about the recapitalization from the Alliance Group.
Of course, just as just off the top of my head,
Dawn meats, Yes, Dawn meets from Ireland. Ireland. Yeah, two
hundred and seventy million for a seventy percent steak in
the Alliance Group. There goes. You're cooperative, but you know,
(25:47):
desperate times, desperate measures. We'll see, we'll see what comes
to that one next week. But here's the latest in
sports news.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at afcot co dot nz.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Could there be an exodus of New Zealand netball players,
with a number now heading across the Tasman Australia's Daily
Telegraph is linking silver fern curen Berger with a move
to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. The paper also reports up
to three other Keywis could join coach Kerrie Wills at
the Queensland Firebirds. Meanwhile, tax Tactics Centurion Jane Watson and
(26:25):
what a good player she is has called time on
her career, joining Ali Bird and confirming she won't be
back in Red and black for twenty six. Long serving
New Zealand Cricket high Performance coach Bob Carter is to
leave the organization. Carter has filled a number of roles
(26:46):
in his twenty one years with ENZ Cricket, including as
White Fern's head coach and as black Caps assistant coach.
And that is your sports news. Up next, Why is
go text from Barry Soaper? Maybe Barry's decided he wants
a break from the kids. I don't know. It'll either
be Barry Soaper or Phil Duncan next on the Country.
(27:08):
We've definitely got Hamish McKay, Phil and host here on
the Country, MacKaye on Sport to wrap the week, but
it's the weather next with Phil Duncan, Game on Save
it for the end of the week. And then a
Canty song came on.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
I was going to drive down on Donstone, somebody.
Speaker 7 (27:31):
Said prayer for me.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Christ fills here.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Out in a still Caseley.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
We missed the mind Monday, but we always get our man.
Because I had to chat to Chris Brandolino on Monday
about Niewa Oops, the artist formerly known as Neewa these
Days Earth Sciences New Zealand updated three month outlook, So
I've moved Phil to Friday. Phil, do you concur with
what your close friends at Neewa Earth Sciences New Zealand
are saying, well.
Speaker 9 (27:58):
To do with La Nina. I mean you to remember
that for twelve months last year we went through this
talking about Larnina and then it never happened. So you've
got to place just a little bit of questioning on it.
But to be honest with you, there are some signs
that we are seeing a bit of a shift to
larning and you just have to look at the weather
maps to see. There's a lot of rain up in
the tropics around the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Banawatu
(28:21):
so north to northwest of New Zealand. Up in the tropics,
a lot of rain around there, and on top of
that quite a series of low pressure zones. Now they're
not really affecting New Zealand, but they are forming, so
yes in one area, I do tend to agree that
we are heading towards Larnina conditions, but it's saying that
we had twelve months last year of NIA saying every month,
(28:42):
Marnina's coming, Larnina's coming, and it never happened. So it's
just important to remember that we're halfway between the equator
and Tutan.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Newa or Sciences, New Zealand. God knows why they changed
their name, calling wet and warm for carving and landing.
We'll take the warm, but not so much the wet
increasing risk of tropical and subtropical systems hitting New Zealand,
raising the likelihood of heavy rain and flooding in the
north and east of the North Island and areas like Tasman.
(29:11):
So that's not really what we want to hear, Phil No,
But I.
Speaker 9 (29:14):
Mean like you'd be a rich person if you were
accurate in New Zealand at forecast and beyond a couple
of weeks. So it's it's like, yeah, it sounds alarming,
but remember we had twelve months of this last year
of warning of all this stuff, so it's until it forms,
there's very little to talk about, but there is a
there is some chatter the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia,
which is a government agency. They don't do they're they're
(29:35):
not commercial. They're saying that La Nina is possibly on
the cards, but they don't see anything forming this year,
and if it does tend to form, it may happen
around December. So they're taking a pretty sort of low
view of it.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Okay, let's narrow our focus to the next week, Phil.
I think there's there's certainly a cold front hitting of
the South Island as we speak, but we are going
to get a big high early next week, which are
be good.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (30:01):
From a nation wide point of view, the next week
coming up may be the coldest of the year so
far because the polar air boundary goes right up to
the far North and sits there for about a week.
Usually that's like a wave crashing on a beach and
sitting at its highest point before retreating and sitting there
for way too long. So this cold air is going
to hang around. But it doesn't mean that some of
you in the South Island will have the coldest week
(30:23):
of the year. I just mean on a national point
of view, it looks that way, but places like Otago
may have a bit of a breeze blowing through that
might not be overly warm, but it does mean your
overnight temperatures aren't as brutal as they could be, but
we've seen widespread frost coming in this weekend and next
week as well, potentially right up to the winterless North.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Well, if you're going to get them early August, should
I say is not a bad time to have them.
Phil Duncan thank you very much for your time. I'd say,
enjoy your weekend. But I know you're a weather man,
so weekends, weekdays, they're all the same to you. No
rest for the worked.
Speaker 9 (30:55):
See, there is always a high pressures. A weather man's free.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
The high and I'm talking about the barometric high there,
philp any of uation later, good on your felt There
we go fourteen away from one. You're with the country,
the still protesters outside the A and Z Bank and
Dunedin protesting against fossil fuels. We'll get to some of
(31:22):
your feedback on the protesters and also Barry's busy with
two kids with the flu or Bugger Hamish MacKaye mckaye
on sport to wrap the weekend, and a message from
our partners at Farmstrong last Friday. Halla in going country
(31:46):
on the country on a Friday. Some of your feedback
actually before I do that. I've got to do the
farm Strong sign off because I don't want to forget this.
It's very important, especially at this time of the year
because it's a high stress time on the farm. So
staying farm strong it was all about treating yourself as
the farm's number one asset. To see what other farmers
(32:07):
and growers are doing to live well and farm well,
head to the farm Strong website for free tools and resources.
