December 8, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Mike Petersen, Richard Dawkins, Todd Charteris, Farmer Tom Martin, and Jo Luxton.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckue. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Dre Machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
As New York sunset is the bee up abound, an
empty garden man the flagstonesday. He must have been a gardener.
The cadler weeded out the tears and grew a good grab.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Now that all looks street.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
It's funny how.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
Stead. Good afternoon, New Zealand. Welcome to the Country. The
show is brought to you by Brent. I'm Jamie mackay.
This is Elton j and his song is tribute song
to John Lennon who was assassinator on this day in
(01:10):
nineteen eighty New Zealand time. Of course, what's that forty
five years ago? I remember it well. I was learning
to plow when I heard it. There you go, that
was back in the good old farming days. I'm going
to talk to a proper farmer, or is he? I'll
ask him. Mike Petterson's going to kick off the show.
Hawk's Bay Farmer, former Special ag Trade Envoy and chair
(01:32):
of Beef and Lamb New Zealand. We're going to have
a look at the big dry and are they making
any progress in hawks Bay with that Tookie Tookie dam
Richard Dawkins is on another farmer he's federated Farmer's Meat
and Wool chair that they've bought a big billboard or
hired a big billboard in central Wellington just down from
(01:55):
the beehive, and they've got their twelve pets of Christmas.
Apparently there's no politicians on the land. Todd Charter has
missed him yesterday. We'll get him today, Chief executive of Rabobank,
on that latest farmer confidence survey. A couple of hours
ago I caught up with farmer Tom Martin, a UK
farming correspondent. One of the worst grain harvests on record.
(02:15):
Apparently three of the worse five harvests on record have
happened since twenty twenty and Joe Luxton, Labour's AG spokesperson
of the year. I wonder who her AG person of
the Year is. But let's kick off proceedings with said
hawks Bow Farmers former Special hag Trade end for he
former Chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand, Mike Patterson.
(02:36):
Forty five years ago today in New Zealand time, do
you remember where you were and what you were doing
when you heard about John Lennon.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
Good A, Jamie, and it's great to be here with you,
just on the lead up to Christmas. I don't remember
the exact woolshed, but I was in a crutching and
hate charting gang operating out of Elsthorpe and Central Hawk's Bay.
So I would have been well and truly earning some
heart money, very hard in money before I head it
back to school.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
Talk to me about hawk Spay at the moment we
see some of the dams are running low. I mean,
you guys are traditionally summer dry. It's nothing new, but
has this come earlier than expected?
Speaker 6 (03:16):
I think the key thing this year, Jamie, is it
was a very dry winter, and so we're looking at
a number of farmers in the region here that are
sitting on only fifty percent of there and your rainfall
with a few weeks to run to the end of
the year. So you know, for people in the wider
region of New Zealand, I mean, that's somewhere between four
hundred and fifty or five hundred meals of rain a year,
(03:38):
and so it just means that it's getting hard. Underneath.
We've had little bits of rain to keep things fresh.
But things are looking pretty tough at the moment, but
again not unusual for Hawks Bay. It's it's that type
of reason, that type of province.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Are you still under a heat warning? I think yesterday
you got to what thirty two to thirty four degrees?
Does it quends cool down?
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Yep, three degrees yesterday. We've got a week of probably
temperatures in the thirties by the look of it, and
we've had some really hot weather up until now. The
whole of the region Hawks Bays on water restrictions, so
that gives you an idea of just how desperate it's becoming.
And we are clearly a region that needs to think
forward about what we do about water security. And as
(04:20):
you know, one of the things I'm championing is water
story just part of that solution, and it can't come
soon enough.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
How are you getting on with that Toki TV dam.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
It's making progress, Jamie, But these projects take a long time.
There's a lot of planning desperately keen to see the
RIMA reforms come through, because you know, planning and RIMA
has been a messive doorstop to these projects going ahead.
And look it's making good, solid progress. We're confident we're
(04:50):
going to have a viable project at the end of
the day. But you know, it's tough to get these
things off the ground and it takes a lot of
hard work and you've got to be quite bloody minded
about it too, So we'll give you their best shot.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
As the Prince of the province is backing you one
hundred percent.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
Martoa Shane Martur Shane has been one hundred percent behind
us in this project that took you took your water
security project. In fact, I was texting him yesterday trying
to just to see what he's up to for the
rest of the year. You know, we always need support
from central government and local body politicians to get these
things off the ground, and we're working very closely with
(05:24):
Manafenora to make sure that we understand and remediate their
concerns as well. So you've got to really bring the
whole province with you on these projects, Jamie. You can't
just do it for a few irrigators, which has been
the approach it's been in the past.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
You've spent a lot of you well, quite a bit
of your work in Korea in the trade space through
wearing various hats. Mike Petterson, how big a deal will
this free trade agreement be with India if we can
get it?
Speaker 6 (05:52):
Well, Look, this is going to be really significant, Jamie.
The Indian opportunity for New Zealand is a really big one.
That's big in horderic culture, it's big in livestock, particularly
sheeap obviously, and it's big I think for the relationship
between the two countries and being able to grow business
and people to people connections. So look, hats off to
(06:13):
Tom McLay. He must have traveled in India and back
more often than most other people in New Zealand at
the moment. And I'm confident that come early next year
we'll see something signed and sealed that will be quite meaningful.
It will always start quite low, but we'll build over
time and with the confidence we get with each other,
this will turn into a big deal for New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
I was reading on our n ZID red radio news
this morning. To be fair, they do good rural news.
IKEA's Hawk's Bay Pine Tree expansion flames fares. Residents will
have to pay the bill and this is for wildfires. Mike,
you are a bit of a carbon farmer or am
I being unkind?
Speaker 6 (06:54):
No, you're being unkind, Jamie. Look, look, I think that
you know there are concerns about just the amount of
productive farm lands been planted in pine trees. And look,
the business I'm involved with, we don't do that. So
I can certainly take my head off there, and I'm
okay to argue for our business. But look, it is
confronting here in Hawk's Bay. There have been a number
(07:15):
of really prime, in flat productive sheep and bee farms
that have gone to trees, and it's deeply uncomfortable. So
I just think we need to recognize that. I think
most even farm foresters and livestock farmers, of course, they
want to control the pists. They want to make sure
that fire doesn't spread, and so we should all have
(07:35):
plans accordingly. And I'm really really supportive of the views
that are coming out of here about fire plans and
making sure that they are practical and.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Do cart I know that they argue they're going to
be production forestry in the end. I don't actually buy
that for some of them. But are these so called
carbon farms taking the same precautions as the out and
out production forestry people when it comes to fire breaks,
damn you name it.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Ye, Well, I know that the ones that I'm involved
with and are Jamie absolutely right. And we've got fire
plans for every property. We've got fire breaks and sprang
out fire breaks for every property, and we're making sure
that we are cleaning dams out so they are accessible
in the event of a fire. But I don't think
there's actually an example in New Zealand yet where fire
(08:23):
started in a forest, but certainly they fuel for a fire,
and that's the concern.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
That's got to be the concern for the east coast
of both islands. If you're to believe, well what the futurists,
if that's the right word of telling us, you are
going to get dryer, we are going to get more
weather extremes. Were setting ourselves up to be a wildfire.
Speaker 6 (08:43):
Well potentially, Jamie. And that's all the more reason to
have good plans in place. And I'm sure that responsible
foresters will do that and exactly the same way as
I'd expect livestock farmers, and many of them have large
amounts of trees on their property, now they should also
have fire plans in place. And I'm sure that that's
(09:04):
the case too. So look, everyone has to do their bit, Jamie.
And we've seen from fires around the world, not the
least of which Australia is very bad, and once they
take hold, they can be devastating, and so we've got
to make sure that doesn't happen.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
Just to finish on, I gave you a text this
morning said would you come on the show? You said yep,
and we yarned away or texted away about a few
topics of discussion, and then I threw one back at you,
Mike Peedterson, You're a man very well connected in New
Zealand agriculture and the primary sector. Who is your ad
Person of the Year for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
Well, Jamie, I've taken the view here that this is
someone who's contributed to the sector and contributed to growing
the sector. I've ruled out politicians to be honest. Look,
we talk enough about politicians. I think this award really
should be to someone who's really contributed positively to the sector.
