May 12, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Tom and Fiona Langford, Jane Smith, Hunter McGregor, Greig Taylor, and Todd Clark.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to Brent starkest of the
leading agriculture brands have nothing to do on this Rugia line,
(00:20):
meaning to your bustrooms.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's been a long time awa we get a New Zealand.
Welcome to the Country. My name is Jamie mckaye. The
show is brought to you by Brandt. I was almost
going to say we grow, We're growing a better New
Zealand together, but that's my strap line for Saturday mornings,
Best of the Country, brought to you by Rabobank, But Brent,
what the hell, We're growing a better New Zealand together.
(00:47):
We're going to be talking about field Days today. Brant's
got a very strong presence there along with all the
leading agricultural companies in this country. We're going to give
you the chance to win a field Day's double pass
very very shortly on the country, just because we can.
We're going to kick it off the show off today
with some people we missed out on yesterday because they
(01:09):
were too busy, The Dynamic duo Fiona and Tom Langford.
They won the twenty twenty five New Zealand Shecher Farmers
of the Year at the Dairy Industry Awards over the weekend.
These two are quite dynamic. You will not believe their
CV Jane Smith going to let her off the chain. Yeah,
North Otago Farmer poster girl for the Methane Science Accord
(01:33):
on yesterday's Ruminant Methane Survey Summary Report which was released yesterday.
Hunter McGregor is our guy in Shanghai selling red meat
to the Chinese. Trump's dropped the tariffs or some of them.
What does it mean. We'll also head to the US.
Todd Clark's our guy there US farm and correspondent will
get the view of the Trump tariffs being dropped with
(01:55):
or reduced should I say, with China from an American
point of view. And Greg Taylor there is a Hawk's
Bay orchardist who's having a scrap with some of his
other orchiding mates with the hawks Bay Regional Council over water.
So the government wants us to double exports in the
next decade, and they want everyone to do some heavy lifting,
including the horticulture industry. But apparently the Hawks Bay Regional
(02:19):
Council wants to cut back the water take of these orchidice.
Now the Hawks Bay orchardice bring in a billion dollars
worth of income for this country a year. I don't
know if it's wise to reduce the water take. Anyhow,
we'll discuss that one with Greg Taylor. I will have
rural news and sports news for you as well. And
(02:39):
as I said, that field Day's double pass to give away.
But up next it is the twenty twenty five Sheer
Farmers of the Years.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Now hard out back.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
We missed them on yesterday show, but we always get
our man and in this case woman here on the country.
They are the twenty twenty five New Zealand Sheer Farmers
of the Year, Tom and Fiona Langford. They come from
a corporate background, but they shunned the glamour of a
corporate life to go milking cows and South Wakato with
Fiona's parents become equity partners and contract milkers. Let's start
(03:23):
with you, Fiona. What's your background? I think you're the
one with the farming background.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
So I was born and.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Bred on the farm, but early on decided that I
would like to be a dietitian. So I studied as
a dietitian, moved through to work with Fonterra and in
twenty seventeen there was a call for someone to come
back and help on farm, so we decided to make
that call to move back on farm.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So you've got a master's and dietetics. I hope I
got that right. Tom has a science degree and honor
science degree in food science. You both began work in
the Fonterra Technical graduate program. Interestingly, you now both have
a master's and dairy science and technology. There's not much
you don't know.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Yeah, I think that was one of the benefits of
going through Fontierra studying out as graduates. We got the
masters and dairy science and technology through that. But you know,
as time progressed and Fonterra, that was really key for
us in terms of developing skills that we could transfer.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
To the dairy farming.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
I think that's really been a strength of ours.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Tom, You're in Auckland to through and through be honest.
Was it Fiona? Was she wearing the pants? Did she
drag you back to the farm? Did you go willingly?
Speaker 6 (04:42):
She's a strong, strong woman, but no.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
The pool to move on to the dairy farm was
strong for both of us. We were living on the
farm for a time whilst I was still at Fontira
and yeah, moving into dairy farming was certainly a big
driver for us as we started our family and looking
at growing our equity and getting involved in the familysh
(05:05):
farmy business.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Your equity partners and contract milkers for Marion and joss
A van Luna. That's a Fiona's mum and dad's two
hundred and sixty two hectare a thousand or one thousand
and ninety cow farm in the South Woycatto at ten
bucks and an equity partner and a contract milker A Fiona,
you'll be making a fortune this year. Good time to
(05:27):
get into the industry.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Hey, it every year is different, you know. You see
the ups and downs of the dairy system and it's
just around you know, running our goals and our street
key sory strategic direction of our business. So we ride
the highs and we ride the lows throughout our career
and dairy as well.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So I'm milking more than a thousand cows, Fiona, what's
the ultimate dame? I'm assuming you want to buy your
parents out eventually and then what expand the operation or
you with that size farm?
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Yeah, so it's not just us in the business. There's
other family members in the business as well, so they're
all a key part, an integral part of our business too.
But for us, are we taking on a second contract
marking role next season and we probably have a little
bit more of a holistic approach in how we want
to run our business. So we want to have career opportunity,
(06:24):
progressional opportunities for our staff and do some of the
other things that we're passionate about as well along our journey,
so getting into things like governance. I did the Fontira
Governance program and so just progressing ourselves in other areas
alongside our dairy business.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
You're in your early thirties, you were first time entrance, Tom,
Were you surprised to win? You shouldn't have been with
the CV like you two have got.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
No, Like, we definitely didn't enter these awards for the
goods and the glory. You know, it was a process
of you know, looking at our business and seeing where
we could approve. So yeah, it certainly came as a surprise.
And you know, the last week has been a bit
of a will wind, but it's been an awesome opportunity
to get to know a lot of amazing young farmers,
(07:13):
particularly are Matt Cheer farmer category. We thought we didn't
have a chance. You know, there's a lot of strong
farmers out there in the regions, so yeah, certainly a surprise,
but great opportunity to meet and talk with some great
farmers out there.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Well Cato dairy farmers. I'm assuming you dried off, you'll
be looking forward to a bit of a break. Maybe
we might we might meet you at field Days.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, no break for us.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
We asked blitcarving, so drying off the first lot this week,
but we do have a stage dry off process, so yeah,
no real quiet time for us with this blitcarving system.
But you will see us at the field Days this year.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Your circus for punishment. I admire your work, ethic and
your academic backgrounds. This is just what the dairy industry needs,
people like you leading us into the future. Hey, look,
thank you very much for your time. Fiona and Tom
Langford from south Way Katto the twenty twenty five New
Zealand Sheer Farmers of the Year. Been great meeting you.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Thank you, Jeremy.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
They're working in Unison there. Thanks guys. She dynamic young couple.
Imagine quitting the glam life of the Auckland corporate scene
to go milk and cows. They're probably a lot happier, Okay,
talking about field Days, it'll be nice to meet Tom
and Fiona at field Days. It's nice to meet you
guys at field Days as well. We've got a prime
(08:34):
spot this year is as soon as you walk into
the main pavilion and I was doing some homework, Michelle,
good afternoon, by the way, for a column that someone
has twisted my arm to right for the Herald or
for our field day's publication. Guess what year the main
pavilion was built at Mystery Creek, the big one.
Speaker 7 (08:51):
When I'm thinking about an interview yesterday, would it have
been early nineties?