If you're going well, the farm will go well too.
So visit farmstrong dot co dot nz and lock it
in Eddie and see what works for you. Some of
your feedback. The protesters are probably wearing synthetics, says Margaret,
(32:28):
probably arm after Maz's cruel jibe about my high pitched
and squeaky voice. A lovely text from Jan Thank you, Jan.
I appreciate that, Tim, Tim says Hi, Jamie, I remember
when urea was like six hundred dollars a ton. I
(32:49):
got some urea last week fifteen hundred dollars a ton
and counting too. Probably Don has texted in, Jamie, go
down and give those protesters a kick up the ass.
I'll represents you, gratis, Michelle. I'm assuming Don's probably a lawyer.
Speaker 8 (33:06):
I'm a little bit worried about that. Maybe don't take
that risk. We still want to be here.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
On my name tended And oh the rain is just
touched down in christ So yeah, a bit of a
cold cold burst coming, but better now than next month,
That's what I say. Up next, to wrap the farming week,
Hamish mckaye on Sport see, I'll live changed, just a
(33:37):
gore around. Sorry about the wee moment of dead air.
There just a moment of panic here at the country.
HQ couldn't find Hamish McKay. I thought the useless bugger.
I told him tend to ten to one. He can't
let the family name down. But in true mackay fashion,
he came through. Hello, Hey, Miche, how are you?
Speaker 7 (33:59):
Oh you made I'm fantastic. I'm actually in Toup for
today with the great team from remains pouring down, the
raindows it roads about its now. So I might not
get back to fielding.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Well you might not because you spent you're splitting your
time between Auckland and the Manua too, where you're selling
real estate these days and auctioneering and doing heaven knows
what else for Tremain's how's it.
Speaker 7 (34:18):
Going, Oh, Jamie, I couldn't be happier. In fact, I've
just said to be good mate c J. Christa Maine
and told him how much I'm enjoying it actually, you know,
and being back in fielding, back in the man of
Tu the Field of Dreams just across from Paradise North
and the Manu were two too much, you know, it's
just brilliant.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Yeah, okay, look mcmackaye on Sport, we'll have a look
at that Richie Muwanga. You know, some people are winging
that he's that he's calling the tune, but he's the
sort of not once in a generation footballer. We've got
Damien mackenzie and Bowden Barrow who are both damn good
as well, but you if we want to win a
World Cup, we probably want him there as.
Speaker 7 (34:57):
Well, exactly. You know, look as good as Bowden is
at his absolute peaking, as good as you say, d
mack and you know, you go back to we've had
very fine first five ahs, but this guy I believe
is integral to winning a World Cup and he is.
Here's a Mick Jagger of rugby. You got to you
accommodate him, You put up with him. And I just
(35:19):
don't see how anybody could could winge about this because
I think that slowly but surely I was a jury
was a bit outlast year. Raised is taking a while
to build this them. But if we're looking ahead to
a World Cup, he could still deliver some goods, you know.
And I just think it's a no brainer. And there
are certain players and he falls into that Dan Carter,
Richie mccork on cano zone where you actually been over
(35:41):
backwards for them and do what it takes.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
Yeah, And I think Rays has been much more adventurous
this year. He was sort of en I was going
to say Ian Taylor from We'll try Ian Foster two
point zero, he picked exactly the same team, like picking
this big raw bone bugger from Northland Simon Parker that
I like him. We need monsters if we're going to
monster the spring.
Speaker 7 (36:02):
Box, Yeah, I look I like him a lot. You know,
park origon that and obviously probably would have been part
of the scene a bit earlier for you. Yeah, we
need to match like with like, and you know, even
this Leroy Carter, that's a pointed towards us having our
own bomb squad and having a guy that you play
half back ten cent a wing, so.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Yeah, you know, you know what hamish with him. I
would start him on the All Blacks tomorrow on the wing.
He's better than what we've got, so.
Speaker 7 (36:30):
What at a pound for pound? Well, he's absolutely outstanding.
I mean, you know, I'll be lucky enough to be
back calling NPC.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
In a couple of.
Speaker 7 (36:38):
Games last year for bay a Pladi, I was like,
what the hell, why isn't this guy getting it? And
it's good to see he's getting the acknowledged. The same
with Parker. No, I think they're starting to really get
it right, and it's just he's not. You know, it's
not like the Jigs was missing a piece, but he
asked of the jigsal, okay.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Let's just wrap it with free to air sport. Back
in the day, of course, you were commentating. I remember
you commentating a Rugby World Cup for TV three when
it was free to wear.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
That's right.
Speaker 7 (37:03):
I remember you doing some netball when I was free
to wear. If my memory says there, right, well, you
know did I make that up somewhere along what.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
Me doing netball?
Speaker 7 (37:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (37:11):
I remember?
Speaker 3 (37:11):
No, No, If that's that's the dog you old mate
Lee Piper. He did the net that was.
Speaker 7 (37:16):
I wonder whether he dragged you along for that one.
But I'm just you know, okay, I.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Don't know a goal to take from a goal defense.
Speaker 7 (37:23):
Yeah, I reverse and retract entirely. Look, I just think
free to air sport is a lost leader for the sports.
Speaker 4 (37:30):
It's good.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
I'm sorry to say this. It's nice to get a
bucket of money from PayTV for a sport, but you've
got to actually you think back to the days and
you were to love this the Troyes World Cricket in
the early eighties. Everybody watched it. Who knows we're playing
at the barble at the moment, you know, nobody's ivious.
Think it's a great thing for a netbought now for rugby.
