July 13, 2026 • 40 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Daniel Eb, Chloe Butcher-Herries, Mark de Lautour, and Farmer Tom Martin.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch are the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to a Suzu Get demo,
deals on the tough Dmax today.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Get a good afternoon, New Zealand. I'm Jamie McKay. This
is the Country, brought to you by Farmlands and is SUSA.
Any day I can play the pit shop Boys is
a happy day for me here on the Country. The
song is called Opportunities Waiting on Hold. I've got the
deputy leader of the Opportunity Party, Daniel Ebb, a man
(00:54):
with a good rural background, been working for a number
of years in rural pr But if the Opportunity Party
was to get past the five percent threshold and on
the latest ah in zed Pole they're knocking on the door,
would it be the death now for farming in New Zealand.
You're going to have to listen out to what he
(01:14):
has to say in his defense. Chloe Butcher, Harry's Dynamic
Young Hawks, Bay Sheep and Beef Farmer. Just back from
the lamme X conference in Adelaide, where she was one
of the guest speakers. Mark Delatore, chief executive of Open
Country Dairy. Yesterday Fonterra came out slashed. That might be
an exaggeration, dropped at the forecast milk price by fifty cents.
(01:37):
What is their main competitor? Think of that? And earlier
this morning I caught up with farmer Tom Martin, our
UK farming correspondent. If you think farming's tough in New Zealand,
it's not really at the moment, Let's be honest about it.
Other than the weather and there are some areas that
are battling awebit. But gee, the old British farmers have
got it tough. They've got a heat wave, they've got
(01:59):
a drought, got a new Prime Minister coming and who
may be even worse than the one they had before
when it comes to farming. And of course I couldn't
let the opportunity no pun intended there pass had to
ask time earlier this morning when I caught up with him,
because it's like one o'clock in the morning over there.
Now is football coming home. It's all on the country
(02:21):
between now and one. Well, this is a really interesting story,
(02:52):
isn't it. The latest Star in z poll out suggesting
that if the Opportunity Party was to get past five percent,
and they're currently sitting at four point seven percent, we
could get a change of government to tell us more opportunity.
Party Deputy leader, a bloke with the rural background, PR
expert Daniel Ebb. Daniel, We've doubt over the years through
(03:16):
many things. Now I'm talking to you as a potential
minister in a labor government.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, you put it like that. It sounds a little
bit startling, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, you didn't bite when I threw out a potential
minister in a labor government.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Oh and than a labor government. Listen, we're a centrist party.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
There's a reason that I've decided to put on hold
all the sort of open farms, the agwork I've done
over the last couple of years because New Zealand's sort
of found itself in quite a tribal place when it
comes to politics. You've kind of got this sort of
pendulum that swings between a right leaning government to build
stuff and then a left Guinean government comes in and
(03:57):
wrecks it up for the next couple of years and
not really moving forward. We're kind of just swinging from
side to side. And so I can understand why some
people saying, oh, you go with the left other people saying, well,
go with the right as the opportunity party. But we're
not standing to solidify either of those blocks. We're standing
to be a actual constructive centrist partner that can work
(04:19):
with both of those Well.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Let's be honest. You want to cut hang on, Daniel,
you want to cut Winston Peter's lunch. You guys want
to be the king maker. What surprises me so much?
And I know you're very smart at your job and
pr and you must be doing a good job because
you advertise, for God's sake, for a leader. You get
this young businesswoman who is your new leader. All of
(04:41):
a sudden you're nudging the five percent threshold. It's like
you're the party political flavor of the month. What have
you actually done to deserve it?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Fair core mate, Well, there's a lot in that. So
to your first question, yes, we are trying to displace
New Zealand first as the centrist party. I would argue
that they aren't no longer capable of being an effective
centrist party because they're clearly aligned to the rights and
so it's important that we have political stability, like the
(05:11):
schooling systems that my kat is going to the infrastructure
systems that I drive to work every day, the plumbing,
all that kind of stuff. All that stuff was kind
of generally built in the sixties and seventies and eighties
at a time when we had profound sense of political stability.
We've lost that now, and as a result, we've kind
of lost our way as a country. And so we
think that the ability to operate as a constructive centrist
(05:33):
partner that can hold both labor and national to account
is really really important in order that do we build
the education systems and the pipes of the infrastructure that
my kids are going to grow up in. So, yeah,
we think we do need a centrist partner that can
work really really well with you.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, okay, Well, what about the voodoo economics? And that's
what I'd call it, a universal basic income or a
universal wage? Why are we bothering with that? How does
that make economic sense? Where's the s to get off
your backside and go and work and get ahead?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Sure, so, at nineteen grand a year, it's very difficult
to live on the citizen's income. It's not designed to
be a wage that everyone can use and knock out
and work. There is the data that we've seen from
trials overseas tell the opposite story. It gives people a
sense of security. You know, I've had some illness in
(06:26):
my family recently, so I had to step back from work.
But it wasn't enough to sort of go on to
a benefit or anything like that. I just needed three
months I could look after family members. But that is
a part of the world that we live in now,
and increasingly we need a social welfare system that can
handle massive job losses when AI kicks in, it can
handle economic shocks. The problem we've got right now with
(06:48):
our social benefit system is that it's incredibly complicated and
full of bureaucracy, Like you're going to spend more time
on the phone to wins saying, oh, my girlfriends stayed
of my house only two nights last week, so do
I still get accommodation supplements. That's not an effective efficient system.
If we're going to do social welfare, let's write it
into code instead of having several thousand ministry.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, that sounds fun and practice, Daniel ab but who's
paying for this?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
So what do you pay for it?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
We put the citizens income with a land value tax,
so our tax reset is basically two mechanisms for that
work in tandem. The citizens income ensures that we that
every key we get to the security and stability they
need in order to contribute to society, and we pay
for that by kind of throttling land value in New Zealand.
(07:37):
That's sort of the second fundamental problem that we're trying
to address is that we've put all of our capital
into massively overinflated land prices. And so with our land
value tax, which you mentioned one point seventy five percent
on residential land, zero point five percent on rural land,
that creates sort of the ability to shift capital from
(07:59):
land to people, which we think is really important going forward.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
I want to talk about your background. I think you
grew up on a farm in Northland.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Grew up Yes, I was really lucky. I had a
really special upbringing. I think a really unique one was
both sort of suburban and rural. So I'd be in
Auckland during the weeks and then go up to the
family farm on weekend, so I'd be sort of pitching
journo's at my mum's communications business and then going banging
fence post with dad on the weekend. So I'm considering
(08:29):
myself pretty lucky to have that.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
You realize that a center left government with the Greens
having a big say and it could be the death
now for farming in this country. Does that not worry you?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
I don't think that kind of rhetoric. Is that helpful?
Speaker 1 (08:42):
You know?
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Well, well what notking on? I'm going to hold pull
you up on that. Why is it not helpful? We
know what the Greens policies are they and I'm not
saying they would get them through. I'm hoping that Labour
would have enough sense to forge their own policies. I'm
still waiting for some of their policies at least you
guys have got some. But tell me what's going to
be good about a center left government for New Zealand farmers.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, I won't defend the Green's policies so they're undefensible. Yeah,
I won't talk to their policies. I'm only talk about.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
So you agree with me on that one. Yeah, But
I mean all this playing king maker and we're a
centrist party, we're going to go either way. That's bollocks. Daniel.
You and I both know that there's only one way
the Opportunity Party is going to go. If you get
past five percent, and that is in coalition with Labor,
which if we're to believe the current pulse, would swing
(09:35):
the pendulum in favor of a center left government.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I can understand where you're coming from, mate, I can
understand that. But New Zealand does not need another party
added to the left block. It does not need another
party added to the right block. Like all of us
have come from startup businesses, we've got families. Why we
go through the ringer of politics just to add to
the problem. And so you know, there's lots of different
(10:04):
things in our country that need more stability added to it.
