April 7, 2025 • 36 mins
Jamie Mackay and Rowena Duncum talk to Richard McIntyre, Emma Twigg, Todd Clark, and Mark Dillon.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to friends, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hoodie, I was gotten gone now my mind Dad is
dropped another game a time, Carter Tick.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Speeding down sixty.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
Five nowhere I'm going.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yes, I really went and missed it up again. Now
I'm a baby's goner than the torsa win.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
Judging by the stall sober state. I'm in need to
crack one wide open.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Somebody pull me and track.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Somebody welcome af to there, and everyone welcome in to
the country. My name is Rowena Duncan in the hot
seat for Jamie McKay, was wondering what that song was
gonna be music today courtesy of Angie Duff pushing the
show out of ount Auckland's goes through the window from me.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
But when we got to the chorus, I was like,
I've heard this song before.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I still can't tell you who sings it, but no,
definitely familiar with it.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Right What a day and day.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Just been chatting to some of my friends down in
the manni are Toto snowing down there out the back
of Maysby Danzy's pass as well. Really looking forward to
that one heading down there next week. Of course, a
bit of a raw hunt going on over Easter weekend
at Anzac weekend. Apparently the domestic stags have been rowing
(01:33):
for about a week now. With this cold weather coming through,
hopefully the wild ones will kick off.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
And I'll be heading it at exactly the right time.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
A fantastic anyway, enough about me, I'm turning into Jamie
McKay and digressing, waiting patiently on hold. We have Richard
McIntyre from Federated Farmers. They have got green Peace in
their sights, calling on the government to immediately strip them
off their charitable status.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
More on that very shortly.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Jamie mc kai is at side to the South Island
Dairy event. He caught up with Emma Twigg just moments ago.
She was this morning's keynote speaker at side, so looking
forward to hearing from the end.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
We're going to head to the US as well.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Todd Clark as our UIs farming correspondent out of Lexington, Kentucky,
who's going to join me to discuss the impact of
Trump's tariff's high US beef prices while grains are really
struggling and also widespread flooding, particularly in his state. We've
got Michelle and Dunedin with the latest and rural news.
Andy Duff will bring you sports news. Mark Dylan Jamie
(02:36):
mistem Us today is the Southland farmer who took out
the silver plow title at the New Zealand Plowing Championships
for a fourth time on Sunday. In middle March, he'll
once again represent New Zealand on the world stage Croasha
twenty twenty six. We will hear from him before the
end of the hour and every day this week we've
got a five hundred dollars PGG rights and voucher to
(02:58):
give away as part of our on the Fence promo.
Will tell you who yesterday's winner is and give you
a chance to win before the end of the hour.
But Federated Farming is calling on the government to strip
Green Peace of its charitable status, arguing that their political
activism goes beyond what constitutes a charity. To unpack this,
(03:19):
I'm joined now by Federated Farmer's board member Richard McIntyre,
also their dairy cheer. Richard, thanks so much for being
with us.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Good afternoon, Hey, good afternoon Row.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Now what's the main reason Federated Farmers believes Greenpeace should
no longer have charitable status.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
Right, So it's really clear that in order to be
a charity you cannot have as your primary purpose political
advocacy and you also have to operate within the law.
And so we believe the green Peace fails both counsel this.
You know, they basically all they do is political advocacy
or in fact, i'd more court activism. But in the
activism they break the law. And this is actually why
(04:01):
they got deregistered initially back in two thousand and eight,
but then unfortunately they got reregistered in twenty twenty after
taking it to court, and effectively we're told that they
need to be really careful because if they continue this
illegal activity, they may be deregistered again. So we think
they're passed that test in terms of ongoing illegal activity
disrupting legitimate businesses, and we need them to be stripped
(04:25):
of their charitable status. It's really just not fair for
the taxpayers to be funding this sort of illegal activity
and activism.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And the incident recently a New Plymouth where people were
put under danger they were accessing areas that were not
accessible to them. There's a very legitimate health and safety
concern here. As you mentioned, that wasn't a one off, Richard.
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Look, there are countless, countless incidents over the years of
them doing these things. You know, they try and call
a peaceful protest, but what they're doing is illegal. You know,
Certay of the people that are impacted by don't consider
it to be peaceful. Like you say. They take over facilities,
they get into spaces that they're not supposed to be,
and they disrupt everything. If you talk to any of
the farmers that have been holding out for that stock
(05:10):
feed to come to them in order to continue to
feed their stock given the drought that they've been going through,
you know, it's just immensely disruptive and there's actually a
welfare issue as well, one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I know having found in Taranaki myself and being in
that position in a drought where no matter what you did,
there was no grass and you desperately needed something like
palm kernel. This was back in twenty twelve, twenty thirteen.
That season, you know, the demand far exceeded anything that
could land in that port because there was no other
(05:40):
option available. Look do you see this as a broader
issue with advocacy groups in the charity system, Richard, or
is this specifically about Green Peaks.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Look, there's a border issue where we do need to
make sure that being a cheat, that if you're going
to be a charity, you're doing genuine charitable work, you know,
which is quite quite clearly defined, and whereas it seems
to have become a little bit loose and some of
these other groups have crept into this charitable status, which
you know, I think makes a nonsense of this purpose
and an all reality as a taxpayer that effectively has
(06:12):
to has to subsidize these you know, it doesn't fit
with what should be happening here.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Playing devil's advocate here, we're a very balanced so here
on the country. Is this simply an attempt to silence
environmental voices?
Speaker 6 (06:26):
Ritched, No, not at all. I actually enjoy there being
environmental horses.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
We've always got to have that balanced point of view.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
But you know, worried you are. The line here is
when we've got organizations that disrupting legitimate businesses and injury
into illegal activity, it just it makes no sense for us,
like I say, to be subsidizing as taxpayers, an organization
that you know that the protests or you know, during
the normal course of work effectively by committing illegal activity.
(06:55):
So we're paying, we're subsidizing them in that respect, and
then we're actually having to pay for the police to
come in our remove them, which is ridiculous. You know,
the police are understaffed as it is, They've got other
things to you know, the general tax paying public would
love to have the police actually out there're solving crime
rather than removing Greenpeace protesters from these feed facilities and
the likes.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Hey has Federated Farmers made a formal complaint.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
We have. We've made a formal complaint to the charity
services asking them to investigate Greenpeace and stripped them all
of the charitable status, and we've listed all the various
things that they've done over the last few years, you know,
in terms of the illegal occupations, et cetera. And yet
we are hoping that this will invest be investigator thoroughly
and they will make the right decision and remove their
(07:38):
charitable status. We're leaving charitable statuses for those that are
running legitimateturities.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Well, I look forward to finding out the outcome and
how you go with this one, Richard. I bumped into
you and you Plymouth on Thursday night at once again.
It was great to be back in the old stomping
ground there to m see the Tadanaki Balance Farm Environment Award.
You were there in your capacity as a dairyan Z
board member making a presentation. But what a wonderful evening
(08:06):
that was, celebrating farmers who are managing to do the
right thing by the environment and their farm and really
excel as a shining light for those around them.
Speaker 6 (08:17):
Well, look, grow I always love those events, you know,
when you get a whole od of lock minded farmers
together and they just talk about all the various things
that they're doing to improve the environments, you know, and
everyone comes away buzzing in and those that get acknowledged,
you know, just so richly deserve it. It was an awesome
evening and it's one of those things that you can
always attend and just come away feeling absolutely up with.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
I love that because you know everyone's doing their thing
for the environment as well and to farm sustainably. But
it's often going to things like that that you can
pick up on other things that aren't as widely known
that might be applicable to your organization. You can get
motivation and you can take ideas, and that's something this
industry does do well, is share within each other, in
(08:59):
support each other.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Oh, that's exactly right. It's actually something that we have.