(37:52):
Let's let's embrace it a little bit and maybe sponsors
will come on board and start paying for the coverage
as opposed to the PATV paying for it all. I
think it's.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Okay, Hamish, thanks very much for your time there. We
go fill and host for the country. Hamish MacKaye doing
a splendid job. You enjoy your weekend. Go the Southland
Stags tonight.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Thanks to Brent, the starkest of the leading agriculture brands
Catch all the latest from the land.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's the Country Podcast with Jamie McKay Thanks to Brent.
You're specialist in John Deer construction equipment.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
How do you explain ever falling in a little with
a gull like me? And the first please turn around
said that I'm the worst thing. I guess sound a.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Problem, your miss, Never do no wrong if I'm so awful?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
The badu stick round this long in their fast whiskey.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Wife, keep getting New Zealand. Good afternoon or welcome to
the Country. The show's brought to you by Brent cooing
Country on a Friday, just because we can. I'm Jamie McKay,
Morgan Wollen, I'm the problem. Well, Morgan's not really the problem.
The problem was Jasunder and Co. When they had the
oil and guess ban in twenty eighteen. Now, the capuoni
(00:58):
Urea plant operational since nineteen eighty two, employing around one
hundred and eighty one hundred and twenty people, might have
to be moth board because they can't get any gas.
Even if they do find some gas, it's going to
cost them a whole lot more. This work eyed dealistic
idea of not being not using natural gas is really
(01:19):
coming back to bidas in the backstid. We're going to
kick off the show today with the chief executive of
Balance Agri Nutrients. The Caperni plant really has been a
bit of a jewel in their fertilizer crown. His name
is Calvin Wickham. James robertson. We're going to preview next
week's Xander MacDonald Awards summit on the Gold Coast with
the young man who holds a unique place in New
(01:40):
Zealand farming history. Rachel Sharer on the Wall Market. I
think DAGs are worth something again, hallelujah. Pell Duncan on
the weather and Hamish McKay on sport, Barry Sooper on politics.
So I can track cousin Barry down as well. But
let's kick it off with the chief executive of Balance Agrinutrients,
(02:00):
Calvin Wickham. Calvin g how many years ago was it
that you and I were chatting when you were the
I think the chief executive of Global Ingredients or the
boss of Global Ingredients for Fonterra A while ago.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Eh, Good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, it was a while ago,
probably five or seven years back before I moved to
Amsterdam with Fonterra then coming back into to the balance
role about two years ago.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Now, well, ye're the big dog, you're the top dog there.
I mentioned that the capuni Urea Planters has been a
bit of a jewel in the in the balance Aggrenutrients
Fertilizer Crown because am I right in saying it's the
only place in New Zealand where we make.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Your ear and that is correct? So it provides about
one third of are you rare for New Zealand than
two fair to be imported between ourselves and other players
in the market. So yeah, it's been certainly a key
part of the New Zealand scene to have some resilience locally.
And as you know, we definitely need niction available for
spring to boost that past your growth and crop growth.
(03:01):
We wouldn't just want to be totally beholden on global
supply chains for our nution.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So are you going to have to mothball the plant?
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Certainly that's not the intense Jamie, and we've been talking
at the moment about a short term shut to help
us bridge the gap. We're looking some short term gas
supply as we look to find that probably the pretty
horrible price, but that does keep us going. And the
reason we're trying to bridge the gap is that the
market is very dynamic at the moment. There is some
talk about potential new supply coming on, there's potential other
(03:32):
demand side players may not be able to stay and last.
So if we can see our line of sight to
a year, there's opportunity potentially for us to find some
gas at affordable price, because clearly we have to produce
you rere international price here have to be competitive against those.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Inputs obviously, but are you going to be able to
find gas at an affordable price? As I said, industrial
users are now facing a fifteen to thirty percent increase
in gas prices.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
And in some cases a lot more than that, so
that is a challenge at the moment. I think it's
perhaps a bit distorted, and we would think that in
the maybe in a year's time it might look different.
We have to wait and see. And also it's not
a uniform price across the year. Certainly really peak high
pricing across window because the need for thermal generation for electricity,
(04:22):
but I can fall back to a very low marginal
cost at other times of the year. So perhaps that's
one of the opportunities for us is how do we
perhaps instead of make a full year make do we
make on a seasonal basis and then supplement with inputs
like we do.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Now, do you praise the Lord for Shane Jones?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Shane's got some good, strong views out there, But I
suppose I can say it's great to see people looking
to take initiatives and looking to take some action, and
we applaud this government any future government so we can
look to find some solutions to what's really a New
Zealand energy issue here. How do we have reliable, affordable
energy that supports our local industry and go export industries.
(05:04):
And that's the key challenge and at the moment what's
lacking perhaps a bit of certainty. The settings are clear
so that people can invest for the long term wherever
you are in the value chain, if you're upstream doing
expirations and drilling for gas, or if you're downstream like ourselves,
there's some certainty in the setting so we can invest
with some confidence over time.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Now I'm looking at the Rabobank August Agribusiness Monthly and
on the farm input section where they have the commodity outlooks,
they're saying fertilizer prices continue to track or continue to
track higher in July, with Yourrea leading the way plus
twelve percent month on month. I take it that that
number is only going to head in one direction from
(05:45):
here on in.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Well, it's a bit hard to read. I think we're
probably approaching what we would say is the top end
of price at the moment, and all that that increases
driven by a lot of strong demand out there, in
there and elsewhere, and restricted input through to restricted exports
from China, and certainly it is a bit top here
today across all of the fertilizer products. However, you know,
(06:08):
we are a very small player at the end of
the end of the planet, and just we'll have to
see how those global dynamics play out. The positive thing is,
from our perspective, there's the real confidence in New Zealand AG.
The underline business is strong, strong autumn, looking for a
great spring. Disappointing disappointments. We do have this New Zealand
gas issue and the companion the team to work with there.