Farming is one of them. Environmental protection is another, long
term infrastructure development, a superannuation plan that actually acknowledges that
we are on a fiscal you know, we're heading towards
a fiscal cliff. Those things are sacrificing because we haven't
got a party that can work with both sides. And
so I take this to the bank right now. We
(10:26):
will not pick a side. It's important that we can
retain the ability to both work with national and both
work and work with Labor. You know, we've made it
very clear that we will start negotiations with the party
with the largest vote share after the election, because we
think that delivers more stable.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, which will we labor.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
We don't know what the polling says that right now,
it's what three four percent in it?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Who knows.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Just to finish on Daniel ab and I do appreciate
your time. I don't agree with the citizen's income, I
don't agree with the land value text. But you've got
three major policy platforms and I totally agree with your
third one compulsory key we saver. And it would appear
to me that there seems to be a bit of
a bipartisan approach right across the political spectrum for us
(11:14):
to do this as a nation.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Yeah, there absolutely is this bipartisan approach to Q. We
say with this now bipartisan approach to solar and residential bills,
we're sort of getting to some biparts an approach on infrastructure.
So our big question is why isn't it happening? Why
have we not got a thirty year intergenerational infrastructure plan.
Why do we not have a ten year cross party
(11:39):
health plan. These things are required. You know, you look
at places like Singapore, right you know they are who
they are as a nation, and they are where they
are because they've had decades of political stability. That's the
fundamental issue that we're trying to solve as a party.
You know, I love our policy that policies are great,
but really what we need as a constructive centrist player
(12:02):
that can sit labor and national down say hey, you too,
sign up to an intergenerational infrastructure plan. Let's agree on
how we're going to treat superannuation for the next thirty
forty to fifty years. We cannot move forward to a
country until we've got those things. And so I appreciate
you saying, oh, we're just going to be a lefty
party all that kind of stuff, but that's not what
we're standing for because that's not what New Zealand needs.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I can agree on the latter. Daniel ab Deputy Leader
of the Opportunity Party. It's going to be a fascinating
run into that November seven election. We will keep in touch.
Thanks to your time, No worries.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Nineteen after twelve feedback coming in thick and fast on
the text line five double oh nine. Just reiterating my
position for what it's worth citizens income nah, Land value
tax definitely Nah. Compulsory key. We say v I can
live with that one, and I think there's a genuine
well across several parties to have that one. Some of
(12:56):
your feedback coming in on this one, and even though
Daniel did his best to deny it, a vote for
the Opportunity Party is a vote for a center left government.
Can't see it playing out any other way. Here's a
text coming and so obviously from a farmer, I would
assume so before I pay any other tax, I pay
forty two thousand dollars in land tax, regardless of whether
(13:18):
we are making any money. May as well give up
right now. Someone else says, so, just because someone owns land,
they will be taxed to pay for someone to sit
on their ars and get a benefit. Why must we
keep paying for people who can work not to work? Fair?
Point next one I can't read because there's too many
(13:39):
swear words in it. Jamie the Top Party or another
bloody Green party? Mad As Hatters from Laura regular Texter.
Opportunities Party says another Texter can't wait to be a beneficiary.
It's interesting times. Paul Henry is just announced, by the way,
that he is going to be candidate for the act part.
(14:00):
It's kind of celebrity candidates happening out there at the moment.
Up next, we're heading straight to the cold Face to
a sheep and beef farm in Central Hawk's Bay. Chloe
Butcher Harry's up next on the Country. Some ty better off,
(14:26):
Dad is a gun in your heart? That's twenty at
your hair.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
You think you're mad too unstated, kicking in chairs and
knocking down tables in.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Arrest, not chatting to young, energetic, dynamic people on the
country because a lot of people would say that's the
antithesis of the host. I'moni joking there. There's a wee
bit of life left in me yet, but this young
lady is definitely all of the former. Her name is
Chloe Butcher Harry. She was the finalist in the Zander
McDonald Awards this year. In twenty twenty two, she was
(14:54):
the Ahufenuwa Young Farmer of the Year. Hey, Chloe, great
to catch up with you again. Do you realize that
you and I were both in Adelaide last week? You
were big noting it at the lame X conference and
I was looking after grandkids that you might have got
the better deal.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Afternoon, Jamie Hey, look, I did not know that, and
but I knew you should have snuck your way into
the lamex conference. It was I tell you what, these
Aussies know how to put it on and they did
a fantastic event and what on it was to represent
our country and speak on a panelist there.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Well, talk to me about the lamme x conference, because
I did have a look at it online. They were
charging fifteen hundred bucks. I guess I could have played
the old New Zealand media card, but I know it's
a huge event. We have nothing like it here in
New Zealand for the sheep industry, do we, because you
had like fifteen hundred attendees.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah. Like I said, the Aussies know how to put
it on. And I got an email from me not
long after the xanimate donald the wards and this is Stam.
You know these guys want this key with you to
speak on I'd say, New Zealand's behalf really and be
up on stage. So it took me a bit to respond,
but I finally did and it wasn't It was indeed
that they were pretty serious about wanting me to speak
(16:05):
and how good. Like I felt very privileged and hopefully
I did New Zealand prout, but it was I was
up on a panel with two other Australian bloats and
we're just talking about our systems on farm and a
few changes we've made.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
For us.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
It was diving into technology with the hold callers and
diversifying a bit with cash coppying, sheep, beefs man finishing
and breeding. So yeah, good good stories to tell and
I think we all did pretty well at doing it.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
So you talked about all these innovative things you're doing
on your farm, you run it managing, running a sheep
and beef farm in Central Hawk's Bay there, So you know,
what are the take home messages that you gave to
these people about what you were doing.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
I think it goes to culture and the people. You've
got a good culture, you'll be able to drive your
people look after them and they look after you. And
the best thing about that, Jamie wasn't the only one
that talked about having a good cold trimd of people.
The Aussies definitely spoke about that, which is a good sign.
Good thing to see here, and also embracing the changes
of technology and not running away from them. I think
(17:11):
we all know it's there, it's coming and it's great,
so picking that collar up and getting onto it and
doing that. And also it was about telling our stories.
And for us as New Zealanders, we've got a great
story to tell and I'm not being biased or anything,
but a far better one than the Australians. Thus, finishing
one hundred and twenty thousand lambs on seablots, we're finishing
(17:32):
beautiful well feed the right way animals and our green
pastures out on the land. And if we can get
more people to tell those stories, Jamie as a consumer
that are seen on social media, everyone's on it with
a like social media not you're a scroller, you do it.
And if you're in the States or anywhere in the world,
can you see a New Zealand lambret? This is the
(17:53):
Aussie lambret. But you've seen that video that you're scrolled
across about how they were said, well towards the Australians
going to pick that meat over anything else, even if
it's tootle is more. It's a good story to tell
and we've got to remember that that we have a
good one to tell.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Talk to me about how the Wolter collars fit into
your farming operation.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
We've got two thousand hicktares at the back of danny Urk.
And to be honest, the fences went well looked after
for the last twenty years. So it was either this
farm was going to go in to pine trees Jamie,
or it was this young girl is going to come
in and say nope, let's put holt callers on. And
the good old owners they stood by that too. And
now we have running our beef cows up there through
(18:34):
hold that they are our senses. I'm not gonna lie.
They are literally our senses. We're not using it intensively
like a finishing property. It's just literally keeping these kettle
in boundaries and it's phenomenal. For example, I finished my
I wean my kettle. My wien is this is probably
going to sound it's filly. But two months later then
(18:55):
what I've ever done before and reason being, the mums
were absolutely find a good note. But these calves were
just pumping on mum off mum because they could get
through that virtual fence and just eat wealth. And yeah,
so that to me was a game changer. And yeah,
just virtual fencing off good of waterways too. Which was
quite well.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Ultimately, do you think Holter might have more applications for
the beef industry, And I know that's where they're looking
to expand worldwide than the dairy industry.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
I think so. To be honest, you know, you go
out in Texas where they've got thousands of acres, heck
bears is one pad it. These guys are just going
to be able to just put up virtual fences and
finish their kettle a hell of a lot better and
safer and up in the East coast, Jamie, we all
know that they keep getting hit time and time again.
Senses are coming down, Animals are getting lost, animals are
(19:45):
getting hurt.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
All that jazz.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
You put a collar on those animals, you know exactly
where they are, and you can get them to high ground.
You can keep them off the danger zones. And better yet,
you don't have to keep refensing these properties that are
just kept sucking the dry.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Now, you and I, as as said early, we're both
in Adelaide. Last week we avoided the worst of the
weather house. Your farms survived because the east coast of
both islands took a bit of a pummeling.
