May 11, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCallum, Grant McMaster, Jenni Vernon, and John McOviney.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch you're the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere Machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Gooday in New Zealand. Good afternoon, Welcome to the Country.
My name is Jamie McKay. Excuse me frog in my throat.
The show's brought to you by Brent. Looking forward to
catching up with the team at Brant. From Brant at
the Field Days thirty sleeps to go talking about the
Field Days. She's wonderful. I met her last year. She's
(00:53):
the Field Day Society board chair and current president, Jenny Vernon.
If you on a busy job or if you want
a job done, ask a busy person. She is wonderful.
We're going to be chatting to her a bit later
in the show, but we're going to kick it off
with our Farmer panel. Farmer Politician panel today Andrew Hoggard
(01:13):
act list MP of course, former President of Federated Farmers,
Grant McCullum Grant mcnational as we affectionately call them here
on the show, Northland National MP for Northland. We're going
to have a look at one of today's big stories.
Apart from Grant Fox chipping in and getting two years
(01:34):
exemption on the PGA Tour and off to the PGA
Tournament Champs next week. The other big story is, of course,
the survey and Duncan hum on Friday Show alluded to
this one from Groundswell, n Z Farming and the Methane
Science Accord. According to these guys, ninety five percent of
the farmers they surveyed agree reducing livestock methane won't impact
(01:57):
global climate change. Wonder what the government thinks of that.
Grant McCullum Andrew Hoggard on that one. Also last week
we were talking about wilding pines. They are a blight
on the landscape. But should we leave them up and
let them sequest a carbon and plant a few less
pine trees on some of our rarely productive farmland. It's
(02:20):
an interesting theoretical discussion. We'll talk to Grant Disaster McMaster,
who farms close burned station just outside of Queenstown and
has spent quite a bit of his time in recent
years fighting wilding pines, and John mcavniye will join us,
Chief executive of steele Fort by Tomas Sheep and beef
farmer just back from the Serengetti, what a great trip
(02:43):
that would be singing the praises of Tanzania. But it's
the Farmer Panel up next, Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCullum here
on the country, Today's Farmer Politician Panel. Grant McCullum, National
(03:09):
MP for Northland and Andrew Hogart, of course former President
of Federated Farmers these days Associate agg and Minister for
BO Security and act MP and we'll talk about acting
national and ask if they are the new Pakistan and
India and just a tick. But Grant, can I just
start with you? Have you seen the results of the
(03:30):
groundswell methane science are called NZ Farming survey. Ninety five
percent of farmers are rejecting or slamming methane madness.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Now, now how scientific was the survey? Jamie? I just wonder,
I mean, I just speak. They've been asking all their
own echo chamber what they think, and I could have
probably predicted that's what they'd say. And I think it's
very sad because you've got to have a sensible discussion
about this stuff, not just not just focus on talking
to yourselves. You to need to take the bigger picture.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Okay, Well, to be fair, I would expect these results
from Groundsweale supporters and from Methane Science Accord supporters. But
to be fair, Andrew Hoggard to NZ Farming the Facebook page,
they've got a huge following. They may perhaps I don't know,
be a bit more centrist than the other two groups.
It is a bit of a kick in the pants
(04:23):
for what the government's doing around methane.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Well, I mean like there's been a response and I think,
you know, you've got to take into account what people
have to say. And I know there's a lot of
concern from farmers around what this all might be. I
think key things people need to think about. You know,
actually there's all this stuff happening, but what actually affects
me on farm? And so we're looking at things like
(04:49):
making sure the target is correct. And quite frankly, if
we get the correct science target in there, and what
actually changes on farm, I would say, based on my
own seen what that report said last year, actually we're
well on track. Nothing changes on farm. Everything's so in
day to day cents. You know, if we get that
(05:11):
target right, nothing's gonna happen, no changes.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
You might not like hearing people talk about it, but
who cares?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, but hang on, let's just look at some of
these numbers, some of these key findings. Ninety three percent,
Andrew Hoggard, of the farmers that responded to this pole,
albeit perhaps unscientific, refuse to use methane inhibitors on their animals.
Eighty eight percent wouldn't eat meat or dairy from treated stock.
Could that be an issue offshore as we market our
(05:40):
clean green products.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Well, that'll be people's choice. And my argument would be, well,
let's make sure the market decides. So you know, if
someone comes to me and says, look, if you use
this vaccine, you know we'll pay an extra ten cents
for your milk, hete sweet as I'll be. I'll look
at doing that unless the vaccine's going to cost me
a shipload more than that, in which case I won't.
(06:03):
If they see if you put these balluses in, well
Jesus going to have to be several bucks worth to
put bollices in because that's a bloody job I absolutely
hate doing. And so you know, let's rather than us
having big arguments on Facebook or in the media, just
leave it to the market. Market it's a pretty good
at deciding these things, well, they're good.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
At driving farmer behavior and business behavior. I do agree
with that, Grant, do you and the NATS risk alienating
the farmer vote because you've already got Winston saying he
wants out of Paris and you know Andrew won't admit it.
But I think David Seymour was going to go that
way as well.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, I think John. I think that approach is very
responsible because ultimately, we as a trading nation, rely on
our reputation. I was sticking to what we say we're
going to do when it comes as deals we sign,
and if science changes or things change, in sure, let's
renegotiated and reapproach things. I think that's smart. But we
(07:00):
have to remember we trade on our reputation and if
the market, if the deals we sign with like the
UK and Europe for example, require us to meet these
certain standards environmentally and also so we can sell our
products and trade, then that's what.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
We have to do.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
If we see it. If science moves, which Andrew indicated,
then we have to be prepared to relook at it
and then make our case. That's what we do as
a responsible country. Otherwise we just pull out of agreements
will suddenly find, as was alluded to me, the payout
we'll go from ten dollars to somewhere near are five.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
And people just need to reflect on that.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Customers will drive this because part of those customers of
the countries who trade with Andrew.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Is a former president of Federated Farmers Groundswell, saying in
fact that the accord of the three of them Groundswell
and Z Farming and Methane Science Accord as saying beef
and Lamb are New Zealand Dairy and Z and Federated
Farmers are not representing the majority view on this issue.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Well, I have no idea what has been discussed with
between brian z and Fed Farmers and Beef and Lamb
on this topic, because that's all been handled by Minister
McQuay and Minister Watts. So I can't tell you whether
they're arguing for or against because I haven't been involved
in those discussions. I you know I know both, or
(08:29):
you know I can speak solely from Freed's point Previously,
from Freed's point of viewers, I always said what I
thought in those meetings and no one was left in
any uncertain terms as to what my thoughts on the
subject were. So I'm assuming Wayan's filing in that footsteps.
I would hope I remember.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I still remember your face the day you had to
sit up on the stage with Jasinda around. Heywalker, KNOA,
that was priceless. Okay, let's just sorry.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Gra Jamie. One other thing I'd just like to say
on the Saturday night, I wasn't to wronger at the
Dairy Industry Awards, right, and that roots over six hundred
people in there, the farming leaders, people righting their businesses,
doing amazing things. It says inspirational being in that room.
These are people that get the big picture. They're out
(09:17):
there running really good businesses. They understand we are part
of a bigger picture and they want to run successful business.
They just want the rules to be fair, which is
what we're focused on doing for them and and that's
what will deliver the good results and provide a certainty
for our industry going forward.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And you sound like you're happy to be the MP
for tarang Hey, Look, I haven't got time to talk
about act in national being the new Pakistan and India
over social media. No, but but I just want to
finish on pay equity or the pay equity overhaul. Is
this Grant McCullum overdew or over egged by U nats.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No, actually this is actually this is a complete failure
of the last government that those of these pequity claims
amen under their watch. They did virtually nothing with them.
We got left for the situation where you had where
you had the where the unions were using it as
a backdoor way to actually negotiate the pay writers for
(10:15):
retreat of bargaining, and that that was a real problem.