Speaker 6 (08:55):
No?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
No, no, According to my sources, it's two thousand and three.
It wasn't there when I first went to field Days
in the nineteen nineties. I'm a veteran, you see, Michelle. Now,
what we're doing is giving you, the listeners, an opportunity
to win a double pass to the field Days. It's
quite simple, are you. All you need to do is
text Field Days to five double O nine to win
(09:18):
and give us your name and where you're from and
someone in Auckland unknown to us, probably will select a winner.
We'll announce that on tomorrow's show. So Field Days is
your place to get a good deal. Remember we talked
to Jenny Vernon about it yesterday on the show. It's
the biggest egg event in the Southern Hemisphere. Mystery Creek
June eleven to fourteen. Tickets are now on sale. We've
(09:40):
got that double pass to give away text Field Days
with your name and where you're listening from to five
double oh nine to be in to win.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
The other big story yesterday was the release of the
Ruminant Methane Survey Summary Report. What a mouthful that is.
McCullum had a cracket defending it or not defending it,
defending the Paris Agreement and current admissions targets on yesterday's show.
If we're judging by the text traffic, he failed miserably.
(10:14):
But good on your grant for having a crack up
next a woman you wouldn't want to argue with. Jane
Smith out of North Otago, Madam. It was yesterday speaking
(10:35):
news story the release of the Ruminant Methane Survey Summary
Report from Groundswell endzed farming and the Methane Science Accord.
The poster girl probably for all three organizations as North
Otago Farmer former winner of the Balance Farm Environment Awards,
Jane Smith and Jane was this survey and echo chamber
(10:55):
that'll get a bite.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Good afternoon, Jamie. Well, I guess of any of those people,
including the National Party and beef and lamb and egg
ri zero, etcetera, took the time to go to a
wollshed and tai hathi or tour tat free or a
country hall somewhere. I believe that absolutely here the same
narrative as well, that there's basically farmers have had enough
(11:17):
of playing the scapegoat and actually there's benefits for all
of New Zealanders if we actually calculate methane right and
move on, Jamie, stop wasting so much money and time
and quasi research time into this fast, Jamie, Well.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Let's look at the sample size of this survey, because
I facetiously called at an echo chamber just looking for
a response, and I didn't really get one, to be honest, Jane,
but four hundred and twenty thousand followers of either New
Zealand Farming ground Swell or the Methane science accord. That
is a huge sample.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Oh, it certainly is. And you know, I think I'll
have to be heavily sedated before I listened to Grant
McCallum's methane Furman. Again, I was really disappointed to hear.
I guess how el informed he was. And again, this
is just reflecting what rural New Zealands think. And I
actually felt sorry for him in terms of his lack
of knowledge in terms of science metrics and economics. And
(12:16):
you know, to suggest that fifty percent of our New
Zealand's milk payout is attributed to being being an empty
signatory on meaningless accord is really concerning. So I guess
if politics doesn't work out for him, the will certainly
be a place in the Yuien or Greenpeace for taming.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Well, let's just requote our good friend Grant McCullum. He said,
if we pull out of Paris, the milk price will
go from ten dollars to five dollars. You're not having
a bar of that, Oh.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Absolutely not, Jamiene. When you look at just put the
cost of all of this methane mitigation fiscal farce that
we're putting in, you know, Paris itself is going to
cost between twenty four and thirty six billion dollars. And
I guess the other thing is, I guess I know
for a fact that the NATS and our sector leaders
are actually embarrassed about their amount of tax fan money
(13:02):
that has already been squandered on the Paris Accords new
clothes in terms of the methane contribution to that, because
not only have the coalition endorsed or validated the Labor
Green's position on this on it, they've actually doubled down
and they're about to throw another four hundred million dollars
into the methane melting pot. And you know, to hear
(13:22):
Eggri Zero's wayning methane me say last week that the
reason farmers are frustrated at being asked to decrease their
emissions is that we don't have the tools or options
to decrease them. It's not that at all ways. It's
actually that there is no need for any further reductions.
We actually meet the definition of met zero already. And
if you look at our stock numbers, sheep down by
(13:43):
fifty eight percent since nineteen ninety, beef down by twenty
one percent, deer down by twenty four percent. Again, we're
already taking billions out of our economy. Why should we
be spending any more on this on the space And actually,
you know, I know you're going to, you know, question
why we should be getting out, And I guess I've
done a bit of analysis in terms of why what
(14:04):
happened when we got in. And one thing I've always
been really confused about, Jamie, is what we actually signed
up for, not just the cost of it, but the
track that we took. And interesting enough, the French were
we're clear enough to take a sequestration agg ecology, biodiversity pathway,
food security pathway. What do New Zealand do you think
(14:26):
we would have run with that? But no, we went
down the technology version pathway so that the US ge
meddling with you know, pills, potions and vaccines, et cetera.
So why we did that I cannot. I do not know.
But I think it's time that we just cut it short,
draw the line and start celebrating New Zealand's and mission
profile for what it is, because that's good news for
(14:47):
all New Zealanders. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Okay, Well, let's look at some of these numbers to date,
over three hundred and thirty million has been spent on
ruminant methane research up to another four hundred million committed.
That's nearly three quarters of a billion dollars. Now, you guys,
also in your wide ranging survey, asked the respondents where
(15:09):
they would prefer that the money went. Sixty four said
healthcare and nineteen percent said infrastructure. Only four percent said methane.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Exactly, Jomiane, that's a hell of a lot of hospitals
that we can be building for the wider paris are
called cost and I know that, you know, if we're
going to have that miss later known question come up,
and you know, silver and farms and fonter are always
very very quick to jump to that. And you know,
why don't we ask the consumers, actually asked them because
(15:40):
even the most ardent environmentalists and I've talked a lot
of James Sure about this back when he was in government,
and well, actually should be alarmed that all roads and
methane mitigation actually lead to more intensive farming. So we
need to ask consumers, do they want feed lots? Do
they want to be fossil fuel dependent? Do they want
concrete jungles for our lives? Dock to be housed. You know,
(16:02):
the sort of things that doctor Frank Mitlogger was talking
about last week when he was you know, he was
talking about intensive feed lot Californian dairy production, a world
away from our production completely. So do they want that
with a potentially lower emissions intensity? So you've got to
remember and your listeners will know this, but if you
(16:24):
look at emissions intensity and weather up the back of
the mckendy country comes out of it as a methane terrorist,
whereas a heavily intensive system five dairy production system comes
out as a hero. I mean that is just fascical.
And again, do we want to be interfering with our food?
I say not, people in our survey said not. But
we need to actually go out to our customers and
(16:46):
us in that, Jamie, because we can't keep going with
this narrative. We need to stop growing the methane myths
and start growing food. Did the world okay?
