The Country Full Show: Thursday, June 19

Jamie Mackay talks to Brendan Attrill, Peter Newbold, Chris Russell, Hamish McKay, and Rowena Duncum.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deer construction equipment.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Good Ainy's elland welcome to the Country, brought to you
by Brandt. I'm Jamie McKay, Oasis, Don Boy George these
days on the dark side, used to be the producer here,
loved Oasis actually talking about people who used to be
producers here. We're going to round out the show with
someone who's having her last day with us, although she's
not lost to us. More about that one later. Champagne

(00:57):
super and Ova for Marto Riqui. Tomorrow. Going to kick
off the show with Brendan Atrall, the recipient of the
Gordon Stevenson Trophy and the newly crowned Ambassador for Sustainable
Farming and Growing for twenty twenty five. You're going to
be impressed by this guy. He was the big winner
effectively in the Balance Farm Environment towards Peter net You bold,

(01:19):
how much is your farm worth? Well, I can tell
you this, it's worth a wee bit more than it
was this time a month ago. Some real positive moves
on the rural real estate market Chris Russell's Ourrossie correspondent.
I'm tired because I stayed up last night watching that
great State of Origin game. We've now got a decider
in Sydney in three weeks time. How good's that going

(01:41):
to be? Hamish Mackay swapping like for like, Jamie for Hamoush.
He's going to preview the Super Rugby Final and on
Monday show we're going to go to the Coastal Rugby
Club with Smiley Barrett for the All Black the naming
and of course Rowena too. Wrap the show, No time
to waste. You're going to be impressed by this man.

(02:02):
He is the most sustainable farmer in the country. Brenda
Natural up next. He was the big winner last night,

(02:25):
the South Taranaki dairy farmer who was named the twenty
twenty five National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and
he's the recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the
National Sustainability Showcase at Takeina in Wellington last night. What
an intro for this man, Brendan atral Brendan, I'm going
to talk about your farm in a minute, but very

(02:47):
very shortly, you're going to jump on a plane to
go and ride dirt bikes in Mongolia.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
Why Hi, Hi Jamie. Yes, it's just what we'll do now.
I'm along with being a supporter of food and fiber
in New Zealand and particularly the dairy and GMB sections.
How am I outs racing cross country motorbikes and doing

(03:13):
long distance rides across across New Zealand and more rest
in the last ten years, just really enjoying going through
the Simpson Desert and then yeah in about two hours
of jumping on a plane and going to my goalie
and going through a Goby desert.

Speaker 4 (03:29):
So it's going to be stretched.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, you've earned the right for a break. Tell us
why you were selected amongst some very strong candidates to
effectively be the most sustainable farmer in the country. Balance
Farm Environment Awards is what I call it, and honestly,
to win this is a real feather in your cap.
You're following in some huge gum boots.

Speaker 5 (03:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
Look, I don't know, I don't know. I mean all
the eleven contestants were absolutely awesome when we got to
when I really got to this of who they were
and the dear businesses. It's not about me and Susan
and the family popping ahead above above the other contestants.
It's just I'm probably a little bit further along my

(04:13):
sustainability and bi diversity journey on our own property compared
to some of the other contestants. But I think the
key thing, Jamie is you know, Okay, it was a
really cool celebration last night, but all eleven of our
cohort we have to all continue that leadership position with

(04:34):
an elation sustainability and all our food and viber sections.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
Your third generation dairy farmer on your farm, is it
called hunger? Did I get that somewhere? They're right, yep.
And I had to look it up on the map
because I said to you, you anywhere near Smiley Barrett,
being a South Taranaki dairy farmer, you said, you're kind
of almost on the other side of the mountain. You're
just east of Stratford.

Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, ten minutes, sir, Stratford and a little micro climate.

Speaker 6 (05:01):
A couple of meters of rain.

Speaker 3 (05:03):
Quite cold in the winter, quite hot in the in
the summer, but very good so are types a traditional
small daring area in the province and really strong partial
production and that that just gives us a little bit
of a competitive edge, you know, if you if you're

(05:24):
looking at doing sustainable dairy or milk production.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
How did the drought affect you this year?

Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, it was interesting Southier. I look after a number
of other farms and my other my combined role of
supervising properties, and the drought in South Tier and acking
around the coast was similar to a good quality Tamoo drought.
It's good that we're bounced out of that and we're
getting significant covers and care conditions looking all right. Some

(05:54):
of the animal wealthy stuffs looking pretty cool, but we
do need a significant recharge. And that South turn Akee
zone central.