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Yes, we're quite lucky. We're in Central Walks Bay here
and I'll tell you what it was dry and then
it got weird. And yeah, we're doing quite well. I
think we're quite fortunate here in the sort of basement
here it is where we're I'm seeing puddles. We are
and send them for a long time. But it's probably
a good thing. We haven't had rain like what we
should be having in the last three years since Gabrielle.
(20:31):
So we're actually looking okay. And I fear to say
that because I feel for your people in the White
Upper and all that. But we're quite lucky here. Yes,
we've been looked after.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Chloe Butcher harries dynamic young New Zealand farmer. I can
call you that, can't I? Chloe? I think so. He
sounded pretty sound pretty impressive to me. Anyhow, Hey, great
to catch up. You keep up the good work.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Go on.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
Thank you. Jamie's having me on.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Always a pleasure. Thank you, Chloe. Twenty nine after twelve
you're country. Thank you, farm Lands and Isuzu. If you're
in Auckland, go and visit the Isuzu dealer there. Hamish
Mikayel sal you a new Isuzu. The dmac shoot or
the m UX seven seater, lots of room for golf
(21:15):
clubs and that little puppy or big puppy. Anyhow, some
of your feedback this is really true and I'm going
to address this subject hopefully with Jim Hopkins this week
on the Country. We already have a land tax. It
is the ripoff of local body rates from burn and
the matter of what two and burn you bang on everyone.
(21:36):
We're all townies included are getting ripped off for rates,
but nothing compared to you farmers. You don't get anything.
You get hardly nothing for your rates. It is one
of the great ripoffs. So yeah, I honestly some of
their policies opportunity party. I'm talking about way for thin
if you ask me anyhow, that's only one man's opinion.
(21:57):
Up next Michelle with Rural News. We'll have a look
at sports news for you before the end of the hour.
Mark de Latour Open Country Derry what did he make
of Fonterra's announcement yesterday and farmer Tom Martin, a UK correspondent,
caught up with them earlier this morning. Football's coming home
Western coming up to twenty seven away from one. Here's
(22:29):
Michelle Watt with the latest and rural news.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
The country's world news with cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn bower bread. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot NZ for your local stockist.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good afternoon, Michelle. What do you got for?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
US?
Speaker 7 (22:45):
Specialized rubber products maker scalar Up has increased its annual
net profit forecast because of higher than expected demand in
the United States. Scalour Up increased its forecast to a
range of sixty four million two sixty five million, excluding
non recurring arising from insurance proceeds for damaged equipment for
the June year. The latest forecasts compared to earlier guidance
(23:05):
of fifty seven million to sixty two million and a
twenty twenty five net profit of fifty four point five million.
The upgrade follows on from a strong first half result
announced in February, which was despite the imposition of increased
US tariffs, and scourt will report its results for the
full twenty twenty six year on August the twentieth. You
can find more news at the country dot co dot.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
MZ and keep your feedback coming in on the Opportunity Party.
Four point seven percent in the latest RNZ read research pole.
Someone did point out, mind you, there's a lot of
undecideds in that pole, but interesting time. So his sport.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Sport on the country with AFCO invested in your foaming success.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Golfer Dame Lydia Coe will headline the field for the
return to the New Zealand Women's Open in March next year,
last out in twenty seventeen under the LPGA banner, the
tournament's will this time be sanctioned by the Ladies European
Tour and hosted at the Wainui Club north of Auckland.
(24:08):
Co has won the event three times twenty sixteen, twenty
fifteen and as a fifteen year old amateur in twenty thirteen.
And the black Caps have chased one hundred and thirty
nine and thirty two point four overs to beat the
West Indies by five wickets and level the One Day
Cricket International series at one all in Guyana. Spinner Jaden
Lennox took career best figures of five to nineteen as
(24:32):
the West Indies were skittled for one hundred and thirty
eight and just thirty six overs. Tom Latham and Michael
Brace will finish New Zealand's Chase unbeaten on thirty seven
and twenty four respectively. Their sport up Next. What does
Open Country Dairy make of Fonterra's reduced forecast milk price
announced yesterday. Mark Delatour is the chief executive of Open
(25:10):
Country Dairy, a second biggest dairy company, obviously behind Fonterra. Mark,
I want to ask you about what you made of
yesterday's announcement from Fonterra cutting fifty cents from its forecast
farmgate milk price for the season we have just started.
But before I do that, it's kind of a theme
this week football World Cup. You haven't been watching it
(25:33):
at all? Are you not interested in the angst and
the battle between England and Argentina. It is a bit
like you and Fonterra in some ways, if you don't
mind me saying so, Mark.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Well, Athon, Jamie. There's a lot of comparables, there isn't there.
Some people would argue I've got the stature of Diego Maradona,
maybe not the skills, but you know, you start talking
about the hand of God and all that sort of stuff. Well,
you do what you need to do to win, don't you.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Well, the hand of Miles has departed Fonterra. We've got
a new broom in there, Richard Allen. But I guess
it was fair enough, wasn't it. The GDT prices had
fallen eleven percent across the reference products since late May.
It made sense to well, fore warned is forearmed for
(26:20):
the farmer. Surely, how can you be critical of that?
Speaker 5 (26:24):
Well, I guess we're just going to take it with
a grain of salt. You know, Jamie, it's probably a
little bit disappointing if you look at last season. I
think the farm gain milk price started off at a
ten dollars forecast. I think it was November. You can
in fact check me on this at the end, Jamie,
I think it was November, dropped a nine fifty, a
few weeks later nine dollars, and then you know, I
(26:44):
think last seven's going to finish up maybe a little
under nine seventy. So there's a little bit of a
pattern over reaction here. For your listeners. What I will say,
Jamie's going to remember, an auction is an auction. It
doesn't necessarily dictate the man. So you know, if you're
selling your house and there's an auction. Auction day comes
(27:05):
along and there's a pile up on the motorway and
only one bit of turns up to the auction. You
may not get the price you wanted, but it's not
an indicator of the true value of your house. So
you know, we don't sell on the auction at open country.
But you know what I will say is just everyone
needs to take it for what it is and say,
(27:25):
right now, I guess we have the proverbial pile.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Up in the Middle East.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
You know, some of those buyers aren't aren't playing, they
haven't turned up for the auction, and of course it
doesn't take the Chinese and Southeast Asian, but is long
to figure that out. And so you know, let's not
just all assume that after three, you know, GDT performances
that aren't great, that the season's doomed.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
So nothing.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Were some industry players getting together and talking to market
down jail.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Well, the market goes up and down, and that's what
markets do. And it's and you mentioned back to late
last year, at one stage it looked like like our
payout or a milk price was going to start with
an eight.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
Yeah, exactly. So you know, I think what we have
to stand back and watch as a as an industry,
as a producer of proteins and fats. You know, the
GLP one drugs have just created a huge demand for proteins.
So you know, we can't produce enough. If I had
three cheese factories right now, I'd love it, you know,
(28:27):
Jamie so who can produce the way as much as anything.
But likewise, we've we've got still got strong butter prices.
So again, the dairy industries come through two fantastic years,
and so if you go back a year further into
three years back, you know, whole milk prices right now
probably three hundred dollars a ton better than three years ago,
skim milk six hundred dollars a ton better than three
(28:50):
years ago, and butter five hundred. Not to mention the
the there's about an eleven percent dollar impact on that
three year number.
Speaker 6 (28:57):
Allaw.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
So you know, let's just keep it real, be very
very confident that we're in a good space with demand,
and let's not make it a self fulfilling prophecy. I
think we're gonna be very careful about that and say, okay, yep,
we've seen some auction numbers that aren't pleasing, But let's
not make sure we drop our lip and give up
(29:21):
all hope because things are still very very good. And
we're talking about a milk price with a nine in it,
so you know, let's keep going.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah, but we are talking about a cost of production
with an eighth in it? Can I just ask you
about why that is, of course a byproduct of the
cheesemaking process. But does cheese and danger of being a
by product of way?
Speaker 5 (29:42):
Yeah, well, it certainly looks that way just at the moment,
doesn't it. Pardon the pun there, but it's quite frankly
we're seeing in America right now is way and to
an extent the fat component driving cheese production and cheese pricing.