So what we've all we've done is made sure that
actually you're not going to go start rund comparing admin
workers with engineers when you try and get that right.
Pay equity is still there, you can still apply. Pay
equality is absolutely has not changed. And I think that's
what we've got to remember. We're just trying to get
the balance right so that the so and so we
(10:38):
can respect all the people involved in the and the
hard working women out there who do a great job.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Okay, Andrew Hoggard, final word from you. Has the coalition
government alienated half of the voting population. You need to
get your messaging right on this because I can tell
you it's going down like a cup of cold sick
with my greeny sisters.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Looks oh, I'd say, adding on to what it said,
you know, totally on board with what Ed said. The
other thing is this was going to end up in
a situation where effectively the government, the taxpayer was going
to end up paying up, you know, having to pay
extra private businesses to list their wages and you know,
(11:17):
still one hundred percent there. If any of my daughters
get a job in any sector that they won't get
treated any differently in that sector to a male if
they're doing exactly the same job, to the same standard
and meeting the same KPIs. The previous system was just
absolute unionists type rubbish that didn't reflect market demand for
(11:39):
certain jobs.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
There we go got to go. Okay that is Imran
Khan McCullum and cap L Dev Hoguard from the Country
Sea boys. Yeah not bad actually from me, I didn't
think am are the nuts and actor. But like in
there in Pakistan at the moment and some of your
(12:00):
feedback coming in, we welcome it on. Try and make
it stuff I can read out that I don't have
to edit on the fly. So calm the farmer liebit
with some of the rhetoric five double O nine's our
text number the best way to get me Um, yeah, okay.
Customers have already spoken overseas they refuse to purchase milk
(12:23):
from cattle that have been fed. I'm assuming this the
word is a bowlless. We'll take it as that Grant
is talking shit. That's a pretty straightforward sort of text.
Begin here's another one. Beginning to think DayMen and David.
This is David Parker. I assume I weren't that bad
after listening to Grant today. Kind of thought he's probably
(12:46):
going to get a bit of thrashing on this one,
but look to play devil's advocate and to be fair
and this at Dunkenhem alluded to this on Friday's show.
He said the survey was coming out, and yes, it
came out last night. Or the small from New Zealand
farming big big base, groundswell big base as well methane
(13:07):
science accord. I'm not quite sure how big their base is,
but with it with groundswell and the Methane Science Accord,
at least you would expect these numbers. Ninety five percent
agreeing livestock methane won't impact global climate change. Ninety four
percent of farmers believe methane cuts should be should not
(13:28):
be a necessary part of market access. So the government's
got a bit of a battle on its hand selling
this one, as they have with the pay equity thing.
To be honest, I don't fully understand it, and if
I was the government, I would get my messaging not
around pay equity but around anti unions. They might get
a few more supporters that way. Interesting times, challenging times
(13:50):
for the government. I'll look forward to the next political
poll that comes out. But up next we're going to
divert Onto wilding pines. Now, a guy called Chris texted
into the show. I think it was last Thursday, and
he drew the ire of Grant Disaster McMaster, who runs
close Spurned station on the other side on the Gondorky
(14:11):
side of Coeenstown, constantly battling wilding pines. They are. He
was none too pleased with Chris's suggestion that wilding pine's
any worse than carbon farming. Should we let them go?
Should we let them sequest a carbon and leave some
of the more productive land that's going into pines to
produce food. It's an interesting argument that is up next,
(14:34):
Grant Disaster McMaster. Jenny Vernon. She is an inspiration. She's
the current president of Field Days thirty sleeps to go.
And John mcavinnie just back from the Serengetti. There's a
man who's got plenty of money who hate me saying
that at the moment, not through his business interest, because
he's got a farm, a Waitomo sheep and beef farm.
Huge money for store lambs at the moment, a huge
(14:57):
money for carbs. In fact, beef animals fall stop at
the moment. We'll ask him what he's going to do
with it before the end of the hour. Mom trust
(15:21):
that let's lighten things up a little on the country today.
Our next guest is called Grant Disaster McMaster for good reason.
He is well. He runs close Spurned Station. Grant just
on the other side of Queenstown, on the Glenorky side
of Queenstown. But is it true that the only thing
you farm there, my friend, is rich Americans.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
Jamie and good after everybody. No, no, we don't have
too many rich Americans are all still in America. But
no we have we have a few overseas owners. But
to be fair, out of the twenty seven owners here,
the majority of New Zealanders and Australians.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
We've got a working station there and you've got a
block over by the Hills golf course as well. You're
living the dream. You must be mixing with the Risks,
rich and famous. Should I say a far cry from
the days when you used to be a whit Kaka
farmer and then running the Waikaia Hotel.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
As Ken McCrae, the former Greenvale horseman in South and
Rugby CAPA needs to say the life of the traveling
soul salesman was never easy. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I'm going to talk dog trials with you because you
are to be fair a leading dog trial judge and commentator.
We've got the New Zealand Champs coming up later in
the month in hand, Miss Springs. But you took umbrage
at a text we got on the show last Thursday
from a guy by the name of Chris, and I'll
just read it out again for the listener's sake. Chris
(16:42):
texted and said, I wonder if anyone has done the
calculations on the net effect of planting pine trees on
one hand and shopping down millions of wild pines on
the other and Chris went on to say, I reckon
wilding pines look cool and quite natural in our landscape.
I disagree with Chris on that one, but does he
(17:03):
have a fair point.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
No, no he doesn't. Sorry, Chris, I'd like you to
come down to Queenstown and I give you about an
hour of boredom and you'd certainly know where warden pines stand.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Am I.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Am I block here, But look, basically, you know, left
uncontrolled with it, they reckon. They was in two decades
wardens will destroy probably five hundred thousand hectares of land
and that productive potential was seven hundred and fifty million dollars.
So you know, they are a terrible plight on the country.
You know they remember they were. They were put in
back in the forties and fifties to try and stop erosion.
(17:38):
Big things with them, you know that forty nineteen forties, fifties,
the catchment boards and the lands and survey and likes,
those things that are introduced in His Zealand. They just
go like topsy. So you know, the hell of a virus,
the bio diversity, the terrible on condemic species. The thing
is that you know they take so much out of
the ground and underneath the ground that's just where they are.
(18:00):
Nothing goes. It's just like a nuclear bomber, is it.
So you know, the fight against Wilden stepped up in
twenty twenty Jamie and we had there was the government
to MPI gave one hundred million dollars to try and
start getting on top of these things. And now that
that is now back to ten million dollars a year nationwide.
So it's farting against thunder and they just you know,
they've done control. They say they'll decimate five percent of
(18:22):
the New Zealand's environment a year. So you know, we've
got enough. We're struggling to feed our salves now and
everything with farming, so you know, they're just they're just
so out of control. And you know there's seventy management
management units within New Zealand a deal with Wardens, and
nationwide this year only thirty one of those will be
funded under the National Management.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, and I get all of that grant, but I'll
be a contrarian here because I think Chris's point was,
when you know, back in your home province of Southland
and Otago, you look at some of the land, and
you're well aware of this that is going into carbon farming.
Some of it previously had been arable land cropping land.
I also know of a really good north facing hill
(19:06):
country that is going to pines. It's wrong. Are widing
pines any worse than that? Which is the biggest crime?
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Well?
Speaker 5 (19:14):
Is it the less of the evils?
Speaker 6 (19:15):
Jamie?