So that sets us apart from the rest of the
world and so many other industries is that we were
in competition, but we're not. We're so happy to share
our ideas and help you help others get better. And yeah,
it's just such an awesome thing to be part of.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
You're also a Manoto dairy farmer and your own right.
How are things looking at your plagues?
Speaker 6 (09:26):
We're starting to get a little bit greater, but we
still don't have very much grass at all.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
You know.
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Luckily, the salt temp is still pretty high and that
we've had a reasonably consistent rain over the last couple
of weeks, so you know, we've got some green shoots
there row and I think we're going to wind up
heading into winter in a reasonable space, but there's still
a huge amount of feeding out going.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
On at the moment.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
You and I both share a love of duck shooting.
We are coming up to opening weekend, but I am
really concerned, Richard about some of the scenes I've seen
down in South and paddocks absolutely black. The number of
ducks pretty much unheard of in places down there. Farmers
going into the paddock where the tractor and the duck's
(10:06):
not even really moving much. I've got a real issue
down there.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
They do.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
It's an insane number of ducks, you know. And unfortunately
duck shooting seasons not for another month and so is it.
So there's not much that can be done about it,
you know, at the moment. But what we've really been
encouraging fishing game to do is actually to work really
constructively with these farmers. You know, yes they yes, they
have a role in terms of maintaining duck numbers, you know,
(10:32):
for duck shooting and that, but they really need to
step in and step in fast when ducks do reach
high numbers that are having play packs on farmers crops,
you know, Sidney, of the stuff we've seen on social
media would suggest a plague, right and you know, if
they do that, then then farmers will be far more
happy to get to deal with fishing game and everything
should run pretty well from that. But we're just not
(10:54):
seeing that at the moment. We do see it in
some regents, to be fair, but just not in Southward
and so really need to get sorted out because it's
not going to end the world otherwise.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah, it's been the perfect storm for them, really very
good conditions to aid the breeding of ducks. And yeah,
you've got a wonder if that first Saturday in May,
which has been set here and ye're out, might also
need a little bit more flexibility and a bit more
common sense on that.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
I'm a traditionalist.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I love the first Saturday in May, but look in
this instance, if it was the first Saturday in April,
I think a lot of the people trying to plant
crops down there would have been a lot happier Richard
McIntyre out of Federated farmers, thank you so much for
your time today, great azul wings to.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
Catch up anyway, pleasure, Thanks much.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
No worries. It is eighteen after twelve.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
You are with the country, Rowena Duncan And for Jamie McKay,
yes I mentioned he's in Timidoo today. Who's at the
side conference South Island Dairy event earlier this morning. Emma
Twig was the keynote speaker off after the break we
will hear Jamie McKay catch up with Emma Twig here
on the country thncome.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
Mecome Blues.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You Blong yeather cool Dasy.
Speaker 9 (12:21):
Weather.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
The keynote speaker here at Day one of the South
Island Airy Event was none other than five time Olympian
Emma Twig. Emma, you started your talk today about talking
about the synergies between being an athlete and a dairy farmer.
What are they?
Speaker 9 (12:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think the obvious ones are just
how unrelenting dairy farming is and training to be the
best in the world.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
Writing.
Speaker 9 (12:46):
I think, you know, waking up every single morning and
getting up when you don't necessarily want to, and knowing
that it has to be done because it's if no
one else does it, then it's not going to be done.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
So are you Are you a mourning personal like all
these dairy farmers here.
Speaker 9 (13:01):
Yeah, I definitely like my mornings. I'm definitely early to
bed in the evening. Maybe not quite to the same
extent as these guys, but I've got I think there's
just so many, so many things that are unique to
just trying to be better every single day and you know,
doing something that I know these guys obviously love.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Doing Resilience is a word that I reckon today is
way too overused and it's like learnings. It's not a
very I don't favor the word at all, but it
literally sums up your career. Like five Olympic Games, two
fourth places. I think your gold medal at Tokyo in
twenty twenty one, delayed by a year by COVID, was
(13:41):
possibly my favorite medal at those games. We were so
I mean, the country was so pleased for you.
Speaker 9 (13:47):
Yeah, I guess it's one of those stories that you know,
people love to see, I guess a comeback. And I
think people knew my story and knew the heartbreak and
had seen it in Rio, and so to go and
find do what I believe I knew I could do,
but to show everyone else that that was possible as
well was pretty special. And Yeah, there's been a lot
(14:09):
of people that since have said how emotional they were
to see me finally do it, which is a really
nice thing to feel. I guess that you've impacted people positively.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Was a wonderful silver medal to that really good Dutch shrower.
The icing on the cake was it a full stop
or was it not.
Speaker 9 (14:28):
It was certainly the icing on the cake. It was
an Olympic cycle where I just wanted to enjoy having
the monkey off my back. I say that all the
time and I get grief for saying it, but I
think it really was a cycle of enjoyment and with
that I had an amazing result at the end of it,
Carolyn floryan from the Netherlands, ten years my junior. And
(14:49):
to be able to push here like I did in
that final races also something that I'm really proud of.
Of course, as an a type personality and high achiev
you always wanted to win a gold medal, but I
think given you know the age and stage and what
my career has been, it was it was such a
cool regetter. And is it a full stop that remains
to be seen?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Well, we know it's not going to be a full
stop because you're the current open water rowing champion. You
won that on Sunday up at I've forgotten where it was.
I saw it on the Telly so La twenty twenty
eight open water Rowing.
Speaker 9 (15:23):
Yeah, it's a new discipline. I'm certainly looking at it
as an opportunity to help give something back to the
sport and develop a new sport and hopefully get some
some up and comers into it. And the way I
say is that if I'm enjoying it and still doing
well and still able to compete with the best, then I'll,
you know, I'll hang in there, and I'm you know,
(15:43):
I just want to see the best possible for athletes
in LA and if that happens to be me, then
that would be a real privilege. But equally, if there's
others there that are kicking goals, and I think that
would be an absolute one as well.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
I spent Sunday drive back from Queensland. I spent a
wonderful nineteen minutes listening to your podcast with the guys
from Between two Bears. Absolutely fantastic. So they were talking
about or you talked during that podcast about your very
close relationship with the mayor of tol Wronga.
Speaker 9 (16:18):
Yeah, Mahey, He's been a huge part of my career.
I've spent many many kilometers sitting behind him in a
bike and looking at his rear end. But he's just
a guy that I've always admired and his work ethic
and how he kind of approaches his training, and he's
always been a really great sounding board for me. So
I think it's important that you have people like that
(16:38):
that can be role models and can also feel like
that they can kind of impart some of their knowledge
and their experiences, and I hope to be that person
for someone else into the future too.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Well.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
I really enjoyed your address at the South Island Airy
event this morning and I recommend to it, as the
boys from Between Two Bears did as well. If you're
your organizations looking for a very motivational speaker, they wouldn't
do much better than you. Thanks so much for some
of your time today.
Speaker 9 (17:03):
Thanks very much the count.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
It is twenty seven after twelve. You are with the country.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yes, Jamie McKay catching up with Emma Twig at the
South Island Dairy event. We'll hear more from Jamie later
in the hour. Who's going to catch up with Mark Dillon,
Southern farmer who took out the silver plower title at
the New Zealand Plowing Championships up and over the weekend. Gosh,
I am becoming Jamie. Breaking news just a hand. Long
serving Labour MP former Minister David Parker has announced his
(17:32):
intention to leave parliament. I think it's fair to say,
you know, not massively farmer friendly in the past, but
of an interesting history there. David Parker will deliver a
valedictory speech in early May and his final date will
be confirmed once agreed with the Business Committee. So new's
just to hand David Parker stepping down from Parliament. Up next,
(17:53):
we're going to head to the US. Yeah, very interesting
week before New Zealand export is very interesting week for
Americans as well. We're going to talk to Todd Clark,
our US farming correspondent about Trump's tariffs, high US beef prices,
grains struggling, and also wide spread of flooding that is
up next here on the country wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
That far.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
With you, Well, we're heading to the US now for
a quick check in on how farmers are firing over there.