Hands come off a little bit. But of this cheese
(30:02):
and then there's cheese, and then there's cheese. There's cheddar,
there's gouda, there's mozzarella. So in each of those types
of cheese have different returns for them. So it's about
producers of cheese being able to make sure they're covering
those markets and getting the most.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Out of it.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Where's Open Country going to finish on a weighted average
for the twenty five twenty sixth season. Do you know
that number yet?
Speaker 6 (30:27):
Yeah, we don't.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
Haven't quite finalized the fourth period. We're about a month
away from doing that. We obviously wash up our season
and finalize our price well before Fonterra finalized their season price.
But our numbers, you know, they're out there in the
public domain now. I think on a way to average
basis they about nine seventy four.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
I think on average.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Well we'll take that. That's not a bad number at all. Hey,
Mark Delator, Chief executive of Open Country. Deary, thanks for
your time today on the show, and you'll be pleased
to know that I didn't drop you, unlike Ryan Bridge,
great broadcaster Ryan, by the way, on his show, you
were meant to be starring there this morning, which annoyed
me a wee bit because I don't like it when
someone earlier in the day cuts my lunch. But you
(31:12):
got dropped for Sir sam Neil, so you know, we
stuck to our guns here on the Country. We've taken
you on instead.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
And I appreciate it, mate, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Thank you Mark. Here we might talk about Sir sam
Neil on tomorrow's show. Keep your feedback on the opportunity
party coming in on five double oh nine up next.
Earlier this morning I caught up with farmer Tom Martin
in the UK. We want to start.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
Play, he will be.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Here's our UK farm and correspondent farmer Tom Martin, social
media influencer arable farmer going through tough times with a
heat wave and drought and low prices. But let's be
positive to start the swed chat Tom, Football's coming home.
It's coming home or is it? There's a rich irony
around the Argentina England game on Wednesday night, your time.
(32:07):
Falkland's War nineteen eighty two, hand of God was Maradona
nineteen eighty six? A bit of needle? You can't beat that,
that's right.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
There's been a bit of a chat about raising the
talks again about turning the Falklands over to Argentina, but
of course we've been there since before Argentina was a country,
so I don't think it's something we're going to be
going to be raising again. But I do hope that
we give them a sound thrashing in the semis. I mean,
(32:36):
who knows, tremendous team, but England have performed really well
and they've done they've done what it takes. You know
what it took to win, so they found a way,
I think is what Harry came said. And I think
you know, great teams will find a way, as you
know the All Blacks fantastic team often find a way.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Well, do you think the England will totally come to
a standstore Wednesday evening your time?
Speaker 4 (33:01):
I think it's very likely because this is the first
one that's been been a decent reasonable hour for us.
It's eight pm UK time. The previous games have been
at ten pm. We've had one at one am. We
had another one at ten pm recently, so I think
far more likely to stoke a bit of interest for
people who didn't have to stay.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Up all night to watch it, and'll take your mind
off some of the woes that farmers are facing. We
know all about your heat wave and your drought. You've
had Wimbledon. Wimbledon's normally sometimes it can be a rainmaker
for British farmers. Didn't really come to pass this time round.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
Well, come on, Jamie, it normally has the Jamie McKay
guarantee of rain. I mean, I think I think this.
I think you've been more confident in previous years, but
it certainly hasn't come true, and certainly not in this
in the in the east, in the south of the UK,
where we desperately desperately need the rain. They're talking about
a little bit of rain coming at the end of
the week. But I don't you know, it's it's it's
(34:00):
not going to help us at all.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
How is this affecting crop yields because I'm assuming that
some of your autumn zone crops are now coming off.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
I started the week today, the winter sow in the
autumn zone week today in fields that look great all year.
Almost a lot of crops around here have looked fantastic,
tremendous crops all year long. And as I looked out
at the combine window, I looked at a crop that
should be yielding nine to ten tons to the hectear.
It looked great and it was yielding six. Now I really,
(34:34):
on our economics, I really need seven and a half
tons to the hectaar to break even. So it's absolutely shocking.
I've been speaking to neighbors, although it's been whispered because
not many people are sharing their yields. It's, you know,
the people who typically share their pub yields. Oh yes,
I'm terribly disappointed there, and you've got eleven tons of
the hectair. They've been very quiet recently, but a lot
(34:55):
of neighbors are struggling with wheat at the five and
six tens to the hectair mark and some even lower.
It's going to be it's going to be a critical time.
There will be businesses going under, and we're under a
lot of pressure already with with different tax regimes and things.
It's it's absolutely critical. I've got I feel like I've
said this to you a couple of times on our
calls over the years, but this is a really, really
(35:17):
tough time. St.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Swithin's Day is coming up this week. What relevance does
that have to your weather patterns? Isn't there some old
folklore around that?
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Well? Do you know a lot of a lot of
old folk lare is based on pretty sound observation back
when our forefathers had very litle else to do them.
Consider the weather basically, the the the beautiful little ditty
Basically it says if it rains on since Swithin States
this Wednesday, then it will rain for forty days, where
(35:48):
if it's if it's fair on Wednesday, we'll have forty
days of fair weather. Now, the forecast was for drop
a rain, which ironically I don't think we really want
right now. I don't think we want forty days of rain,
but I take a little drop of rain. But it's now,
it's now changed away. The rain stayed away and it's
going to be dry on Wednesday. So I really want
(36:08):
half it into rain overnight every night for about three nights.
That'll do me, Thank you very much, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Well, that's not too much to ask for, mind you.
There could be a bright cloud on the horizon and
the form of Andy Burnham. I think he becomes your
new Prime Minister officially next Monday or is he going
to be worse for farmers?
Speaker 4 (36:30):
One of the first things he's been talking about is
a land value capture tax. He's one of these people,
he's amongst the crowd, the one to tax wealth well
and university commerce because we're losing money on the farm
and on every farm in this part of the country.
But yeah, so he could be I mean, he could
(36:52):
be an absolute disaster. Interestingly, I think I said this before,
but a lot of the labor activists were desperately keen
to have an election when an unelected leader became a
leader of the Conservative Party. There for Prime Minister has
been very quiet when when when the roles reverse, So
it'll be very interesting. He's a dynamic, popular leader. He's
(37:16):
a guy who seems to have a history of getting
things done. Let's hope he doesn't absolutely cook our farming
industry for kind of some taxation victory.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Just to finish on an interesting observation that you made,
we talked about the needle, the historic needle between England
and Argentina. Well that's nothing. That is a drop in
the ocean compared to the historic needle between England and Scotland.
And you're you're expressing disappointment, Tom Martin that the Scotts
aren't backing your football side.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Well, as you may well know, I'm about unity. I'm
a fair compatitory, so I love a good contest, particular
with an odd shape or but like I could even
tolerate these soccer these soccer types. But what I just
find really disappointing, and it's not all Scottish people by
by a long stretch, is that there seems to be
(38:14):
a certain number of people north of the border, who
were passionately Mexican about ten days ago. They've had a
flirtation in Norway, all kinds of reasons why the Scotts
should support Norwegians, and now all of a sudden a
nation that that was well. It was part of the
Falklands War against the Argentine in ninety eight. Two Scottish
(38:36):
men died to defend the Bricks in the Falklands and
now suddenly becoming massive Argentine fans. I just I just
find that a little bit disappointing. I have to say
I would always support a Home nation side. Dare I say, gosh,
I think even if they were playing against the All Blacks,
I think i'd despite being a big fan of the
All Blacks, I think I'd probably cheer on Whales or
(38:57):
Scotland or Ireland if they were against you guys.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Mind you you're a big fan of Jacinda, so there
is no accounting for taste. Farmer Tom Martin, thank you
very much for your time.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
It's always a pleasure. Don't you talk about that woman
like that?
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Yes, I was only joking. That was Farmer Tom caught
up with them earlier this morning. He is just and
A's biggest fanboy. Up next, we're going to wrap the
show with your feedback. Okay, you wrapping the Country on
a Tuesday with some of your feedback. New Zealand should sorry,
(39:38):
lots of feedback coming in. The screen's moving on me.
In fact, my screen has just died completely on me.
Here it as it's come back, Jamie. Agree with your
assessment on top as generalizations as to a progressive centrist
position breaks down entirely when measures when measured against universal
land tax and universal wage. That is called Marxism, says Don.