(06:31):
But outside that, you know, the business and Farmerland's looking great.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah, indeed, and the overall tenor of the Agribusiness monthly
from Rabobank is very positive. Could we ever get to
the stage where we could make one hundred percent of
our urea in this country? It's it's not probable.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Is it probably something we wouldn't look towards and you
really need a really cheap energy sourcing and gas at
the moment. Longer term you can see renewable energy in
New Zealand and full electrification of a u EAR process
and the technology and the cost comes towards us, and
that would probably be a New Zealand ink plate, So
(07:08):
that will require power company, energy company and potentially looking
at the let's say at eighty to one hundred percent
of New Zealand's requirements. That's a long term play. The challenge,
of course, for now is we need to get to
the future, so we need to survive the short term.
Having said all that, we know we've covered any potential
shortfall from Caperni through imports, We've got boats on the water,
(07:30):
we've got alternative sources of nitience, so you know self,
I'd ever known near dimonium phosphate here as well to
cover any potential shortfall. So confident that we'll have product
available for our farmer suppliers. It's just a longer term
solution for New Zealand. How much resilience do we want
locally and how do we have an energy sector that
supports New Zealand acuty business of the world.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, okay, And if people are wondering why this is
such an important issue, I was reading in your press release, Calvin,
that forty one percent of ag exports are enabled by
Balance Fertilizer. Obviously another forty percent probably by Ravenstown, and
I'm not sure what the splitters these days in market
share with the other fertilizer companies around the place. But
(08:14):
it's very important that we have the ability to maximize
pasture growth and take advantage of these really good dairy
and red meat prices at the moment.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Absolutely nutrients in quality exports out. That's the focus. We need.
Those nutrients in the soil, grow that pasture growth crops
feed the exports am out, so that important to other
thing is lost on anyone. The challenges, of course, how
we get that good mix of local manufacturer and imports
(08:46):
to deliver cost effective nutrients per head there through our
farmers and growth.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Okay, Calvin Wickhome Chief Executive of balance agra nutrients. Good
to catch up again.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Nice to talk to you, Jamie. Thanks, there we.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Go Shane Jones. Shane might solve the problem. Look, we
broadcast the country from the Westpac building here in Dunedin.
We're on level two. If you want to come and
visit us and say hello, feel free to come bearing
gifts if you want to. But we look straight across
the road at the A n Z Bank with one
(09:17):
block from the Octagon in Dunedin, so it's central Dunedin
and all day there's been protesters out there and be
fair to say Shane Jones is getting a bit of
a roasting. They're protesting at A and Z or outside
A and Z about them supporting fossil fuels. I just wonder,
(09:38):
I just wonder, looking at them from afar, how many
of them have a job? HM Up next a man,
a young man. If we had more people like him
in this country, we would be cooking with gas, with
natural gas. James robertson next week's Zander MacDonald Awards Summit
(09:58):
Design on the Gold. This guy holds a unique place
in New Zealand farming. We're going to tell you all
about it next.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Then, what do you steal around this. If he got
a God dream, do him if he.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Got from then to prove God proving nobody clear. You're
we we like talking to smart young people in agri
business in this country. This guy is young and he's smart.
He's still in his twenties and he's the chief of
staff at Ontario and he holds a special place in
New Zealand Young Farmer history, the only person to hold
(10:42):
the Young Farmer of the Year title for two years
in a row. Let's welcome onto the show, James Robertson, James,
I guess that's courtesy of COVID.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Hey, Jamie, Yeah, it's too kind that a few years
ago now that I was forting enough to and comorrow
to one of the Young Farmer Year, but and code
made it twice as long. So appreciate the opportunity and
the networks that that's provided.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Do you still hold the record for being the youngest
ever Young Farmer of the Year at twenty two years
of age? Because I know George Dodson wasn't very old
when he won it last year.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
Yes, yeah, I believe still the youngest at twenty two.
But it seems like we're just getting more and more
talented young people coming through, so I'm sure that someone
will take it off my hands in the coming years.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Okay, yes, you're far too modest. You are heading to
Australia next week for the Xander Awards summit. Of course,
my old mate Shane mcmanaway is behind this. What a
fantastic bloke. He is an agribusiness in this country. The
interesting thing about the Xander McDonald Awards, which I guess
recognizes trans tasmin excellence in the primary sector, leadership and entrepreneurialism,
(11:51):
is the fact that you were good enough to win
the Young Farmer of the Year in twenty nineteen James,
but you got pipped at the post for the Xander
McDonald Award the year after.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
Yeah, yeah, that's right. We had an amazing guy, Jack
Brohue who works for Partner, who took it out in
my years. But for me, I suppose the opportunity is
more about the network that your credit rather than the
award itself. So really looking forward to getting over to
the Gold Coast next week and connecting in with a
range of Egrey business leaders that are just like Shane,
all about sharing their knowledge and connections can't wait, and
(12:22):
it's an awesome opportunity.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Well, as I said, your chief of staff at Fonterra
is still in your twenties. How many doors did well?
Obviously the Young Farmer of the Year coupled with your
involvement in the Xander McDonald Awards. How many doors has
that opened for you and the primary sector?
Speaker 5 (12:41):
You know, I was always told about your network network
is more like your networth. It's probably quite true, but
you've really got to back up with a bit of
hard work and some of these awards and opportunities and
the aggrey sector really do a lot of those doors.
But I suppose you still have the courage and grip
to sort of walk through them and the opportunities when they.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Do pop ups for the twenty twenty six Zanda McDonald
or water opening in October, they run for the entire month.
Why would you encourage young leaders in the primary sector
to enter, because you've got a reasonably wide age range.