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I hate just a really quick final comment from you,
because I'm out of time. Is this a shot across
the bows from the likes of Groundswell and in zed
farming and the Methane Science Accord, A shot across the
bowels of beef and lamb in Z dairy and Z
feed farmers, the industry, good bodies.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Well, I wouldn't say that. I think it's just a
genuine reflection of rural New Zealand. And we see rural
communities being destroyed to no reason whatsoever. We see other
environmental initiatives and I'm an environmentalist shaming you know that
that have just been pushed by the wayside.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
We see a.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Scientists distracted by this fascical methane money train instead of
actually doing looking at our real issues in New Zealand
and worldwide, and we could have actually been helping the
world produce pasture raised protein and show them how to
do it efficiently. So I'm sure there is scrabbling going
on behind the scenes. I'm sure feeds and beef and
(17:46):
lamb and the Crown will come up with a new
target next week probably I'd suggest it's probably going to
be something in the range of sort of fifteen to
twenty percent. Actually, what they need to do is get
their sticky fingers out at any target and let's just
harry on with a fusion effective production Jamie and look
at the big picture here, because actually this is just
again a gross distraction and a gross waste of money
(18:08):
and a country that can't afford its own health to here, Jammie.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Jane Smith, thanks for your time as always.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Thanks Jammy.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Twenty eight after twelve the country. So who's right our
good friend Grant Mcnashal McCullum or Jane Smith. The text
lines five double o nine you tell us who's on
the right side of the methane argument. Also, if you're
going to text that number, text if you want to
go to the field Days that is we've got a
double pass to give away. What you need to do
(18:35):
is text field days with your name, okay, the word
field days and then your name and where you're listening
from to five double o nine to be.
Speaker 6 (18:44):
In to one.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Now you've got to spell field days correctly, otherwise you don't.
You just don't get into the competition. So field days
is one word I before accept after C Do I
have to spell it out for you? No pun intended.
We'd love you to go along to field Day is
up next to our guy in China and that is
Hunter McGregor.
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Way good.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
We're going international on the country today. Very shortly we're
off to the US to catch up with our guy
over there, Todd Clark, see what he makes of Trump's
latest move to lower tariffs between the US and China
and vice versa. But let's head to Shanghai, see what
the Chinese think of it. Hunter McGregor is our guy there, Key,
we selling venison to the Chinese.
Speaker 9 (19:34):
Good news, Good afternoon, Jamie. Well, anything that reduced tariffs
of good news. But yeah, I don't think you know,
the Chinese are too excited at the stage. Let's see
how things play out, because Trump might change his mind
in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Now, I note that goods from China to the US
still have effectively a thirty percent tariff. From the US
into China, it's set ten percent, so there's still like
a twenty fentanyl tariff on stuff coming from China to
the US. How much fentanyl do you send? I thought
it was the Mexicans and the Canadians that sent it in.
Speaker 9 (20:11):
Well, I was been trying to read up about that
because I wasn't too sure what was going on. But
I think it's the precursors. It's the chemicals that make fentanyl.
So they apparently they're being shipped out of China into
Mexico and Canada and then the products made there. But
you know, I know that in China they've been clamping
down on that. There is no fentanyl in China or
(20:31):
very few drugs around here these days. So i'llventually see
how that plays out. But you know that you dropped
from forty five one hundred and forty five percent down
to thirty percent as positive for you know, a lot
of Chinese factories because they have been under a bit
of pressure.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I saw some commentary from Trump and he was sort
of saying in an indirect sort of way, that China
was begging for a deal.
Speaker 9 (20:55):
Well I don't think so. I think, yeah, Trump, Trump's
claiming it as a wonderful deal, and he's you know,
he saved the day. So I don't think China would
have been begging for a deal. They would have been
wanting to be seen as equals. And now and I
see in their release that they're gonna they're going to
ninety day stay on these change in these tariffs, which
(21:18):
starts tomorrow on Wednesday, but the key is going to
be ongoing discussion. So let's see how that plays out,
because you know, they need to sort of sort something
long term because there's chopping and changing you know, all
the time. Is not good for anybody. Yeah, but there
has been some pressure on Chinese factories here that you know,
there's no doubt about that. But what is going to
(21:39):
be doing in the next few months. It's going to
be moving on to the US consumer because prices are
going to go up and you know, and shop shelves
are going to be empty because you know, shipping has
gone right down, you know, down about twenty thirty ports
in America. So it's going to affect the US consumer.
So let's see how Trump goes with a bit of
(22:00):
pressure on his side.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Well, don't worry. Trump will make a great deal, a
beautiful deal before it all turns to custard for him,
if you had to believe him. Lego Land is opening
in Shanghai. But this is sort of a mini me
of Disney and Universal.
Speaker 9 (22:15):
Yeah, it was quite exciting. Legal Land is opening on July,
the fifth of July, so yeah, it's quite It's a
small amusement park. They're only sort of spent about about
half a billion US dollars in developing it, compared to
what they spent with Disney, which is about three point
seven billion US and then Universal in Beijing they spent
(22:39):
about six point five billion. But you know with disney
Land in Shanghai last year, they had about fourteen million
people go through it, so you know, if you want
to go, you know, China's full of people. But even
when I go to Disneyland, which I've been a couple
of times here, it's not much fun. It's pretty crowded.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Exactly. Now, you've got a state visit from Brazil at
the moment. How big a deal is Brazil to China
as a trading partner.
Speaker 9 (23:07):
Well, it's a very big deal. And you know, Brazil's
is a key trader on especially on the agricultural commodities
like sawyer beans, beef, a lot of Brazilian beef, you know,
a lot of sawyer beans and stuff. So it is
a big deal for both sides. I do see that
the Brazilian president and he's got eleven of his ministers
(23:31):
on his trade delegation. He's in here for five days
and then you president, she will be heading with a
big delegation down. I think it's in may Or later
this year for the Bricks meeting. So yeah, no, it's
an important tie for China and it's good to see
big delegations like that will be interesting. It'll be good
(23:52):
to see the New Zealand Prime Minister come up with
a big delegation at some point because he hasn't made
it here since he's been to office, so you be
looking forward to that it when that happens.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it. He's been to India a
number of times as I understand it, but not yet
to China on the state visit. We'll ask him why
not on tomorrow's show, but on today's show. Hunter McGregor
from Shanghai, thanks for your time.
Speaker 9 (24:14):
Cheers, Thanks Jovik.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
It is twenty five away from one. Thanks Hunter. We
will ask the Prime Minister that very question on the
show tomorrow. Up next to the Latest and Rural News
Sports News. Remember the text field days to five double
oh nine, your name and where you're from spell field
days correctly. You can win the double pass two field
days before the end of the hour. We've got Todd
(24:38):
Clark in the US and if I can track him down,
Greg Taylor and the Hawk's Bay disgruntled apple grower. They
want they want water to grow apples and I'm with
the apple growers. The man sun.
Speaker 7 (24:49):
Let's see your vers really.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Shows ans Welcome back to the country. My head are
far too loud. I think I am going completely deaf. Yes, yes, Michelle,
I am. Well it's to do with thirty years of
radio headphones is one problem, but also a winter spent
(25:12):
on a chainsaw. When I was a young man, we
didn't wear air muffs chopping down this row of old
man pines, and believe it or not, we were chainsawing
in gum boots. I can't believe that Phil Rope half
from Still won't like that. Still Chainsaw safety awareness is
coming up. We've got a whole lot of chainsaws to
give away. But anyhow, let's before we get into rural news.
(25:35):
I want to tell you about our latest podcast. If
I can, I'll just turn right down. Apparently right hates
doing sailing.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
Well, this is a terrible song.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Well yeah, it apparently doesn't do it at concert. Anyhow,
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(26:05):
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(26:51):
a link to it up on our Facebook page as well.
He's the latest and rural news, what.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
The country's world news with Cod Cadets, New Zealand's leading
right on lawnlower bread. Visit steel Ford dot co dot
nzim for your local stockist and.