Speaker 5 (19:16):
I just look at our place here. You know, we're
still trying to farm, and we spend fifty thousand dollars
a year on trying to get the eradication of wild
and pines. And as for you know, the look of
the country is Chris said he likes them. Well, if
you know we've got beautiful natural landscapes across the Laky,
Wilder Peak, Cecil Peak, Mount Nicholas. They are iconic New
Zealand landscapes. If Chris wants to see wild and pines,
(19:37):
go to Espon, Colorado, because that's where the buggers come from.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I'm against wilding pines and I'm against carbon farming on
good productive land. New Zealand Dog Trial Champs coming up
in Canterbury, hen Miss Springs later in the month. You're
heading up, No.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Mike, Jamie, I'm I'm heading overseas to so sought the
wild and pines out in Wales, so I'll have a
breathe on heading up. But the Islands, the North Islands
have just finished up in tay Happy and on the
twenty fifth of May they start. The South Islands in
New Zealand started at Hemna Spring. So there's one hundred
(20:12):
and fifty one dog twild clubs within New Zealand and
that's divide into thirteen centers, so they'll be all representative
and yeah it'll go for a week and it'll be
a pretty good a good shop there. They're great courses
and those guys that they'll be running hot from the
North Island will come down. But they all start, they
all start off scratch again and it's it's anybody's show.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
You've come to this show well informed as always. Grant Disaster, McMaster,
safe travels, Thanks Jamie, Thank you. Grant bang on twelve
to thirty very shortly the latest and rural news and
sports news. Grant Fox Chipping and to win a PGA
tournament gets them into the PGA Champs next weekend. Fantastic look.
(20:55):
Lots of feedback coming in for our Grant mcnationals getting
it in the neck. Here's one on the Wilding pines. Jamie,
it's coming in that quickly. I'm losing it on my
screen unfortunately, Jamie. What idiot says it's a good idea
to leave wilding pines up. They're all over the Coworkers
(21:16):
and hawks Bay and if we let them stay, they
would basically be the main vegetation in the next thirty years.
That's from muzz longtime text a first time caller. Lots
of stuff coming in on methane. Hi, Jamie, are you
now advocating for a reds under the bed narrative from
the government? Chairs Rex? No, No, I'm not Rex. I'm
(21:37):
just playing Devil's advocate on this one. Also regarding the
sample size of this survey done by Groundswell, NZ Farming
and the Methane Science Accord, Lorie Patterson, good to hear
from you, Lorry. He's not a fan of carbon farming,
would be fair to say, But Lorrie says Groundswell has
ninety thousand people on its startera base, so we cross
(22:00):
over multiple opinions. The NZ Farming Facebook page has a
very strong following, and Jane Smith will better tell us
tomorrow how much how much of a following the Methane
Science Accord has, But it's an interesting survey. The government
certainly has some battles on its hands. Now I can't
(22:21):
read out that one about Grant McCallum. I'm feeling sorry
for Grant. Now go easy on them. I just think
sometimes sometimes we're shooting the messenger. It doesn't payt No,
it doesn't. Michelle shaking a head, poor old Grant. Up next,
we'll do rural news and sports news. So Jenny vernon
what a great story that is the president of a
(22:42):
field Day's thirty sleeps to go. And John mcavinnie just
back from the Serengetti on what he's going to do
with all the store lambs and the calves the wiener
carves on his Waitomo sheep and beef Farmnamondy, Welcome back
(23:06):
to the country. A bit of a correction coming up,
but before we do that. Before we do that, here's
Michelle Watt with the latest and rural news. Dairy Industry
Awards on in the Bay of Plenty, as Brant McCallum
alluded to. Here's Michelle who the winners were.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
The country's World News with cap Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn bower brand. Visit Steelford dot Cott zim
for your locals dogist.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Hang on, let me turn your microphone on. Look for
people who are getting stuck into me. I've got a
wee bit going on at the moment and I'm just
going to put it out here now. My best friend's dying.
It's not an easy time for me, So just button
off where you go, okay.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
So congratulations to the winners at the New Zealandery Awards
held over the weekend. Fiona and Thomas Langford from wy
Cattle were named the New Zealand Sheer Farmers of the Year.
Martin Keegan from Taranaki was the twenty twenty five New
Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year, and Peter van Beek
from Hawk's Bay was announced a Dairy New Zealand Dairy
Trainee of the Year.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Congratulations to all and we'll have them on the show tomorrow.
Well indeed, yes, good stuff. They've got a great story.
The Langfords, they do well talking about CVS. Jenny Vernon's
got a good one. You want to hear what these
guys who won the Dairy the sheerf farmers at the
Dairy Industry Awards have done in their life amazing. He's sport.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at AFCO dot co
dot nz.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Okay rarefied in New Zealand golfing heir for Ryan Fox.
Sorry for saying Grant Fox. As I said, I've got
a weep it going on. He's become the ninth Office
compatriots to win on the USPGA Tour, winning a three
way sudden death playoff at the Myrtle Beach Classic in
South Carolina. He chipped in, apparently I haven't seen it yet,
(24:50):
looking forward to having a look at the highlights of
that one tonight. The really good thing is not only
was it his first win on the PGA Tour, victory
gives him a two year tour exemption an automatic entry
into this week's second major of the year, the PGA Championships.
Looking forward to that one this weekend. That is sports
(25:11):
news for you. Yep, Ryan Fox, not Grant, but he
gets the sporting genes from Grant and his mother Adele,
whose father was Merv Wallace who played cricket in New Zealand.
There was lots of breeding there with Grant Fox. He
just seems to have He's like lydia. He's just got
such a calm where he appears to have a very
calm and relaxed temperament. I know some other golfers in
(25:34):
the studio who I wish had that going for them,
but they don't. Anyhow, they don't do it for a living.
Up next, the inspirational Jenny Vernon. If you want a
job done, ask a busy person. He's a very busy person.
(25:58):
She's certainly going to be very busy over the next
month or so. Thirty sleeps to go to field Days.
The Field Day's Society board chair and current president is Wykaro,
a farmer and business person. Jenny Vernon. I was looking
through your CV, Jenny. If I wrote it all down
on my arm, I would run out of arm. You
(26:18):
have got a wonderful CV. What haven't you done? And
what honor has not been accorded to you?
Speaker 6 (26:25):
There you go, well, Jamie, I haven't done lots of things.
For example, I would love to do my PhD. Because
I've always wanted to do more study and I love study.
And I've never set on one of the industry boards.
As you know in my governance role, so there's always
(26:50):
something to do. But actually the one thing that I
pet enjoy most now is actually mentoring the next generation
of leaders and people who are coming through the system
and giving them that confidence to give it a go.
And even at my age, I'm still.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Hey, you're still a spring chicken. I saw you in
action and we talked last year at field Days and
you're not only running the works, you're up at three
or four in the morning cooking providing meals for all
the volunteers. You're a true champion. Let me look at
your CV. You're the first female New Field Scholar in
New Zealand, the first woman Chair of Environments, Whitehaddow. Your
(27:31):
first encounters with the Field Days date back to your
young farmer days when you were helping with the car parking.
That would have been a field days or two ago, Jenny.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
That was one or two field days ago, Jamie. But
you know, everyone laughs. If you talk to a lot
of the life members and the old volunteers we have
where did they start? And they all go car parking
and young farmers. So it's a good lesson of you know,
starting at the bottom and working up to the up
to a level you want to. I mean, I happen
(28:02):
to be a chair. But we're all in it together.
I you know, I believe that. That's why I still
like colling for the Volunteers, because I've never forgotten where
I've come from. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Well, you're leading from the front. Let's continue with this CV.
It's making me envious. You've got a gong. You've got
a New Zealand Order of Merit two thousand and eight
you were awarded and this is a pretty special one,
the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in nineteen ninety three,
obviously one hundred years on from Emily Pankhurst and nineteen
(28:35):
ninety Commemorative New Zealand Commemorative Medal. And you're also a JP.
You sit on so many boards, You've got like four degrees.
How do you fit all this in plus farming?
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Well, my kids would tell you that I'm crazy, Jamie,
but I've always liked to do one hundred and ten
descent and give everything my best and give it a
go and give it all, give it all. And I've
never changed from probably the day I was born. My
parents would always say that I was an energetic bummy
(29:08):
and I just think you make most of life Jamie.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
You farming with your husband Gordon. I think your son
Simon and his partner Nicola are now running the farm.
You lease it to them. But initially you trained as
a teacher.