Speaker 6 (06:03):
Was pretty good.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
It was all relative. We were dry, but you know,
nothing compared to like I say, what South Turnick you
hit to cope with?

Speaker 2 (06:11):
When I was reading through your CV. The thing that
stuck out for me because there's hundreds thousands of really
good environmentally friendly farmers and dairy farmers in this country.
But yeah, it's like the two seas communication and community.

Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, I was lucky enough to be a dairy Board
consoling officer for a decade and that gave me some
really good quality communication skills. And I suppose as I've
got into managing large teams and been involved in charitable
trusts aroundustainability and Forest and Bird and some other stuff

(06:50):
I'm involved with. If you've got a good communication style
that allows you to lead appropriately and take people with you,
and it also allows you to in my own gentle way,
create change and around particularly around the sustainability, bio diversity
space and the and the important thing for dairy at

(07:12):
the moment is that you know, it's important that we
are we are reducing looking to reduce the absolute emissions
so that you know, we can create really high quality protein.
We can win win on the global stage. And it's
just not dairy around pasture, it's around all our food
and fiber sections or that we that we were creating

(07:35):
such a good story out in New Zealand and community. Yeah,
I love giving back to the industry stuff. I've got
a feeds roll around the Shemel employer section that I
really enjoy working with young cher farming couples, Forest and Bird.
I'm a member of Forest and Bird on the safety

(07:55):
manager for our projects in South Taranaki around wetlands and
I've got tuber key protection blocks and yeah, I just
find them I find the time, and generally finding the
time means that I've got the right people in the
right jobs, achieving the right KPIs. And then so that

(08:15):
allows me to motivate my people and team and freeze
up a little bit of time that I can just
keep all that community stuff going.

Speaker 2 (08:22):
So you are a high achiever. Finally, it says in
your CV you've got extensive experience both nationally and internationally,
not only around dairy farming but also across goat, sheep
and beef farming.

Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, so on the international front of Wuden Island, UK, Brazil,
China being the primary ones. I was lucky enough to
be involved with quite a large.

Speaker 6 (08:50):
Corporate setup of cows.

Speaker 3 (08:51):
In China and that taught me a lot about the
you know, the principles of business, how to do really
good project management and all that type of stuff. And
then in the New Zealand sing in one of my
corporate roles, we finished fifty sixty thousand still lambs down

(09:13):
the South Island on corporate farms. Mum and Dad had
a goat farm at one point that I went through
that that was a fiber fiber farm and then sinking
and rotating bits a dairy, which is for our family
where we're sitting on our durning at the moment as
dairy is where our strengths are. But it's you know,

(09:37):
it's such a bloody good story around New Zealand. You know,
we are so good at producing high quality proteins. We're
definitely winning on the global stage. Everyone knows all our
products coming out of the country are safe and yeah,
I mean agricultures on a on a on a fly,
and it's just lovely to see some young couples that

(09:59):
actually to commit to leading and agriculture and they want
to be milk and cares and you know, dagging the
sheep and working on the high country stations and working
in vegetable production and undercover and deer farms the South
and it's just such an exciting story for for New

(10:20):
Zealand's right at the moment.

Speaker 2 (10:22):
Gee, you're going to be a wonderful national ambassador for
sustainable farming and growing. Brendan Natural South Taranaki Dairy Farmer,
Well done, Congratulations on a great night, Thanks for your time,
safe travels to Mongolia.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
Cool Thanks Jomy, cheers home.

Speaker 2 (10:37):
Thank you, Brendan. How impressive was that man? What a
great ambassador for New Zealand farming. One of those annoying
is Brendan's gone. I can say this one of those
really annoying Michelle over achievers in life. Sure yeah, it
makes you think what have I done with my life
when you hear what that blog's done. Anyhow, we're talking
about underachievers. I shouldn't say that because I love the

(10:59):
Belfer rug Club next door to Riversdale. Of course, the
mighty Riversdale Club celebrating the fortieth reunion of the great
nineteen eighty five side had great leadership by the way
to Michelle and next weekend, but this weekend give a
shout out to the Balfer Rugby Club, home of the
great Ken Stuart. They're celebrating their one hundred and twenty

(11:21):
fifth Good on you guys, and talking about Balfer a
Belfer arable farmer that we use occasionally on the country.
Blair Blocker Drysdale is over doing something for Rabobank, I think,
or doing something some junket anyhow, and Australia and he's
about to jump on the plane to head home and
he's going to turn left. He's going business. He's very

(11:42):
excited as you would be if you come from Belfa.