I had three finalists in my mind. I had the
leadership team at zestbree with Jason to break Nathan Flower
(10:00):
day and you know the work they've done with espri
An amazing product, a very good company and a superb
approach to taking their product around the world. The second
one was was Miles Hurrell and Peter McBride at Fonterra. Again,
are they done outstanding job at Fonterra and probably the
(10:22):
deal which is actually right on strategy, It's exactly the
right thing they should have done. I think that will
be seen as probably the deal of the year to
sell the the part of the business that they no
longer will own. And so I had them as in
the finals as well. So Peter and Miles and they've
done outstanding job. But look and for my Egg Person
(10:44):
of the Year this year, there's going to be someone
who's actually developed the product that I think is going
to be a complete, a noted game changer for our sector,
particularly the livestock sector, and that's Craig pigoted Holter, thirty
year old that's built a US billion dollar company in
a product and technology that is literally going to transform
the way we farm livestock, not just in New Zealand
(11:06):
but around the world. So Craig Pigt's my person for
Egg Person.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Of the Year.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Jamie, Well, tell you what. So you've thought that one
out well, and I agree with you on all your nominees.
And I'm going you're not going to get an argument
with me about Craig Piggot either.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
Gee.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
He he's the Sir Peter Beck of the rural sector,
isn't he? Well he started at Rocket Lab.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
Oh, he's outstanding. And you know we should spend more
time celebrating people in success than bitching and moaning Jamie,
And so you know my approach. Glasses all with our fall,
Let's move forward to twenty six and all the best,
all of your listeners and yourself of course, for a
good breakout of Christmas. Stay safe, make sure you do
stay safe, get a break and come back in twenty
(11:48):
six and let's have a real crack at it.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Merry Christmas, Mike, and to you Jamie, all the best.
That is nineteen away from one Craig Piggot, thirty years
of age, and I can't remember how many billion holt
is worth. Good nominee there from Mike Petterson, former Special
Agricultural Trade Envoy and Chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand.
(12:13):
We are taking a break actually talking about meat hanging on.
Let me describe this totally unprepared. There it is, pulled
it off the clipboard. I'm just going to tease the
countdown to Christmas because today it is the team from
Silverfern Farms. Really appreciated their support a couple of weeks
ago for the Southern Storm Shout. We've got two prize
(12:34):
packs from Silverfern Farms to give away. We'll tell you
when Michelle wanders in here what they are and how
you can win them. But they've got whole kitten kaboodle,
including them meat vouchers from Silverfern Farms. This is a
really good one for you. Town needs to have a
crack at as well. We're not just limiting this one
(12:55):
to farmers. Thank you to Silverfern Farms, and we'll also
announce yesterday's Michelle will no doubt have that with her
when she wanders in here. Up next from one dry
Region hawks Bay to another Marlborough, it's Richard Dawkin's Federated
Farmer's Meat and Wool Chair.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Answer this after you're gone by the raft On Dor.
I'm then the cracks alongside.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
The countdown to Christmas continues here on the country. Someone
else who's counting down to Christmas as Federated Farmers. They've
booked a large digital billboard in central Wellington outside the beehive.
It's a real beauty and we'll feature a new pest
each day in the lead up to Christmas and it's
along the theme of the Twelve Pests of Christmas. To
(13:57):
tell us more about it, Marlborough Farmer, Federated Farmers meet
and woelchair Richard Dawkins. The PR department at Federated Farmers
led by Aaron who I affectionately call Respute, and are
doing a really good job. I'd have to say this
is a great initiative.
Speaker 8 (14:14):
Yeah it is. And look Jamie, this issue of weeds
and peas that's costing farmers, it's costing conservation and we're
just calling for a coordinated effort to be more effective
and look leading into Christmas. The campaign's a bit playful,
but it is about a serious issue. So, like you said,
wanted that billboard across from the beehives, so it's front
(14:35):
of mine for politicians. But you know, also every day
keywis in Wellington, you know, having a Christmas barbecue or
yarning to your mates or maybe they'll end up at
a barbecue with ministers Potucker or Hoggard or maclay and
can just say, hey, this weed and pest problem, it's
a huge issue. What are we doing about it?
Speaker 7 (14:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (14:55):
I think you kicked off the first day of Christmas
was bush pigs. And I know you've got wild dare,
killer cats, goats, possums Canada, geese, rabbits, ducks, you name it,
all the pests that are really annoying the hell out
of farming. Were you attempted at Federated Farmers because I
know you like to poke a bit of borax to
include I don't know some politicians in there, Damien or Chloe.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Look at it's a playful campaign, a bit lighthearted leading
into Christmas. So yeah, save those subtle jabs for another time.
But yeah, do want to highlight I mean we we
are a political and work across the really political spectrum.
Really yeah, yeah, absolutely, and quite a lot of effort
actually goes in from us on those cross party efforts
(15:44):
with red bands and our meat and wall executive recently
hosted Joe Luxton and Priyanka down there in half. So yeah,
the good effort across the aisle.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Well got on you for the apolitical approach to politics.
It's going to be a very politic all year next year.
The other big story out there at the moment, and
we're expecting an announcement at about one o'clock, is on
this new rama proposal. I know Feds have been hot
on this one, and we had David Clarke, of course,
a mid Canterbury arable farmer, former member of Federated Farmers.
(16:17):
He's leading the charge on the ridiculousness of the consenting process.
I know you've had a bit of a sneak preview.
You can't break the embargo, but do you think farmers
will be happy with what they hear at one o'clock?
Speaker 8 (16:31):
What I can say, Jamie is resource consents in that
process as a hell of a crisis for our real communities,
and we've run a campaign around that. You know it
could well be a good Christmas present, but you don't
unwrap your presence until Christmas morning.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
So well, well we'll wait to unwrap ours at one
o'clock if indeed that is the time we get the announcement.
It's long over due, and I know, I know David
Parker had a crack at re roighting it. But the
trouble is when he rewrote the rama. I think his
document was nine hundred pages long.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
Yeah, and it's just become a real stranglehold on productivity
and actual environmental outcomes, to be honest, Jamie. So yeah,
we're really welcoming, have welcomed the conversation and look forward
to hopefully what's a positive announcement at one o'clock just.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
To finish with your farming in Marlborough. We know the
east coast of both islands are really starting to get
quite dry. I mean it's a bit of a I'm
loath to use the word crisis, but Hawks Bay's in trouble.
The dams are running low, they're running out of irrigation
water or maybe even stockwater. How are you faring in
Marlborough because you're typically very much summer dry region.
Speaker 8 (17:44):
Yeah we are. Maulbra's a fairly diverse province Jamie. So
I know those sailors down the east coast are certainly
feeling the dry very early, and they waned early in things.
But what does take the pressure off is the current pricing.
You know, store values as high as prime values in
recent years, so that certainly eases the.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Pay Absolutely, the store marketers are running hot at the moment,
and there are certainly options for farmers who have to
quit stock early because of the dry. Hey Richard Dawkins,
thanks for your contribution throughout the year. You're the new
Federated Farmers Meet and Wool chair. No doubt you'll have
a lot to say an election year next year. Hope
you and your family have a good Christmas.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
Yeah, thanks Jamie, you too, Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Richard is twenty eight or twenty nine, after twelve year
with the Country. The show's brought to you by Brent.
We're doing our countdown to Christmas. Yesterday it was the
team at Agratrade a great price. We had the vet
med Triple Oral Drench, Triple Max Drench. Wantn't really much
use to town needs to be perfectly honest, but we
also had the security cameras, the Amazon Echo Pop which
(18:50):
is a smart speaker sort of like Alexa, and then
we had the smart fan with the remote ideal for
people I would imagine in mold and Hawk's Bay, where
we've already been today are a recommended retail of all
those prices was thirteen hundred dollars. Michelle Watt Good Afternoon,
who was the winner from yesterday afternoon, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Congratulations to Tony Glasford and Omacow.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
Right, well done, Tony, thank you for listening. Now everyone
in the country, everyone in the country is eligible to
win the Silverfern Farm prize pack. We've got two of them.