(40:00):
And my tech screen is moving big time. I hope
it'll settles down for tomorrow's show. We'll catch you then.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie Mackay thanks to Aisuzu get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax Today
Catch are the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to a Suzu Get demo,
deals on the tough Dmax today.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Get a good afternoon, New Zealand. I'm Jamie McKay. This
is the Country, brought to you by Farmlands and is SUSA.
Any day I can play the pit shop Boys is
a happy day for me here on the Country. The
song is called Opportunities Waiting on Hold. I've got the
deputy leader of the Opportunity Party, Daniel Ebb, a man
(00:54):
with a good rural background, been working for a number
of years in rural pr But if the Opportunity Party
was to get past the five percent threshold and on
the latest ah in zed Pole they're knocking on the door,
would it be the death now for farming in New Zealand.
You're going to have to listen out to what he
(01:14):
has to say in his defense. Chloe Butcher, Harry's Dynamic
Young Hawks, Bay Sheep and Beef Farmer. Just back from
the lamme X conference in Adelaide, where she was one
of the guest speakers. Mark Delatore, chief executive of Open
Country Dairy. Yesterday Fonterra came out slashed. That might be
an exaggeration, dropped at the forecast milk price by fifty cents.
(01:37):
What is their main competitor? Think of that? And earlier
this morning I caught up with farmer Tom Martin, our
UK farming correspondent. If you think farming's tough in New Zealand,
it's not really at the moment, Let's be honest about it.
Other than the weather and there are some areas that
are battling awebit. But gee, the old British farmers have
got it tough. They've got a heat wave, they've got
(01:59):
a drought, got a new Prime Minister coming and who
may be even worse than the one they had before
when it comes to farming. And of course I couldn't
let the opportunity no pun intended there pass had to
ask time earlier this morning when I caught up with him,
because it's like one o'clock in the morning over there.
Now is football coming home. It's all on the country
(02:21):
between now and one. Well, this is a really interesting story,
(02:52):
isn't it. The latest Star in z poll out suggesting
that if the Opportunity Party was to get past five percent,
and they're currently sitting at four point seven percent, we
could get a change of government to tell us more opportunity.
Party Deputy leader, a bloke with the rural background, PR
expert Daniel Ebb. Daniel, We've doubt over the years through
(03:16):
many things. Now I'm talking to you as a potential
minister in a labor government.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, you put it like that. It sounds a little
bit startling, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, you didn't bite when I threw out a potential
minister in a labor government.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Oh and than a labor government. Listen, we're a centrist party.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
There's a reason that I've decided to put on hold
all the sort of open farms, the agwork I've done
over the last couple of years because New Zealand's sort
of found itself in quite a tribal place when it
comes to politics. You've kind of got this sort of
pendulum that swings between a right leaning government to build
stuff and then a left Guinean government comes in and
(03:57):
wrecks it up for the next couple of years and
not really moving forward. We're kind of just swinging from
side to side. And so I can understand why some
people saying, oh, you go with the left other people saying, well,
go with the right as the opportunity party. But we're
not standing to solidify either of those blocks. We're standing
to be a actual constructive centrist partner that can work
(04:19):
with both of those Well.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Let's be honest. You want to cut hang on, Daniel,
you want to cut Winston Peter's lunch. You guys want
to be the king maker. What surprises me so much?
And I know you're very smart at your job and
pr and you must be doing a good job because
you advertise, for God's sake, for a leader. You get
this young businesswoman who is your new leader. All of
(04:41):
a sudden you're nudging the five percent threshold. It's like
you're the party political flavor of the month. What have
you actually done to deserve it?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Fair core mate, Well, there's a lot in that. So
to your first question, yes, we are trying to displace
New Zealand first as the centrist party. I would argue
that they aren't no longer capable of being an effective
centrist party because they're clearly aligned to the rights and
so it's important that we have political stability, like the
(05:11):
schooling systems that my kat is going to the infrastructure
systems that I drive to work every day, the plumbing,
all that kind of stuff. All that stuff was kind
of generally built in the sixties and seventies and eighties
at a time when we had profound sense of political stability.
We've lost that now, and as a result, we've kind
of lost our way as a country. And so we
think that the ability to operate as a constructive centrist
(05:33):
partner that can hold both labor and national to account
is really really important in order that do we build
the education systems and the pipes of the infrastructure that
my kids are going to grow up in. So, yeah,
we think we do need a centrist partner that can
work really really well with you.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, okay, Well, what about the voodoo economics? And that's
what I'd call it, a universal basic income or a
universal wage? Why are we bothering with that? How does
that make economic sense? Where's the s to get off
your backside and go and work and get ahead?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Sure, so, at nineteen grand a year, it's very difficult
to live on the citizen's income. It's not designed to
be a wage that everyone can use and knock out
and work. There is the data that we've seen from
trials overseas tell the opposite story. It gives people a
sense of security. You know, I've had some illness in
(06:26):
my family recently, so I had to step back from work.
But it wasn't enough to sort of go on to
a benefit or anything like that. I just needed three
months I could look after family members. But that is
a part of the world that we live in now,
and increasingly we need a social welfare system that can
handle massive job losses when AI kicks in, it can
handle economic shocks. The problem we've got right now with
(06:48):
our social benefit system is that it's incredibly complicated and
full of bureaucracy, Like you're going to spend more time
on the phone to wins saying, oh, my girlfriends stayed
of my house only two nights last week, so do
I still get accommodation supplements. That's not an effective efficient system.
If we're going to do social welfare, let's write it
into code instead of having several thousand ministry.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, that sounds fun and practice, Daniel ab but who's
paying for this?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
So what do you pay for it?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
We put the citizens income with a land value tax,
so our tax reset is basically two mechanisms for that
work in tandem. The citizens income ensures that we that
every key we get to the security and stability they
need in order to contribute to society, and we pay
for that by kind of throttling land value in New Zealand.
(07:37):
That's sort of the second fundamental problem that we're trying
to address is that we've put all of our capital
into massively overinflated land prices. And so with our land
value tax, which you mentioned one point seventy five percent
on residential land, zero point five percent on rural land,
that creates sort of the ability to shift capital from
(07:59):
land to people, which we think is really important going forward.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
I want to talk about your background. I think you
grew up on a farm in Northland.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Grew up Yes, I was really lucky. I had a
really special upbringing. I think a really unique one was
both sort of suburban and rural. So I'd be in
Auckland during the weeks and then go up to the
family farm on weekend, so I'd be sort of pitching
journo's at my mum's communications business and then going banging
fence post with dad on the weekend. So I'm considering
(08:29):
myself pretty lucky to have that.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
You realize that a center left government with the Greens
having a big say and it could be the death
now for farming in this country. Does that not worry you?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
I don't think that kind of rhetoric. Is that helpful?
Speaker 1 (08:42):
You know?
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Well, well what notking on? I'm going to hold pull
you up on that. Why is it not helpful? We
know what the Greens policies are they and I'm not
saying they would get them through. I'm hoping that Labour
would have enough sense to forge their own policies. I'm
still waiting for some of their policies at least you
guys have got some. But tell me what's going to
be good about a center left government for New Zealand farmers.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, I won't defend the Green's policies so they're undefensible. Yeah,
I won't talk to their policies. I'm only talk about.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
So you agree with me on that one. Yeah, But
I mean all this playing king maker and we're a
centrist party, we're going to go either way. That's bollocks. Daniel.
You and I both know that there's only one way
the Opportunity Party is going to go. If you get
past five percent, and that is in coalition with Labor,
which if we're to believe the current pulse, would swing
(09:35):
the pendulum in favor of a center left government.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I can understand where you're coming from, mate, I can
understand that. But New Zealand does not need another party
added to the left block. It does not need another
party added to the right block. Like all of us
have come from startup businesses, we've got families. Why we
go through the ringer of politics just to add to
the problem. And so you know, there's lots of different
(10:04):
things in our country that need more stability added to it.