Speaker 7 (11:44):
I don't think I've ever been into business class.

Speaker 8 (11:46):
We walked through it.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
Oh, the feeling of turning left, Michelle, it's one of
life's great pleasures. Anyhow, Blocker Safe travels home and he's
listening to the show in the Kuru Lounge and Melbourne. Yeah,
good luck in all seriousness to the Belfer Rugby Club
celebrating their one hundred and twenty fifth reunion. The tribal nature,

(12:08):
Michelle of rural rugby is just a thing of beauty.
We're going to talk rugby a week bit later in
the hour with Hamish McKay and Smiley Barrett. We're going
to get Smiley on the show on Monday because Raisor
Robertson's naming his all Black side from the Coastal Rugby
Club on Monday. He don't have to be a rocket
scientist to figure out there will be no change in

(12:30):
the All Black captaincy, nor should there be, love Scott Barrett,
I just hope he makes I hope he gets a
bonus point against the Chiefs. Shouldn't say that. Peter Newbolt
up next, We're going to have a look at the
state of the rural real estate market. Monthly here on

(13:02):
the country, we tell you how much your farm is worth,
and it's probably to be fair worth a bit more
than it was last month. Let's ask an expert in
the field, the GM of PGG Rights in real estate,
Peter Newbolt. Pete really interesting or enthusiastic inquiry around especially
sheep and beef properties at the moment.

Speaker 6 (13:23):
Yeah, Look, it's been fantastic, Jamie. And if you look
at the last I guess a couple of months, we've
had solid sales there and I think one of the
good things is a lot of let's call it older
stock has been cleared, and so that means as we
come into lake winter early spring, we're going to have
a new range of sheep and beef listings. And if

(13:45):
you look at that sector, it's been quiet for two
or three years, and now we're seeing some of those
people being able to move on and do something else.
So I think it's really healthy. And as I said,
we finished off this season, as I call it really strong.

Speaker 2 (14:01):
It's been a tough few years in rural real estate.
Has the past year been the best one in the
past decade.

Speaker 6 (14:08):
I wouldn't say the past decade, but definitely, you know,
the last I guess you know slump was longer than
normal and we've just come out of it. You know,
this last quarter would be the strongest and probably half
a dozen years. I wouldn't say it's booming because we've
come off a low base. That definitely it's strong and solid.

(14:29):
And if you look at as we just talked about
shed and beef, and you look at dairy, and then
you look at Kiwi fruit, et cetera, I think we're
in for a real solid run over the next two
to three years.

Speaker 2 (14:40):
Well, let's have a look at dairy. You know, we've
got a ten dollar payout this year. The prospects anyhow,
at this stage of ten dollars for the coming season
or the season we've just entered into, it's got a
bode well because some of these dairy farms at current
values make for a good yield, a return on your
own investment.

Speaker 6 (15:01):
Yeah, and look, it's been interesting. You know, there's definitely
been an up to in dairy sales. We will see
a lot more. I think the biggest challenges those wanting
to purchase I think is going to be limited supply
and that comes back to the returns they're getting at
the moment. The only thing I would say out there
is there is you know there are buyers, but you
know they're limited. So I think that's one of the

(15:23):
things we've just got to look at as we've come
into spring, is that you know there will be they'll
be short of a supply and then you know you've
got limited buyers, so there'll be an interesting period in
that sort of September October time.

Speaker 2 (15:38):
It's good though, to see that farms are now being
sold on yield rather than the prospect of capital gain.
And we've all been guilty, myself included Peter, of getting
into investments like that with a view to capital gain.
If you're a long term player in farming, it should
be all about yield.

Speaker 6 (15:56):
Yeah, and I think it is now and you definitely
see that with all the purchase that that are taking place.
It is all about you and capital gains has definitely disappeared,
and I think that's a good thing. So look, I
think it's a it's a healthy space.

Speaker 2 (16:12):
Can I still get a key refruit orchard into Pokey
and make money.