Look between Trump's tariffs, flooding risks along the Mississippi and
a couple of other rivers as well, and a strange
(18:42):
split and commodity prices beats booming, but grains are struggling.
It's a bit of a challenging time for farmers. Joining
me out of Bluegrass Country, Lexington, Kentucky is Todd Clark,
and our farming correspondent, Good afternoon.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
Todd, Good afternoon, How are you very well?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Thank you wonder to be chatting to you. Let's start
with trade, though obviously the big one, Trump's tariffs where
headline news for years. How were U East farmers kind
of feeling about these trade tensions, particularly with China.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
So that's an interesting topic because the farmers understand trade
with China maybe better than the average US citizen, and
so because of that, we feel like that that a
stand needs to be made against against China in particular.
But we're also especially the producers of corn and soybeans
(19:39):
across the US. They're really feeling that at the moment
because their markets were pretty tough this last year and
they were hoping for better days and we're starting to
get those in the last month or so at now
with this latest round of tariffs encounter tariffs by China,
(19:59):
it's driven their prices back down to a point that's
not profitable. But at the end of the day, we
understand that it wasn't sustainable what was going on between
the US and China, and something has to be done
about it.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
So does this now impact on how you might look
to farm in the future, what you might choose to
do with your.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Land, it should, but US farmers are slower to change,
and especially just because of our system and structure is
so different than for example, New Zealand's. I don't feel
like we're mirrors responsive to the queues of the marketplace.
For the most part, if you're a grain farmer, you're
(20:40):
a grain farmer in that's you specialize in that, and
you're very efficient at it and very good. But you
live and die by the markets, and so because of that,
for the most part, there's some variation that goes on,
but it depends on location in the US. But I
would Illinois, Indiana, Ohio kind of northern corn belt states
(21:04):
is what we would call it. They're pretty pretty married
to corn and soybeans, and so it's not as though
they're gonna plant cotton or peanuts or something like that
because they're they're too far north. So it be interesting
to see what happens the as you mentioned earlier, beef
prices or they continue to skyrocket, and so so in
(21:27):
my case, I'm blessed to be a beef farmer and
not a grain farmer. We're doing well at the moment.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
But.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
So far tariffs don't seem to be affecting the beef price,
but the same cannot be said for grain and cotton.
Even cotton is struggling at the moment. Rice is another
crop that's struggling, and most farmers want no tariffs in
(21:56):
free trade, but like I've said multiple times, we have to.
We're also thinking about national security in the effect that
China can have on us, and so because of that,
we're for the most part, we're behind Trump and is tariffs.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, looking at the beef side of things. From New
Zealand's perspective, obviously, the US is out a major trading partner.
It's been creeping up and up and up the last
couple of years, mainly due to the fact that Americans
eat so much beef. It's a massive consumption for you.
So thank you so much, all of you hamburger eating Americans,
(22:34):
because we are, you know, while disappointed obviously to have
tariffs on beef going into America ten percent, were they're saying,
if not better off than some of our trading partners.
Speaker 5 (22:46):
Yeah, listening listening to the country, I've picked up on
that I wasn't aware of exactly what the tariffs were
to New Zealand And but yes, you're correct, we had
a lot of hamburger impetytionar and poultry. Chicken is a
staple of the diet as well. And I'm a little
(23:06):
bit surprised that typically if beef prices spike, pork and
poultry will we'll take part of that shelf space at
the supermarket in the grocery, and currently that's not the case,
and so I'm not sure why that is. People, Thank
goodness for me as a beef farmer. The consumer seems
(23:29):
to be comfortable with the prices currently, but they're astronomical
all the way to the supermarket, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Yeah, and the tras certainly aren't going to do anything
to alleviate that at all. Todd, looking at inputs for
farming at the moment, have they leveled off for you, awey.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Bit Fertilizer prices had come down substantially in the last
six to eight months, and now they're creeping back up
because of the tariffs and some of our fertilizer, not
all of it, but I think potash in particular is
coming out of Canada, and so that's more confusing to
(24:06):
us as Americans. Why we're being so adversarial to to Canada,
although there is a little bit of imbalance with trade
UH to Canada. So I guess that's the mindset is
whether they're on the chopping block when it comes to tariffs.
But the fertilizer prices are coming back up currently they're
(24:26):
not they're not astronomical, but they are creeping back up.
Seed cost had were coming down and UH that was
being driven by the lack of profitability in the grain sector.
But for the most part, the spike of costs coming
out of COVID, those had subsided and so we for
(24:51):
the most part, we were seeing decent profitability across the
board up until the last month or so. The for
the for the Green guys.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, interesting times high massive, massive flooding in Australia. As
we've covered off recently with Chris Russell, our Australian corresponded,
you guys are taking a leaf out of their book.
Four days really of storms leading to a number of
rivers reaching flood levels at the moment.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
From Lexington all the way down the Kentucky to the
Ohio River to the to the Mississippi. There's a huge
area that's just had it. It's almost historical rainfalls over
the past four or five days. Today was the first
day that the sun was out and no rain, and
(25:42):
it's in its springtime, so grass this is just bolting
at the moment. But yes, the Mississippi River is that
flood stage, the Ohio's flood stage, Kentucky is flood stage,
and up and down the Mississippi. They had as much
as ten inches of rain over three to four days,
(26:02):
and so it's coming at a bad time of year two.
This indirectly may help the green prices because it's planning
time and so this is all those soils are saturated
now and it may take as much as a couple
of weeks to with no more rain to get them
dried out to the point that they could get in
(26:23):
the field. So we'll see. It's always something.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, it's always something, indeed, and every day at the moment,
it feels like there's something else that is changing the
very nature of this industry. Look Todd Clark out of Lexington, Kentucky.
Final question for you. Obviously, Donald Trump had a lot
of support to gain the presidency once again, are we
still seeing that support throughout parts of America or are
(26:52):
people starting to realize that actually, this could be quite
challenging now to negotiate agreements with other countries in the world.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
It's been a bit of a rocket up.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Everyone it has been in I think there's a little
less enthusiasm for the president than there was four months ago,
that's for sure. But it sort of depends on I
said this to Jamie several weeks ago. It just depends
on if you were a Democrat or a Republican or independent,
(27:22):
where you landed in the political spectrum as to what
your opinion is. Even Republicans at this point are starting
to soften their enthusiasm for the president. But it's exactly
like you said, it's it's just going to be sort
of a wait and see. Is this is his tactics,
(27:44):
President Trump's tactics? Are they going to work? Are they
not going to work? Because it appears we have these
tactics one way or the other. At this point, we
just have to live through it.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Yeah and day, Todd Clagg.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Always a pleasure to catch up with you, even more
so with the way the world is going at the moments.
I look forward to hearing you catch up with Jamie
again next month.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
But thanks for your time.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
Go well, thanks Rue.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
It is oh my.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Goodness, it is twenty to one. All right, we must
move on. Rural news with Michelle. Next, Sports news with
Andy duff Mark Dylon before the end of the hour,
and how can you can win a five hundred dollars
PGG rights and voucher here on the country. It is
eighteen away from what one you are with the country
time for the langest and rural news.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
I think I might be even reading this one.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
All the country's rural news with lawn Master helping you
muster your lawns for over seventy five years. Visit Steelfort
dot co dot it said for your local stockist.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
Are we getting on there Andy? Have we managed to
get Michelle? Otherwise it will be me no, no, Michelle,
no Michelle?