Speaker 8 (29:22):
I did.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
I trained in christ Church and then went up and
taught and White Pookero in central Brooks Bay. Had an
amazing fume there, and then married Gordon in nineteen eighty
and shifted to Tamata which is on the Ragmand Coast
and we were small dairy farm there and from there
(29:45):
launched into getting involved with Young Farmers and link Young
Farmer's Leadership and was national president in nineteen eighty four.
And from there just Jamie's things happened and I had
opportunities and some have said no to but most I've gone,
well why not? It looks fun and it's a challenge
and life's about taking a hit on, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Absolutely thirty sleeps to go until Field Days. It's going
to be incredibly busy for you. What does the next
month look like, Jenny Vernon?
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Well, for the next month we've I've got order all
the food for the Field Days volunteers, which also includes
the police and the fire service and the staff, and
I always try to give them a varied menu, especially
for lunch, so it's not the same old every year.
And then it's a matter of I've got to write
(30:37):
two speeches for the opening and then the primary leaders lunch.
That equally, it's about working with the team, making sure
that we've got all our bucks lined up and everybody,
you know, supporting the staff and particularly supporting a new CEO.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, well you've got them on train oils, not training ols.
I'm sure Richard wouldn't. Richard Linderuis wouldn't enjoy are that comparison,
But he's stepping into the boots of a man who
had done a very good job. Peter Nation equal.
Speaker 6 (31:06):
I totally agree, Jamie, But you know I view that Peter,
and as Peter says, as they bought the field days,
what we're in our fifty seventh year, So each one
is built upon the other and got us to twenty
twenty five, and now Richard is in a position to
take us for the next five to eight years. Who knows,
(31:26):
and so each one contributes their own and I'm sure
when Richard finishes, it'll be the same thing. Somebody will
have to fill some big boots as well.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
And you'll still be working at field days in some
capacity till you draw your last breath. I reckon, Jenny. Look,
you're an inspiration. Great to catch up with you last year.
Look forward to chatting to you again in thirty sleeps time.
Thanks Jamie, Thanks Jenny, she is an inspiration. Endless energy.
Up next, another senior citizen. I hope he doesn't mind
(31:57):
me calling that. John mcavinnie, who's also got endless energy.
Where's very meant a lot of hats in New Zealand farming.
He's up next. John McAvennie, just back from Africa, is
a white Tomo sheep and beef farmer and also the
chief executive of steel Fort Hey, John, Before we talk
(32:20):
about Africa, I want to talk about this latest survey
out from ground Swell, the Methane Science Accord and NZ Farming.
And I know you haven't heard the results, but ninety
five percent of those surveyed, Admittedly they may have been
surveying their own typewriter on this one. I'm playing Devil's advocate.
Before you buy my head off, ninety five percent agree
(32:41):
reducing livestock methane won't impact global climate change, and they're
not getting They're not going to get an argument from you,
are they.
Speaker 8 (32:50):
You did write about that Good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, No,
you won't get any argument for me. Make that ninety
six percent and put me.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
In Well, they didn't survey you. Maybe you need to
sign up to ground Swell or the Methane Science Acord.
Look on hopefully I'll have Hopefully I'll have your poster
girl Jane Smith on the show tomorrow and we'll talk
about it then. But I know you're no fan of
staying in Paris. But we've already heard from Grant McCullum
and Andrew Hoggart and Grant from the NATSA saying if
(33:19):
we pull out of Paris, the milk payer will go
from ten bucks to five bucks. I'm not quite sure
I agree with that, but will there be a cost personally?
Speaker 8 (33:28):
I don't believe so. I don't think it makes any difference.
They say that, you know, if we pull out of
there in the rest of the world are going to
make put penalties on New Zealand for pulling out of
that agreement. I think that's absolutely bes as far as
I'm concerned, I don't think it'll make any People are
buying air product because they need protein and they want protein,
whether it be lamb or beef or dary products, that's
(33:50):
what they buy. And I don't think being in or
out of that scheme will make an iota of difference.
It's my opinion, okay.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
And we do have a low carbon footprint, perhaps the
love in the world. So we're starting from a position
of advantage. Talk to me John about what you I
know you live in a bit of a shack there
at the side the eighth beside the eighth their way
at Mount Monganoi golf course. Your poor bugger, But what
are you going to do with all your money this year?
You're selling store lambs on your my Tomo sheep and
(34:19):
beef farm for one hundred and fifty five bucks. You're
not even going to sell your calves. You're going to
take them through. Is huge money being paid for both
of them?
Speaker 8 (34:28):
Yeah, I know it is. But this is a bit
of a logistical thing, you know, getting five or six
hundred calves ready and bring them in a sale and
taking what you get on that day. We have adopted
a different philosophy this year, so we're going to sell
the bottom end of them, probably one hundred, one hundred
and twenty off something like that. Drop a few cow
numbers back, and we're going to take the wieners through
(34:49):
to the spring market in October. And you know, that's
the change in our direction this year, I suppose. I mean,
I'm look, I hear what you say about lamb prices,
and they are good. I mean we average ninety three
bucks last year and this year I was a closer
to one hundred and fifty. But we need that money.
You know, you go and put it, you know, you
(35:12):
know a kilometer of fencing app or do any work
around the farm. It's expensive, you know, the costs that
we are incurring now to run a farming property are there.
And so I had I'm not feeling embarrassed one little
bit about getting one hundred and fifty bucks for store lambs.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
I mean, nor should you look. I mean, lamb's going
for what high eates, maybe nine dollars a kilo and
rising as we get to the end of the season.
But it needs to be ten. That needs to be
the stock standard amount for I think for sheep farmers
to be competitive.
Speaker 8 (35:46):
You won't get an argument from me for that. I mean,
you know, you go and put a kilometer of fencing
up and see what it costs. You do some work
around the place in terms of putting, you know, roading
in or by drench, all the costs of related labor
for offence, for running a sheep and bee property. It's
(36:06):
expensive these days. And you know, ten dollars might be
sound good, you know, as an overall income, but we
need that. You know. I don't feel bad.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Okay, we're agreeing too much yet. I thought you'd disagree
with me more, John, just to finish on your day
job as chief executive of steel for you make or
you sell lawn mowers, the ride ons and the ones
you have to push if you're silly enough. Great time now,
I would imagine. And as we head into the off
season to buy a lawnmower, good deals.
Speaker 8 (36:37):
Well, we've got some really good stuff. I mean, you're
going to see it all, Jamie, because we're coming to
the Field Days here for the first time in twelve years.
And I did an agreement with Peter Nation before he left,
and he's given us a very good sight there and
so I will see you at the Field Days and
you can come and have a look at what we've got,
(36:57):
a fantastic array of products all available in the on
the steel Fort website, the cub kitit website and the
Hustler website. And you have a look at the gen
sets and the logs blitters, and the tools and the
hand tools and the lithium mind product. You know, I'd
like you know. What we're trying to be, of course,
is the premium supplier of outdoor power equipment in New Zealand.
(37:21):
And we know we're still in New Zealand owned company
and you know so I'm very proud of that situation.
So you'll see all that when you're at the field
day Sammy got on.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
You look forward to catching up. Then see you later.
Speaker 8 (37:34):
Go mate, cheers, and we.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Might even get round to talking about Africa sorrow I
was out of time, didn't get time to get there up. Next,
we're going to wrap it with some of your feedback,
wrapping the country with some of your feedback. Why can't
the government use urgency again to legislate that you can't
plant all of a farm and trees, says Andrew. Another
(37:56):
text that says wilding pines could ruin at two Biggers
Export earnest farming and tourism, who would fly halfway round
the world to see pines, and someone else says I
think you should do more research and to pay equity
before commenting some of the claims were ridiculous, like social
workers should be compared to two air traffic controllers. Look,
(38:17):
I don't pretend to understand it. As I said earlier
on the show, I've got bigger fish to fry at
the moment. But I'll try and do some homework and
I'll try and be better tomorrow. See you then.