Speaker 7 (27:05):
Some news hot off the press. Federated Farmers have announced
the finalists for the seventh annual Primary Industry Awards, to
be held in christ Church next month. The awards contain
eight different categories that celebrate the movers and shakers in
the primary sector, from science and food production teams to
the leaders who have gone the extra mile and a
name you might recognize, Jamie. There's a Southland farmer in
there called Grant Lightfoot and of course he invented the
(27:28):
itable and by credible knitting.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
That's good. I was a finalist on that last year
and that barster Julian Rain beat me, that's right, and
he deserved to the Yeah, anyhow well, can we put
the list up on f so Jan.
Speaker 7 (27:41):
Yeah, I can put the fault. The lister's massive, so
I'm not going to read out the whole thing. But
another one that I found that was quite cool, neat
story here Jamie's and the leader the Rural Hero Award
and the third finalist and that's Ian Jury's, the eighty
five year old farmer who for twenty years has been
raising money for the Taranaki Riscue helicopter by collecting batteries
for recycling.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Is that the same end jury as en jury and
the blockheads hit me with your rhythmstick. It can't be
the same bloke. No, I don't think Jamie anyhow. No,
really looking forward to those the primary industry New Zealand awards.
Who's who, it's the acquits, it's our equivalent of the oscars,
and it's happening in christ churches and it we're all
(28:20):
heading along later in June, here's sport for you.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Sport with the AFCO Kiwi to the bone since nineteen
oh four.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
The confirmation that the Hollywood backed Wrexham football side is
on its way to New Zealand. The Wellington Phoenix will
host the club on July the nineteenth as a part
of the Latters down Under Tour. Wrexham shot to prominence
when actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Maceilhenny purchased the club
in twenty twenty one. And another win for this won't
(28:50):
please everybody by the way either. Another win for world
number one tennis player Yannick Sinner and his first return
tournament from a three month long doping He cruised to
a straight sets victory in the round of thirty two
match at his home Italian Open you're looking forward to
the French Open coming up, and then of course Wimbledon
(29:12):
and then the US Open. But up next, we're off
to Hawk's Bay and a bit of a range war
happening there over water. Up next, Greg Taylor, Orchardist, Hawk's Bay. Well,
they reckon wars in the twenty first century will be
fought over water rather than oil. Well, it's happening in
(29:34):
the Hawks Bay at the moment, where a group called
the Heretongua Sustainable Water Group is having a good old
fashioned scrap with the Hawk's Bay Regional Council. Now quite rightly,
these apple growers are saying the government wants them to
double their current exports but they can't do it with
the current severe water restrictions and orchards orchardist should I
(29:55):
say in the Hawk's Bay are already exporting one billion
dollars worth of product a year. Okay. The spokesman on
the show today is Greg Taylor. Greg, you need Shane
Jones to ride in the town and build you a dam.
Speaker 8 (30:08):
That's one element of it, Jamie, and he's thankfully already
been to town and offered us some support. But listen,
storage is a long way off. So that's just one
of the one of the goals of our group.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
So why is the Hawk's Bay Regional Council threatening to
cut some of your water take?
Speaker 8 (30:24):
Well, listen, this is a well worn path started back
in twenty fifteen, so a decad's worth of sort of
non agreement. Now, So under the National Policy Statement for
Fresh Order Management, a PLANCHI chain was issued to address
water quality and quantity. But this has now resulted in
mediation process which unfortunately failed to resolve too much at
(30:47):
all in the matter is now put before the Environment Court.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Currently, is there enough water to go around? And are
you guys damaging water qualities? The Hawks Bay Regional Council
got a fair argument here.
Speaker 8 (30:59):
Yes there is enough water to go around Jamie in
our view, and no we're not damaging the water. This
is very much a community issue and producers not just
apple grows. We want to see fear and reasonable takes
so that their operation can continue, they can continue to
employ people and be part of a successful local economy.
(31:21):
I don't see damaging water at all as being on
the table, and in terms of there being enough water,
we simply have a paper over allocation. So we're arguing
around the methodology of how we will reduce that take.
And I think most people would agree that we do
have to see a reduction in the consented water volume.
(31:43):
But how we do that that's that issue.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So are you in a dead luck with the regional
council at the moment? How do you fast forward this thing?
Speaker 8 (31:51):
No, So the group lobby for a pause in the
renewal of consense process. So consents that have been expiring
over the last six or seven years have been placed
on pause. Well, this issue was resolved, but then recently
the regulator decided that they would continue to process these
(32:11):
consents despite the issue not being resolved. We were able
to lobby them and are very grateful that they yielded
and have given us a pause pending the outcome of
the Environment Court ruling. So that's given us some time
and we want to use that time to galvanize our thinking,
(32:32):
get some collective collective action going collaboratively. Collective action should
resolve in some bare outcomes, and we want to promote
push those forward.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Well, I hope, so good luck with that. Just a
quick final word on your apple growing season. It's been
a good one and you needed it.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
Yeah, it is over.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
Judy.
Speaker 8 (32:49):
Jamie, we've had three or four pretty tough years on
the trot with a cyclone thrown in as well, So yeah,
we're very pleased. Harvest just finished on Friday for us,
and yeah, we're very pleased with the volume and the
quality of the apples that have come off. Looking forward
to closing out the season and being successful one.
Speaker 6 (33:08):
Well.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
I love this time of year, Greg Taylor, when we
get great hawks By apples in fact in z apples
in our supermarkets and greengrosses. It's a fantastic time of
year to enjoy a wonderful product. Thanks for your time,
Good luck getting some water.
Speaker 8 (33:22):
Thanks Jamie, I think we'll need it.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Cheers, got on you, Greg, not to mention the key
we for it gold. It is a great time of
the year to be a guts up Next Todd Clark
in Kentucky. You've heard from Hunter McGregor and Shanghai. Let's
(33:44):
cross the Pacific Ocean and catch up with our US
farm and correspondent, Todd Clark based out of Lexington, Kentucky. Todd,
you're a lot wealthier today than you were yesterday. The
Dow Jones up nearly three percent off news that Trump
is reducing the tariffs with China. It's been well received
in the US.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
Good afternoon, Jamie. It has been well received. But I
would venture to guess the average American probably has no
idea what's going on and has no idea that anything's
different today than it was yesterday. But outside of that,
the people that do pay attention. As you're aware, the
(34:29):
stock market is on an upward tick today here in
the in the US, and there's a lot of positivity.
But we were looking for positivity, so it's it's not
surprising that the first glimmer of hope that everybody has
latched onto it.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
So, Todd Clark in Kentucky, you're heading into your spring
summer period. How's the season been in general?
Speaker 6 (34:51):
The season so far has been good. Plenty of rainfall,
a little on the cool side, but as far as
grass growth and that sort of thing, it's it's been good.
We've had some flooding here in Kentucky and up and
down the Mississippi River, and if there was one complaint,
it would be that it's raining too much in a
(35:13):
big part of the crop growing portion of the US.
And so there's a lot of concern right now about
whether farmers will be able to finish planting corn, soybeans, rice, cotton,
those sorts of things. And so a friend of mine
was telling me in Arkansas this morning, the last time
he planted rice was the nineteenth of April and hasn't
(35:35):
been able to get into the field since then. And
he feels like the window closes the twentieth of May.