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Right, okay?
Speaker 2 (28:54):
In tombs are rural news for us today. So we
are weare that has struck the Lower North Island with
ninety kilometers per hour gusts recorded in the capitol. Two
tornadoes leaving a trail of damage in Levin and Waikawa Beach.
Fantastic as Umjuda flying to Wellington this afternoon. Meanwhile, much
of the east coast of the South Island is covered
by strong wind watchers and warnings for the rest of
(29:16):
the day. Metzerba SE's southwest winds may approach severe gales
and expose places of coastal areas of christ Church, Canterbury
Plains and Dunedin and North Otago Savia gale southwesternlygues gusting
one hundred and twenty kilometers per hour could bring trees
and damaged power lines on Banks Peninsula and as we
mentioned earlier, snowing at the moment in naisby Danzies passed
(29:38):
through the many a Toto. Good news for raw hunters
like myself. That is your Rural News's Andy Duff.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
With Sport.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at AFCO dot co
dot Enzed.
Speaker 8 (29:50):
White Caps coach Gary Said has confirmed his decision to
step away from mentoring the white ball formats. He will
decide in the next few weeks whether to reapply for
the test role. And the Breakers club have reportedly made
their first signing under their new ownership. ESPN claims that
they have secured Isaiah Leiafa from the City Kings on
a two year deal.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Row interesting right up next, who won the silver plow
title for the fourth time at the weekend. Mark Dylan
and Jamie McKay here on the country.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Tim somewhere are no longer ago.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
You know, we missed him on yesterday's show, but I've
managed to nail him today. Mark Dylan for the fourth time,
the New Zealand Plowing Championship winner in the conventional section.
They also have a reversible section. Hey Mark, congratulations you're
back on the home farm in Riversdale. Before we talk
(30:41):
about your two trips coming up to Europe, I want
to ask you this. You're a big, big cropping farmer.
You're right next door to my duck pond and Riversdale.
I hope you haven't harvested all those crops yet.
Speaker 7 (30:52):
No, No, they'll be still a bit of bailey there
and flow who would have done? They'll be still a
few ducks floating room with then there's plenty areas.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
At the moment.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Now, how big pest have the ducks been this year
in Southland?
Speaker 7 (31:03):
Oh, he'd be a lot of people have ed window
crops heading off. Touch what We've been all right, but
there's been quite a problem being cropped off.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Do you favor an open shooting season before the traditional
shooting season.
Speaker 7 (31:16):
Yeah, the costy eating your crops and costing your money
would be yeah, all for that.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Well they are a pest after all. Okay, So fourth
time winner of the conventional New Zealand Plowing Championships. The
irony is you're that God. You're heading over to Europe
on two more occasions this year and I think next
year you leave. Do you leave your tractor and plow
over there?
Speaker 7 (31:35):
Yeah, we have done so that the gear is sitting
at the Prague University and Czech Republic wording for us
to go over in August. Will be over there practicing
for the competition in early September.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
So that's this year twenty twenty five. But courtesy of winning.
I don't know how this works, Mark, but courtesy of
winning your fourth New Zealand Plowing Championship, you're off to
Europe again next year twenty twenty six. How does that work?
Speaker 7 (31:58):
So, because we're on the other side of the world,
inship logistics and all that sort of sort of it,
so we call it for I suppose a year and
a bit ahead for the next to following nationals or
international lay.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
So later this year you'll be sharing with sharing, you'll
be plowing should I say with another great plowman, Bob Mertens,
he's in the reversible class. So that's this year who
took out the reversible class at Middle March over the
weekend to join you next year?
Speaker 7 (32:26):
Yeah so me I companner from the North Island. He
won the reversible device this year.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
How difficult was.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
It for you?
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Southland farmer? And I know your farm very very well.
Obviously it's right next door to our old farm, and
I know that it probably is reasonably good plowing conditions
middle March, you know, on the way to Queenstown from
Dunedin on the strath Tiree there can get a bit dry.
They've been a bit dry this season with it plowing
conditions dry than what you were used to.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 7 (32:54):
We played up here in the spring. It was beautiful.
We did is just stuff we sploied up here, was
very draw very hard, a few modifications and needed just
to get the player run where I wanted. But you Saturday,
Bobby wasn't a happyer that the Sunday I came right
and a really good day on Sunday, and forget the
gold medal as well.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
So do you play like a grass paddock as well
as a stubble paddock. How does it work?
Speaker 7 (33:15):
Yeah, one day of stubble which was the Saturday, and
then a one day of grass on the Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Are you paid to go over there or is your
way paid? Because I'm imagining if you were having to
fund this yourself two trips to Europe over the next
two years, that would be quite expensive, let alone shipping
your tractor and your plow over and storing them over there.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (33:35):
I'm really lucky since one back and third any club
they have one plans playing Association has done a lot
of fundraising and pretty lucky had a lot of sponsors
come on board too and all shipping and help out.
And then MGPA contributes to travel costs and thoughts and
accommodation and stuff as well. But yeah, still have to
get into the pocket for a bit.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Do you get to turn left when you jump on
the plane for Europe? Mark up the business class?
Speaker 6 (33:56):
Nah?
Speaker 7 (33:56):
It doesn't quite stritch cept it would be nice O.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Hey listen as a fellow Rivers Daily and I'm very
proud of you. You go well in Europe this year
and next year. Congratulations to you and Malcolm Taylor for
wanting at the New Zealand Plowing Championships over the weekend
in middle March.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Yes, it is five away from one rapping the country
for your Tuesday Now every day this week we've got
a five hundred dollars PGG Rights and voucher to give
away as part of our on the Fence promo. So
we're throwing out a polarizing question and all you need
to do is head online to the country dot co
dot Nz tell us if it's a resounding yes for you,
(34:36):
a hard no, or if you're on the fence. Because
now's a great time to think about fencing. Your fencing
to do list can actually be done for less with
PGG Rights and so head in store or online to
shop the latest deals and enjoy savings on top quality
brands trusted by farmers and fencing professionals, including Speed Rights, Cyclone,
gallaher Stockade, Strain Right and Hayes. Now yesterday's question was
(35:00):
dogs in the cab Yes, no or on the fence.
So taking home the five hundred dollars online voucher from
PGG Rights and congratulations to Emma Hampton from Canterbury. Our
team will be in touch with you Emma and hook
you up with that one hundred, five hundred dollar voucher. Now,
today's question is marmite is superior to veggimite.
Speaker 4 (35:22):
Now you're lucky.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
I'm not choosing the winners because I would automatically disqualify
anyone like my mom or my partner, who would both
answer no to that one. The only answer is yes.
Come on, people, or I'll grant you this. If you're
from overseas, you can answer on the fence anyway, ignore me.
I am not choosing the winners, So keep to the country,
dot co, dot m Z tell us yes, no, or
(35:44):
on the fence marmite is superior to veggimite, which it
absolutely is, and you could be taking home a five
hundred dollar PGG rights and a voucher. We will announce
another winner on tomorrow's show. Now, also on tomorrow's show,
Prime Minister christ the Luxeen joining me. Obviously Tariff's very
much on the menu for that chairs and also chatting
(36:06):
to Rebecca Wilson and now she's a UK farming influencer.
She's right up there alongside Caleb of Clarkson's Farm. Apparently
they've been like on par in terms of the influencer space,
not something I know much about, but really looking forward
to chatting to her on tomorrow's show. Will be bringing
it to you out of Wellington if my plane lands.