Speaker 6 (38:28):
As the.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Catch all the latest from the land, It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment
Catch you're the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere Machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Gooday in New Zealand. Good afternoon, Welcome to the Country.
My name is Jamie McKay. Excuse me frog in my throat.
The show's brought to you by Brent. Looking forward to
catching up with the team at Brant. From Brant at
the Field Days thirty sleeps to go talking about the
Field Days. She's wonderful. I met her last year. She's
(00:53):
the Field Day Society board chair and current president, Jenny Vernon.
If you on a busy job or if you want
a job done, ask a busy person. She is wonderful.
We're going to be chatting to her a bit later
in the show, but we're going to kick it off
with our Farmer panel. Farmer Politician panel today Andrew Hoggard
(01:13):
act list MP of course, former President of Federated Farmers,
Grant McCullum Grant mcnational as we affectionately call them here
on the show, Northland National MP for Northland. We're going
to have a look at one of today's big stories.
Apart from Grant Fox chipping in and getting two years
(01:34):
exemption on the PGA Tour and off to the PGA
Tournament Champs next week. The other big story is, of course,
the survey and Duncan hum on Friday Show alluded to
this one from Groundswell, n Z Farming and the Methane
Science Accord. According to these guys, ninety five percent of
the farmers they surveyed agree reducing livestock methane won't impact
(01:57):
global climate change. Wonder what the government thinks of that.
Grant McCullum Andrew Hoggard on that one. Also last week
we were talking about wilding pines. They are a blight
on the landscape. But should we leave them up and
let them sequest a carbon and plant a few less
pine trees on some of our rarely productive farmland. It's
(02:20):
an interesting theoretical discussion. We'll talk to Grant Disaster McMaster,
who farms close burned station just outside of Queenstown and
has spent quite a bit of his time in recent
years fighting wilding pines, and John mcavniye will join us,
Chief executive of steele Fort by Tomas Sheep and beef
farmer just back from the Serengetti, what a great trip
(02:43):
that would be singing the praises of Tanzania. But it's
the Farmer Panel up next, Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCullum here
on the country, Today's Farmer Politician Panel. Grant McCullum, National
(03:09):
MP for Northland and Andrew Hogart, of course former President
of Federated Farmers these days Associate agg and Minister for
BO Security and act MP and we'll talk about acting
national and ask if they are the new Pakistan and
India and just a tick. But Grant, can I just
start with you? Have you seen the results of the
(03:30):
groundswell methane science are called NZ Farming survey. Ninety five
percent of farmers are rejecting or slamming methane madness.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Now, now how scientific was the survey? Jamie? I just wonder,
I mean, I just speak. They've been asking all their
own echo chamber what they think, and I could have
probably predicted that's what they'd say. And I think it's
very sad because you've got to have a sensible discussion
about this stuff, not just not just focus on talking
to yourselves. You to need to take the bigger picture.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Okay, Well, to be fair, I would expect these results
from Groundsweale supporters and from Methane Science Accord supporters. But
to be fair, Andrew Hoggard to NZ Farming the Facebook page,
they've got a huge following. They may perhaps I don't know,
be a bit more centrist than the other two groups.
It is a bit of a kick in the pants
(04:23):
for what the government's doing around methane.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Well, I mean like there's been a response and I think,
you know, you've got to take into account what people
have to say. And I know there's a lot of
concern from farmers around what this all might be. I
think key things people need to think about. You know,
actually there's all this stuff happening, but what actually affects
me on farm? And so we're looking at things like
(04:49):
making sure the target is correct. And quite frankly, if
we get the correct science target in there, and what
actually changes on farm, I would say, based on my
own seen what that report said last year, actually we're
well on track. Nothing changes on farm. Everything's so in
day to day cents. You know, if we get that
(05:11):
target right, nothing's gonna happen, no changes.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
You might not like hearing people talk about it, but
who cares?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, but hang on, let's just look at some of
these numbers, some of these key findings. Ninety three percent,
Andrew Hoggard, of the farmers that responded to this pole,
albeit perhaps unscientific, refuse to use methane inhibitors on their animals.
Eighty eight percent wouldn't eat meat or dairy from treated stock.
Could that be an issue offshore as we market our
(05:40):
clean green products.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Well, that'll be people's choice. And my argument would be, well,
let's make sure the market decides. So you know, if
someone comes to me and says, look, if you use
this vaccine, you know we'll pay an extra ten cents
for your milk, hete sweet as I'll be. I'll look
at doing that unless the vaccine's going to cost me
a shipload more than that, in which case I won't.
(06:03):
If they see if you put these balluses in, well
Jesus going to have to be several bucks worth to
put bollices in because that's a bloody job I absolutely
hate doing. And so you know, let's rather than us
having big arguments on Facebook or in the media, just
leave it to the market. Market it's a pretty good
at deciding these things, well, they're good.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
At driving farmer behavior and business behavior. I do agree
with that, Grant, do you and the NATS risk alienating
the farmer vote because you've already got Winston saying he
wants out of Paris and you know Andrew won't admit it.
But I think David Seymour was going to go that
way as well.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, I think John. I think that approach is very
responsible because ultimately, we as a trading nation, rely on
our reputation. I was sticking to what we say we're
going to do when it comes as deals we sign,
and if science changes or things change, in sure, let's
renegotiated and reapproach things. I think that's smart. But we
(07:00):
have to remember we trade on our reputation and if
the market, if the deals we sign with like the
UK and Europe for example, require us to meet these
certain standards environmentally and also so we can sell our
products and trade, then that's what.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
We have to do.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
If we see it. If science moves, which Andrew indicated,
then we have to be prepared to relook at it
and then make our case. That's what we do as
a responsible country. Otherwise we just pull out of agreements
will suddenly find, as was alluded to me, the payout
we'll go from ten dollars to somewhere near are five.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
And people just need to reflect on that.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Customers will drive this because part of those customers of
the countries who trade with Andrew.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Is a former president of Federated Farmers Groundswell, saying in
fact that the accord of the three of them Groundswell
and Z Farming and Methane Science Accord as saying beef
and Lamb are New Zealand Dairy and Z and Federated
Farmers are not representing the majority view on this issue.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Well, I have no idea what has been discussed with
between brian z and Fed Farmers and Beef and Lamb
on this topic, because that's all been handled by Minister
McQuay and Minister Watts. So I can't tell you whether
they're arguing for or against because I haven't been involved
in those discussions. I you know I know both, or
(08:29):
you know I can speak solely from Freed's point Previously,
from Freed's point of viewers, I always said what I
thought in those meetings and no one was left in
any uncertain terms as to what my thoughts on the
subject were. So I'm assuming Wayan's filing in that footsteps.
I would hope I remember.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I still remember your face the day you had to
sit up on the stage with Jasinda around. Heywalker, KNOA,
that was priceless. Okay, let's just sorry.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Gra Jamie. One other thing I'd just like to say
on the Saturday night, I wasn't to wronger at the
Dairy Industry Awards, right, and that roots over six hundred
people in there, the farming leaders, people righting their businesses,
doing amazing things. It says inspirational being in that room.
These are people that get the big picture. They're out
(09:17):
there running really good businesses. They understand we are part
of a bigger picture and they want to run successful business.
They just want the rules to be fair, which is
what we're focused on doing for them and and that's
what will deliver the good results and provide a certainty
for our industry going forward.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
And you sound like you're happy to be the MP
for tarang Hey, Look, I haven't got time to talk
about act in national being the new Pakistan and India
over social media. No, but but I just want to
finish on pay equity or the pay equity overhaul. Is
this Grant McCullum overdew or over egged by U nats.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No, actually this is actually this is a complete failure
of the last government that those of these pequity claims
amen under their watch. They did virtually nothing with them.
We got left for the situation where you had where
you had the where the unions were using it as
a backdoor way to actually negotiate the pay writers for
(10:15):
retreat of bargaining, and that that was a real problem.
So what we've all we've done is made sure that
actually you're not going to go start rund comparing admin
workers with engineers when you try and get that right.