So he's pretty nervous. He's got another sixteen hundred acres
to go.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Hey, the clock is ticking there. New Zealand beef farmers
are getting record prices courtesy of you guys and your
insatiable demand for hamburgers. Does it follow that you guys
are getting record beef prices as well.
Speaker 6 (35:59):
Yes, it continues, and it just keeps ticking up. The steers,
five hundred pound steers are bringing four dollars and thirty
cents US per pound, and so that's unheard of prices.
We're in three four five dollars a pound live weight
prices at the stockyards here, and so it's it's just
(36:23):
crazy prices. People's net worth talking about Trump, the cattle
prices have caused people's net worth to change overnight, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Yep. Todd they are literally black gold on Who's that
is the beef cattle in America at the moment? Talking
about things with Who's the Kentucky Derby was run first
Saturday in May. It's just down the road from you,
just outside of Louisville. You're in Lexington. Did you hit along?
Speaker 6 (36:49):
I wish I did, but I didn't. We had a
party at our house. But attendance this year was down
a little bit, but partially because it had rained all
day that Saturday. But there was still one hundred and
forty seven thousand people in attendance. In sovereignty, a horse
(37:09):
belonging to the ruling family of Dubai was the winner.
It's the first time that they had a derby winner.
But the most interesting thing is the jockey had used
his whip. He's allowed six times to hit the horse
with the crop, and he used it eight, which cost
him a fine of sixty two thousand dollars. So that's
(37:32):
the big discussion in horse country in the last several
days is once that penalty was levied against him.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Thanks Todd, Todd, Clark and Kentucky. Wrapping the show with
some of your feedback. Jamie joined the Deaf Club says
the text, My deafness is due to crawl attractors. I
think that made my father deaf as well. Hunter I
dogs and the yards and chin saws. Yeah, if you're
on the chin saw and even duck hunting looks put
the muf song. It's something you can never get back anyhow.
(38:02):
We'll be back tomorrow. Take care, We're out of here.
Thank of Mere and shine Out to land.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to Brent starkest of the
leading agriculture brands have nothing to do on this Rugia line,
(00:20):
meaning to your bustrooms.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's been a long time awa we get a New Zealand.
Welcome to the Country. My name is Jamie mckaye. The
show is brought to you by Brandt. I was almost
going to say we grow, We're growing a better New
Zealand together, but that's my strap line for Saturday mornings,
Best of the Country, brought to you by Rabobank, But Brent,
what the hell, We're growing a better New Zealand together.
(00:47):
We're going to be talking about field Days today. Brant's
got a very strong presence there along with all the
leading agricultural companies in this country. We're going to give
you the chance to win a field Day's double pass
very very shortly on the country, just because we can.
We're going to kick it off the show off today
with some people we missed out on yesterday because they
(01:09):
were too busy, The Dynamic duo Fiona and Tom Langford.
They won the twenty twenty five New Zealand Shecher Farmers
of the Year at the Dairy Industry Awards over the weekend.
These two are quite dynamic. You will not believe their
CV Jane Smith going to let her off the chain. Yeah,
North Otago Farmer poster girl for the Methane Science Accord
(01:33):
on yesterday's Ruminant Methane Survey Summary Report which was released yesterday.
Hunter McGregor is our guy in Shanghai selling red meat
to the Chinese. Trump's dropped the tariffs or some of them.
What does it mean. We'll also head to the US.
Todd Clark's our guy there US farm and correspondent will
get the view of the Trump tariffs being dropped with
(01:55):
or reduced should I say, with China from an American
point of view. And Greg Taylor there is a Hawk's
Bay orchardist who's having a scrap with some of his
other orchiding mates with the hawks Bay Regional Council over water.
So the government wants us to double exports in the
next decade, and they want everyone to do some heavy lifting,
including the horticulture industry. But apparently the Hawks Bay Regional
(02:19):
Council wants to cut back the water take of these orchidice.
Now the Hawks Bay orchardice bring in a billion dollars
worth of income for this country a year. I don't
know if it's wise to reduce the water take. Anyhow,
we'll discuss that one with Greg Taylor. I will have
rural news and sports news for you as well. And
(02:39):
as I said, that field Day's double pass to give away.
But up next it is the twenty twenty five Sheer
Farmers of the Years.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Now hard out back.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
We missed them on yesterday show, but we always get
our man and in this case woman here on the country.
They are the twenty twenty five New Zealand Sheer Farmers
of the Year, Tom and Fiona Langford. They come from
a corporate background, but they shunned the glamour of a
corporate life to go milking cows and South Wakato with
Fiona's parents become equity partners and contract milkers. Let's start
(03:23):
with you, Fiona. What's your background? I think you're the
one with the farming background.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
So I was born and.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Bred on the farm, but early on decided that I
would like to be a dietitian. So I studied as
a dietitian, moved through to work with Fonterra and in
twenty seventeen there was a call for someone to come
back and help on farm, so we decided to make
that call to move back on farm.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So you've got a master's and dietetics. I hope I
got that right. Tom has a science degree and honor
science degree in food science. You both began work in
the Fonterra Technical graduate program. Interestingly, you now both have
a master's and dairy science and technology. There's not much
you don't know.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Yeah, I think that was one of the benefits of
going through Fontierra studying out as graduates. We got the
masters and dairy science and technology through that. But you know,
as time progressed and Fonterra, that was really key for
us in terms of developing skills that we could transfer.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
To the dairy farming.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
I think that's really been a strength of ours.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Tom, You're in Auckland to through and through be honest.
Was it Fiona? Was she wearing the pants? Did she
drag you back to the farm? Did you go willingly?
Speaker 6 (04:42):
She's a strong, strong woman, but no.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
The pool to move on to the dairy farm was
strong for both of us. We were living on the
farm for a time whilst I was still at Fontira
and yeah, moving into dairy farming was certainly a big
driver for us as we started our family and looking
at growing our equity and getting involved in the familysh
(05:05):
farmy business.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Your equity partners and contract milkers for Marion and joss
A van Luna. That's a Fiona's mum and dad's two
hundred and sixty two hectare a thousand or one thousand
and ninety cow farm in the South Woycatto at ten
bucks and an equity partner and a contract milker A Fiona,
you'll be making a fortune this year. Good time to
(05:27):
get into the industry.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Hey, it every year is different, you know. You see
the ups and downs of the dairy system and it's
just around you know, running our goals and our street
key sory strategic direction of our business. So we ride
the highs and we ride the lows throughout our career
and dairy as well.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So I'm milking more than a thousand cows, Fiona, what's
the ultimate dame? I'm assuming you want to buy your
parents out eventually and then what expand the operation or
you with that size farm?
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Yeah, so it's not just us in the business. There's
other family members in the business as well, so they're
all a key part, an integral part of our business too.
But for us, are we taking on a second contract
marking role next season and we probably have a little
bit more of a holistic approach in how we want
to run our business. So we want to have career opportunity,
(06:24):
progressional opportunities for our staff and do some of the
other things that we're passionate about as well along our journey,
so getting into things like governance. I did the Fontira
Governance program and so just progressing ourselves in other areas
alongside our dairy business.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
You're in your early thirties, you were first time entrance, Tom,
Were you surprised to win? You shouldn't have been with
the CV like you two have got.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
No, Like, we definitely didn't enter these awards for the
goods and the glory. You know, it was a process
of you know, looking at our business and seeing where
we could approve. So yeah, it certainly came as a surprise.