Speaker 6 (16:17):
Out of it, Yes you can. And again that's that's
been a quiet sector for a while, but it's pretty
clear now that we're going to see a number of
properties come to the market as we get closer to Christmas.
If you look at the long term outlook and keyw
fruit but like dairy, is really solid. It's a great story.

(16:38):
So I think we're going to see well, I don't think,
I know, we're going to see a lot of activity
as we get into those summer months and into next year.
So that's that's looking really really good.

Speaker 2 (16:48):
It's a magical food product. Key Look. I want to
ask you about this one, and I realize and I
appreciate your position here because you're stuck between a rock
and a hard place. Your first duty in real estate
to get the best dollars you can for the vendor.
But even though the government made the announcement in December
of last year around carbon farming, it hasn't stopped. And

(17:10):
I really really worry, and I get criticized for this
by some people in the forestry industry. I'm fine with forestry,
but carbon farming spray and walk away. I think we're
headed for an ecological disaster. I hope I'm wrong on
that one, but you know, the floodgates have not been
shut yet.

Speaker 9 (17:28):
No.

Speaker 6 (17:28):
Look, it's interesting. I have no problem with the vendors,
you know, selling their property and the money they're getting
for it. Why wouldn't you do that? But when you
look at the what's taken place now you I was
just looking the other day. You know, twenty five percent
increase and news killed this season. You know, lambs back,
you know one point five million. So when you start

(17:50):
to look at that and you look out over the
next few years, that's only going to increase. So I
just think one good thing. I just feel that the government,
power to be whatever have woken up that we need
to slow it. But I do worry if you look
out over the next you know, ten or fifteen years,
whether we'll go well, we let this go.

Speaker 2 (18:11):
On for too long we have anyhow, Hey, just to
finish on, you're not only you're a busy lad, Peter Nubol.
Do you not only run the real estate division, you
run the live stock division as well. And I would
imagine with the increased values for live stock this year
that your team of wonderful agents at PGG Rights and
who give up their time freely, I might add for
the IHC CARF and Rural Scheme have had a good year.

Speaker 6 (18:34):
Yeah. Look it's been a fantastic year for the business
so and again for our agents. But also that you know,
flows through to all those those farmers out there who
are suddenly getting good returns. And you know, when you
look at it from a country's persepective, you know, rural
is very important. Our farmers are important. I think, you know,
people are starting to realize that if they are, if

(18:56):
they are making money and prospering, then the whole country prospers.
So yeah, look it's I think it's a wonderful time
at the moment where everyone is starting to is starting
to make some money and do well.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
Good time to be a farmer. Peter Newbold, thanks for
your time. We'll see you in Dunedin for the French
rugby test.

Speaker 6 (19:12):
Take care, Thanks, Jamie, have a good afternoon.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
I well, thank you, Peter. If you didn't catch the
story at the top of the hour on Newstalk, zedb
GDP figures are just out and they're stronger than economists
had forecast. Stats in ZED says in zed's drostomes domestic
product grew zero point eight percent in the March quarter.
Overtaking predictions of zero point seven percent doesn't sound that

(19:39):
much of a difference, does it. It follows zero point
five percent increase the court of the four. We're out
of recession. Yeah, Herald Business edit through at large. Liam
Dan says it could mean the OCR won't get another
cut next month. Really, he says, it raises the odds
the Reserve Bank will keep things on. I hope not.

(20:02):
The economy still needs more stimulus, mine, Reserve Bank, you
need to make another one or two cuts to the OCR.
Up next to our Rossie correspondents are Chris Russell. Did
you stand then? Is our Ossie correspondent Chris Russell? And

(20:23):
I'll tell you what Chris today, I am dog tired.
I've been binge watching something on Netflix over the past
few nights, and of course last night I had to
stay up late for that State of Origin game and
that magnificent Firth Stadium where I'm going later this year
to support the All Blacks. What a game of footy.
I thought it was done and dusted at halftime, but
your cockroaches came back against the cane toads.

Speaker 4 (20:45):
Well it's never done and dusted.

Speaker 9 (20:47):
You know you can, you can bury them doves on
their grave having six foot under and they'll still be
alive and kicking. You know, there's so much further in that.
Of course, the Maroons were really fired up after the
space that we're spat that went on during the week,
particularly over Billy Slater been called a grub by the
commentator Aaron Woods in Sydney. That really got them fired

(21:08):
up and that actually little bit of fuel. I mean
it was hopeless, mind you. The penalty count was pretty ordinary.
Eight penalties against New South Wales, none against Queensland the
first half.