Pay equity is still there, you can still apply. Pay
equality is absolutely has not changed. And I think that's
what we've got to remember. We're just trying to get
the balance right so that the so and so we
(10:38):
can respect all the people involved in the and the
hard working women out there who do a great job.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Okay, Andrew Hoggard, final word from you. Has the coalition
government alienated half of the voting population. You need to
get your messaging right on this because I can tell
you it's going down like a cup of cold sick
with my greeny sisters.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
Looks oh, I'd say, adding on to what it said,
you know, totally on board with what Ed said. The
other thing is this was going to end up in
a situation where effectively the government, the taxpayer was going
to end up paying up, you know, having to pay
extra private businesses to list their wages and you know,
(11:17):
still one hundred percent there. If any of my daughters
get a job in any sector that they won't get
treated any differently in that sector to a male if
they're doing exactly the same job, to the same standard
and meeting the same KPIs. The previous system was just
absolute unionists type rubbish that didn't reflect market demand for
(11:39):
certain jobs.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
There we go got to go. Okay that is Imran
Khan McCullum and cap L Dev Hoguard from the Country
Sea boys. Yeah not bad actually from me, I didn't
think am are the nuts and actor. But like in
there in Pakistan at the moment and some of your
(12:00):
feedback coming in, we welcome it on. Try and make
it stuff I can read out that I don't have
to edit on the fly. So calm the farmer liebit
with some of the rhetoric five double O nine's our
text number the best way to get me Um, yeah, okay.
Customers have already spoken overseas they refuse to purchase milk
(12:23):
from cattle that have been fed. I'm assuming this the
word is a bowlless. We'll take it as that Grant
is talking shit. That's a pretty straightforward sort of text.
Begin here's another one. Beginning to think DayMen and David.
This is David Parker. I assume I weren't that bad
after listening to Grant today. Kind of thought he's probably
(12:46):
going to get a bit of thrashing on this one,
but look to play devil's advocate and to be fair
and this at Dunkenhem alluded to this on Friday's show.
He said the survey was coming out, and yes, it
came out last night. Or the small from New Zealand
farming big big base, groundswell big base as well methane
(13:07):
science accord. I'm not quite sure how big their base is,
but with it with groundswell and the Methane Science Accord,
at least you would expect these numbers. Ninety five percent
agreeing livestock methane won't impact global climate change. Ninety four
percent of farmers believe methane cuts should be should not
(13:28):
be a necessary part of market access. So the government's
got a bit of a battle on its hand selling
this one, as they have with the pay equity thing.
To be honest, I don't fully understand it, and if
I was the government, I would get my messaging not
around pay equity but around anti unions. They might get
a few more supporters that way. Interesting times, challenging times
(13:50):
for the government. I'll look forward to the next political
poll that comes out. But up next we're going to
divert Onto wilding pines. Now, a guy called Chris texted
into the show. I think it was last Thursday, and
he drew the ire of Grant Disaster McMaster, who runs
close Spurned station on the other side on the Gondorky
(14:11):
side of Coeenstown, constantly battling wilding pines. They are. He
was none too pleased with Chris's suggestion that wilding pine's
any worse than carbon farming. Should we let them go?
Should we let them sequest a carbon and leave some
of the more productive land that's going into pines to
produce food. It's an interesting argument that is up next,
(14:34):
Grant Disaster McMaster. Jenny Vernon. She is an inspiration. She's
the current president of Field Days thirty sleeps to go.
And John mcavinnie just back from the Serengetti. There's a
man who's got plenty of money who hate me saying
that at the moment, not through his business interest, because
he's got a farm, a Waitomo sheep and beef farm.
Huge money for store lambs at the moment, a huge
(14:57):
money for carbs. In fact, beef animals fall stop at
the moment. We'll ask him what he's going to do
with it before the end of the hour. Mom trust
(15:21):
that let's lighten things up a little on the country today.
Our next guest is called Grant Disaster McMaster for good reason.
He is well. He runs close Spurned Station. Grant just
on the other side of Queenstown, on the Glenorky side
of Queenstown. But is it true that the only thing
you farm there, my friend, is rich Americans.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
Jamie and good after everybody. No, no, we don't have
too many rich Americans are all still in America. But
no we have we have a few overseas owners. But
to be fair, out of the twenty seven owners here,
the majority of New Zealanders and Australians.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
We've got a working station there and you've got a
block over by the Hills golf course as well. You're
living the dream. You must be mixing with the Risks,
rich and famous. Should I say a far cry from
the days when you used to be a whit Kaka
farmer and then running the Waikaia Hotel.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
As Ken McCrae, the former Greenvale horseman in South and
Rugby CAPA needs to say the life of the traveling
soul salesman was never easy. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I'm going to talk dog trials with you because you
are to be fair a leading dog trial judge and commentator.
We've got the New Zealand Champs coming up later in
the month in hand, Miss Springs. But you took umbrage
at a text we got on the show last Thursday
from a guy by the name of Chris, and I'll
just read it out again for the listener's sake. Chris
(16:42):
texted and said, I wonder if anyone has done the
calculations on the net effect of planting pine trees on
one hand and shopping down millions of wild pines on
the other and Chris went on to say, I reckon
wilding pines look cool and quite natural in our landscape.
I disagree with Chris on that one, but does he
(17:03):
have a fair point.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
No, no he doesn't. Sorry, Chris, I'd like you to
come down to Queenstown and I give you about an
hour of boredom and you'd certainly know where warden pines stand.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Am I.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Am I block here, But look, basically, you know, left
uncontrolled with it, they reckon. They was in two decades
wardens will destroy probably five hundred thousand hectares of land
and that productive potential was seven hundred and fifty million dollars.
So you know, they are a terrible plight on the country.
You know they remember they were. They were put in
back in the forties and fifties to try and stop erosion.
(17:38):
Big things with them, you know that forty nineteen forties, fifties,
the catchment boards and the lands and survey and likes,
those things that are introduced in His Zealand. They just
go like topsy. So you know, the hell of a virus,
the bio diversity, the terrible on condemic species. The thing
is that you know they take so much out of
the ground and underneath the ground that's just where they are.
(18:00):
Nothing goes. It's just like a nuclear bomber, is it.
So you know, the fight against Wilden stepped up in
twenty twenty Jamie and we had there was the government
to MPI gave one hundred million dollars to try and
start getting on top of these things. And now that
that is now back to ten million dollars a year nationwide.
So it's farting against thunder and they just you know,
they've done control. They say they'll decimate five percent of
(18:22):
the New Zealand's environment a year. So you know, we've
got enough. We're struggling to feed our salves now and
everything with farming, so you know, they're just they're just
so out of control. And you know there's seventy management
management units within New Zealand a deal with Wardens, and
nationwide this year only thirty one of those will be
funded under the National Management.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, and I get all of that grant, but I'll
be a contrarian here because I think Chris's point was,
when you know, back in your home province of Southland
and Otago, you look at some of the land, and
you're well aware of this that is going into carbon farming.
Some of it previously had been arable land cropping land.
I also know of a really good north facing hill
(19:06):
country that is going to pines. It's wrong. Are widing
pines any worse than that? Which is the biggest crime?
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Well?
Speaker 5 (19:14):
Is it the less of the evils?
Speaker 6 (19:15):
Jamie?