And you know, the last week has been a bit
of a will wind, but it's been an awesome opportunity
to get to know a lot of amazing young farmers,
(07:13):
particularly are Matt Cheer farmer category. We thought we didn't
have a chance. You know, there's a lot of strong
farmers out there in the regions, so yeah, certainly a surprise,
but great opportunity to meet and talk with some great
farmers out there.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Well Cato dairy farmers. I'm assuming you dried off, you'll
be looking forward to a bit of a break. Maybe
we might we might meet you at field Days.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, no break for us.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
We asked blitcarving, so drying off the first lot this week,
but we do have a stage dry off process, so yeah,
no real quiet time for us with this blitcarving system.
But you will see us at the field Days this year.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Your circus for punishment. I admire your work, ethic and
your academic backgrounds. This is just what the dairy industry needs,
people like you leading us into the future. Hey, look,
thank you very much for your time. Fiona and Tom
Langford from south Way Katto the twenty twenty five New
Zealand Sheer Farmers of the Year. Been great meeting you.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Thank you, Jeremy.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
They're working in Unison there. Thanks guys. She dynamic young couple.
Imagine quitting the glam life of the Auckland corporate scene
to go milk and cows. They're probably a lot happier, Okay,
talking about field Days, it'll be nice to meet Tom
and Fiona at field Days. It's nice to meet you
guys at field Days as well. We've got a prime
(08:34):
spot this year is as soon as you walk into
the main pavilion and I was doing some homework, Michelle,
good afternoon, by the way, for a column that someone
has twisted my arm to right for the Herald or
for our field day's publication. Guess what year the main
pavilion was built at Mystery Creek, the big one.
Speaker 7 (08:51):
When I'm thinking about an interview yesterday, would it have
been early nineties?
Speaker 6 (08:55):
No?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
No, no, According to my sources, it's two thousand and three.
It wasn't there when I first went to field Days
in the nineteen nineties. I'm a veteran, you see, Michelle. Now,
what we're doing is giving you, the listeners, an opportunity
to win a double pass to the field Days. It's
quite simple, are you. All you need to do is
text Field Days to five double O nine to win
(09:18):
and give us your name and where you're from and
someone in Auckland unknown to us, probably will select a winner.
We'll announce that on tomorrow's show. So Field Days is
your place to get a good deal. Remember we talked
to Jenny Vernon about it yesterday on the show. It's
the biggest egg event in the Southern Hemisphere. Mystery Creek
June eleven to fourteen. Tickets are now on sale. We've
(09:40):
got that double pass to give away text Field Days
with your name and where you're listening from to five
double oh nine to be in to win.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
The other big story yesterday was the release of the
Ruminant Methane Survey Summary Report. What a mouthful that is.
McCullum had a cracket defending it or not defending it,
defending the Paris Agreement and current admissions targets on yesterday's show.
If we're judging by the text traffic, he failed miserably.
(10:14):
But good on your grant for having a crack up
next a woman you wouldn't want to argue with. Jane
Smith out of North Otago, Madam. It was yesterday speaking
(10:35):
news story the release of the Ruminant Methane Survey Summary
Report from Groundswell endzed farming and the Methane Science Accord.
The poster girl probably for all three organizations as North
Otago Farmer former winner of the Balance Farm Environment Awards,
Jane Smith and Jane was this survey and echo chamber
(10:55):
that'll get a bite.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Good afternoon, Jamie. Well, I guess of any of those people,
including the National Party and beef and lamb and egg
ri zero, etcetera, took the time to go to a
wollshed and tai hathi or tour tat free or a
country hall somewhere. I believe that absolutely here the same
narrative as well, that there's basically farmers have had enough
(11:17):
of playing the scapegoat and actually there's benefits for all
of New Zealanders if we actually calculate methane right and
move on, Jamie, stop wasting so much money and time
and quasi research time into this fast, Jamie, Well.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Let's look at the sample size of this survey, because
I facetiously called at an echo chamber just looking for
a response, and I didn't really get one, to be honest, Jane,
but four hundred and twenty thousand followers of either New
Zealand Farming ground Swell or the Methane science accord. That
is a huge sample.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Oh, it certainly is. And you know, I think I'll
have to be heavily sedated before I listened to Grant
McCallum's methane Furman. Again, I was really disappointed to hear.
I guess how el informed he was. And again, this
is just reflecting what rural New Zealands think. And I
actually felt sorry for him in terms of his lack
of knowledge in terms of science metrics and economics. And
(12:16):
you know, to suggest that fifty percent of our New
Zealand's milk payout is attributed to being being an empty
signatory on meaningless accord is really concerning. So I guess
if politics doesn't work out for him, the will certainly
be a place in the Yuien or Greenpeace for taming.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Well, let's just requote our good friend Grant McCullum. He said,
if we pull out of Paris, the milk price will
go from ten dollars to five dollars. You're not having
a bar of that, Oh.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Absolutely not, Jamiene. When you look at just put the
cost of all of this methane mitigation fiscal farce that
we're putting in, you know, Paris itself is going to
cost between twenty four and thirty six billion dollars. And
I guess the other thing is, I guess I know
for a fact that the NATS and our sector leaders
are actually embarrassed about their amount of tax fan money
(13:02):
that has already been squandered on the Paris Accords new
clothes in terms of the methane contribution to that, because
not only have the coalition endorsed or validated the Labor
Green's position on this on it, they've actually doubled down
and they're about to throw another four hundred million dollars
into the methane melting pot. And you know, to hear
(13:22):
Eggri Zero's wayning methane me say last week that the
reason farmers are frustrated at being asked to decrease their
emissions is that we don't have the tools or options
to decrease them. It's not that at all ways. It's
actually that there is no need for any further reductions.
We actually meet the definition of met zero already. And
if you look at our stock numbers, sheep down by
(13:43):
fifty eight percent since nineteen ninety, beef down by twenty
one percent, deer down by twenty four percent. Again, we're
already taking billions out of our economy. Why should we
be spending any more on this on the space And actually,
you know, I know you're going to, you know, question
why we should be getting out, And I guess I've
done a bit of analysis in terms of why what
(14:04):
happened when we got in. And one thing I've always
been really confused about, Jamie, is what we actually signed
up for, not just the cost of it, but the
track that we took. And interesting enough, the French were
we're clear enough to take a sequestration agg ecology, biodiversity pathway,
food security pathway. What do New Zealand do you think
(14:26):
we would have run with that? But no, we went
down the technology version pathway so that the US ge
meddling with you know, pills, potions and vaccines, et cetera.
So why we did that I cannot. I do not know.
But I think it's time that we just cut it short,
draw the line and start celebrating New Zealand's and mission
profile for what it is, because that's good news for
(14:47):
all New Zealanders. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Okay, Well, let's look at some of these numbers to date,
over three hundred and thirty million has been spent on
ruminant methane research up to another four hundred million committed.