You can enter from the age of twenty one up
to thirty five, so you've got another five years on
(13:19):
the young farmers there.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Yeah, there's no limitations to really apply, so there's nothing
that you've got to lose, and you do get to
build a network right across the sector. I'm looking forward
to connecting them with this year's winners, Megan and Jack.
So yeah, there's really no downside. The worst you can
come away with us learning a bit more about yourself
and the best you can come away with us as
learning a bit more about others. So really encouraging anyone
to give.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
It a cock.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
How valuable was valuable was the judge and component of
it for you?
Speaker 5 (13:48):
It is good, but it is good that makes you
reflect really upon who you are, where you want to
go and what you really want to go back to
the rural community. But at the same time you're sitting
there in front of judges like Seane mcmanaway, who's come
away being a good friend, the mentor, and that wouldn't
be possible without those sort of opportunities. So yeah, it's
a really special opportunity.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
How do you get on being the chief of staff
at Fonterra when you're you know, and you're what you
were you were twenty two when you wanted in twenty nineteen,
if I had six years to that, what does that
make you now twenty eight?
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Yeah, your mess is pretty good. Yeah, I think are
sort of chief of staff is and what it does,
but it's probably a bit of a noxy wore on.
I don't have any staff, so I more like a
shepherd without any sheep, I guess. But get to work
for Males Harrell, our CEO, and right across our lead
team on sort of strategic projects and making sure that
we're working on the right things at the right time.
(14:38):
But at the end of the day, I just really
love working for the co op and knowing with everything
that we do deliver is right back to eight thousand
farming shareholders and family, so gives you a real strong
sense of purpose and makes you enjoy of work.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Of course, you were heading up Fonterra's operations in Shanghai
before that.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Yeah, enough, heading up the operations is quite the way
I've described it, but was a key part of the
team and love being based up in Shanghai. It's a
fantastic market up and up in China, one that's really
important for our New Zealand angry exports and as a
place I suppose not many keyious get the opportunity to experience.
I really enjoyed our time up there, and we send
a round about a third lay product up into the
(15:17):
China market. So getting to see that in operation and
contributing to that was an awesome opportunity for three years.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Well, you're working in a good company co Op Fonterra,
Miles Hurrald, he's the chief executive of the year. And
I think the understated star as Peter McBride, your chairman.
Smart man, understated but smart, and I think the good
ship Fonterra has definitely turned around from some troubled times
a few years ago. James Robertson and you enjoyed the
Zander Award summit. Next week on the Gold Coast, will
(15:46):
catch up with Shane mcmanaway over there. Chairs.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Thanks Shemmy, I hope to talk so thank you.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
What a smart young bloke James Robertson is just trying
to talk to and read the text machine at the
same time. Bloke should never multitask Michelle Muzz, who's a
bitter and twisted man from Hawks Bay's texted and he's
got a fantastic voice for radio Jamie, unlike your high
(16:13):
pitched and squeaky voice. I think that's a bit harsh. Muzz.
I've got the man flu at the moment, so that
might add a few decibels have screeched to it. I
don't know. Hello, Michelle, how are you YEA? Now? I
sent you over this morning with strict instructions to go
and get a picture of the Shane Jones banner that
the protesters had outside the ASB Bank ASB Let's try
(16:37):
A and Z Bank. You failed.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
I failed.
Speaker 8 (16:40):
I think they got told to put it away because
when I went down there it was gone. So now
I'm thinking you imagined this whole banner because I've no
I drove.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Past it this morning. It's definitely there. But yeah, they're
out there. How do these people think that we're going
to power the nation?
Speaker 9 (16:57):
Right?
Speaker 8 (16:58):
I want to know how they got the well?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I dare say they probably did walk and anyhow, up
next the Wall Market, The Good, the Bad, the Ugly,
and the DAGs with Rachel Sharer from PGG Rights and.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Baker.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Then a fun song game on today's piece of useless
but interesting trivia comes from the GM of Wolf for
PGG Rights, and her name is Rachel Scharer. Now Shara
(17:34):
is obviously a very good name for the GM of Wolf,
But Rachel, you were telling me your Christian name obviously Rachel,
and Hebrew means gentle as a lamb or does it
mean an old you?
Speaker 7 (17:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (17:50):
Well, according to my mother it means a gentle as
a lamb, but if you google it it means you
a female sheep. So I'm going to go with the
gentle as a lamb.
Speaker 9 (17:59):
That sounds funice.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Yeah, well, no one wants to be caught on old you.
Not at your age, Rachel, No, not at all. You've
still got all your teeth, haven't you?
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Most of them?
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Now?
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Good news, bad news scenario for wall at the moment.
The mid micron stuff's had a real surge, which is good,
But most of the wall we produce in this country
isn't mid micron. Most of it's strong crossbred wall. It
weakened again yesterday at the Napier sale Strong Wall indicator
down sixth cents. And here's another piece of useless trivia
(18:33):
for you which will surprise farmers. Certainly surprised me as
a former sheep farmer. Bellies and pieces are currently close
in price to fleecewall. What the hell's happening?
Speaker 6 (18:44):
I know who would believe it, and I think during
the COVID days when bellies and pieces are around forty cents.
Everybody stopped sending in their oddments and now bellis and
pieces are not far off good quality shares. It's odd,
but what we're seeing and what we're believing is that
because of those low prices, a lot of exporters have sold,
(19:07):
have forward sold into particularly the Asian markets where they're blended,
and now now they're struggling to fill that supply. So
it's a classic supply and demand story. But who would
have believed it on bellies and pieces?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Absolutely, which begs the question I've got to go further
down this rabbit hole. What about DAGs? Are they now
worth something?
Speaker 7 (19:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (19:27):
DAGs are definitely worth something. And I think the thing
with DAGs as well is there's a great dag industry
here in New Zealand, a real cottage industry across the country,
and so DAGs are definitely worth sending in as well.