There is one exception, Graham Smith and Taronga who texted
and said he wanted the Silverfern Farm's meatpack to help
(19:35):
him beat anorexia. I don't think that's a problem, Smithy,
so tough you've been excluded from this promotion. The rest
of the country. The other five point two million of
you can have a crack at this one. So this
we've got two of these. The packs. They include full
barbecue tool set and heavy Judy apron a Remu chopping
(19:57):
board they're really nice, a caller bag O, it's the
meat thermometer Jerry hand yep just forgetting your stakes bang
on and a two hundred dollars Silver Fern Farms Meat
felcher and they have some beautiful meat. It's all the
export quality stuff, top of the line. So all you
(20:17):
need to do if you want to win that from
anywhere in the country unless you're in Tarana, Graham Smith,
you text one and your name and your address to
five double O nine. Okay win wi N put that
in first, leave a space, then write your name and
your address and we will announce the winner on tomorrow's show.
Up next on the Country. We missed him yesterday, but
(20:39):
we always get our man on this show. Todd charteris
on the later Farmer Confidence Survey.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Up Abound a numty you go.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
He is the chief executive of Rabobank. Quarterly they do
a farmer confidence survey now. The latest survey sees a
dip from near record highs and surprise, surprise, dairy farmers
are now less confident. Todd. I know that you spend
a lot of money on these surveys. My friend, I
could have written this one for you.
Speaker 9 (21:12):
Oh get a Jamie.
Speaker 7 (21:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (21:13):
Look, it's not that surprising, is it. I guess we've
got to keep it in context. Confidence levels have been
extremely high all year and to come back slightly off
that high, there's not that surprise in giving. You know,
there's a lot of milk around global milk supply. You know,
we've seen some softness and GDT options and he unsurprisingly
(21:35):
the confidence has dropped there just a little bit on
the dairy side of things, and what we're talking about
there is confidence in the next twelve months and beyond.
So it's come back a bit, but it's still really
high and I think that's really positive and it's good
to see it maintaining at those high levels.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
Absolutely, sheep and beef farmers are very confident at the moment,
and so they should be.
Speaker 9 (21:56):
Yeah, things are looking great there, aren't they. And it's
a long way continue because it's been a pretty tough
road for certainly sheep meat in the last few years.
So to get some real confidence going in in there,
it's just great to see. And we're seeing it in
investment and tensions as well, which I think is really
an important measure because what farmers and business owners are
(22:18):
looking at there is what's their investment and tensions out
over the next twelve months and it's a longer term view.
So we're seeing that increase and that's really great to
see because that really flows through all those all communities,
that confidence.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Yeah, the other one you had to look at was
key we fruit here and this isn't surprising either. Zesbury's
counter seasonal global supply program that's obviously growing on the
other hemisphere. On the other side of the world, and
the off season is now up and running, and the
latest forecast for twenty five twenty six is tipping record
returns across all fruit groups. And I look at all
(22:52):
the primary sectors at the moment, Ted, I don't know
what your take on it is. I would have to
say perhaps beef and key we fruit are the strongest
of the lot, even though Lamb's really good at the moment.
But I look at beef and key We thru it
and Trump has taken the tear of so off both
of those, which is going to help.
Speaker 9 (23:09):
I'm definitely going to help for sure.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
No.
Speaker 9 (23:12):
Look, I think it's great to see that program up
and running in Zistra. You know, I've done a great
job with their whole program for a number of years now,
and to see that confidence, you know, hanging around and
to actually look forward and be really quite optimistic, I
think great to see. And you know, we continue to
see quite a bit of an investment into those sectors,
(23:34):
and so you're just really good to see. And as
I said earlier, long mat continue because you know, the
wider economy of New Zealand needs that confidence to flow
right through and it's pretty tough and sig sectors right now,
so the farmers can that confidence can flow through and
that will be great I think for the wider New
Zeald economy.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Todd chatterers. Ion't hold you up because I know you're
a busy man. You're going to make an appearance late
next week to wrap the farming year from Rabobank's point
of view, and you need to start thinking about who
you're twenty twenty five ag person of the Year is.
Speaker 9 (24:09):
And it can't be you or me, No, definitely won't
be whatever. It won't be me. But now looking forward
to catching up next week Jamie, and yeah, look forward
to a few different perspectives between now and then. And
we'll see you next week.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
Yeah, yeah, we will. And also later this week we've
got our countdown to Christmas. And the Rabobank price is
always my favorite one because you're giving it to someone else,
it's better to give them receive. I think we've got
off the top of my head. Someone will correct me
if I'm wrong. Here one thousand dollars of Rabobank cash
to give away to the charity of your choice, So
thank you for supporting that. I think it's a wonderful
(24:44):
thing to do letting into Christmas. We'll chat next.
Speaker 9 (24:46):
Week Johnny Jamie, we'll talk to you. Thank you, yep, and.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
We'll give that cash away. We'll give you the chance
to give it to your charity of choice. I think
on Thursday Michelle will confirm or deny that. Up next,
it is Michelle with the latest and rural news. Good news,
LAMB beats Ham. If you're a sheep farmer, I guess
as opposed to a pig farmer, Lamb beats Ham for Christmas.
Before the end of the air Farmer Tom Martin and
Joe Luxton, Labour's egg spokesperson.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
True It's Funny.
Speaker 10 (25:20):
Mom.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
The country's world news with culd Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn, bower bread. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot zip for your locals Doggers.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Twenty away from one. No time to Waste, Michelle Watt
LAMB beats Ham.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
It does indeed. An online survey of more than one
hundred New Zealanders, forty two percent said lamb will be
the hero protein of their main Christmas meal. Well hit
a pork or ham at thirty percent and beef at
thirteen percent. So it's official. It all takes into stage
on Christmas tables this year, but not mine.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
Mind you. People probably can't afford beef. That's rural news.
We're in a hurry.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Sport on the country with AFCO business.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
Former England Bowl of Stuart Board Broad has plucked out
one positive from the side struggles and cricket's ashes, England
batter Joe Roots School Squad, a Maiden Century and Australia
in the second Test loss at the Gabba, a Broad
told Sky Sport he hopes Roots form will carry him
through or carry through to Adelaide next week, which is
(26:23):
now a must win. Son in law lives over there.
I wish I was there, such a great sporting ground,
the Adelaide Oval. Up next, Farmer Tom Martin in the UK.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
The Godlam.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Here's another one of our regular correspondents making his final
appearance for twenty twenty five. Our UK farming correspondent, Farmer
Tom Martin farms just north of London. He's a big
social media influencer and an arable farmer and Tom arable
farmers right around the world at the moment having a
really tough time of it.
Speaker 11 (27:03):
They are, but the markets don't seem to be reflecting
that we've got we've had a real double whammy here,
particularly in the south and the East of the UK,
where we've had absolutely dismal yields, but we don't seem
to be getting prices that are kind of picking up
and remedying that. So low yields, low prices, it's not
been a great year.
Speaker 5 (27:24):
I was reading from the Guardian, as you do, Tom
record hate and drouse drought costs Britain's arable farmers more
than eight hundred million pounds and lost production, and twenty
twenty five in one of the worst harvests recorded. Three
of the five worse harvests on record have now occurred
since twenty twenty.
Speaker 11 (27:45):
Yeah, it particularly affected green fill in our wheat and
barley crops, and for many farmers like us, wheat is
the cash cow. A lot of other crops don't make
anywhere near the profit or you know, very often break even,
and so we yields at probably kind of averaging twenty
five to thirty percent down. That's a lot of your
profit gone and then moving into a pretty strong loss.
(28:08):
So I can well believe the headlines, even if they
are in the Guardian.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
So can you pervot, and I hate the word pervot,
but I'm trying to think of a better one. And
to any other farming system. I know you've got a
few live stock running around, but you're largely an arable farmer.
Could you go dairy farming for instance?
Speaker 11 (28:28):
Very possibly. My neighbor's a dairy farmer, so it is possible.
I think we probably look at different cropping. We're looking
at different parts of the world where they're used to
longer dry periods. We started to grow a bit of
buckwheat here, which is a lot more drought tolerant. In fact,
it seems to seems to love a little bit of sunny,
dry weather. And there may be other crops that suit us,
(28:48):
all other strains, other genetics within the crops that we grow.