Speaker 4 (21:18):
They need to take the pea out of the whistle
of those referees.

Speaker 9 (21:21):
Sometimes, but nonetheless it's set up for a wonderful third
game where we'll we'll flog the.

Speaker 4 (21:26):
Maroons, I'm sure.

Speaker 9 (21:28):
But it was certainly very exciting last night, and so
such difference between the two halves.

Speaker 4 (21:34):
I've never seen a game like it, Jamie.

Speaker 2 (21:36):
So that's enough footy. Let's get on to the farming.
We've been talking in recent weeks about record lamb prices
across the Tasman Okay, this week we're talking about four
hundred and thirty dollars for a lamb.

Speaker 4 (21:48):
It's unbelievable.

Speaker 9 (21:49):
I was looking at the comparison between last week's price
and last year at the same time. Light lambs last
week nine hundred and twenty eight eight cents a kilo
carcassweight last year three hundred and thirteen cents. Heavy lambs
last week one thousand and forty two cents. That's ten

(22:10):
dollars forty two are kilo carcassweight last year, same time
three dollars thirty three. Even mutton last year was six hundred,
it was two hundred and eighty six cents two dollars
eighty six akilo. This year's six dollars sixty eight. I mean,
the comparisons are just astonishing. Nobody thought they'd be getting

(22:30):
four hundred and thirty dollars ahead, and it looks like
those prices might stick around right through the winter as
people's lambs come into that heavyweight category. But even light
lambs are bringing three times bringing this time last year.
Amazing pricing and of course a lot of very happy farmers.

Speaker 5 (22:46):
Jomie So, I may have missed this.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Because I was reading your script as you were talking,
But how big are those four hundred and thirty dollars lambs.

Speaker 4 (22:53):
Twenty six kilos plus.

Speaker 9 (22:56):
It's just that I think all the supermarkets and indeed
the Abatoir a feeling you know, shortage is coming up ahead.
And of course with a little bit of rain we've
had down the South this year, people will be holding
back some of their lambs that they were going to
put on the market, so that'll only increase the prices
that they see over coming weeks.

Speaker 4 (23:14):
So amazing.

Speaker 2 (23:16):
So the sheep farmer's doing quite nicely, thank you. What
about the dairy farmers over here? Fonterra is paying ten bucks?
Are you dragging the chain a bit? In Australia?

Speaker 4 (23:25):
We have, as I've been talking to you about, we
have been.

Speaker 9 (23:28):
It's interesting Saputo Australia as the latest supply to announce
an increase in its milk price. They're now up to
nine dollars ten Australian, which is not that far away
from ten dollars New Zealand, from an opening price of
eight dollars eighty. Fonterra of course have whacked their price up.
They came up to eight dollars ninety up from eight

(23:50):
dollars sixty, so they're still dragging the chain. And if
you look at some of the other players, Australian Dairy
Farmers Corporation n the Australian Consolidator's milk eight dollars eighty five.
So they're all beginning to lift their prices. They say
it's all in response to farmer concern that they're just
not getting a good return for their milk. But it

(24:11):
always seemed extraordinary than in Yew Zealand. You know, your
prices are so much higher than here, and yet over
here we've got so much fewer dairy farmers and therefore
you know, milk's in shorter supply.

Speaker 2 (24:21):
Jomie, mind you, I think keyweed milk is a bit
like kiwied tomatoes. They tell you they taste bitter than
Aussie ones.

Speaker 9 (24:29):
Here we go, so you can't get a tomato over
here at the moment. The problem with this new fungus
that's been ravaging some of the tomato crops, plus indeed
the floods up in Queensland made if I go to
it in the soup market at the moment, if I
can get any tomatoes, I'm paying probably five or six
dollars a kilo more than what the normal price would

(24:49):
be expected to be.

Speaker 4 (24:50):
Ten or eleven dollars a kilo, so, but.

Speaker 9 (24:52):
That's expected to improve in the next few years as
the new crops come on the market.

Speaker 2 (24:56):
Jamie, you've got a great story about the art of
small drones and electric bikes when it comes to mustering cattle.

Speaker 4 (25:04):
I love this story.

Speaker 9 (25:05):
So I was listening to an article by a bloke
called Wilson of Calliope Cattle Company, O Butt Calliope, and
he's been using drones for years up there, and.