Farming is one of them. Environmental protection is another, long
term infrastructure development, a superannuation plan that actually acknowledges that
we are on a fiscal you know, we're heading towards
a fiscal cliff. Those things are sacrificing because we haven't
got a party that can work with both sides. And
so I take this to the bank right now. We
(10:26):
will not pick a side. It's important that we can
retain the ability to both work with national and both
work and work with Labor. You know, we've made it
very clear that we will start negotiations with the party
with the largest vote share after the election, because we
think that delivers more stable.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, which will we labor.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
We don't know what the polling says that right now,
it's what three four percent in it?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Who knows.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Just to finish on Daniel ab and I do appreciate
your time. I don't agree with the citizen's income, I
don't agree with the land value text. But you've got
three major policy platforms and I totally agree with your
third one compulsory key we saver. And it would appear
to me that there seems to be a bit of
a bipartisan approach right across the political spectrum for us
(11:14):
to do this as a nation.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Yeah, there absolutely is this bipartisan approach to Q. We
say with this now bipartisan approach to solar and residential bills,
we're sort of getting to some biparts an approach on infrastructure.
So our big question is why isn't it happening? Why
have we not got a thirty year intergenerational infrastructure plan.
Why do we not have a ten year cross party
(11:39):
health plan. These things are required. You know, you look
at places like Singapore, right you know they are who
they are as a nation, and they are where they
are because they've had decades of political stability. That's the
fundamental issue that we're trying to solve as a party.
You know, I love our policy that policies are great,
but really what we need as a constructive centrist player
(12:02):
that can sit labor and national down say hey, you too,
sign up to an intergenerational infrastructure plan. Let's agree on
how we're going to treat superannuation for the next thirty
forty to fifty years. We cannot move forward to a
country until we've got those things. And so I appreciate
you saying, oh, we're just going to be a lefty
party all that kind of stuff, but that's not what
we're standing for because that's not what New Zealand needs.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
I can agree on the latter. Daniel ab Deputy Leader
of the Opportunity Party. It's going to be a fascinating
run into that November seven election. We will keep in touch.
Thanks to your time, No worries.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Thanks mate.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Nineteen after twelve feedback coming in thick and fast on
the text line five double oh nine. Just reiterating my
position for what it's worth citizens income nah, Land value
tax definitely Nah. Compulsory key. We say v I can
live with that one, and I think there's a genuine
well across several parties to have that one. Some of
(12:56):
your feedback coming in on this one, and even though
Daniel did his best to deny it, a vote for
the Opportunity Party is a vote for a center left government.
Can't see it playing out any other way. Here's a
text coming and so obviously from a farmer, I would
assume so before I pay any other tax, I pay
forty two thousand dollars in land tax, regardless of whether
(13:18):
we are making any money. May as well give up
right now. Someone else says, so, just because someone owns land,
they will be taxed to pay for someone to sit
on their ars and get a benefit. Why must we
keep paying for people who can work not to work? Fair?
Point next one I can't read because there's too many
(13:39):
swear words in it. Jamie the Top Party or another
bloody Green party? Mad As Hatters from Laura regular Texter.
Opportunities Party says another Texter can't wait to be a beneficiary.
It's interesting times. Paul Henry is just announced, by the way,
that he is going to be candidate for the act part.
(14:00):
It's kind of celebrity candidates happening out there at the moment.
Up next, we're heading straight to the cold Face to
a sheep and beef farm in Central Hawk's Bay. Chloe
Butcher Harry's up next on the Country. Some ty better off,
(14:26):
Dad is a gun in your heart? That's twenty at
your hair.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
You think you're mad too unstated, kicking in chairs and
knocking down tables in.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Arrest, not chatting to young, energetic, dynamic people on the
country because a lot of people would say that's the
antithesis of the host. I'moni joking there. There's a wee
bit of life left in me yet, but this young
lady is definitely all of the former. Her name is
Chloe Butcher Harry. She was the finalist in the Zander
McDonald Awards this year. In twenty twenty two, she was
(14:54):
the Ahufenuwa Young Farmer of the Year. Hey, Chloe, great
to catch up with you again. Do you realize that
you and I were both in Adelaide last week? You
were big noting it at the lame X conference and
I was looking after grandkids that you might have got
the better deal.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Afternoon, Jamie Hey, look, I did not know that, and
but I knew you should have snuck your way into
the lamex conference. It was I tell you what, these
Aussies know how to put it on and they did
a fantastic event and what on it was to represent
our country and speak on a panelist there.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Well, talk to me about the lamme x conference, because
I did have a look at it online. They were
charging fifteen hundred bucks. I guess I could have played
the old New Zealand media card, but I know it's
a huge event. We have nothing like it here in
New Zealand for the sheep industry, do we, because you
had like fifteen hundred attendees.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah. Like I said, the Aussies know how to put
it on. And I got an email from me not
long after the xanimate donald the wards and this is Stam.
You know these guys want this key with you to
speak on I'd say, New Zealand's behalf really and be
up on stage. So it took me a bit to respond,
but I finally did and it wasn't It was indeed
that they were pretty serious about wanting me to speak
(16:05):
and how good. Like I felt very privileged and hopefully
I did New Zealand prout, but it was I was
up on a panel with two other Australian bloats and
we're just talking about our systems on farm and a
few changes we've made.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
For us.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
It was diving into technology with the hold callers and
diversifying a bit with cash coppying, sheep, beefs man finishing
and breeding. So yeah, good good stories to tell and
I think we all did pretty well at doing it.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
So you talked about all these innovative things you're doing
on your farm, you run it managing, running a sheep
and beef farm in Central Hawk's Bay there, So you know,
what are the take home messages that you gave to
these people about what you were doing.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
I think it goes to culture and the people. You've
got a good culture, you'll be able to drive your
people look after them and they look after you. And
the best thing about that, Jamie wasn't the only one
that talked about having a good cold trimd of people.
The Aussies definitely spoke about that, which is a good sign.
Good thing to see here, and also embracing the changes
of technology and not running away from them. I think
(17:11):
we all know it's there, it's coming and it's great,
so picking that collar up and getting onto it and
doing that. And also it was about telling our stories.
And for us as New Zealanders, we've got a great
story to tell and I'm not being biased or anything,
but a far better one than the Australians. Thus, finishing
one hundred and twenty thousand lambs on seablots, we're finishing
(17:32):
beautiful well feed the right way animals and our green
pastures out on the land. And if we can get
more people to tell those stories, Jamie as a consumer
that are seen on social media, everyone's on it with
a like social media not you're a scroller, you do it.
And if you're in the States or anywhere in the world,
can you see a New Zealand lambret? This is the
(17:53):
Aussie lambret. But you've seen that video that you're scrolled
across about how they were said, well towards the Australians
going to pick that meat over anything else, even if
it's tootle is more. It's a good story to tell
and we've got to remember that that we have a
good one to tell.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Talk to me about how the Wolter collars fit into
your farming operation.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
We've got two thousand hicktares at the back of danny Urk.
And to be honest, the fences went well looked after
for the last twenty years. So it was either this
farm was going to go in to pine trees Jamie,
or it was this young girl is going to come
in and say nope, let's put holt callers on. And
the good old owners they stood by that too. And
now we have running our beef cows up there through
(18:34):
hold that they are our senses. I'm not gonna lie.
They are literally our senses. We're not using it intensively
like a finishing property. It's just literally keeping these kettle
in boundaries and it's phenomenal. For example, I finished my
I wean my kettle. My wien is this is probably
going to sound it's filly. But two months later then
(18:55):
what I've ever done before and reason being, the mums
were absolutely find a good note. But these calves were
just pumping on mum off mum because they could get
through that virtual fence and just eat wealth. And yeah,
so that to me was a game changer. And yeah,
just virtual fencing off good of waterways too. Which was
quite well.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Ultimately, do you think Holter might have more applications for
the beef industry, And I know that's where they're looking
to expand worldwide than the dairy industry.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
I think so. To be honest, you know, you go
out in Texas where they've got thousands of acres, heck
bears is one pad it. These guys are just going
to be able to just put up virtual fences and
finish their kettle a hell of a lot better and
safer and up in the East coast, Jamie, we all
know that they keep getting hit time and time again.
Senses are coming down, Animals are getting lost, animals are
(19:45):
getting hurt.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
All that jazz.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
You put a collar on those animals, you know exactly
where they are, and you can get them to high ground.
You can keep them off the danger zones. And better yet,
you don't have to keep refensing these properties that are
just kept sucking the dry.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Now, you and I, as as said early, we're both
in Adelaide. Last week we avoided the worst of the
weather house. Your farms survived because the east coast of
both islands took a bit of a pummeling.