So it's not something that's being ignored. It's something that
we're all kind of staring into and trying to make
some plans to to address what is obviously going to
be the new normal.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Maybe the climates and prices aren't your biggest challenge in
the UK at the moment farming. That biggest challenge might
be called Sakiah Starmer and the labor Party. And I
note that a Labor emp has been suspended after voting
against the government's plan to Texas and hero to farmland
from April of next year.
Speaker 11 (29:25):
Yeah, you're right, Climate, weather and all that sort of
stuff absolutely pales into insignificance. We've got a government who
are actively acting against farmers. But there are a number
of Labor MPs who actually there was a vote on
inheritance tax, a non binding vote on the second of December,
and a number of them abstained, which is quite a
(29:46):
strong message to government. It's very British, isn't it. They
just decided not to vote, but where the government had
instructed their MPs to vote, they were I think thirty
three of them who refused to and one Marcus Campbell Savers,
who voted against the government ridiculously and then had the
whip suspended. And that basically means he's kicked out of
the Labor Party. And basically I've got the comment of
(30:10):
what he said in full here which is worth repeating.
He said, like many candidates during the election, that's twenty
twenty four, I was approached by people who wanted to
know whether the government would remove the rules on agricultural
property relief. I went and sought out with assurances, found
public statements from the Labor Party front bench and made
promises to my constituents. Who wouldn't do that After we've
come in the government of renegged on these promises and
(30:31):
I'm not prepared to break my word to my constituents.
Isn't that amazing? Why do we have more MPs who
do that, make promises to stick and stick to them,
who you know, who have principles and don't bend and break.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
You have a five year term in the UK? Are
you stuck with Starma til twenty twenty nine?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well?
Speaker 11 (30:53):
I think so, although you know I had a conversation today.
If he steps down from in the Labor Party doesn't
mean that we'll have a little trigger election. It means
that we could have somebody even worse behind him. So
it's a bit of a challenge. It's a bit of
a challenge at the moment. And for the last decade
we've been talking about it, Jammie. You know in the
UK we've been voting. Instead of been voting for the
(31:14):
best person for the job, we've been voting for the
least worst.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
On a brighter night and wants to finish our chats
for twenty twenty five. The England rugby team has the
best winning percentage of any team in world rugby. You
only lost one game, I think, mind you. I don't
think you played the spring box. But I'd have to say,
at the moment as it stands, at the moment, the
box are hid and shoulders you a lot of second.
Speaker 10 (31:34):
I reckon, we've had a good year. We've had a
good year. Is a year to be proud of them.
And you know, the clubs seems doing pretty well. There's
some great club club sides behind that as well, wh
which is of course what feeds in. There's always a
little bit of controversy and a few bits and pieces
going on today in the newspaper, but it's great and
(31:55):
twenty twenty five with a team who are riding high.
So yeah, perhaps give you a bit of a run
for your money. I think we've got an easy pool again,
haven't we. That's that's what normally happens.
Speaker 11 (32:05):
A lot a lot of the antipodies in particularly get
upset about that, But yeah, I don't mind an easy run.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
You see you in the semis, well, you may see
us in the quarters, depending on whether we throw a
game to Australia to avoid the spring box. That's another
story for another day. Plus you've got Henry Pollock Farmer
Tom Martin, thanks for your contribution throughout twenty twenty five.
Merry Christmas. I hope you get a white Christmas.
Speaker 11 (32:28):
So it's come on behalf of the people of the
United Kingdom. Wish you in museum that verry Merry Christmas.
Speaker 5 (32:33):
And have a new yet put on your Tom Farmer,
Tom Martin. After the break, Labour's Egg spokesperson Joe Luxton,
we're going to tell you how you can win one
of those silver Fern Farms prize packs.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Dan cam please.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
For the final time and twenty twenty five it's Labour's
Egg spokesperson Joe Lucks and Joe we're getting a new
rama today hopefully a free trade agreement with India early
in the new year. What a great job this government's
doing good Jamie.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
It's nice to be on your show for the final
time for the year. And if I don't see you
or hear from here beforehand, I want to assure Merry
Christmas and all your listeners out there the im Yeah
it look will be really interesting to see what's in
that bill in particular, and you may or your listeners
may have heard Chris Hipkins comments today around the fact
(33:34):
that we would really like to be able to work
in a bipartisan way with the government on this piece
of legislation. Is the opportunity to.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
Do so, Yes, I'm sure you wouldn't agree with thens
so on an omissions policy, you're quite happy just to
charge farmers for their emissions and make them ny competitive
on the world stage.
Speaker 7 (33:51):
Joe, No, absolutely, we have not come out and said that.
We also went to the ministers with regard to that,
saying we wanted to work in a by partisan way.
They've come out with the targets and we're still yet
to see the information behind that, so we can understand
how they came to that decision and we'll continue that conversation.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
Surely you would agree that if Todd, McLay and Winston
and whoever else is involved can get a free trade
agreement over the line with India, that's great for New Zealand.
Speaker 11 (34:20):
Ink.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
You would have to pat them on the back, Joe.
Speaker 7 (34:23):
I think free trade agreements for New Zealand are beneficial.
No Hoomers and government and who gets them across the line.
I think further more, we can get out and trade
our for our primary producers. Has got to be a
good thing for New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
I was reading online this morning and this is topical.
I guess with IKEA coming to New Zealand, IKEA's Hawks
Bay pine Tree expansion flames fares, residents will be left
to pay. Now we're seeing wildfires already in the North Island.
It's only early December. We are setting ourselves up to
fail big time in this country with that carbon farming.
Speaker 7 (35:02):
I have real concerns about the increase in carbon farming, Jamie,
and I think people are right to be concerned with
regards to to wildfires and things like that, because you
know who pays for that at the end of the day,
you know, and it puts people, people's lives, livelihoods at
risk if we have those outbreaks like what we're seeing
overseas as well. And I think, you know, we need
(35:24):
to rethink the ETS a little bit with regards to
the carbon forestry farming as well. I just think the
way it's been set up it does and centivize that
type of behavior. And yeah, we really we've had conversations
and we've said in the Climate Selectmity piece of legislation
that Labour's differing views that we would we think it's
(35:47):
important that we really look at the etus in that regard.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Now, just a couple to quickly finish on the one
news variant pole. Last night. It was good news for
the coalition government was also quite good news for Labor
as a standalone an entity. Chris Sipkins is doing well.
He's holding his own there. Labor's are nudging National all
the way. The problem you've got Joe as your coalition partners.
The Green's dropped off. And here's the real dilemma for
(36:12):
you guys as I see it, to Party Maury are
an absolute cotcase at the moment. Your only pathway as
I see it, towards government is to get to Party Mariy,
to win the Maori seats, get an overhang in Parliament
and get in that way. Otherwise the numbers just aren't
going to work for you. Are you conflicted on that
or is Labor going to go fall out on those
(36:32):
Maori seats?
Speaker 7 (36:34):
Yeah? The issues that you're seeing play out within the
party are the issues and that's for them to work out.
We are going to be running hard campaigns to ininbent
all those Mary seats, and we think we've got good
chance of doing that. We'll do everything we can to
do that, but it.
Speaker 5 (36:51):
Will probably block your pathway to government.
Speaker 7 (36:55):
Not necessarily, Jamie. I think there's still a long way
to go, a lot of things to play out before
the next and you know who knows where the cards
will fall.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
All right, No, you and I agree to disagree on
that one. Good on you, Joe, Merry Christmas. Will see
you next year and enjoy and Mackay's are on me.
Speaker 7 (37:12):
Yeah, thanks so much, Jamie, have a good.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
One, thanks Joe. Well, you listeners out there can enjoy
a Silver Firm Farms meatpack on me and the team
here at the country. Text one and your name in
your address to five double O nine will announce the
winners of that one tomorrow. As I said at the
top of the show, this is out in John's tribute
to his mate John Lennon. Empty garden, so Mark David
(37:35):
Chapman waited outside, got an autograph from John Lennon. At
five pm, Lennin went to the recording studio with his wife,
Yoko Ono. They got back at ten fifty pm and
outside the Dakota Building just off Central Park in New York.
He shot them and that was the end of one
of the greatest musicians musical figures of the twentyth century.