(36:27):
Take care everyone, A.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Zarnie catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie McGue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist
in John Deere machinery.
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to friends, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hoodie, I was gotten gone now my mind Dad is
dropped another game a time, Carter Tick.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Speeding down sixty.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
Five nowhere I'm going.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yes, I really went and missed it up again. Now
I'm a baby's goner than the torsa win.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
Judging by the stall sober state. I'm in need to
crack one wide open.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Somebody pull me and track.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Somebody welcome af to there, and everyone welcome in to
the country. My name is Rowena Duncan in the hot
seat for Jamie McKay, was wondering what that song was
gonna be music today courtesy of Angie Duff pushing the
show out of ount Auckland's goes through the window from me.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
But when we got to the chorus, I was like,
I've heard this song before.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I still can't tell you who sings it, but no,
definitely familiar with it.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Right What a day and day.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Just been chatting to some of my friends down in
the manni are Toto snowing down there out the back
of Maysby Danzy's pass as well. Really looking forward to
that one heading down there next week. Of course, a
bit of a raw hunt going on over Easter weekend
at Anzac weekend. Apparently the domestic stags have been rowing
(01:33):
for about a week now. With this cold weather coming through,
hopefully the wild ones will kick off.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
And I'll be heading it at exactly the right time.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
A fantastic anyway, enough about me, I'm turning into Jamie
McKay and digressing, waiting patiently on hold. We have Richard
McIntyre from Federated Farmers. They have got green Peace in
their sights, calling on the government to immediately strip them
off their charitable status.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
More on that very shortly.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Jamie mc kai is at side to the South Island
Dairy event. He caught up with Emma Twigg just moments ago.
She was this morning's keynote speaker at side, so looking
forward to hearing from the end.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
We're going to head to the US as well.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Todd Clark as our UIs farming correspondent out of Lexington, Kentucky,
who's going to join me to discuss the impact of
Trump's tariff's high US beef prices while grains are really
struggling and also widespread flooding, particularly in his state. We've
got Michelle and Dunedin with the latest and rural news.
Andy Duff will bring you sports news. Mark Dylan Jamie
(02:36):
mistem Us today is the Southland farmer who took out
the silver plow title at the New Zealand Plowing Championships
for a fourth time on Sunday. In middle March, he'll
once again represent New Zealand on the world stage Croasha
twenty twenty six. We will hear from him before the
end of the hour and every day this week we've
got a five hundred dollars PGG rights and voucher to
(02:58):
give away as part of our on the Fence promo.
Will tell you who yesterday's winner is and give you
a chance to win before the end of the hour.
But Federated Farming is calling on the government to strip
Green Peace of its charitable status, arguing that their political
activism goes beyond what constitutes a charity. To unpack this,
(03:19):
I'm joined now by Federated Farmer's board member Richard McIntyre,
also their dairy cheer. Richard, thanks so much for being
with us.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Good afternoon, Hey, good afternoon Row.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Now what's the main reason Federated Farmers believes Greenpeace should
no longer have charitable status.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
Right, So it's really clear that in order to be
a charity you cannot have as your primary purpose political
advocacy and you also have to operate within the law.
And so we believe the green Peace fails both counsel this.
You know, they basically all they do is political advocacy
or in fact, i'd more court activism. But in the
activism they break the law. And this is actually why
(04:01):
they got deregistered initially back in two thousand and eight,
but then unfortunately they got reregistered in twenty twenty after
taking it to court, and effectively we're told that they
need to be really careful because if they continue this
illegal activity, they may be deregistered again. So we think
they're passed that test in terms of ongoing illegal activity
disrupting legitimate businesses, and we need them to be stripped
(04:25):
of their charitable status. It's really just not fair for
the taxpayers to be funding this sort of illegal activity
and activism.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And the incident recently a New Plymouth where people were
put under danger they were accessing areas that were not
accessible to them. There's a very legitimate health and safety
concern here. As you mentioned, that wasn't a one off, Richard.
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Look, there are countless, countless incidents over the years of
them doing these things. You know, they try and call
a peaceful protest, but what they're doing is illegal. You know,
Certay of the people that are impacted by don't consider
it to be peaceful. Like you say. They take over facilities,
they get into spaces that they're not supposed to be,
and they disrupt everything. If you talk to any of
the farmers that have been holding out for that stock
(05:10):
feed to come to them in order to continue to
feed their stock given the drought that they've been going through,
you know, it's just immensely disruptive and there's actually a
welfare issue as well, one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I know having found in Taranaki myself and being in
that position in a drought where no matter what you did,
there was no grass and you desperately needed something like
palm kernel. This was back in twenty twelve, twenty thirteen.
That season, you know, the demand far exceeded anything that
could land in that port because there was no other
(05:40):
option available. Look do you see this as a broader
issue with advocacy groups in the charity system, Richard, or
is this specifically about Green Peaks.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Look, there's a border issue where we do need to
make sure that being a cheat, that if you're going
to be a charity, you're doing genuine charitable work, you know,
which is quite quite clearly defined, and whereas it seems
to have become a little bit loose and some of
these other groups have crept into this charitable status, which
you know, I think makes a nonsense of this purpose
and an all reality as a taxpayer that effectively has
(06:12):
to has to subsidize these you know, it doesn't fit
with what should be happening here.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Playing devil's advocate here, we're a very balanced so here
on the country. Is this simply an attempt to silence
environmental voices?
Speaker 6 (06:26):
Ritched, No, not at all. I actually enjoy there being
environmental horses.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
We've always got to have that balanced point of view.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
But you know, worried you are. The line here is
when we've got organizations that disrupting legitimate businesses and injury
into illegal activity, it just it makes no sense for us,
like I say, to be subsidizing as taxpayers, an organization
that you know that the protests or you know, during
the normal course of work effectively by committing illegal activity.
(06:55):
So we're paying, we're subsidizing them in that respect, and
then we're actually having to pay for the police to
come in our remove them, which is ridiculous. You know,
the police are understaffed as it is, They've got other
things to you know, the general tax paying public would
love to have the police actually out there're solving crime
rather than removing Greenpeace protesters from these feed facilities and
the likes.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Hey has Federated Farmers made a formal complaint.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
We have. We've made a formal complaint to the charity
services asking them to investigate Greenpeace and stripped them all
of the charitable status, and we've listed all the various
things that they've done over the last few years, you know,
in terms of the illegal occupations, et cetera. And yet
we are hoping that this will invest be investigator thoroughly
and they will make the right decision and remove their
(07:38):
charitable status. We're leaving charitable statuses for those that are
running legitimateturities.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Well, I look forward to finding out the outcome and
how you go with this one, Richard. I bumped into
you and you Plymouth on Thursday night at once again.
It was great to be back in the old stomping
ground there to m see the Tadanaki Balance Farm Environment Award.
You were there in your capacity as a dairyan Z
board member making a presentation. But what a wonderful evening
(08:06):
that was, celebrating farmers who are managing to do the
right thing by the environment and their farm and really
excel as a shining light for those around them.
Speaker 6 (08:17):
Well, look, grow I always love those events, you know,
when you get a whole od of lock minded farmers
together and they just talk about all the various things
that they're doing to improve the environments, you know, and
everyone comes away buzzing in and those that get acknowledged,
you know, just so richly deserve it. It was an awesome
evening and it's one of those things that you can
always attend and just come away feeling absolutely up with.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
I love that because you know everyone's doing their thing
for the environment as well and to farm sustainably. But
it's often going to things like that that you can
pick up on other things that aren't as widely known
that might be applicable to your organization. You can get
motivation and you can take ideas, and that's something this
industry does do well, is share within each other, in
(08:59):
support each other.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Oh, that's exactly right. It's actually something that we have.