So as we're seeing the b trains roll through at
the moment, I'm hoping that growers get the message that
you know, it's worth bundling those up and putting them
(19:49):
in for our teams to teams to put on the market.
There is a market there for them.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Yeah, but don't most farmers hock their DAGs off for cash.
I used to in the good old days. That was
my bear money after rugby. Yes, I shouldn't say that
the Inland Revenue Department might be listening, Rachel.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
They might be. No, it's definitely worth taking the time
to send in the elements, that's so sure, Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Explain to me this surge or relative surge in the
mid micron market twenty two to thirty one micron.
Speaker 6 (20:17):
Yeah, so it's up sort of around twenty seven percent
up on the same time last year, and once again
we're seeing that strong activity come from the Asian markets.
There's some outstanding orders there and that's probably once again
that classic supply and demand story dwindling supply here in
the Southern Hemisphere as pushing up the demand in that
(20:38):
mid micron space. So if that's anything to go by,
we believe we're pretty well positioned for the final Wolves
when they start to hit the market in a couple
of weeks time.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah. I was going to say the pre lamb with
the Marinos is happening as we speak, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Ensuring's actually a little bit ahead of where it was
last year, and we've had a really good growing season
if you remember. But last year climatic conditions meant that
the fleece weights were back. Production on the sheep sheep's
back was back up to that ten percent. So the
classes and the growers and the reps are all saying
that the wall coming off is looking really good, really
(21:15):
strong quality. As far as the tensil strength says, production
looks to be up.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
So yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:21):
All the feedback coming through from the sharing sheds is
that those white packs that are rolling in to our
stores at the moment are full of good quality. So
we're looking forward to the Marino season for sure.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Rachel Sharer there, great surname, great Christian name, gentle as
a lamb. We'll chat to you again next month. Hopefully
the wall market we can see some recovery for the
strong wall.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
We certainly hope, so I'm not forward to talk to
you next month.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
One thank you, Rachel. Some text traffic coming in well,
Verry soaper is looking after two kids who have the flu,
so he won't be on the show today, Big ste Duncan,
there's texted in from the Toto, the mayor of Where
to Burn. He says, we just tipped them in the hole.
(22:05):
I presume he's talking about the DAGs rather than the
protesters outside the a n Z bank. Maybe they could
both go in the dead. Oh, I shouldn't say that.
I'll get in trouble anyhow. He's just tipping the DAGs
into the hole. But stew you might be missing a
bit of a trick there. According to Rachel, they're worth something. Now,
I did find it interesting, Michelle. Do you know anything
(22:26):
about wool it comes from a sheet? Yeah, no, no,
but I mean you know what bellies and pieces are. No,
I won't go there.
Speaker 8 (22:32):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
No, not as much, but well, I used to be
a sheep farmer. But the thing is the fact that
they're worth close to what the strong crossbred fleecewallers is.
You know, kind of weird, to be perfectly honest, because,
as I think Rachel said when she was chatting, in
the COVID years, the bellies and the pieces, the oddments
(22:54):
were basically worthless. And I know a lot of people
are using DAGs these days. For when you're planting your trees,
your native trees, hopefully not pine trees. Dennis Nielsen. When
you're planting your native trees. You go and use the
DAGs and they're a good weeds suppressant. Plus obviously because
(23:14):
their sheep poo, they're good fertilizer as well for your tree.
Speaker 8 (23:17):
Yeah, they're very good on the garden eggs.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Yes, experience they are indeed. Okay, so Barry soap is unavailable.
Imagine two kids with the flu.
Speaker 8 (23:30):
Is it worse than one of you with the flu?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Oh? No, I've got the man flu and I'm just
battling through it bravely. But I have had two kids
at home all this week The Australian grandchildren going to
miss them terribly this weekend on the golf course. But yeah,
like it's quite hard work. Barry's got a few years
on me. I admire them, admire them for being a
(23:55):
a father.
Speaker 8 (23:56):
He's a very patient man.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
While he is a patient man. Anyhow are you saying
here the dup Alan's not patient. Oh, just be careful
where you go with that one there, Michelle, don't you
do me anyhow?
Speaker 8 (24:06):
No?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Oka, will you go and come up with the latest
in rural news while I pre read sports news of.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
The countries, World news with cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit Steelford dot Cot dot
NZ for your local stockist.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
New Zealand and Indonesia have signed a new agreement to
boost agricultural trade and corporation. Minister of Agriculture, Trade and
Investment Todd McLay met with his Indonesian counterpart in Jakarta
yesterday to formalize the deal, which aims to open new
commercial opportunities for farmers and agribusiness in both countries. The
agreement covers areas like livestock development, smart farming, biosecurity, streamlined
(24:43):
trade processes, and it also establish establishes a consult of
forum to align technical standards and reduce red tape for exporters.
During his one day visit, McKay also met with senior
Indonesian ministers and a s E A n S Secretary
General to strengths in the regional trade tie. And we
did interview Tom McClay earlier this week. You can catch
an interview on air podcast.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Okay, there we go. I've got a bit of country
music in there. Shall I just leave it bubbling underneath
the sports news? Why not? Shall I do sports news?
Why not? Yeah, let's do sports we've got to keep
the walls from the door. And Tom Young happy it's AFCO.
He'll be on the show, by the way on Monday
talking about red meat and the big story, the big
(25:25):
red meat story next week will be on Tuesday. I
think we hear about the recapitalization from the Alliance Group.