(38:00):
We'll catch you back tomorrow. Joy the rest of your day.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
We catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie mckaye. Thanks to Brent Starkest of
the leading agriculture brands
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckue. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Dre Machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
As New York sunset is the bee up abound, an
empty garden man the flagstonesday. He must have been a gardener.
The cadler weeded out the tears and grew a good grab.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Now that all looks street.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
It's funny how.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
Stead. Good afternoon, New Zealand. Welcome to the Country. The
show is brought to you by Brent. I'm Jamie mackay.
This is Elton j and his song is tribute song
to John Lennon who was assassinator on this day in
(01:10):
nineteen eighty New Zealand time. Of course, what's that forty
five years ago? I remember it well. I was learning
to plow when I heard it. There you go, that
was back in the good old farming days. I'm going
to talk to a proper farmer, or is he? I'll
ask him. Mike Petterson's going to kick off the show.
Hawk's Bay Farmer, former Special ag Trade Envoy and chair
(01:32):
of Beef and Lamb New Zealand. We're going to have
a look at the big dry and are they making
any progress in hawks Bay with that Tookie Tookie dam
Richard Dawkins is on another farmer he's federated Farmer's Meat
and Wool chair that they've bought a big billboard or
hired a big billboard in central Wellington just down from
(01:55):
the beehive, and they've got their twelve pets of Christmas.
Apparently there's no politicians on the land. Todd Charter has
missed him yesterday. We'll get him today, Chief executive of Rabobank,
on that latest farmer confidence survey. A couple of hours
ago I caught up with farmer Tom Martin, a UK
farming correspondent. One of the worst grain harvests on record.
(02:15):
Apparently three of the worse five harvests on record have
happened since twenty twenty and Joe Luxton, Labour's AG spokesperson
of the year. I wonder who her AG person of
the Year is. But let's kick off proceedings with said
hawks Bow Farmers former Special hag Trade end for he
former Chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand, Mike Patterson.
(02:36):
Forty five years ago today in New Zealand time, do
you remember where you were and what you were doing
when you heard about John Lennon.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
Good A, Jamie, and it's great to be here with you,
just on the lead up to Christmas. I don't remember
the exact woolshed, but I was in a crutching and
hate charting gang operating out of Elsthorpe and Central Hawk's Bay.
So I would have been well and truly earning some
heart money, very hard in money before I head it
back to school.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
Talk to me about hawk Spay at the moment we
see some of the dams are running low. I mean,
you guys are traditionally summer dry. It's nothing new, but
has this come earlier than expected?
Speaker 6 (03:16):
I think the key thing this year, Jamie, is it
was a very dry winter, and so we're looking at
a number of farmers in the region here that are
sitting on only fifty percent of there and your rainfall
with a few weeks to run to the end of
the year. So you know, for people in the wider
region of New Zealand, I mean, that's somewhere between four
hundred and fifty or five hundred meals of rain a year,
(03:38):
and so it just means that it's getting hard. Underneath.
We've had little bits of rain to keep things fresh.
But things are looking pretty tough at the moment, but
again not unusual for Hawks Bay. It's it's that type
of reason, that type of province.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Are you still under a heat warning? I think yesterday
you got to what thirty two to thirty four degrees?
Does it quends cool down?
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Yep, three degrees yesterday. We've got a week of probably
temperatures in the thirties by the look of it, and
we've had some really hot weather up until now. The
whole of the region Hawks Bays on water restrictions, so
that gives you an idea of just how desperate it's becoming.
And we are clearly a region that needs to think
forward about what we do about water security. And as
(04:20):
you know, one of the things I'm championing is water
story just part of that solution, and it can't come
soon enough.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
How are you getting on with that Toki TV dam.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
It's making progress, Jamie, But these projects take a long time.
There's a lot of planning desperately keen to see the
RIMA reforms come through, because you know, planning and RIMA
has been a messive doorstop to these projects going ahead.
And look it's making good, solid progress. We're confident we're
(04:50):
going to have a viable project at the end of
the day. But you know, it's tough to get these
things off the ground and it takes a lot of
hard work and you've got to be quite bloody minded
about it too, So we'll give you their best shot.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
As the Prince of the province is backing you one
hundred percent.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
Martoa Shane Martur Shane has been one hundred percent behind
us in this project that took you took your water
security project. In fact, I was texting him yesterday trying
to just to see what he's up to for the
rest of the year. You know, we always need support
from central government and local body politicians to get these
things off the ground, and we're working very closely with
(05:24):
Manafenora to make sure that we understand and remediate their
concerns as well. So you've got to really bring the
whole province with you on these projects, Jamie. You can't
just do it for a few irrigators, which has been
the approach it's been in the past.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
You've spent a lot of you well, quite a bit
of your work in Korea in the trade space through
wearing various hats. Mike Petterson, how big a deal will
this free trade agreement be with India if we can
get it?
Speaker 6 (05:52):
Well, Look, this is going to be really significant, Jamie.
The Indian opportunity for New Zealand is a really big one.
That's big in horderic culture, it's big in livestock, particularly
sheeap obviously, and it's big I think for the relationship
between the two countries and being able to grow business
and people to people connections. So look, hats off to
(06:13):
Tom McLay. He must have traveled in India and back
more often than most other people in New Zealand at
the moment. And I'm confident that come early next year
we'll see something signed and sealed that will be quite meaningful.
It will always start quite low, but we'll build over
time and with the confidence we get with each other,
this will turn into a big deal for New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
I was reading on our n ZID red radio news
this morning. To be fair, they do good rural news.
IKEA's Hawk's Bay Pine Tree expansion flames fares. Residents will
have to pay the bill and this is for wildfires. Mike,
you are a bit of a carbon farmer or am
I being unkind?
Speaker 6 (06:54):
No, you're being unkind, Jamie. Look, look, I think that
you know there are concerns about just the amount of
productive farm lands been planted in pine trees. And look,
the business I'm involved with, we don't do that. So
I can certainly take my head off there, and I'm
okay to argue for our business. But look, it is
confronting here in Hawk's Bay. There have been a number
(07:15):
of really prime, in flat productive sheep and bee farms
that have gone to trees, and it's deeply uncomfortable. So
I just think we need to recognize that. I think
most even farm foresters and livestock farmers, of course, they
want to control the pists. They want to make sure
that fire doesn't spread, and so we should all have
(07:35):
plans accordingly. And I'm really really supportive of the views
that are coming out of here about fire plans and
making sure that they are practical and.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Do cart I know that they argue they're going to
be production forestry in the end. I don't actually buy
that for some of them. But are these so called
carbon farms taking the same precautions as the out and
out production forestry people when it comes to fire breaks,
damn you name it.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Ye, Well, I know that the ones that I'm involved
with and are Jamie absolutely right. And we've got fire
plans for every property. We've got fire breaks and sprang
out fire breaks for every property, and we're making sure
that we are cleaning dams out so they are accessible
in the event of a fire. But I don't think
there's actually an example in New Zealand yet where fire
(08:23):
started in a forest, but certainly they fuel for a fire,
and that's the concern.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
That's got to be the concern for the east coast
of both islands. If you're to believe, well what the futurists,
if that's the right word of telling us, you are
going to get dryer, we are going to get more
weather extremes. Were setting ourselves up to be a wildfire.
Speaker 6 (08:43):
Well potentially, Jamie. And that's all the more reason to
have good plans in place. And I'm sure that responsible
foresters will do that and exactly the same way as
I'd expect livestock farmers, and many of them have large
amounts of trees on their property, now they should also
have fire plans in place. And I'm sure that that's
(09:04):
the case too. So look, everyone has to do their bit, Jamie.
And we've seen from fires around the world, not the
least of which Australia is very bad, and once they
take hold, they can be devastating, and so we've got
to make sure that doesn't happen.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
Just to finish on, I gave you a text this
morning said would you come on the show? You said yep,
and we yarned away or texted away about a few
topics of discussion, and then I threw one back at you,
Mike Peedterson, You're a man very well connected in New
Zealand agriculture and the primary sector. Who is your ad
Person of the Year for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
Well, Jamie, I've taken the view here that this is
someone who's contributed to the sector and contributed to growing
the sector. I've ruled out politicians to be honest. Look,
we talk enough about politicians. I think this award really
should be to someone who's really contributed positively to the sector.