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Yes, we're quite lucky. We're in Central Walks Bay here
and I'll tell you what it was dry and then
it got weird. And yeah, we're doing quite well. I
think we're quite fortunate here in the sort of basement
here it is where we're I'm seeing puddles. We are
and send them for a long time. But it's probably
a good thing. We haven't had rain like what we
should be having in the last three years since Gabrielle.
(20:31):
So we're actually looking okay. And I fear to say
that because I feel for your people in the White
Upper and all that. But we're quite lucky here. Yes,
we've been looked after.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Chloe Butcher harries dynamic young New Zealand farmer. I can
call you that, can't I? Chloe? I think so. He
sounded pretty sound pretty impressive to me. Anyhow, Hey, great
to catch up. You keep up the good work.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Go on.
Speaker 6 (20:53):
Thank you. Jamie's having me on.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Always a pleasure. Thank you, Chloe. Twenty nine after twelve
you're country. Thank you, farm Lands and Isuzu. If you're
in Auckland, go and visit the Isuzu dealer there. Hamish
Mikayel sal you a new Isuzu. The dmac shoot or
the m UX seven seater, lots of room for golf
(21:15):
clubs and that little puppy or big puppy. Anyhow, some
of your feedback this is really true and I'm going
to address this subject hopefully with Jim Hopkins this week
on the Country. We already have a land tax. It
is the ripoff of local body rates from burn and
the matter of what two and burn you bang on everyone.
(21:36):
We're all townies included are getting ripped off for rates,
but nothing compared to you farmers. You don't get anything.
You get hardly nothing for your rates. It is one
of the great ripoffs. So yeah, I honestly some of
their policies opportunity party. I'm talking about way for thin
if you ask me anyhow, that's only one man's opinion.
(21:57):
Up next Michelle with Rural News. We'll have a look
at sports news for you before the end of the hour.
Mark de Latour Open Country Derry what did he make
of Fonterra's announcement yesterday and farmer Tom Martin, a UK correspondent,
caught up with them earlier this morning. Football's coming home
Western coming up to twenty seven away from one. Here's
(22:29):
Michelle Watt with the latest and rural news.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
The country's world news with cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn bower bread. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot NZ for your local stockist.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good afternoon, Michelle. What do you got for?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
US?
Speaker 7 (22:45):
Specialized rubber products maker scalar Up has increased its annual
net profit forecast because of higher than expected demand in
the United States. Scalour Up increased its forecast to a
range of sixty four million two sixty five million, excluding
non recurring arising from insurance proceeds for damaged equipment for
the June year. The latest forecasts compared to earlier guidance
(23:05):
of fifty seven million to sixty two million and a
twenty twenty five net profit of fifty four point five million.
The upgrade follows on from a strong first half result
announced in February, which was despite the imposition of increased
US tariffs, and scourt will report its results for the
full twenty twenty six year on August the twentieth. You
can find more news at the country dot co dot.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
MZ and keep your feedback coming in on the Opportunity Party.
Four point seven percent in the latest RNZ read research pole.
Someone did point out, mind you, there's a lot of
undecideds in that pole, but interesting time. So his sport.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Sport on the country with AFCO invested in your foaming success.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Golfer Dame Lydia Coe will headline the field for the
return to the New Zealand Women's Open in March next year,
last out in twenty seventeen under the LPGA banner, the
tournament's will this time be sanctioned by the Ladies European
Tour and hosted at the Wainui Club north of Auckland.
(24:08):
Co has won the event three times twenty sixteen, twenty
fifteen and as a fifteen year old amateur in twenty thirteen.
And the black Caps have chased one hundred and thirty
nine and thirty two point four overs to beat the
West Indies by five wickets and level the One Day
Cricket International series at one all in Guyana. Spinner Jaden
Lennox took career best figures of five to nineteen as
(24:32):
the West Indies were skittled for one hundred and thirty
eight and just thirty six overs. Tom Latham and Michael
Brace will finish New Zealand's Chase unbeaten on thirty seven
and twenty four respectively. Their sport up Next. What does
Open Country Dairy make of Fonterra's reduced forecast milk price
announced yesterday. Mark Delatour is the chief executive of Open
(25:10):
Country Dairy, a second biggest dairy company, obviously behind Fonterra. Mark,
I want to ask you about what you made of
yesterday's announcement from Fonterra cutting fifty cents from its forecast
farmgate milk price for the season we have just started.
But before I do that, it's kind of a theme
this week football World Cup. You haven't been watching it
(25:33):
at all? Are you not interested in the angst and
the battle between England and Argentina. It is a bit
like you and Fonterra in some ways, if you don't
mind me saying so, Mark.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Well, Athon, Jamie. There's a lot of comparables, there isn't there.
Some people would argue I've got the stature of Diego Maradona,
maybe not the skills, but you know, you start talking
about the hand of God and all that sort of stuff. Well,
you do what you need to do to win, don't you.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Well, the hand of Miles has departed Fonterra. We've got
a new broom in there, Richard Allen. But I guess
it was fair enough, wasn't it. The GDT prices had
fallen eleven percent across the reference products since late May.
It made sense to well, fore warned is forearmed for
(26:20):
the farmer. Surely, how can you be critical of that?
Speaker 5 (26:24):
Well, I guess we're just going to take it with
a grain of salt. You know, Jamie, it's probably a
little bit disappointing if you look at last season. I
think the farm gain milk price started off at a
ten dollars forecast. I think it was November. You can
in fact check me on this at the end, Jamie,
I think it was November, dropped a nine fifty, a
few weeks later nine dollars, and then you know, I
(26:44):
think last seven's going to finish up maybe a little
under nine seventy. So there's a little bit of a
pattern over reaction here. For your listeners. What I will say,
Jamie's going to remember, an auction is an auction. It
doesn't necessarily dictate the man. So you know, if you're
selling your house and there's an auction. Auction day comes
(27:05):
along and there's a pile up on the motorway and
only one bit of turns up to the auction. You
may not get the price you wanted, but it's not
an indicator of the true value of your house. So
you know, we don't sell on the auction at open country.
But you know what I will say is just everyone
needs to take it for what it is and say,
(27:25):
right now, I guess we have the proverbial pile.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Up in the Middle East.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
You know, some of those buyers aren't aren't playing, they
haven't turned up for the auction, and of course it
doesn't take the Chinese and Southeast Asian, but is long
to figure that out. And so you know, let's not
just all assume that after three, you know, GDT performances
that aren't great, that the season's doomed.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
So nothing.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Were some industry players getting together and talking to market
down jail.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Well, the market goes up and down, and that's what
markets do. And it's and you mentioned back to late
last year, at one stage it looked like like our
payout or a milk price was going to start with
an eight.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
Yeah, exactly. So you know, I think what we have
to stand back and watch as a as an industry,
as a producer of proteins and fats. You know, the
GLP one drugs have just created a huge demand for proteins.
So you know, we can't produce enough. If I had
three cheese factories right now, I'd love it, you know,
(28:27):
Jamie so who can produce the way as much as anything.
But likewise, we've we've got still got strong butter prices.
So again, the dairy industries come through two fantastic years,
and so if you go back a year further into
three years back, you know, whole milk prices right now
probably three hundred dollars a ton better than three years ago,
skim milk six hundred dollars a ton better than three
(28:50):
years ago, and butter five hundred. Not to mention the
the there's about an eleven percent dollar impact on that
three year number.
Speaker 6 (28:57):
Allaw.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
So you know, let's just keep it real, be very
very confident that we're in a good space with demand,
and let's not make it a self fulfilling prophecy. I
think we're gonna be very careful about that and say, okay, yep,
we've seen some auction numbers that aren't pleasing, But let's
not make sure we drop our lip and give up
(29:21):
all hope because things are still very very good. And
we're talking about a milk price with a nine in it,
so you know, let's keep going.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah, but we are talking about a cost of production
with an eighth in it? Can I just ask you
about why that is, of course a byproduct of the
cheesemaking process. But does cheese and danger of being a
by product of way?
Speaker 5 (29:42):
Yeah, well, it certainly looks that way just at the moment,
doesn't it. Pardon the pun there, but it's quite frankly
we're seeing in America right now is way and to
an extent the fat component driving cheese production and cheese pricing.
Hands come off a little bit. But of this cheese
(30:02):
and then there's cheese, and then there's cheese. There's cheddar,
there's gouda, there's mozzarella. So in each of those types
of cheese have different returns for them. So it's about
producers of cheese being able to make sure they're covering
those markets and getting the most.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Out of it.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Where's Open Country going to finish on a weighted average
for the twenty five twenty sixth season. Do you know
that number yet?