Speaker 4 (25:17):
He started with big drones and he was driving.

Speaker 9 (25:20):
He said he was hopeless, but he found that was
a mistake because you don't actually need big, noisy drones.

Speaker 4 (25:26):
They actually respond to small ones. He said, you could.

Speaker 9 (25:28):
Heard a mob of cattle with a swarm of bees
in all be or flies. And he's also swapped to
electric bikes now a right, so sure about electric bikees.

Speaker 4 (25:39):
I was talking to a.

Speaker 9 (25:40):
Bloke up the road who's a bit of a Harley fanatic,
and he went and drove an electric Harley Davidson the
other day. He said the performance was amazing.

Speaker 4 (25:48):
He said, the takeoff speed, the speed with lech drove.

Speaker 9 (25:51):
But he said, Chris, it's a little bit like going
to a brothel for a hugez.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
I don't know if you can say that, Chris Russell,
but you have live.

Speaker 4 (26:00):
Look and I can just it tells the story perfectly.

Speaker 9 (26:03):
So a less noisy electric break, how would that go.
I'm not a big fan of bikes for mustering anyway.
I'd much prefer to be using a horse because in
my case the horse knew more about what he was
doing than I did.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Chris Russell, thanks as always for your time.

Speaker 4 (26:17):
No worries, Jamie, Yeah, thanks.

Speaker 2 (26:20):
Christ you might have landed us in there going to
a brothel for a hug. I don't think you can
say that in the Smdern Day and Age. It's the shame. Anyhow,
we're going to take a break on the other side
of it. We're going to tell you how you can
win the Rubbo Bank Good Deeds Competition. Michelle's got a
great story for you for sport and we're going to
have a look at Rural News as well. It is

(26:51):
nineteen away from on You with the Country, brought to
you by Brent Rural News very shortly, but first, Rubbo
Bank Good Deeds Competition is open. If you've got a
r community project and you need a helping hand. All
you've got to do is go to the rabobank website
and enter. Very easy to navigate your way around there.
But even if you find that too difficult, you can
just text good the word good to five double O

(27:14):
nine and we'll send you back the direct link to enter.
So what we've got up for grabs is five thousand
dollars cash, a lot of hands, a lot of good
work from the team from rabobank, and someone from the country,
either Michelle or myself will turn up. Depending on how
hard the job is. If it's a tough job, she'll go.

(27:35):
If it's a cushy job with the golf club next door,
I will be going. It's called the food chain. Michelle,
So enter at rabobank dot co dot z or text
good to five double O nine. We'll send back the
direct link to enter. Entries close at the end of
the month. June thirty. His Rural News for you.

Speaker 1 (27:57):
The Country's world us with get it New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit Steelford dot cot on
Z for your local stockist.

Speaker 7 (28:06):
Thanks Jamie. The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand and
partnership with the New Zealand Government has launched the next
phase of its Taste Pure Nature campaign and Shanghai in China.
The campaign is designed to raise awareness and drive preference
for New Zealand grass feed, beef and lamb and China
and an important market worth two point five billion dollars
a year. The Red Meat Country of Origin program, which

(28:28):
includes a Taste Pure Nature campaign as co funded by MIA,
which is Meat Industry Association, Beef and Lamb New Zealand
and the government. And the total investment is nine point
five million over three years. And of course Christopher Luxon
is over there at the moment, and we have Sports News.

Speaker 2 (28:42):
Yeah, well we've got a text in here someone else
equally as politically and correct as Chris. No, you're saying no,
she won't let meat geez. I thought Rowena used to
boss me around. She's saying no, I'm not allowed to
read the text out.

Speaker 7 (28:54):
That's why I hurried to Sports News, right, Okay, we see.

Speaker 5 (28:57):
Looking at it.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
Sport with AVCO we to the bone since nineteen oh four.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
It's a good text, by the way, Texter. Look, we're
going to talk footy in a minute with Hamish McKay
and tell you what he's up to. Rowena Duncan to
wrap the country. But I got a text. I think
this was from Graham Smith, the great Man himself. The
Crusaders have you can't bring your cowbells along to the

(29:25):
Addington footy ground. I can't even remember what it's called
these days. It's supposedly the Farewell as long as they
get the new stadium built for Super Rugby next year.
But we live in a digital age and the Chiefs
fans have come up Michelle with like a digital cow
bell they have.