I had three finalists in my mind. I had the
leadership team at zestbree with Jason to break Nathan Flower
(10:00):
day and you know the work they've done with espri
An amazing product, a very good company and a superb
approach to taking their product around the world. The second
one was was Miles Hurrell and Peter McBride at Fonterra. Again,
are they done outstanding job at Fonterra and probably the
(10:22):
deal which is actually right on strategy, It's exactly the
right thing they should have done. I think that will
be seen as probably the deal of the year to
sell the the part of the business that they no
longer will own. And so I had them as in
the finals as well. So Peter and Miles and they've
done outstanding job. But look and for my Egg Person
(10:44):
of the Year this year, there's going to be someone
who's actually developed the product that I think is going
to be a complete, a noted game changer for our sector,
particularly the livestock sector, and that's Craig pigoted Holter, thirty
year old that's built a US billion dollar company in
a product and technology that is literally going to transform
the way we farm livestock, not just in New Zealand
(11:06):
but around the world. So Craig Pigt's my person for
Egg Person.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Of the Year.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Jamie, Well, tell you what. So you've thought that one
out well, and I agree with you on all your nominees.
And I'm going you're not going to get an argument
with me about Craig Piggot either.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
Gee.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
He he's the Sir Peter Beck of the rural sector,
isn't he? Well he started at Rocket Lab.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
Oh, he's outstanding. And you know we should spend more
time celebrating people in success than bitching and moaning Jamie,
And so you know my approach. Glasses all with our fall,
Let's move forward to twenty six and all the best,
all of your listeners and yourself of course, for a
good breakout of Christmas. Stay safe, make sure you do
stay safe, get a break and come back in twenty
(11:48):
six and let's have a real crack at it.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
Merry Christmas, Mike, and to you Jamie, all the best.
That is nineteen away from one Craig Piggot, thirty years
of age, and I can't remember how many billion holt
is worth. Good nominee there from Mike Petterson, former Special
Agricultural Trade Envoy and Chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand.
(12:13):
We are taking a break actually talking about meat hanging on.
Let me describe this totally unprepared. There it is, pulled
it off the clipboard. I'm just going to tease the
countdown to Christmas because today it is the team from
Silverfern Farms. Really appreciated their support a couple of weeks
ago for the Southern Storm Shout. We've got two prize
(12:34):
packs from Silverfern Farms to give away. We'll tell you
when Michelle wanders in here what they are and how
you can win them. But they've got whole kitten kaboodle,
including them meat vouchers from Silverfern Farms. This is a
really good one for you. Town needs to have a
crack at as well. We're not just limiting this one
(12:55):
to farmers. Thank you to Silverfern Farms, and we'll also
announce yesterday's Michelle will no doubt have that with her
when she wanders in here. Up next from one dry
Region hawks Bay to another Marlborough, it's Richard Dawkin's Federated
Farmer's Meat and Wool Chair.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Answer this after you're gone by the raft On Dor.
I'm then the cracks alongside.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
The countdown to Christmas continues here on the country. Someone
else who's counting down to Christmas as Federated Farmers. They've
booked a large digital billboard in central Wellington outside the beehive.
It's a real beauty and we'll feature a new pest
each day in the lead up to Christmas and it's
along the theme of the Twelve Pests of Christmas. To
(13:57):
tell us more about it, Marlborough Farmer, Federated Farmers meet
and woelchair Richard Dawkins. The PR department at Federated Farmers
led by Aaron who I affectionately call Respute, and are
doing a really good job. I'd have to say this
is a great initiative.
Speaker 8 (14:14):
Yeah it is. And look Jamie, this issue of weeds
and peas that's costing farmers, it's costing conservation and we're
just calling for a coordinated effort to be more effective
and look leading into Christmas. The campaign's a bit playful,
but it is about a serious issue. So, like you said,
wanted that billboard across from the beehives, so it's front
(14:35):
of mine for politicians. But you know, also every day
keywis in Wellington, you know, having a Christmas barbecue or
yarning to your mates or maybe they'll end up at
a barbecue with ministers Potucker or Hoggard or maclay and
can just say, hey, this weed and pest problem, it's
a huge issue. What are we doing about it?
Speaker 7 (14:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (14:55):
I think you kicked off the first day of Christmas
was bush pigs. And I know you've got wild dare,
killer cats, goats, possums Canada, geese, rabbits, ducks, you name it,
all the pests that are really annoying the hell out
of farming. Were you attempted at Federated Farmers because I
know you like to poke a bit of borax to
include I don't know some politicians in there, Damien or Chloe.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Look at it's a playful campaign, a bit lighthearted leading
into Christmas. So yeah, save those subtle jabs for another time.
But yeah, do want to highlight I mean we we
are a political and work across the really political spectrum.
Really yeah, yeah, absolutely, and quite a lot of effort
actually goes in from us on those cross party efforts
(15:44):
with red bands and our meat and wall executive recently
hosted Joe Luxton and Priyanka down there in half. So yeah,
the good effort across the aisle.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Well got on you for the apolitical approach to politics.
It's going to be a very politic all year next year.
The other big story out there at the moment, and
we're expecting an announcement at about one o'clock, is on
this new rama proposal. I know Feds have been hot
on this one, and we had David Clarke, of course,
a mid Canterbury arable farmer, former member of Federated Farmers.
(16:17):
He's leading the charge on the ridiculousness of the consenting process.
I know you've had a bit of a sneak preview.
You can't break the embargo, but do you think farmers
will be happy with what they hear at one o'clock?
Speaker 8 (16:31):
What I can say, Jamie is resource consents in that
process as a hell of a crisis for our real communities,
and we've run a campaign around that. You know it
could well be a good Christmas present, but you don't
unwrap your presence until Christmas morning.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
So well, well we'll wait to unwrap ours at one
o'clock if indeed that is the time we get the announcement.
It's long over due, and I know, I know David
Parker had a crack at re roighting it. But the
trouble is when he rewrote the rama. I think his
document was nine hundred pages long.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
Yeah, and it's just become a real stranglehold on productivity
and actual environmental outcomes, to be honest, Jamie. So yeah,
we're really welcoming, have welcomed the conversation and look forward
to hopefully what's a positive announcement at one o'clock just.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
To finish with your farming in Marlborough. We know the
east coast of both islands are really starting to get
quite dry. I mean it's a bit of a I'm
loath to use the word crisis, but Hawks Bay's in trouble.
The dams are running low, they're running out of irrigation
water or maybe even stockwater. How are you faring in
Marlborough because you're typically very much summer dry region.
Speaker 8 (17:44):
Yeah we are. Maulbra's a fairly diverse province Jamie. So
I know those sailors down the east coast are certainly
feeling the dry very early, and they waned early in things.
But what does take the pressure off is the current pricing.
You know, store values as high as prime values in
recent years, so that certainly eases the.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Pay Absolutely, the store marketers are running hot at the moment,
and there are certainly options for farmers who have to
quit stock early because of the dry. Hey Richard Dawkins,
thanks for your contribution throughout the year. You're the new
Federated Farmers Meet and Wool chair. No doubt you'll have
a lot to say an election year next year. Hope
you and your family have a good Christmas.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
Yeah, thanks Jamie, you too, Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Richard is twenty eight or twenty nine, after twelve year
with the Country. The show's brought to you by Brent.
We're doing our countdown to Christmas. Yesterday it was the
team at Agratrade a great price. We had the vet
med Triple Oral Drench, Triple Max Drench. Wantn't really much
use to town needs to be perfectly honest, but we
also had the security cameras, the Amazon Echo Pop which
(18:50):
is a smart speaker sort of like Alexa, and then
we had the smart fan with the remote ideal for
people I would imagine in mold and Hawk's Bay, where
we've already been today are a recommended retail of all
those prices was thirteen hundred dollars. Michelle Watt Good Afternoon,
who was the winner from yesterday afternoon, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Congratulations to Tony Glasford and Omacow.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
Right, well done, Tony, thank you for listening. Now everyone
in the country, everyone in the country is eligible to
win the Silverfern Farm prize pack. We've got two of them.