Speaker 5 (19:16):
I just look at our place here. You know, we're
still trying to farm, and we spend fifty thousand dollars
a year on trying to get the eradication of wild
and pines. And as for you know, the look of
the country is Chris said he likes them. Well, if
you know we've got beautiful natural landscapes across the Laky,
Wilder Peak, Cecil Peak, Mount Nicholas. They are iconic New
Zealand landscapes. If Chris wants to see wild and pines,
(19:37):
go to Espon, Colorado, because that's where the buggers come from.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I'm against wilding pines and I'm against carbon farming on
good productive land. New Zealand Dog Trial Champs coming up
in Canterbury, hen Miss Springs later in the month. You're
heading up, No.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
Mike, Jamie, I'm I'm heading overseas to so sought the
wild and pines out in Wales, so I'll have a
breathe on heading up. But the Islands, the North Islands
have just finished up in tay Happy and on the
twenty fifth of May they start. The South Islands in
New Zealand started at Hemna Spring. So there's one hundred
(20:12):
and fifty one dog twild clubs within New Zealand and
that's divide into thirteen centers, so they'll be all representative
and yeah it'll go for a week and it'll be
a pretty good a good shop there. They're great courses
and those guys that they'll be running hot from the
North Island will come down. But they all start, they
all start off scratch again and it's it's anybody's show.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
You've come to this show well informed as always. Grant Disaster, McMaster,
safe travels, Thanks Jamie, Thank you. Grant bang on twelve
to thirty very shortly the latest and rural news and
sports news. Grant Fox Chipping and to win a PGA
tournament gets them into the PGA Champs next weekend. Fantastic look.
(20:55):
Lots of feedback coming in for our Grant mcnationals getting
it in the neck. Here's one on the Wilding pines. Jamie,
it's coming in that quickly. I'm losing it on my
screen unfortunately, Jamie. What idiot says it's a good idea
to leave wilding pines up. They're all over the Coworkers
(21:16):
and hawks Bay and if we let them stay, they
would basically be the main vegetation in the next thirty years.
That's from muzz longtime text a first time caller. Lots
of stuff coming in on methane. Hi, Jamie, are you
now advocating for a reds under the bed narrative from
the government? Chairs Rex? No, No, I'm not Rex. I'm
(21:37):
just playing Devil's advocate on this one. Also regarding the
sample size of this survey done by Groundswell, NZ Farming
and the Methane Science Accord, Lorie Patterson, good to hear
from you, Lorry. He's not a fan of carbon farming,
would be fair to say, But Lorrie says Groundswell has
ninety thousand people on its startera base, so we cross
(22:00):
over multiple opinions. The NZ Farming Facebook page has a
very strong following, and Jane Smith will better tell us
tomorrow how much how much of a following the Methane
Science Accord has, But it's an interesting survey. The government
certainly has some battles on its hands. Now I can't
(22:21):
read out that one about Grant McCallum. I'm feeling sorry
for Grant. Now go easy on them. I just think
sometimes sometimes we're shooting the messenger. It doesn't payt No,
it doesn't. Michelle shaking a head, poor old Grant. Up next,
we'll do rural news and sports news. So Jenny vernon
what a great story that is the president of a
(22:42):
field Day's thirty sleeps to go. And John mcavinnie just
back from the Serengetti on what he's going to do
with all the store lambs and the calves the wiener
carves on his Waitomo sheep and beef Farmnamondy, Welcome back
(23:06):
to the country. A bit of a correction coming up,
but before we do that. Before we do that, here's
Michelle Watt with the latest and rural news. Dairy Industry
Awards on in the Bay of Plenty, as Brant McCallum
alluded to. Here's Michelle who the winners were.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
The country's World News with cap Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn bower brand. Visit Steelford dot Cott zim
for your locals dogist.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Hang on, let me turn your microphone on. Look for
people who are getting stuck into me. I've got a
wee bit going on at the moment and I'm just
going to put it out here now. My best friend's dying.
It's not an easy time for me, So just button
off where you go, okay.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
So congratulations to the winners at the New Zealandery Awards
held over the weekend. Fiona and Thomas Langford from wy
Cattle were named the New Zealand Sheer Farmers of the Year.
Martin Keegan from Taranaki was the twenty twenty five New
Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year, and Peter van Beek
from Hawk's Bay was announced a Dairy New Zealand Dairy
Trainee of the Year.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Congratulations to all and we'll have them on the show tomorrow.
Well indeed, yes, good stuff. They've got a great story.
The Langfords, they do well talking about CVS. Jenny Vernon's
got a good one. You want to hear what these
guys who won the Dairy the sheerf farmers at the
Dairy Industry Awards have done in their life amazing. He's sport.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at AFCO dot co
dot nz.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Okay rarefied in New Zealand golfing heir for Ryan Fox.
Sorry for saying Grant Fox. As I said, I've got
a weep it going on. He's become the ninth Office
compatriots to win on the USPGA Tour, winning a three
way sudden death playoff at the Myrtle Beach Classic in
South Carolina. He chipped in, apparently I haven't seen it yet,
(24:50):
looking forward to having a look at the highlights of
that one tonight. The really good thing is not only
was it his first win on the PGA Tour, victory
gives him a two year tour exemption an automatic entry
into this week's second major of the year, the PGA Championships.
Looking forward to that one this weekend. That is sports
(25:11):
news for you. Yep, Ryan Fox, not Grant, but he
gets the sporting genes from Grant and his mother Adele,
whose father was Merv Wallace who played cricket in New Zealand.
There was lots of breeding there with Grant Fox. He
just seems to have He's like lydia. He's just got
such a calm where he appears to have a very
calm and relaxed temperament. I know some other golfers in
(25:34):
the studio who I wish had that going for them,
but they don't. Anyhow, they don't do it for a living.
Up next, the inspirational Jenny Vernon. If you want a
job done, ask a busy person. He's a very busy person.
(25:58):
She's certainly going to be very busy over the next
month or so. Thirty sleeps to go to field Days.
The Field Day's Society board chair and current president is Wykaro,
a farmer and business person. Jenny Vernon. I was looking
through your CV, Jenny. If I wrote it all down
on my arm, I would run out of arm. You
(26:18):
have got a wonderful CV. What haven't you done? And
what honor has not been accorded to you?
Speaker 6 (26:25):
There you go, well, Jamie, I haven't done lots of things.
For example, I would love to do my PhD. Because
I've always wanted to do more study and I love study.
And I've never set on one of the industry boards.
As you know in my governance role, so there's always
(26:50):
something to do. But actually the one thing that I
pet enjoy most now is actually mentoring the next generation
of leaders and people who are coming through the system
and giving them that confidence to give it a go.
And even at my age, I'm still.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Hey, you're still a spring chicken. I saw you in
action and we talked last year at field Days and
you're not only running the works, you're up at three
or four in the morning cooking providing meals for all
the volunteers. You're a true champion. Let me look at
your CV. You're the first female New Field Scholar in
New Zealand, the first woman Chair of Environments, Whitehaddow. Your
(27:31):
first encounters with the Field Days date back to your
young farmer days when you were helping with the car parking.
That would have been a field days or two ago, Jenny.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
That was one or two field days ago, Jamie. But
you know, everyone laughs. If you talk to a lot
of the life members and the old volunteers we have
where did they start? And they all go car parking
and young farmers. So it's a good lesson of you know,
starting at the bottom and working up to the up
to a level you want to. I mean, I happen
(28:02):
to be a chair. But we're all in it together.
I you know, I believe that. That's why I still
like colling for the Volunteers, because I've never forgotten where
I've come from. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Well, you're leading from the front. Let's continue with this CV.
It's making me envious. You've got a gong. You've got
a New Zealand Order of Merit two thousand and eight
you were awarded and this is a pretty special one,
the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in nineteen ninety three,
obviously one hundred years on from Emily Pankhurst and nineteen
(28:35):
ninety Commemorative New Zealand Commemorative Medal. And you're also a JP.
You sit on so many boards, You've got like four degrees.
How do you fit all this in plus farming?
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Well, my kids would tell you that I'm crazy, Jamie,
but I've always liked to do one hundred and ten
descent and give everything my best and give it a
go and give it all, give it all. And I've
never changed from probably the day I was born. My
parents would always say that I was an energetic bummy
(29:08):
and I just think you make most of life Jamie.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
You farming with your husband Gordon. I think your son
Simon and his partner Nicola are now running the farm.
You lease it to them. But initially you trained as
a teacher.