Speaker 7 (29:42):
You can download it to your phone.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
It's really annoying. I'll really annoy the cant what it
sounds like? Yeah, I do. Well, that's really impressive, right,
you're going to You're just going to have to take
our word for that. That was your big moment.

Speaker 7 (29:56):
In was my big moment, and it just my phone
decided to not worry. But hang on, I've actually got
it right here as well. So let's just try it again.

Speaker 2 (30:05):
No nothing, go home, all right? Up next, Hamish McKay.
So today is Rowena Duncan's last day. We're going to
let her close out for show. But the bloke who
will be replacing Rowena as a replacement for me, we
thought we would swap like for like, Jamie McKay for

(30:27):
Hamish McKay, a champion broadcaster of course, famous for his
TV three and rugby commentary days. Hamish, I want to
talk to you today about the Super Rugby Final. How
fizzed up are you?

Speaker 3 (30:40):
I see?

Speaker 4 (30:41):
Jamie?

Speaker 6 (30:42):
Thank you?

Speaker 5 (30:42):
And by the way that there's a further complication in there,
because is it Hamish Scottish for Jamie as well? So
we're just about one hundred for one hundred percent.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
Well we could be doppel gangles. Although you're a bit
you're you're a bit skinnier than me. Now I used
to be a bit skinnier than you, but you've you've
transformed yourself.

Speaker 5 (31:00):
Oh the wonders of modern surgery had a bit of
a say in that. But yeah, but it's given me
my mojo back that it wasn't too good. Put it
this way, I would have laughed at about thirty seconds
in the Super Rugby Final of one hundred and thirty
five kgs now I'm an eighty kg winger.

Speaker 2 (31:15):
Yeah, good on you mate, good to see firing on
all cylinders. Look, okay, I'm going to throw my ideas
at you and I'm going to get you to comment
on them now. I just wonder if the Crusaders might
have an advantage in the front row with an all
all black front row. Will the Chiefs loose forwards perhaps
have an advantage over a very good Crusaders loose forward trio.

(31:35):
Will Jordan brilliant You can never account for that. But
I think the big one for me anyhow is Damien
McKenzie versus Rivers Rayhannah, and I think Damien McKenzie might
carry the day. What do you say?

Speaker 6 (31:48):
So beautiful?

Speaker 5 (31:49):
Beautifully put so, I think the front row really impressive,
the progress of a guy like Polly Norris, and they've
got great competition for their front row positions in that
chief side wish forwards, I think they cancel themselves out.
I think Jacobson is one of the most underrated footy
players going around. So who can make the most based
on what you said there, Jordan or or d Mac.

(32:13):
I think that for the Chiefs is where where were
I think it bang On? I think that's where that
little bit of mercurial influence there, and he'll get good
enough for the chief pack or a great pack. I
think it'll be sort of fifty to fifty up front.
He's got that against the young fuller. Ray has come on.
It's come on and leaps and bounds make no mistake.

(32:34):
But yeah, I think that the DMAC will just because
he has that beautiful thing of a ten, which is
opposition guessing as the watcher up. There's nothing predictable about
the Chiefs. They are steely out, they'll be, they'll be
you know, they chess dropping dropping their bundle into the
blues in that first one. They no doubt it would

(32:55):
like to have been a fly on the wolf. Postmatch
discussions on that. But yeah, so it comes down so
it's to be a time advantage versus DMAC.

Speaker 9 (33:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (33:03):
And I think the other thing is while Murray Decker,
there's another great sports broadcaster, Hamish used to say, the
first person you picking your team is the goal kicker.
The next person you pick as you reserve goalkicker. And
at the moment in New Zealand, we haven't got a
better goal kicker in my mind than Damien Mackenzie Rivers
Rahannah Yeah, okay, but unproven at the highest level, So

(33:25):
I think that could also make a big difference. This
could come down to denominations of three points.

Speaker 5 (33:32):
Yeah, and given the defense capabilities of both these teams,
I mean they just you know, I mean, obviously their
patterns are fantastic, but it's also the caliber of the
guys that are continually making the tackles and you know,
as you're sure from the Crusaders sucking it up, laid
against the Blues. But yeah, three points. It's kind of

(33:56):
almost come back into fashion, hasn't it. Just you know,
one of those it'll be one of those occasions that
it doesn't look like you're at the moment.