There is one exception, Graham Smith and Taronga who texted
and said he wanted the Silverfern Farm's meatpack to help
(19:35):
him beat anorexia. I don't think that's a problem, Smithy,
so tough you've been excluded from this promotion. The rest
of the country. The other five point two million of
you can have a crack at this one. So this
we've got two of these. The packs. They include full
barbecue tool set and heavy Judy apron a Remu chopping
(19:57):
board they're really nice, a caller bag O, it's the
meat thermometer Jerry hand yep just forgetting your stakes bang
on and a two hundred dollars Silver Fern Farms Meat
felcher and they have some beautiful meat. It's all the
export quality stuff, top of the line. So all you
(20:17):
need to do if you want to win that from
anywhere in the country unless you're in Tarana, Graham Smith,
you text one and your name and your address to
five double O nine. Okay win wi N put that
in first, leave a space, then write your name and
your address and we will announce the winner on tomorrow's show.
Up next on the Country. We missed him yesterday, but
(20:39):
we always get our man on this show. Todd charteris
on the later Farmer Confidence Survey.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Up Abound a numty you go.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
He is the chief executive of Rabobank. Quarterly they do
a farmer confidence survey now. The latest survey sees a
dip from near record highs and surprise, surprise, dairy farmers
are now less confident. Todd. I know that you spend
a lot of money on these surveys. My friend, I
could have written this one for you.
Speaker 9 (21:12):
Oh get a Jamie.
Speaker 7 (21:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (21:13):
Look, it's not that surprising, is it. I guess we've
got to keep it in context. Confidence levels have been
extremely high all year and to come back slightly off
that high, there's not that surprise in giving. You know,
there's a lot of milk around global milk supply. You know,
we've seen some softness and GDT options and he unsurprisingly
(21:35):
the confidence has dropped there just a little bit on
the dairy side of things, and what we're talking about
there is confidence in the next twelve months and beyond.
So it's come back a bit, but it's still really
high and I think that's really positive and it's good
to see it maintaining at those high levels.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
Absolutely, sheep and beef farmers are very confident at the moment,
and so they should be.
Speaker 9 (21:56):
Yeah, things are looking great there, aren't they. And it's
a long way continue because it's been a pretty tough
road for certainly sheep meat in the last few years.
So to get some real confidence going in in there,
it's just great to see. And we're seeing it in
investment and tensions as well, which I think is really
an important measure because what farmers and business owners are
(22:18):
looking at there is what's their investment and tensions out
over the next twelve months and it's a longer term view.
So we're seeing that increase and that's really great to
see because that really flows through all those all communities,
that confidence.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
Yeah, the other one you had to look at was
key we fruit here and this isn't surprising either. Zesbury's
counter seasonal global supply program that's obviously growing on the
other hemisphere. On the other side of the world, and
the off season is now up and running, and the
latest forecast for twenty five twenty six is tipping record
returns across all fruit groups. And I look at all
(22:52):
the primary sectors at the moment, Ted, I don't know
what your take on it is. I would have to
say perhaps beef and key we fruit are the strongest
of the lot, even though Lamb's really good at the moment.
But I look at beef and key We thru it
and Trump has taken the tear of so off both
of those, which is going to help.
Speaker 9 (23:09):
I'm definitely going to help for sure.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
No.
Speaker 9 (23:12):
Look, I think it's great to see that program up
and running in Zistra. You know, I've done a great
job with their whole program for a number of years now,
and to see that confidence, you know, hanging around and
to actually look forward and be really quite optimistic, I
think great to see. And you know, we continue to
see quite a bit of an investment into those sectors,
(23:34):
and so you're just really good to see. And as
I said earlier, long mat continue because you know, the
wider economy of New Zealand needs that confidence to flow
right through and it's pretty tough and sig sectors right now,
so the farmers can that confidence can flow through and
that will be great I think for the wider New
Zeald economy.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Todd chatterers. Ion't hold you up because I know you're
a busy man. You're going to make an appearance late
next week to wrap the farming year from Rabobank's point
of view, and you need to start thinking about who
you're twenty twenty five ag person of the Year is.
Speaker 9 (24:09):
And it can't be you or me, No, definitely won't
be whatever. It won't be me. But now looking forward
to catching up next week Jamie, and yeah, look forward
to a few different perspectives between now and then. And
we'll see you next week.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
Yeah, yeah, we will. And also later this week we've
got our countdown to Christmas. And the Rabobank price is
always my favorite one because you're giving it to someone else,
it's better to give them receive. I think we've got
off the top of my head. Someone will correct me
if I'm wrong. Here one thousand dollars of Rabobank cash
to give away to the charity of your choice, So
thank you for supporting that. I think it's a wonderful
(24:44):
thing to do letting into Christmas. We'll chat next.
Speaker 9 (24:46):
Week Johnny Jamie, we'll talk to you. Thank you, yep, and.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
We'll give that cash away. We'll give you the chance
to give it to your charity of choice. I think
on Thursday Michelle will confirm or deny that. Up next,
it is Michelle with the latest and rural news. Good news,
LAMB beats Ham. If you're a sheep farmer, I guess
as opposed to a pig farmer, Lamb beats Ham for Christmas.
Before the end of the air Farmer Tom Martin and
Joe Luxton, Labour's egg spokesperson.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
True It's Funny.
Speaker 10 (25:20):
Mom.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
The country's world news with culd Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn, bower bread. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot zip for your locals Doggers.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
Twenty away from one. No time to Waste, Michelle Watt
LAMB beats Ham.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
It does indeed. An online survey of more than one
hundred New Zealanders, forty two percent said lamb will be
the hero protein of their main Christmas meal. Well hit
a pork or ham at thirty percent and beef at
thirteen percent. So it's official. It all takes into stage
on Christmas tables this year, but not mine.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
Mind you. People probably can't afford beef. That's rural news.
We're in a hurry.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Sport on the country with AFCO business.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
Former England Bowl of Stuart Board Broad has plucked out
one positive from the side struggles and cricket's ashes, England
batter Joe Roots School Squad, a Maiden Century and Australia
in the second Test loss at the Gabba, a Broad
told Sky Sport he hopes Roots form will carry him
through or carry through to Adelaide next week, which is
(26:23):
now a must win. Son in law lives over there.
I wish I was there, such a great sporting ground,
the Adelaide Oval. Up next, Farmer Tom Martin in the UK.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
The Godlam.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Here's another one of our regular correspondents making his final
appearance for twenty twenty five. Our UK farming correspondent, Farmer
Tom Martin farms just north of London. He's a big
social media influencer and an arable farmer and Tom arable
farmers right around the world at the moment having a
really tough time of it.
Speaker 11 (27:03):
They are, but the markets don't seem to be reflecting
that we've got we've had a real double whammy here,
particularly in the south and the East of the UK,
where we've had absolutely dismal yields, but we don't seem
to be getting prices that are kind of picking up
and remedying that. So low yields, low prices, it's not
been a great year.
Speaker 5 (27:24):
I was reading from the Guardian, as you do, Tom
record hate and drouse drought costs Britain's arable farmers more
than eight hundred million pounds and lost production, and twenty
twenty five in one of the worst harvests recorded. Three
of the five worse harvests on record have now occurred
since twenty twenty.
Speaker 11 (27:45):
Yeah, it particularly affected green fill in our wheat and
barley crops, and for many farmers like us, wheat is
the cash cow. A lot of other crops don't make
anywhere near the profit or you know, very often break even,
and so we yields at probably kind of averaging twenty
five to thirty percent down. That's a lot of your
profit gone and then moving into a pretty strong loss.
(28:08):
So I can well believe the headlines, even if they
are in the Guardian.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
So can you pervot, and I hate the word pervot,
but I'm trying to think of a better one. And
to any other farming system. I know you've got a
few live stock running around, but you're largely an arable farmer.
Could you go dairy farming for instance?
Speaker 11 (28:28):
Very possibly. My neighbor's a dairy farmer, so it is possible.
I think we probably look at different cropping. We're looking
at different parts of the world where they're used to
longer dry periods. We started to grow a bit of
buckwheat here, which is a lot more drought tolerant. In fact,
it seems to seems to love a little bit of sunny,
dry weather. And there may be other crops that suit us,
(28:48):
all other strains, other genetics within the crops that we grow.