So that sets us apart from the rest of the
world and so many other industries is that we were
in competition, but we're not. We're so happy to share
our ideas and help you help others get better. And yeah,
it's just such an awesome thing to be part of.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
You're also a Manoto dairy farmer and your own right.
How are things looking at your plagues?
Speaker 6 (09:26):
We're starting to get a little bit greater, but we
still don't have very much grass at all.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
You know.
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Luckily, the salt temp is still pretty high and that
we've had a reasonably consistent rain over the last couple
of weeks, so you know, we've got some green shoots
there row and I think we're going to wind up
heading into winter in a reasonable space, but there's still
a huge amount of feeding out going.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
On at the moment.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
You and I both share a love of duck shooting.
We are coming up to opening weekend, but I am
really concerned, Richard about some of the scenes I've seen
down in South and paddocks absolutely black. The number of
ducks pretty much unheard of in places down there. Farmers
going into the paddock where the tractor and the duck's
(10:06):
not even really moving much. I've got a real issue
down there.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
They do.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
It's an insane number of ducks, you know. And unfortunately
duck shooting seasons not for another month and so is it.
So there's not much that can be done about it,
you know, at the moment. But what we've really been
encouraging fishing game to do is actually to work really
constructively with these farmers. You know, yes they yes, they
have a role in terms of maintaining duck numbers, you know,
(10:32):
for duck shooting and that, but they really need to
step in and step in fast when ducks do reach
high numbers that are having play packs on farmers crops,
you know, Sidney, of the stuff we've seen on social
media would suggest a plague, right and you know, if
they do that, then then farmers will be far more
happy to get to deal with fishing game and everything
should run pretty well from that. But we're just not
(10:54):
seeing that at the moment. We do see it in
some regents, to be fair, but just not in Southward
and so really need to get sorted out because it's
not going to end the world otherwise.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah, it's been the perfect storm for them, really very
good conditions to aid the breeding of ducks. And yeah,
you've got a wonder if that first Saturday in May,
which has been set here and ye're out, might also
need a little bit more flexibility and a bit more
common sense on that.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
I'm a traditionalist.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I love the first Saturday in May, but look in
this instance, if it was the first Saturday in April,
I think a lot of the people trying to plant
crops down there would have been a lot happier Richard
McIntyre out of Federated farmers, thank you so much for
your time today, great azul wings to.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
Catch up anyway, pleasure, Thanks much.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
No worries. It is eighteen after twelve.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
You are with the country, Rowena Duncan And for Jamie McKay,
yes I mentioned he's in Timidoo today. Who's at the
side conference South Island Dairy event earlier this morning. Emma
Twig was the keynote speaker off after the break we
will hear Jamie McKay catch up with Emma Twig here
on the country thncome.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
Mecome Blues.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You Blong yeather cool Dasy.
Speaker 9 (12:21):
Weather.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
The keynote speaker here at Day one of the South
Island Airy Event was none other than five time Olympian
Emma Twig. Emma, you started your talk today about talking
about the synergies between being an athlete and a dairy farmer.
What are they?
Speaker 9 (12:39):
Yeah, I mean, I think the obvious ones are just
how unrelenting dairy farming is and training to be the
best in the world.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
Writing.
Speaker 9 (12:46):
I think, you know, waking up every single morning and
getting up when you don't necessarily want to, and knowing
that it has to be done because it's if no
one else does it, then it's not going to be done.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
So are you Are you a mourning personal like all
these dairy farmers here.
Speaker 9 (13:01):
Yeah, I definitely like my mornings. I'm definitely early to
bed in the evening. Maybe not quite to the same
extent as these guys, but I've got I think there's
just so many, so many things that are unique to
just trying to be better every single day and you know,
doing something that I know these guys obviously love.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Doing Resilience is a word that I reckon today is
way too overused and it's like learnings. It's not a
very I don't favor the word at all, but it
literally sums up your career. Like five Olympic Games, two
fourth places. I think your gold medal at Tokyo in
twenty twenty one, delayed by a year by COVID, was
(13:41):
possibly my favorite medal at those games. We were so
I mean, the country was so pleased for you.
Speaker 9 (13:47):
Yeah, I guess it's one of those stories that you know,
people love to see, I guess a comeback. And I
think people knew my story and knew the heartbreak and
had seen it in Rio, and so to go and
find do what I believe I knew I could do,
but to show everyone else that that was possible as
well was pretty special. And Yeah, there's been a lot
(14:09):
of people that since have said how emotional they were
to see me finally do it, which is a really
nice thing to feel. I guess that you've impacted people positively.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Was a wonderful silver medal to that really good Dutch shrower.
The icing on the cake was it a full stop
or was it not.
Speaker 9 (14:28):
It was certainly the icing on the cake. It was
an Olympic cycle where I just wanted to enjoy having
the monkey off my back. I say that all the
time and I get grief for saying it, but I
think it really was a cycle of enjoyment and with
that I had an amazing result at the end of it,
Carolyn floryan from the Netherlands, ten years my junior. And
(14:49):
to be able to push here like I did in
that final races also something that I'm really proud of.
Of course, as an a type personality and high achiev
you always wanted to win a gold medal, but I
think given you know the age and stage and what
my career has been, it was it was such a
cool regetter. And is it a full stop that remains
to be seen?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Well, we know it's not going to be a full
stop because you're the current open water rowing champion. You
won that on Sunday up at I've forgotten where it was.
I saw it on the Telly so La twenty twenty
eight open water Rowing.
Speaker 9 (15:23):
Yeah, it's a new discipline. I'm certainly looking at it
as an opportunity to help give something back to the
sport and develop a new sport and hopefully get some
some up and comers into it. And the way I
say is that if I'm enjoying it and still doing
well and still able to compete with the best, then I'll,
you know, I'll hang in there, and I'm you know,
(15:43):
I just want to see the best possible for athletes
in LA and if that happens to be me, then
that would be a real privilege. But equally, if there's
others there that are kicking goals, and I think that
would be an absolute one as well.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
I spent Sunday drive back from Queensland. I spent a
wonderful nineteen minutes listening to your podcast with the guys
from Between two Bears. Absolutely fantastic. So they were talking
about or you talked during that podcast about your very
close relationship with the mayor of tol Wronga.
Speaker 9 (16:18):
Yeah, Mahey, He's been a huge part of my career.
I've spent many many kilometers sitting behind him in a
bike and looking at his rear end. But he's just
a guy that I've always admired and his work ethic
and how he kind of approaches his training, and he's
always been a really great sounding board for me. So
I think it's important that you have people like that
(16:38):
that can be role models and can also feel like
that they can kind of impart some of their knowledge
and their experiences, and I hope to be that person
for someone else into the future too.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Well.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
I really enjoyed your address at the South Island Airy
event this morning and I recommend to it, as the
boys from Between Two Bears did as well. If you're
your organizations looking for a very motivational speaker, they wouldn't
do much better than you. Thanks so much for some
of your time today.
Speaker 9 (17:03):
Thanks very much the count.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
It is twenty seven after twelve. You are with the country.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yes, Jamie McKay catching up with Emma Twig at the
South Island Dairy event. We'll hear more from Jamie later
in the hour. Who's going to catch up with Mark Dillon,
Southern farmer who took out the silver plower title at
the New Zealand Plowing Championships up and over the weekend. Gosh,
I am becoming Jamie. Breaking news just a hand. Long
serving Labour MP former Minister David Parker has announced his
(17:32):
intention to leave parliament. I think it's fair to say,
you know, not massively farmer friendly in the past, but
of an interesting history there. David Parker will deliver a
valedictory speech in early May and his final date will
be confirmed once agreed with the Business Committee. So new's
just to hand David Parker stepping down from Parliament. Up next,
(17:53):
we're going to head to the US. Yeah, very interesting
week before New Zealand export is very interesting week for
Americans as well. We're going to talk to Todd Clark,
our US farming correspondent about Trump's tariffs, high US beef prices,
grains struggling, and also wide spread of flooding that is
up next here on the country wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
That far.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
With you, Well, we're heading to the US now for
a quick check in on how farmers are firing over there.