Speaker 2 (34:05):
Jeez, Hey, Hamoush, it sounds like our footy days back
in the day. Always take the three points when they're
on off. I always play with the wind at your back.
Hey listen, I've got to go. Thank you very much
for your time. You will be the official fella we've
been Rowena farewell. Really looking forward to you being the
host of the country when I'm swining off, which will

(34:25):
be more frequent than it has been in the past.

Speaker 5 (34:28):
You do that whenever you like cam and I'm really honest, thank.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
You, Je good on your Hamish go well Kis. It's
a great bloke, Hamoush Makai. I might need to give
him a full time job, because Michelle Watt is on
a formal warning. She is going to be fired if
she can't come up with the digital chiefs cowbell. Here's
your last chance, here's your last shot at glory, Michelle Nayland.

(34:52):
There you go. She got it, So that will really
get under the skin of the contests. It's going to
be a great final up. Next, we leave the last
word to Rowena Duncan. Okay, wrapping the country, but of
a sad day for us, but she's moving on to

(35:14):
Greena Pastures and she will not be lost to us.
Rowena Duncan. I've threatened to fire Michelle, but she came
It was only in jest, Michelle. She came through with
a digital cowbow. And you need to come through with
the farm Strong sign off because otherwise old get the sack.

Speaker 8 (35:30):
Oh absolutely, And I just want to say it was
wonderful to celebrate ten years of farm Strong at field Day.
So look, if you want to hammer home your wellbeing,
sign up for farm Strong's Fortnightly Toolbox Tips. They wear
practical ways to manage stress and pressure and stay well better. Still,
everyone who signs up before July six goes in the
drawer to win a kin Chrome tool chest worth a

(35:51):
thousand bucks. So that's a serious upgrade for your shed
and your head space as well. To simply text your
first name to eight five one five or had the
toolbox tab on the farm Strong website.

Speaker 2 (36:01):
Now I know, in true country fashion, we've been working
you to the bone right till the bitter end. Have
you just released a podcast?

Speaker 8 (36:08):
I have indeed.

Speaker 9 (36:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (36:09):
So pregnancy scanning obviously is about more than just knowing
your LAMB numbers, as you well know, Jamie. So Episode
three of Optimizing Lamb Survival, brought to you by Beef
and Lamb New Zealand, is out now. We released it
last night. It's all about making scanning work harder for
your farm. So in it, I chat with Associate Professor
Renee Corner Thomas from Massi University, who shares practical advice

(36:30):
on how to use scanning data to improve you condition,
allocate feed more efficiently, and identify yous that need extra
attention before lambing. We also talk about culing dries, managing multiples,
and how to use scanning to pick out early versus
late lammers if you're not using a ram harness, I
learned what a ram harness is. So whether you're shifting mobs,
feeding out or winding down after a big day, make

(36:52):
sure you check out Optimizing LAMB Survival. You'll find it
on the Country's podcast stream wherever you get your podcast,
and the links up on our Facebook.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
Why you're grafting to the I blamed Vanessa Winning who
went from Irrigation New Zealand to MPI. Karen Williams then
went from FMG to Irrigation New Zealand. And you've taken
Karen's job at FMG. Great company, wonderful company, but you're
going to You're not going to be lost to us.
But you've been on the tools here since twenty eighteen
and with fare to say, we've had our moments, a

(37:20):
couple of scraps along the way, but generally it's been
an absolute privilege and an honor to work with you.
And you're not going to be lost. You and I
are teaming up next week's week at the Primary Industry Awards.
I can't get rid of you.

Speaker 8 (37:33):
Indeed. Indeed, and look, Jamie, the pleasure and the privilege
has been on mine. I've loved getting to chat to
rural New Zealand every day and with tarn and now
inded me. It's been eighteen and a half years for
me on and off. Feels like I'm leaving home, but no,
thanks so much for the opportunity. I love you, Jamie,
even though sometimes I want to punch you, but I'm
looking forward to working with you next week.

Speaker 2 (37:52):
Yeah, you're sort of like an annoying younger sister, but
we managed to get along in the end. Bro. You
go well and I'll see you next week in christ Jish.
Right there we go, Rowena Duncan wrapping the Country for today.
We get a day off tomorrow. I hope you do.
We'll catch you back on Monday.

Speaker 1 (38:11):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye thanks to Brent Starkest of the
leading agriculture brands.