Of course, just as just off the top of my head,
Dawn meats, Yes, Dawn meets from Ireland. Ireland. Yeah, two
hundred and seventy million for a seventy percent steak in
the Alliance Group. There goes. You're cooperative, but you know,
(25:47):
desperate times, desperate measures. We'll see, we'll see what comes
to that one next week. But here's the latest in
sports news.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at afcot co dot nz.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Could there be an exodus of New Zealand netball players,
with a number now heading across the Tasman Australia's Daily
Telegraph is linking silver fern curen Berger with a move
to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. The paper also reports up
to three other Keywis could join coach Kerrie Wills at
the Queensland Firebirds. Meanwhile, tax Tactics Centurion Jane Watson and
(26:25):
what a good player she is has called time on
her career, joining Ali Bird and confirming she won't be
back in Red and black for twenty six. Long serving
New Zealand Cricket high Performance coach Bob Carter is to
leave the organization. Carter has filled a number of roles
(26:46):
in his twenty one years with ENZ Cricket, including as
White Fern's head coach and as black Caps assistant coach.
And that is your sports news. Up next, Why is
go text from Barry Soaper? Maybe Barry's decided he wants
a break from the kids. I don't know. It'll either
be Barry Soaper or Phil Duncan next on the Country.
(27:08):
We've definitely got Hamish McKay, Phil and host here on
the Country, MacKaye on Sport to wrap the week, but
it's the weather next with Phil Duncan, Game on Save
it for the end of the week. And then a
Canty song came on.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
I was going to drive down on Donstone, somebody.
Speaker 7 (27:31):
Said prayer for me.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Christ fills here.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Out in a still Caseley.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
We missed the mind Monday, but we always get our man.
Because I had to chat to Chris Brandolino on Monday
about Niewa Oops, the artist formerly known as Neewa these
Days Earth Sciences New Zealand updated three month outlook, So
I've moved Phil to Friday. Phil, do you concur with
what your close friends at Neewa Earth Sciences New Zealand
are saying, well.
Speaker 9 (27:58):
To do with La Nina. I mean you to remember
that for twelve months last year we went through this
talking about Larnina and then it never happened. So you've
got to place just a little bit of questioning on it.
But to be honest with you, there are some signs
that we are seeing a bit of a shift to
larning and you just have to look at the weather
maps to see. There's a lot of rain up in
the tropics around the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Banawatu
(28:21):
so north to northwest of New Zealand. Up in the tropics,
a lot of rain around there, and on top of
that quite a series of low pressure zones. Now they're
not really affecting New Zealand, but they are forming, so
yes in one area, I do tend to agree that
we are heading towards Larnina conditions, but it's saying that
we had twelve months last year of NIA saying every month,
(28:42):
Marnina's coming, Larnina's coming, and it never happened. So it's
just important to remember that we're halfway between the equator
and Tutan.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Newa or Sciences, New Zealand. God knows why they changed
their name, calling wet and warm for carving and landing.
We'll take the warm, but not so much the wet
increasing risk of tropical and subtropical systems hitting New Zealand,
raising the likelihood of heavy rain and flooding in the
north and east of the North Island and areas like Tasman.
(29:11):
So that's not really what we want to hear, Phil No,
But I.
Speaker 9 (29:14):
Mean like you'd be a rich person if you were
accurate in New Zealand at forecast and beyond a couple
of weeks. So it's it's like, yeah, it sounds alarming,
but remember we had twelve months of this last year
of warning of all this stuff, so it's until it forms,
there's very little to talk about, but there is a
there is some chatter the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia,
which is a government agency. They don't do they're they're
(29:35):
not commercial. They're saying that La Nina is possibly on
the cards, but they don't see anything forming this year,
and if it does tend to form, it may happen
around December. So they're taking a pretty sort of low
view of it.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Okay, let's narrow our focus to the next week, Phil.
I think there's there's certainly a cold front hitting of
the South Island as we speak, but we are going
to get a big high early next week, which are
be good.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (30:01):
From a nation wide point of view, the next week
coming up may be the coldest of the year so
far because the polar air boundary goes right up to
the far North and sits there for about a week.
Usually that's like a wave crashing on a beach and
sitting at its highest point before retreating and sitting there
for way too long. So this cold air is going
to hang around. But it doesn't mean that some of
you in the South Island will have the coldest week
(30:23):
of the year. I just mean on a national point
of view, it looks that way, but places like Otago
may have a bit of a breeze blowing through that
might not be overly warm, but it does mean your
overnight temperatures aren't as brutal as they could be, but
we've seen widespread frost coming in this weekend and next
week as well, potentially right up to the winterless North.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Well, if you're going to get them early August, should
I say is not a bad time to have them.
Phil Duncan thank you very much for your time. I'd say,
enjoy your weekend. But I know you're a weather man,
so weekends, weekdays, they're all the same to you. No
rest for the worked.
Speaker 9 (30:55):
See, there is always a high pressures. A weather man's free.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
The high and I'm talking about the barometric high there,
philp any of uation later, good on your felt There
we go fourteen away from one. You're with the country,
the still protesters outside the A and Z Bank and
Dunedin protesting against fossil fuels. We'll get to some of
(31:22):
your feedback on the protesters and also Barry's busy with
two kids with the flu or Bugger Hamish MacKaye mckaye
on sport to wrap the weekend, and a message from
our partners at Farmstrong last Friday. Halla in going country
(31:46):
on the country on a Friday. Some of your feedback
actually before I do that. I've got to do the
farm Strong sign off because I don't want to forget this.
It's very important, especially at this time of the year
because it's a high stress time on the farm. So
staying farm strong it was all about treating yourself as
the farm's number one asset. To see what other farmers
(32:07):
and growers are doing to live well and farm well,
head to the farm Strong website for free tools and resources.
If you're going well, the farm will go well too.
So visit farmstrong dot co dot nz and lock it
in Eddie and see what works for you. Some of
your feedback. The protesters are probably wearing synthetics, says Margaret,
(32:28):
probably arm after Maz's cruel jibe about my high pitched
and squeaky voice. A lovely text from Jan Thank you, Jan.