Look between Trump's tariffs, flooding risks along the Mississippi and
a couple of other rivers as well, and a strange
(18:42):
split and commodity prices beats booming, but grains are struggling.
It's a bit of a challenging time for farmers. Joining
me out of Bluegrass Country, Lexington, Kentucky is Todd Clark,
and our farming correspondent, Good afternoon.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
Todd, Good afternoon, How are you very well?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Thank you wonder to be chatting to you. Let's start
with trade, though obviously the big one, Trump's tariffs where
headline news for years. How were U East farmers kind
of feeling about these trade tensions, particularly with China.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
So that's an interesting topic because the farmers understand trade
with China maybe better than the average US citizen, and
so because of that, we feel like that that a
stand needs to be made against against China in particular.
But we're also especially the producers of corn and soybeans
(19:39):
across the US. They're really feeling that at the moment
because their markets were pretty tough this last year and
they were hoping for better days and we're starting to
get those in the last month or so at now
with this latest round of tariffs encounter tariffs by China,
(19:59):
it's driven their prices back down to a point that's
not profitable. But at the end of the day, we
understand that it wasn't sustainable what was going on between
the US and China, and something has to be done
about it.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
So does this now impact on how you might look
to farm in the future, what you might choose to
do with your.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Land, it should, but US farmers are slower to change,
and especially just because of our system and structure is
so different than for example, New Zealand's. I don't feel
like we're mirrors responsive to the queues of the marketplace.
For the most part, if you're a grain farmer, you're
(20:40):
a grain farmer in that's you specialize in that, and
you're very efficient at it and very good. But you
live and die by the markets, and so because of that,
for the most part, there's some variation that goes on,
but it depends on location in the US. But I
would Illinois, Indiana, Ohio kind of northern corn belt states
(21:04):
is what we would call it. They're pretty pretty married
to corn and soybeans, and so it's not as though
they're gonna plant cotton or peanuts or something like that
because they're they're too far north. So it be interesting
to see what happens the as you mentioned earlier, beef
prices or they continue to skyrocket, and so so in
(21:27):
my case, I'm blessed to be a beef farmer and
not a grain farmer. We're doing well at the moment.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
But.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
So far tariffs don't seem to be affecting the beef price,
but the same cannot be said for grain and cotton.
Even cotton is struggling at the moment. Rice is another
crop that's struggling, and most farmers want no tariffs in
(21:56):
free trade, but like I've said multiple times, we have to.
We're also thinking about national security in the effect that
China can have on us, and so because of that,
we're for the most part, we're behind Trump and is tariffs.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, looking at the beef side of things. From New
Zealand's perspective, obviously, the US is out a major trading partner.
It's been creeping up and up and up the last
couple of years, mainly due to the fact that Americans
eat so much beef. It's a massive consumption for you.
So thank you so much, all of you hamburger eating Americans,
(22:34):
because we are, you know, while disappointed obviously to have
tariffs on beef going into America ten percent, were they're saying,
if not better off than some of our trading partners.
Speaker 5 (22:46):
Yeah, listening listening to the country, I've picked up on
that I wasn't aware of exactly what the tariffs were
to New Zealand And but yes, you're correct, we had
a lot of hamburger impetytionar and poultry. Chicken is a
staple of the diet as well. And I'm a little
(23:06):
bit surprised that typically if beef prices spike, pork and
poultry will we'll take part of that shelf space at
the supermarket in the grocery, and currently that's not the case,
and so I'm not sure why that is. People, Thank
goodness for me as a beef farmer. The consumer seems
(23:29):
to be comfortable with the prices currently, but they're astronomical
all the way to the supermarket, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Yeah, and the tras certainly aren't going to do anything
to alleviate that at all. Todd, looking at inputs for
farming at the moment, have they leveled off for you, awey.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Bit Fertilizer prices had come down substantially in the last
six to eight months, and now they're creeping back up
because of the tariffs and some of our fertilizer, not
all of it, but I think potash in particular is
coming out of Canada, and so that's more confusing to
(24:06):
us as Americans. Why we're being so adversarial to to Canada,
although there is a little bit of imbalance with trade
UH to Canada. So I guess that's the mindset is
whether they're on the chopping block when it comes to tariffs.
But the fertilizer prices are coming back up currently they're
(24:26):
not they're not astronomical, but they are creeping back up.
Seed cost had were coming down and UH that was
being driven by the lack of profitability in the grain sector.
But for the most part, the spike of costs coming
out of COVID, those had subsided and so we for
(24:51):
the most part, we were seeing decent profitability across the
board up until the last month or so. The for
the for the Green guys.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, interesting times high massive, massive flooding in Australia. As
we've covered off recently with Chris Russell, our Australian corresponded,
you guys are taking a leaf out of their book.
Four days really of storms leading to a number of
rivers reaching flood levels at the moment.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
From Lexington all the way down the Kentucky to the
Ohio River to the to the Mississippi. There's a huge
area that's just had it. It's almost historical rainfalls over
the past four or five days. Today was the first
day that the sun was out and no rain, and
(25:42):
it's in its springtime, so grass this is just bolting
at the moment. But yes, the Mississippi River is that
flood stage, the Ohio's flood stage, Kentucky is flood stage,
and up and down the Mississippi. They had as much
as ten inches of rain over three to four days,
(26:02):
and so it's coming at a bad time of year two.
This indirectly may help the green prices because it's planning
time and so this is all those soils are saturated
now and it may take as much as a couple
of weeks to with no more rain to get them
dried out to the point that they could get in
(26:23):
the field. So we'll see. It's always something.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, it's always something, indeed, and every day at the moment,
it feels like there's something else that is changing the
very nature of this industry. Look Todd Clark out of Lexington, Kentucky.
Final question for you. Obviously, Donald Trump had a lot
of support to gain the presidency once again, are we
still seeing that support throughout parts of America or are
(26:52):
people starting to realize that actually, this could be quite
challenging now to negotiate agreements with other countries in the world.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
It's been a bit of a rocket up.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Everyone it has been in I think there's a little
less enthusiasm for the president than there was four months ago,
that's for sure. But it sort of depends on I
said this to Jamie several weeks ago. It just depends
on if you were a Democrat or a Republican or independent,
(27:22):
where you landed in the political spectrum as to what
your opinion is. Even Republicans at this point are starting
to soften their enthusiasm for the president. But it's exactly
like you said, it's it's just going to be sort
of a wait and see. Is this is his tactics,
(27:44):
President Trump's tactics? Are they going to work? Are they
not going to work? Because it appears we have these
tactics one way or the other. At this point, we
just have to live through it.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Yeah and day, Todd Clagg.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Always a pleasure to catch up with you, even more
so with the way the world is going at the moments.
I look forward to hearing you catch up with Jamie
again next month.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
But thanks for your time.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
Go well, thanks Rue.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
It is oh my.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Goodness, it is twenty to one. All right, we must
move on. Rural news with Michelle. Next, Sports news with
Andy duff Mark Dylon before the end of the hour,
and how can you can win a five hundred dollars
PGG rights and voucher here on the country. It is
eighteen away from what one you are with the country
time for the langest and rural news.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
I think I might be even reading this one.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
All the country's rural news with lawn Master helping you
muster your lawns for over seventy five years. Visit Steelfort
dot co dot it said for your local stockist.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
Are we getting on there Andy? Have we managed to
get Michelle? Otherwise it will be me no, no, Michelle,
no Michelle?