Speaker 6 (30:27):
Yeah, we don't.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
Haven't quite finalized the fourth period. We're about a month
away from doing that. We obviously wash up our season
and finalize our price well before Fonterra finalized their season price.
But our numbers, you know, they're out there in the
public domain now. I think on a way to average
basis they about nine seventy four.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
I think on average.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Well we'll take that. That's not a bad number at all. Hey,
Mark Delator, Chief executive of Open Country. Deary, thanks for
your time today on the show, and you'll be pleased
to know that I didn't drop you, unlike Ryan Bridge,
great broadcaster Ryan, by the way, on his show, you
were meant to be starring there this morning, which annoyed
me a wee bit because I don't like it when
someone earlier in the day cuts my lunch. But you
(31:12):
got dropped for Sir sam Neil, so you know, we
stuck to our guns here on the Country. We've taken
you on instead.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
And I appreciate it, mate, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Thank you Mark. Here we might talk about Sir sam
Neil on tomorrow's show. Keep your feedback on the opportunity
party coming in on five double oh nine up next.
Earlier this morning I caught up with farmer Tom Martin
in the UK. We want to start.
Speaker 6 (31:38):
Play, he will be.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Here's our UK farm and correspondent farmer Tom Martin, social
media influencer arable farmer going through tough times with a
heat wave and drought and low prices. But let's be
positive to start the swed chat Tom, Football's coming home.
It's coming home or is it? There's a rich irony
around the Argentina England game on Wednesday night, your time.
(32:07):
Falkland's War nineteen eighty two, hand of God was Maradona
nineteen eighty six? A bit of needle? You can't beat that,
that's right.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
There's been a bit of a chat about raising the
talks again about turning the Falklands over to Argentina, but
of course we've been there since before Argentina was a country,
so I don't think it's something we're going to be
going to be raising again. But I do hope that
we give them a sound thrashing in the semis. I mean,
(32:36):
who knows, tremendous team, but England have performed really well
and they've done they've done what it takes. You know
what it took to win, so they found a way,
I think is what Harry came said. And I think
you know, great teams will find a way, as you
know the All Blacks fantastic team often find a way.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Well, do you think the England will totally come to
a standstore Wednesday evening your time?
Speaker 4 (33:01):
I think it's very likely because this is the first
one that's been been a decent reasonable hour for us.
It's eight pm UK time. The previous games have been
at ten pm. We've had one at one am. We
had another one at ten pm recently, so I think
far more likely to stoke a bit of interest for
people who didn't have to stay.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Up all night to watch it, and'll take your mind
off some of the woes that farmers are facing. We
know all about your heat wave and your drought. You've
had Wimbledon. Wimbledon's normally sometimes it can be a rainmaker
for British farmers. Didn't really come to pass this time round.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
Well, come on, Jamie, it normally has the Jamie McKay
guarantee of rain. I mean, I think I think this.
I think you've been more confident in previous years, but
it certainly hasn't come true, and certainly not in this
in the in the east, in the south of the UK,
where we desperately desperately need the rain. They're talking about
a little bit of rain coming at the end of
the week. But I don't you know, it's it's it's
(34:00):
not going to help us at all.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
How is this affecting crop yields because I'm assuming that
some of your autumn zone crops are now coming off.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
I started the week today, the winter sow in the
autumn zone week today in fields that look great all year.
Almost a lot of crops around here have looked fantastic,
tremendous crops all year long. And as I looked out
at the combine window, I looked at a crop that
should be yielding nine to ten tons to the hectear.
It looked great and it was yielding six. Now I really,
(34:34):
on our economics, I really need seven and a half
tons to the hectaar to break even. So it's absolutely shocking.
I've been speaking to neighbors, although it's been whispered because
not many people are sharing their yields. It's, you know,
the people who typically share their pub yields. Oh yes,
I'm terribly disappointed there, and you've got eleven tons of
the hectair. They've been very quiet recently, but a lot
(34:55):
of neighbors are struggling with wheat at the five and
six tens to the hectair mark and some even lower.
It's going to be it's going to be a critical time.
There will be businesses going under, and we're under a
lot of pressure already with with different tax regimes and things.
It's it's absolutely critical. I've got I feel like I've
said this to you a couple of times on our
calls over the years, but this is a really, really
(35:17):
tough time. St.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Swithin's Day is coming up this week. What relevance does
that have to your weather patterns? Isn't there some old
folklore around that?
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Well? Do you know a lot of a lot of
old folk lare is based on pretty sound observation back
when our forefathers had very litle else to do them.
Consider the weather basically, the the the beautiful little ditty
Basically it says if it rains on since Swithin States
this Wednesday, then it will rain for forty days, where
(35:48):
if it's if it's fair on Wednesday, we'll have forty
days of fair weather. Now, the forecast was for drop
a rain, which ironically I don't think we really want
right now. I don't think we want forty days of rain,
but I take a little drop of rain. But it's now,
it's now changed away. The rain stayed away and it's
going to be dry on Wednesday. So I really want
(36:08):
half it into rain overnight every night for about three nights.
That'll do me, Thank you very much, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Well, that's not too much to ask for, mind you.
There could be a bright cloud on the horizon and
the form of Andy Burnham. I think he becomes your
new Prime Minister officially next Monday or is he going
to be worse for farmers?
Speaker 4 (36:30):
One of the first things he's been talking about is
a land value capture tax. He's one of these people,
he's amongst the crowd, the one to tax wealth well
and university commerce because we're losing money on the farm
and on every farm in this part of the country.
But yeah, so he could be I mean, he could
(36:52):
be an absolute disaster. Interestingly, I think I said this before,
but a lot of the labor activists were desperately keen
to have an election when an unelected leader became a
leader of the Conservative Party. There for Prime Minister has
been very quiet when when when the roles reverse, So
it'll be very interesting. He's a dynamic, popular leader. He's
(37:16):
a guy who seems to have a history of getting
things done. Let's hope he doesn't absolutely cook our farming
industry for kind of some taxation victory.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Just to finish on an interesting observation that you made,
we talked about the needle, the historic needle between England
and Argentina. Well that's nothing. That is a drop in
the ocean compared to the historic needle between England and Scotland.
And you're you're expressing disappointment, Tom Martin that the Scotts
aren't backing your football side.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Well, as you may well know, I'm about unity. I'm
a fair compatitory, so I love a good contest, particular
with an odd shape or but like I could even
tolerate these soccer these soccer types. But what I just
find really disappointing, and it's not all Scottish people by
by a long stretch, is that there seems to be
(38:14):
a certain number of people north of the border, who
were passionately Mexican about ten days ago. They've had a
flirtation in Norway, all kinds of reasons why the Scotts
should support Norwegians, and now all of a sudden a
nation that that was well. It was part of the
Falklands War against the Argentine in ninety eight. Two Scottish
(38:36):
men died to defend the Bricks in the Falklands and
now suddenly becoming massive Argentine fans. I just I just
find that a little bit disappointing. I have to say
I would always support a Home nation side. Dare I say, gosh,
I think even if they were playing against the All Blacks,
I think i'd despite being a big fan of the
All Blacks, I think I'd probably cheer on Whales or
(38:57):
Scotland or Ireland if they were against you guys.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Mind you you're a big fan of Jacinda, so there
is no accounting for taste. Farmer Tom Martin, thank you
very much for your time.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
It's always a pleasure. Don't you talk about that woman
like that?
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Yes, I was only joking. That was Farmer Tom caught
up with them earlier this morning. He is just and
A's biggest fanboy. Up next, we're going to wrap the
show with your feedback. Okay, you wrapping the Country on
a Tuesday with some of your feedback. New Zealand should sorry,
(39:38):
lots of feedback coming in. The screen's moving on me.
In fact, my screen has just died completely on me.
Here it as it's come back, Jamie. Agree with your
assessment on top as generalizations as to a progressive centrist
position breaks down entirely when measures when measured against universal
land tax and universal wage. That is called Marxism, says Don.
(40:00):
And my tech screen is moving big time. I hope
it'll settles down for tomorrow's show. We'll catch you then.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie Mackay thanks to Aisuzu get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax Today
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