Speaker 8 (29:22):
I did.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
I trained in christ Church and then went up and
taught and White Pookero in central Brooks Bay. Had an
amazing fume there, and then married Gordon in nineteen eighty
and shifted to Tamata which is on the Ragmand Coast
and we were small dairy farm there and from there
(29:45):
launched into getting involved with Young Farmers and link Young
Farmer's Leadership and was national president in nineteen eighty four.
And from there just Jamie's things happened and I had
opportunities and some have said no to but most I've gone,
well why not? It looks fun and it's a challenge
and life's about taking a hit on, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Absolutely thirty sleeps to go until Field Days. It's going
to be incredibly busy for you. What does the next
month look like, Jenny Vernon?
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Well, for the next month we've I've got order all
the food for the Field Days volunteers, which also includes
the police and the fire service and the staff, and
I always try to give them a varied menu, especially
for lunch, so it's not the same old every year.
And then it's a matter of I've got to write
(30:37):
two speeches for the opening and then the primary leaders lunch.
That equally, it's about working with the team, making sure
that we've got all our bucks lined up and everybody,
you know, supporting the staff and particularly supporting a new CEO.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, well you've got them on train oils, not training ols.
I'm sure Richard wouldn't. Richard Linderuis wouldn't enjoy are that comparison,
But he's stepping into the boots of a man who
had done a very good job. Peter Nation equal.
Speaker 6 (31:06):
I totally agree, Jamie, But you know I view that Peter,
and as Peter says, as they bought the field days,
what we're in our fifty seventh year, So each one
is built upon the other and got us to twenty
twenty five, and now Richard is in a position to
take us for the next five to eight years. Who knows,
(31:26):
and so each one contributes their own and I'm sure
when Richard finishes, it'll be the same thing. Somebody will
have to fill some big boots as well.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
And you'll still be working at field days in some
capacity till you draw your last breath. I reckon, Jenny. Look,
you're an inspiration. Great to catch up with you last year.
Look forward to chatting to you again in thirty sleeps time.
Thanks Jamie, Thanks Jenny, she is an inspiration. Endless energy.
Up next, another senior citizen. I hope he doesn't mind
(31:57):
me calling that. John mcavinnie, who's also got endless energy.
Where's very meant a lot of hats in New Zealand farming.
He's up next. John McAvennie, just back from Africa, is
a white Tomo sheep and beef farmer and also the
chief executive of steel Fort Hey, John, Before we talk
(32:20):
about Africa, I want to talk about this latest survey
out from ground Swell, the Methane Science Accord and NZ Farming.
And I know you haven't heard the results, but ninety
five percent of those surveyed, Admittedly they may have been
surveying their own typewriter on this one. I'm playing Devil's advocate.
Before you buy my head off, ninety five percent agree
(32:41):
reducing livestock methane won't impact global climate change, and they're
not getting They're not going to get an argument from you,
are they.
Speaker 8 (32:50):
You did write about that Good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, No,
you won't get any argument for me. Make that ninety
six percent and put me.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
In Well, they didn't survey you. Maybe you need to
sign up to ground Swell or the Methane Science Acord.
Look on hopefully I'll have Hopefully I'll have your poster
girl Jane Smith on the show tomorrow and we'll talk
about it then. But I know you're no fan of
staying in Paris. But we've already heard from Grant McCullum
and Andrew Hoggart and Grant from the NATSA saying if
(33:19):
we pull out of Paris, the milk payer will go
from ten bucks to five bucks. I'm not quite sure
I agree with that, but will there be a cost personally?
Speaker 8 (33:28):
I don't believe so. I don't think it makes any difference.
They say that, you know, if we pull out of
there in the rest of the world are going to
make put penalties on New Zealand for pulling out of
that agreement. I think that's absolutely bes as far as
I'm concerned, I don't think it'll make any People are
buying air product because they need protein and they want protein,
whether it be lamb or beef or dary products, that's
(33:50):
what they buy. And I don't think being in or
out of that scheme will make an iota of difference.
It's my opinion, okay.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
And we do have a low carbon footprint, perhaps the
love in the world. So we're starting from a position
of advantage. Talk to me John about what you I
know you live in a bit of a shack there
at the side the eighth beside the eighth their way
at Mount Monganoi golf course. Your poor bugger, But what
are you going to do with all your money this year?
You're selling store lambs on your my Tomo sheep and
(34:19):
beef farm for one hundred and fifty five bucks. You're
not even going to sell your calves. You're going to
take them through. Is huge money being paid for both
of them?
Speaker 8 (34:28):
Yeah, I know it is. But this is a bit
of a logistical thing, you know, getting five or six
hundred calves ready and bring them in a sale and
taking what you get on that day. We have adopted
a different philosophy this year, so we're going to sell
the bottom end of them, probably one hundred, one hundred
and twenty off something like that. Drop a few cow
numbers back, and we're going to take the wieners through
(34:49):
to the spring market in October. And you know, that's
the change in our direction this year, I suppose. I mean,
I'm look, I hear what you say about lamb prices,
and they are good. I mean we average ninety three
bucks last year and this year I was a closer
to one hundred and fifty. But we need that money.
You know, you go and put it, you know, you
(35:12):
know a kilometer of fencing app or do any work
around the farm. It's expensive, you know, the costs that
we are incurring now to run a farming property are there.
And so I had I'm not feeling embarrassed one little
bit about getting one hundred and fifty bucks for store lambs.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
I mean, nor should you look. I mean, lamb's going
for what high eates, maybe nine dollars a kilo and
rising as we get to the end of the season.
But it needs to be ten. That needs to be
the stock standard amount for I think for sheep farmers
to be competitive.
Speaker 8 (35:46):
You won't get an argument from me for that. I mean,
you know, you go and put a kilometer of fencing
up and see what it costs. You do some work
around the place in terms of putting, you know, roading
in or by drench, all the costs of related labor
for offence, for running a sheep and bee property. It's
(36:06):
expensive these days. And you know, ten dollars might be
sound good, you know, as an overall income, but we
need that. You know. I don't feel bad.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Okay, we're agreeing too much yet. I thought you'd disagree
with me more, John, just to finish on your day
job as chief executive of steel for you make or
you sell lawn mowers, the ride ons and the ones
you have to push if you're silly enough. Great time now,
I would imagine. And as we head into the off
season to buy a lawnmower, good deals.
Speaker 8 (36:37):
Well, we've got some really good stuff. I mean, you're
going to see it all, Jamie, because we're coming to
the Field Days here for the first time in twelve years.
And I did an agreement with Peter Nation before he left,
and he's given us a very good sight there and
so I will see you at the Field Days and
you can come and have a look at what we've got,
(36:57):
a fantastic array of products all available in the on
the steel Fort website, the cub kitit website and the
Hustler website. And you have a look at the gen
sets and the logs blitters, and the tools and the
hand tools and the lithium mind product. You know, I'd
like you know. What we're trying to be, of course,
is the premium supplier of outdoor power equipment in New Zealand.
(37:21):
And we know we're still in New Zealand owned company
and you know so I'm very proud of that situation.
So you'll see all that when you're at the field
day Sammy got on.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
You look forward to catching up. Then see you later.
Speaker 8 (37:34):
Go mate, cheers, and we.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Might even get round to talking about Africa sorrow I
was out of time, didn't get time to get there up. Next,
we're going to wrap it with some of your feedback,
wrapping the country with some of your feedback. Why can't
the government use urgency again to legislate that you can't
plant all of a farm and trees, says Andrew. Another
(37:56):
text that says wilding pines could ruin at two Biggers
Export earnest farming and tourism, who would fly halfway round
the world to see pines, and someone else says I
think you should do more research and to pay equity
before commenting some of the claims were ridiculous, like social
workers should be compared to two air traffic controllers. Look,
(38:17):
I don't pretend to understand it. As I said earlier
on the show, I've got bigger fish to fry at
the moment. But I'll try and do some homework and
I'll try and be better tomorrow. See you then.
Speaker 6 (38:28):
As the.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Catch all the latest from the land, It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment
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