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Right, okay?
Speaker 2 (28:54):
In tombs are rural news for us today. So we
are weare that has struck the Lower North Island with
ninety kilometers per hour gusts recorded in the capitol. Two
tornadoes leaving a trail of damage in Levin and Waikawa Beach.
Fantastic as Umjuda flying to Wellington this afternoon. Meanwhile, much
of the east coast of the South Island is covered
by strong wind watchers and warnings for the rest of
(29:16):
the day. Metzerba SE's southwest winds may approach severe gales
and expose places of coastal areas of christ Church, Canterbury
Plains and Dunedin and North Otago Savia gale southwesternlygues gusting
one hundred and twenty kilometers per hour could bring trees
and damaged power lines on Banks Peninsula and as we
mentioned earlier, snowing at the moment in naisby Danzies passed
(29:38):
through the many a Toto. Good news for raw hunters
like myself. That is your Rural News's Andy Duff.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
With Sport.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at AFCO dot co
dot Enzed.
Speaker 8 (29:50):
White Caps coach Gary Said has confirmed his decision to
step away from mentoring the white ball formats. He will
decide in the next few weeks whether to reapply for
the test role. And the Breakers club have reportedly made
their first signing under their new ownership. ESPN claims that
they have secured Isaiah Leiafa from the City Kings on
a two year deal.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Row interesting right up next, who won the silver plow
title for the fourth time at the weekend. Mark Dylan
and Jamie McKay here on the country.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Tim somewhere are no longer ago.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
You know, we missed him on yesterday's show, but I've
managed to nail him today. Mark Dylan for the fourth time,
the New Zealand Plowing Championship winner in the conventional section.
They also have a reversible section. Hey Mark, congratulations you're
back on the home farm in Riversdale. Before we talk
(30:41):
about your two trips coming up to Europe, I want
to ask you this. You're a big, big cropping farmer.
You're right next door to my duck pond and Riversdale.
I hope you haven't harvested all those crops yet.
Speaker 7 (30:52):
No, No, they'll be still a bit of bailey there
and flow who would have done? They'll be still a
few ducks floating room with then there's plenty areas.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
At the moment.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Now, how big pest have the ducks been this year
in Southland?
Speaker 7 (31:03):
Oh, he'd be a lot of people have ed window
crops heading off. Touch what We've been all right, but
there's been quite a problem being cropped off.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Do you favor an open shooting season before the traditional
shooting season.
Speaker 7 (31:16):
Yeah, the costy eating your crops and costing your money
would be yeah, all for that.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Well they are a pest after all. Okay, So fourth
time winner of the conventional New Zealand Plowing Championships. The
irony is you're that God. You're heading over to Europe
on two more occasions this year and I think next
year you leave. Do you leave your tractor and plow
over there?
Speaker 7 (31:35):
Yeah, we have done so that the gear is sitting
at the Prague University and Czech Republic wording for us
to go over in August. Will be over there practicing
for the competition in early September.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
So that's this year twenty twenty five. But courtesy of winning.
I don't know how this works, Mark, but courtesy of
winning your fourth New Zealand Plowing Championship, you're off to
Europe again next year twenty twenty six. How does that work?
Speaker 7 (31:58):
So, because we're on the other side of the world,
inship logistics and all that sort of sort of it,
so we call it for I suppose a year and
a bit ahead for the next to following nationals or
international lay.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
So later this year you'll be sharing with sharing, you'll
be plowing should I say with another great plowman, Bob Mertens,
he's in the reversible class. So that's this year who
took out the reversible class at Middle March over the
weekend to join you next year?
Speaker 7 (32:26):
Yeah so me I companner from the North Island. He
won the reversible device this year.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
How difficult was.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
It for you?
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Southland farmer? And I know your farm very very well.
Obviously it's right next door to our old farm, and
I know that it probably is reasonably good plowing conditions
middle March, you know, on the way to Queenstown from
Dunedin on the strath Tiree there can get a bit dry.
They've been a bit dry this season with it plowing
conditions dry than what you were used to.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 7 (32:54):
We played up here in the spring. It was beautiful.
We did is just stuff we sploied up here, was
very draw very hard, a few modifications and needed just
to get the player run where I wanted. But you Saturday,
Bobby wasn't a happyer that the Sunday I came right
and a really good day on Sunday, and forget the
gold medal as well.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
So do you play like a grass paddock as well
as a stubble paddock. How does it work?
Speaker 7 (33:15):
Yeah, one day of stubble which was the Saturday, and
then a one day of grass on the Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Are you paid to go over there or is your
way paid? Because I'm imagining if you were having to
fund this yourself two trips to Europe over the next
two years, that would be quite expensive, let alone shipping
your tractor and your plow over and storing them over there.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (33:35):
I'm really lucky since one back and third any club
they have one plans playing Association has done a lot
of fundraising and pretty lucky had a lot of sponsors
come on board too and all shipping and help out.
And then MGPA contributes to travel costs and thoughts and
accommodation and stuff as well. But yeah, still have to
get into the pocket for a bit.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Do you get to turn left when you jump on
the plane for Europe? Mark up the business class?
Speaker 6 (33:56):
Nah?
Speaker 7 (33:56):
It doesn't quite stritch cept it would be nice O.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Hey listen as a fellow Rivers Daily and I'm very
proud of you. You go well in Europe this year
and next year. Congratulations to you and Malcolm Taylor for
wanting at the New Zealand Plowing Championships over the weekend
in middle March.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Yes, it is five away from one rapping the country
for your Tuesday Now every day this week we've got
a five hundred dollars PGG Rights and voucher to give
away as part of our on the Fence promo. So
we're throwing out a polarizing question and all you need
to do is head online to the country dot co
dot Nz tell us if it's a resounding yes for you,
(34:36):
a hard no, or if you're on the fence. Because
now's a great time to think about fencing. Your fencing
to do list can actually be done for less with
PGG Rights and so head in store or online to
shop the latest deals and enjoy savings on top quality
brands trusted by farmers and fencing professionals, including Speed Rights, Cyclone,
gallaher Stockade, Strain Right and Hayes. Now yesterday's question was
(35:00):
dogs in the cab Yes, no or on the fence.
So taking home the five hundred dollars online voucher from
PGG Rights and congratulations to Emma Hampton from Canterbury. Our
team will be in touch with you Emma and hook
you up with that one hundred, five hundred dollar voucher. Now,
today's question is marmite is superior to veggimite.
Speaker 4 (35:22):
Now you're lucky.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
I'm not choosing the winners because I would automatically disqualify
anyone like my mom or my partner, who would both
answer no to that one. The only answer is yes.
Come on, people, or I'll grant you this. If you're
from overseas, you can answer on the fence anyway, ignore me.
I am not choosing the winners, So keep to the country,
dot co, dot m Z tell us yes, no, or
(35:44):
on the fence marmite is superior to veggimite, which it
absolutely is, and you could be taking home a five
hundred dollar PGG rights and a voucher. We will announce
another winner on tomorrow's show. Now, also on tomorrow's show,
Prime Minister christ the Luxeen joining me. Obviously Tariff's very
much on the menu for that chairs and also chatting
(36:06):
to Rebecca Wilson and now she's a UK farming influencer.
She's right up there alongside Caleb of Clarkson's Farm. Apparently
they've been like on par in terms of the influencer space,
not something I know much about, but really looking forward
to chatting to her on tomorrow's show. Will be bringing
it to you out of Wellington if my plane lands.
(36:27):
Take care everyone, A.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Zarnie catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie McGue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist
in John Deere machinery.
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