I appreciate that, Tim, Tim says Hi, Jamie, I remember
when urea was like six hundred dollars a ton. I
(32:49):
got some urea last week fifteen hundred dollars a ton
and counting too. Probably Don has texted in, Jamie, go
down and give those protesters a kick up the ass.
I'll represents you, gratis, Michelle. I'm assuming Don's probably a lawyer.
Speaker 8 (33:06):
I'm a little bit worried about that. Maybe don't take
that risk. We still want to be here.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
On my name tended And oh the rain is just
touched down in christ So yeah, a bit of a
cold cold burst coming, but better now than next month,
That's what I say. Up next, to wrap the farming week,
Hamish mckaye on Sport see, I'll live changed, just a
(33:37):
gore around. Sorry about the wee moment of dead air.
There just a moment of panic here at the country.
HQ couldn't find Hamish McKay. I thought the useless bugger.
I told him tend to ten to one. He can't
let the family name down. But in true mackay fashion,
he came through. Hello, Hey, Miche, how are you?
Speaker 7 (33:59):
Oh you made I'm fantastic. I'm actually in Toup for
today with the great team from remains pouring down, the
raindows it roads about its now. So I might not
get back to fielding.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Well you might not because you spent you're splitting your
time between Auckland and the Manua too, where you're selling
real estate these days and auctioneering and doing heaven knows
what else for Tremain's how's it.
Speaker 7 (34:18):
Going, Oh, Jamie, I couldn't be happier. In fact, I've
just said to be good mate c J. Christa Maine
and told him how much I'm enjoying it actually, you know,
and being back in fielding, back in the man of
Tu the Field of Dreams just across from Paradise North
and the Manu were two too much, you know, it's
just brilliant.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Yeah, okay, look mcmackaye on Sport, we'll have a look
at that Richie Muwanga. You know, some people are winging
that he's that he's calling the tune, but he's the
sort of not once in a generation footballer. We've got
Damien mackenzie and Bowden Barrow who are both damn good
as well, but you if we want to win a
World Cup, we probably want him there as.
Speaker 7 (34:57):
Well, exactly. You know, look as good as Bowden is
at his absolute peaking, as good as you say, d
mack and you know, you go back to we've had
very fine first five ahs, but this guy I believe
is integral to winning a World Cup and he is.
Here's a Mick Jagger of rugby. You got to you
accommodate him, You put up with him. And I just
(35:19):
don't see how anybody could could winge about this because
I think that slowly but surely I was a jury
was a bit outlast year. Raised is taking a while
to build this them. But if we're looking ahead to
a World Cup, he could still deliver some goods, you know.
And I just think it's a no brainer. And there
are certain players and he falls into that Dan Carter,
Richie mccork on cano zone where you actually been over
(35:41):
backwards for them and do what it takes.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
Yeah, And I think Rays has been much more adventurous
this year. He was sort of en I was going
to say Ian Taylor from We'll try Ian Foster two
point zero, he picked exactly the same team, like picking
this big raw bone bugger from Northland Simon Parker that
I like him. We need monsters if we're going to
monster the spring.
Speaker 7 (36:02):
Box, Yeah, I look I like him a lot. You know,
park origon that and obviously probably would have been part
of the scene a bit earlier for you. Yeah, we
need to match like with like, and you know, even
this Leroy Carter, that's a pointed towards us having our
own bomb squad and having a guy that you play
half back ten cent a wing, so.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Yeah, you know, you know what hamish with him. I
would start him on the All Blacks tomorrow on the wing.
He's better than what we've got, so.
Speaker 7 (36:30):
What at a pound for pound? Well, he's absolutely outstanding.
I mean, you know, I'll be lucky enough to be
back calling NPC.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
In a couple of.
Speaker 7 (36:38):
Games last year for bay a Pladi, I was like,
what the hell, why isn't this guy getting it? And
it's good to see he's getting the acknowledged. The same
with Parker. No, I think they're starting to really get
it right, and it's just he's not. You know, it's
not like the Jigs was missing a piece, but he
asked of the jigsal, okay.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Let's just wrap it with free to air sport. Back
in the day, of course, you were commentating. I remember
you commentating a Rugby World Cup for TV three when
it was free to wear.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
That's right.
Speaker 7 (37:03):
I remember you doing some netball when I was free
to wear. If my memory says there, right, well, you
know did I make that up somewhere along what.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
Me doing netball?
Speaker 7 (37:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (37:11):
I remember?
Speaker 3 (37:11):
No, No, If that's that's the dog you old mate
Lee Piper. He did the net that was.
Speaker 7 (37:16):
I wonder whether he dragged you along for that one.
But I'm just you know, okay, I.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Don't know a goal to take from a goal defense.
Speaker 7 (37:23):
Yeah, I reverse and retract entirely. Look, I just think
free to air sport is a lost leader for the sports.
Speaker 4 (37:30):
It's good.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
I'm sorry to say this. It's nice to get a
bucket of money from PayTV for a sport, but you've
got to actually you think back to the days and
you were to love this the Troyes World Cricket in
the early eighties. Everybody watched it. Who knows we're playing
at the barble at the moment, you know, nobody's ivious.
Think it's a great thing for a netbought now for rugby.
(37:52):
Let's let's embrace it a little bit and maybe sponsors
will come on board and start paying for the coverage
as opposed to the PATV paying for it all. I
think it's.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Okay, Hamish, thanks very much for your time there. We
go fill and host for the country. Hamish MacKaye doing
a splendid job. You enjoy your weekend. Go the Southland
Stags tonight.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Thanks to Brent, the starkest of the leading agriculture brands
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