That's nearly three quarters of a billion dollars. Now, you guys,
also in your wide ranging survey, asked the respondents where
(15:09):
they would prefer that the money went. Sixty four said
healthcare and nineteen percent said infrastructure. Only four percent said methane.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Exactly, Jomiane, that's a hell of a lot of hospitals
that we can be building for the wider paris are
called cost and I know that, you know, if we're
going to have that miss later known question come up,
and you know, silver and farms and fonter are always
very very quick to jump to that. And you know,
why don't we ask the consumers, actually asked them because
(15:40):
even the most ardent environmentalists and I've talked a lot
of James Sure about this back when he was in government,
and well, actually should be alarmed that all roads and
methane mitigation actually lead to more intensive farming. So we
need to ask consumers, do they want feed lots? Do
they want to be fossil fuel dependent? Do they want
concrete jungles for our lives? Dock to be housed. You know,
(16:02):
the sort of things that doctor Frank Mitlogger was talking
about last week when he was you know, he was
talking about intensive feed lot Californian dairy production, a world
away from our production completely. So do they want that
with a potentially lower emissions intensity? So you've got to
remember and your listeners will know this, but if you
(16:24):
look at emissions intensity and weather up the back of
the mckendy country comes out of it as a methane terrorist,
whereas a heavily intensive system five dairy production system comes
out as a hero. I mean that is just fascical.
And again, do we want to be interfering with our food?
I say not, people in our survey said not. But
we need to actually go out to our customers and
(16:46):
us in that, Jamie, because we can't keep going with
this narrative. We need to stop growing the methane myths
and start growing food. Did the world okay?
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I hate just a really quick final comment from you,
because I'm out of time. Is this a shot across
the bows from the likes of Groundswell and in zed
farming and the Methane Science Accord, A shot across the
bowels of beef and lamb in Z dairy and Z
feed farmers, the industry, good bodies.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Well, I wouldn't say that. I think it's just a
genuine reflection of rural New Zealand. And we see rural
communities being destroyed to no reason whatsoever. We see other
environmental initiatives and I'm an environmentalist shaming you know that
that have just been pushed by the wayside.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
We see a.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Scientists distracted by this fascical methane money train instead of
actually doing looking at our real issues in New Zealand
and worldwide, and we could have actually been helping the
world produce pasture raised protein and show them how to
do it efficiently. So I'm sure there is scrabbling going
on behind the scenes. I'm sure feeds and beef and
(17:46):
lamb and the Crown will come up with a new
target next week probably I'd suggest it's probably going to
be something in the range of sort of fifteen to
twenty percent. Actually, what they need to do is get
their sticky fingers out at any target and let's just
harry on with a fusion effective production Jamie and look
at the big picture here, because actually this is just
again a gross distraction and a gross waste of money
(18:08):
and a country that can't afford its own health to here, Jammie.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Jane Smith, thanks for your time as always.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Thanks Jammy.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Twenty eight after twelve the country. So who's right our
good friend Grant Mcnashal McCullum or Jane Smith. The text
lines five double o nine you tell us who's on
the right side of the methane argument. Also, if you're
going to text that number, text if you want to
go to the field Days that is we've got a
double pass to give away. What you need to do
(18:35):
is text field days with your name, okay, the word
field days and then your name and where you're listening
from to five double o nine to be.
Speaker 6 (18:44):
In to one.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Now you've got to spell field days correctly, otherwise you don't.
You just don't get into the competition. So field days
is one word I before accept after C Do I
have to spell it out for you? No pun intended.
We'd love you to go along to field Day is
up next to our guy in China and that is
Hunter McGregor.
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Way good.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
We're going international on the country today. Very shortly we're
off to the US to catch up with our guy
over there, Todd Clark, see what he makes of Trump's
latest move to lower tariffs between the US and China
and vice versa. But let's head to Shanghai, see what
the Chinese think of it. Hunter McGregor is our guy there, Key,
we selling venison to the Chinese.
Speaker 9 (19:34):
Good news, Good afternoon, Jamie. Well, anything that reduced tariffs
of good news. But yeah, I don't think you know,
the Chinese are too excited at the stage. Let's see
how things play out, because Trump might change his mind
in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Now, I note that goods from China to the US
still have effectively a thirty percent tariff. From the US
into China, it's set ten percent, so there's still like
a twenty fentanyl tariff on stuff coming from China to
the US. How much fentanyl do you send? I thought
it was the Mexicans and the Canadians that sent it in.
Speaker 9 (20:11):
Well, I was been trying to read up about that
because I wasn't too sure what was going on. But
I think it's the precursors. It's the chemicals that make fentanyl.
So they apparently they're being shipped out of China into
Mexico and Canada and then the products made there. But
you know, I know that in China they've been clamping
down on that. There is no fentanyl in China or
(20:31):
very few drugs around here these days. So i'llventually see
how that plays out. But you know that you dropped
from forty five one hundred and forty five percent down
to thirty percent as positive for you know, a lot
of Chinese factories because they have been under a bit
of pressure.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I saw some commentary from Trump and he was sort
of saying in an indirect sort of way, that China
was begging for a deal.
Speaker 9 (20:55):
Well I don't think so. I think, yeah, Trump, Trump's
claiming it as a wonderful deal, and he's you know,
he saved the day. So I don't think China would
have been begging for a deal. They would have been
wanting to be seen as equals. And now and I
see in their release that they're gonna they're going to
ninety day stay on these change in these tariffs, which
(21:18):
starts tomorrow on Wednesday, but the key is going to
be ongoing discussion. So let's see how that plays out,
because you know, they need to sort of sort something
long term because there's chopping and changing you know, all
the time. Is not good for anybody. Yeah, but there
has been some pressure on Chinese factories here that you know,
there's no doubt about that. But what is going to
(21:39):
be doing in the next few months. It's going to
be moving on to the US consumer because prices are
going to go up and you know, and shop shelves
are going to be empty because you know, shipping has
gone right down, you know, down about twenty thirty ports
in America. So it's going to affect the US consumer.
So let's see how Trump goes with a bit of
(22:00):
pressure on his side.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Well, don't worry. Trump will make a great deal, a
beautiful deal before it all turns to custard for him,
if you had to believe him. Lego Land is opening
in Shanghai. But this is sort of a mini me
of Disney and Universal.
Speaker 9 (22:15):
Yeah, it was quite exciting. Legal Land is opening on July,
the fifth of July, so yeah, it's quite It's a
small amusement park. They're only sort of spent about about
half a billion US dollars in developing it, compared to
what they spent with Disney, which is about three point
seven billion US and then Universal in Beijing they spent
(22:39):
about six point five billion. But you know with disney
Land in Shanghai last year, they had about fourteen million
people go through it, so you know, if you want
to go, you know, China's full of people. But even
when I go to Disneyland, which I've been a couple
of times here, it's not much fun. It's pretty crowded.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Exactly. Now, you've got a state visit from Brazil at
the moment. How big a deal is Brazil to China
as a trading partner.
Speaker 9 (23:07):
Well, it's a very big deal. And you know, Brazil's
is a key trader on especially on the agricultural commodities
like sawyer beans, beef, a lot of Brazilian beef, you know,
a lot of sawyer beans and stuff. So it is
a big deal for both sides. I do see that
the Brazilian president and he's got eleven of his ministers
(23:31):
on his trade delegation. He's in here for five days
and then you president, she will be heading with a
big delegation down. I think it's in may Or later
this year for the Bricks meeting. So yeah, no, it's
an important tie for China and it's good to see
big delegations like that will be interesting. It'll be good
(23:52):
to see the New Zealand Prime Minister come up with
a big delegation at some point because he hasn't made
it here since he's been to office, so you be
looking forward to that it when that happens.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it. He's been to India a
number of times as I understand it, but not yet
to China on the state visit. We'll ask him why
not on tomorrow's show, but on today's show. Hunter McGregor
from Shanghai, thanks for your time.