So it's not something that's being ignored. It's something that
we're all kind of staring into and trying to make
some plans to to address what is obviously going to
be the new normal.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Maybe the climates and prices aren't your biggest challenge in
the UK at the moment farming. That biggest challenge might
be called Sakiah Starmer and the labor Party. And I
note that a Labor emp has been suspended after voting
against the government's plan to Texas and hero to farmland
from April of next year.
Speaker 11 (29:25):
Yeah, you're right, Climate, weather and all that sort of
stuff absolutely pales into insignificance. We've got a government who
are actively acting against farmers. But there are a number
of Labor MPs who actually there was a vote on
inheritance tax, a non binding vote on the second of December,
and a number of them abstained, which is quite a
(29:46):
strong message to government. It's very British, isn't it. They
just decided not to vote, but where the government had
instructed their MPs to vote, they were I think thirty
three of them who refused to and one Marcus Campbell Savers,
who voted against the government ridiculously and then had the
whip suspended. And that basically means he's kicked out of
the Labor Party. And basically I've got the comment of
(30:10):
what he said in full here which is worth repeating.
He said, like many candidates during the election, that's twenty
twenty four, I was approached by people who wanted to
know whether the government would remove the rules on agricultural
property relief. I went and sought out with assurances, found
public statements from the Labor Party front bench and made
promises to my constituents. Who wouldn't do that After we've
come in the government of renegged on these promises and
(30:31):
I'm not prepared to break my word to my constituents.
Isn't that amazing? Why do we have more MPs who
do that, make promises to stick and stick to them,
who you know, who have principles and don't bend and break.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
You have a five year term in the UK? Are
you stuck with Starma til twenty twenty nine?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well?
Speaker 11 (30:53):
I think so, although you know I had a conversation today.
If he steps down from in the Labor Party doesn't
mean that we'll have a little trigger election. It means
that we could have somebody even worse behind him. So
it's a bit of a challenge. It's a bit of
a challenge at the moment. And for the last decade
we've been talking about it, Jammie. You know in the
UK we've been voting. Instead of been voting for the
(31:14):
best person for the job, we've been voting for the
least worst.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
On a brighter night and wants to finish our chats
for twenty twenty five. The England rugby team has the
best winning percentage of any team in world rugby. You
only lost one game, I think, mind you. I don't
think you played the spring box. But I'd have to say,
at the moment as it stands, at the moment, the
box are hid and shoulders you a lot of second.
Speaker 10 (31:34):
I reckon, we've had a good year. We've had a
good year. Is a year to be proud of them.
And you know, the clubs seems doing pretty well. There's
some great club club sides behind that as well, wh
which is of course what feeds in. There's always a
little bit of controversy and a few bits and pieces
going on today in the newspaper, but it's great and
(31:55):
twenty twenty five with a team who are riding high.
So yeah, perhaps give you a bit of a run
for your money. I think we've got an easy pool again,
haven't we. That's that's what normally happens.
Speaker 11 (32:05):
A lot a lot of the antipodies in particularly get
upset about that, But yeah, I don't mind an easy run.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
You see you in the semis, well, you may see
us in the quarters, depending on whether we throw a
game to Australia to avoid the spring box. That's another
story for another day. Plus you've got Henry Pollock Farmer
Tom Martin, thanks for your contribution throughout twenty twenty five.
Merry Christmas. I hope you get a white Christmas.
Speaker 11 (32:28):
So it's come on behalf of the people of the
United Kingdom. Wish you in museum that verry Merry Christmas.
Speaker 5 (32:33):
And have a new yet put on your Tom Farmer,
Tom Martin. After the break, Labour's Egg spokesperson Joe Luxton,
we're going to tell you how you can win one
of those silver Fern Farms prize packs.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Dan cam please.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
For the final time and twenty twenty five it's Labour's
Egg spokesperson Joe Lucks and Joe we're getting a new
rama today hopefully a free trade agreement with India early
in the new year. What a great job this government's
doing good Jamie.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
It's nice to be on your show for the final
time for the year. And if I don't see you
or hear from here beforehand, I want to assure Merry
Christmas and all your listeners out there the im Yeah
it look will be really interesting to see what's in
that bill in particular, and you may or your listeners
may have heard Chris Hipkins comments today around the fact
(33:34):
that we would really like to be able to work
in a bipartisan way with the government on this piece
of legislation. Is the opportunity to.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
Do so, Yes, I'm sure you wouldn't agree with thens
so on an omissions policy, you're quite happy just to
charge farmers for their emissions and make them ny competitive
on the world stage.
Speaker 7 (33:51):
Joe, No, absolutely, we have not come out and said that.
We also went to the ministers with regard to that,
saying we wanted to work in a by partisan way.
They've come out with the targets and we're still yet
to see the information behind that, so we can understand
how they came to that decision and we'll continue that conversation.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
Surely you would agree that if Todd, McLay and Winston
and whoever else is involved can get a free trade
agreement over the line with India, that's great for New Zealand.
Speaker 11 (34:20):
Ink.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
You would have to pat them on the back, Joe.
Speaker 7 (34:23):
I think free trade agreements for New Zealand are beneficial.
No Hoomers and government and who gets them across the line.
I think further more, we can get out and trade
our for our primary producers. Has got to be a
good thing for New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
I was reading online this morning and this is topical.
I guess with IKEA coming to New Zealand, IKEA's Hawks
Bay pine Tree expansion flames fares, residents will be left
to pay. Now we're seeing wildfires already in the North Island.
It's only early December. We are setting ourselves up to
fail big time in this country with that carbon farming.
Speaker 7 (35:02):
I have real concerns about the increase in carbon farming, Jamie,
and I think people are right to be concerned with
regards to to wildfires and things like that, because you
know who pays for that at the end of the day,
you know, and it puts people, people's lives, livelihoods at
risk if we have those outbreaks like what we're seeing
overseas as well. And I think, you know, we need
(35:24):
to rethink the ETS a little bit with regards to
the carbon forestry farming as well. I just think the
way it's been set up it does and centivize that
type of behavior. And yeah, we really we've had conversations
and we've said in the Climate Selectmity piece of legislation
that Labour's differing views that we would we think it's
(35:47):
important that we really look at the etus in that regard.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Now, just a couple to quickly finish on the one
news variant pole. Last night. It was good news for
the coalition government was also quite good news for Labor
as a standalone an entity. Chris Sipkins is doing well.
He's holding his own there. Labor's are nudging National all
the way. The problem you've got Joe as your coalition partners.
The Green's dropped off. And here's the real dilemma for
(36:12):
you guys as I see it, to Party Maury are
an absolute cotcase at the moment. Your only pathway as
I see it, towards government is to get to Party Mariy,
to win the Maori seats, get an overhang in Parliament
and get in that way. Otherwise the numbers just aren't
going to work for you. Are you conflicted on that
or is Labor going to go fall out on those
(36:32):
Maori seats?
Speaker 7 (36:34):
Yeah? The issues that you're seeing play out within the
party are the issues and that's for them to work out.
We are going to be running hard campaigns to ininbent
all those Mary seats, and we think we've got good
chance of doing that. We'll do everything we can to
do that, but it.
Speaker 5 (36:51):
Will probably block your pathway to government.
Speaker 7 (36:55):
Not necessarily, Jamie. I think there's still a long way
to go, a lot of things to play out before
the next and you know who knows where the cards
will fall.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
All right, No, you and I agree to disagree on
that one. Good on you, Joe, Merry Christmas. Will see
you next year and enjoy and Mackay's are on me.
Speaker 7 (37:12):
Yeah, thanks so much, Jamie, have a good.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
One, thanks Joe. Well, you listeners out there can enjoy
a Silver Firm Farms meatpack on me and the team
here at the country. Text one and your name in
your address to five double O nine will announce the
winners of that one tomorrow. As I said at the
top of the show, this is out in John's tribute
to his mate John Lennon. Empty garden, so Mark David
(37:35):
Chapman waited outside, got an autograph from John Lennon. At
five pm, Lennin went to the recording studio with his wife,
Yoko Ono. They got back at ten fifty pm and
outside the Dakota Building just off Central Park in New York.
He shot them and that was the end of one
of the greatest musicians musical figures of the twentyth century.
(38:00):
We'll catch you back tomorrow. Joy the rest of your day.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
We catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie mckaye. Thanks to Brent Starkest of
the leading agriculture brands
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com