Speaker 9 (24:14):
Cheers, Thanks Jovik.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
It is twenty five away from one. Thanks Hunter. We
will ask the Prime Minister that very question on the
show tomorrow. Up next to the Latest and Rural News
Sports News. Remember the text field days to five double
oh nine, your name and where you're from spell field
days correctly. You can win the double pass two field
days before the end of the hour. We've got Todd
(24:38):
Clark in the US and if I can track him down,
Greg Taylor and the Hawk's Bay disgruntled apple grower. They
want they want water to grow apples and I'm with
the apple growers. The man sun.
Speaker 7 (24:49):
Let's see your vers really.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Shows ans Welcome back to the country. My head are
far too loud. I think I am going completely deaf. Yes, yes, Michelle,
I am. Well it's to do with thirty years of
radio headphones is one problem, but also a winter spent
(25:12):
on a chainsaw. When I was a young man, we
didn't wear air muffs chopping down this row of old
man pines, and believe it or not, we were chainsawing
in gum boots. I can't believe that Phil Rope half
from Still won't like that. Still Chainsaw safety awareness is
coming up. We've got a whole lot of chainsaws to
give away. But anyhow, let's before we get into rural news.
(25:35):
I want to tell you about our latest podcast. If
I can, I'll just turn right down. Apparently right hates
doing sailing.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
Well, this is a terrible song.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Well yeah, it apparently doesn't do it at concert. Anyhow,
If you're serious about staying ahead of drench resistance and
making smart moves for the future of your farm, you
won't want to miss the latest episode of our podcast series,
drench Wise Farm Smart, proudly brought to you by Alanco.
This series isn't just about drenching, It's about smarter, more
(26:05):
sustainable parasite management that protects your stock, you soil and
your bottom line. Episode three is live now, isn't it.
Rowena's joined Rowena Duncan Matters once again by industry veteran
Colin Mackay. No relation from Alanko and Gladstone Sheep and
beef farmer Michael Kamick, who shares his first hand journey
(26:28):
do we have to use the word journey? Who writes
this his first hand journey tackling triple drench resistance, what
he's learned and practical strategies you can put in place today.
So whether you're out shifting mobs, feeding out or winding
down after a big day, make sure you check out
drench Wise Farm Smart. You'll find it on the country's
podcast stream wherever you get your podcasts, and we've got
(26:51):
a link to it up on our Facebook page as well.
He's the latest and rural news, what.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
The country's world news with Cod Cadets, New Zealand's leading
right on lawnlower bread. Visit steel Ford dot co dot
nzim for your local stockist and.
Speaker 7 (27:05):
Some news hot off the press. Federated Farmers have announced
the finalists for the seventh annual Primary Industry Awards, to
be held in christ Church next month. The awards contain
eight different categories that celebrate the movers and shakers in
the primary sector, from science and food production teams to
the leaders who have gone the extra mile and a
name you might recognize, Jamie. There's a Southland farmer in
there called Grant Lightfoot and of course he invented the
(27:28):
itable and by credible knitting.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
That's good. I was a finalist on that last year
and that barster Julian Rain beat me, that's right, and
he deserved to the Yeah, anyhow well, can we put
the list up on f so Jan.
Speaker 7 (27:41):
Yeah, I can put the fault. The lister's massive, so
I'm not going to read out the whole thing. But
another one that I found that was quite cool, neat
story here Jamie's and the leader the Rural Hero Award
and the third finalist and that's Ian Jury's, the eighty
five year old farmer who for twenty years has been
raising money for the Taranaki Riscue helicopter by collecting batteries
for recycling.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Is that the same end jury as en jury and
the blockheads hit me with your rhythmstick. It can't be
the same bloke. No, I don't think Jamie anyhow. No,
really looking forward to those the primary industry New Zealand awards.
Who's who, it's the acquits, it's our equivalent of the oscars,
and it's happening in christ churches and it we're all
(28:20):
heading along later in June, here's sport for you.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Sport with the AFCO Kiwi to the bone since nineteen
oh four.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
The confirmation that the Hollywood backed Wrexham football side is
on its way to New Zealand. The Wellington Phoenix will
host the club on July the nineteenth as a part
of the Latters down Under Tour. Wrexham shot to prominence
when actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Maceilhenny purchased the club
in twenty twenty one. And another win for this won't
(28:50):
please everybody by the way either. Another win for world
number one tennis player Yannick Sinner and his first return
tournament from a three month long doping He cruised to
a straight sets victory in the round of thirty two
match at his home Italian Open you're looking forward to
the French Open coming up, and then of course Wimbledon
(29:12):
and then the US Open. But up next, we're off
to Hawk's Bay and a bit of a range war
happening there over water. Up next, Greg Taylor, Orchardist, Hawk's Bay. Well,
they reckon wars in the twenty first century will be
fought over water rather than oil. Well, it's happening in
(29:34):
the Hawks Bay at the moment, where a group called
the Heretongua Sustainable Water Group is having a good old
fashioned scrap with the Hawk's Bay Regional Council. Now quite rightly,
these apple growers are saying the government wants them to
double their current exports but they can't do it with
the current severe water restrictions and orchards orchardist should I
(29:55):
say in the Hawk's Bay are already exporting one billion
dollars worth of product a year. Okay. The spokesman on
the show today is Greg Taylor. Greg, you need Shane
Jones to ride in the town and build you a dam.
Speaker 8 (30:08):
That's one element of it, Jamie, and he's thankfully already
been to town and offered us some support. But listen,
storage is a long way off. So that's just one
of the one of the goals of our group.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
So why is the Hawk's Bay Regional Council threatening to
cut some of your water take?
Speaker 8 (30:24):
Well, listen, this is a well worn path started back
in twenty fifteen, so a decad's worth of sort of
non agreement. Now, So under the National Policy Statement for
Fresh Order Management, a PLANCHI chain was issued to address
water quality and quantity. But this has now resulted in
mediation process which unfortunately failed to resolve too much at
(30:47):
all in the matter is now put before the Environment Court.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Currently, is there enough water to go around? And are
you guys damaging water qualities? The Hawks Bay Regional Council
got a fair argument here.
Speaker 8 (30:59):
Yes there is enough water to go around Jamie in
our view, and no we're not damaging the water. This
is very much a community issue and producers not just
apple grows. We want to see fear and reasonable takes
so that their operation can continue, they can continue to
employ people and be part of a successful local economy.
(31:21):
I don't see damaging water at all as being on
the table, and in terms of there being enough water,
we simply have a paper over allocation. So we're arguing
around the methodology of how we will reduce that take.
And I think most people would agree that we do
have to see a reduction in the consented water volume.
(31:43):
But how we do that that's that issue.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
So are you in a dead luck with the regional
council at the moment? How do you fast forward this thing?
Speaker 8 (31:51):
No, So the group lobby for a pause in the
renewal of consense process. So consents that have been expiring
over the last six or seven years have been placed
on pause. Well, this issue was resolved, but then recently
the regulator decided that they would continue to process these
(32:11):
consents despite the issue not being resolved. We were able
to lobby them and are very grateful that they yielded
and have given us a pause pending the outcome of
the Environment Court ruling. So that's given us some time
and we want to use that time to galvanize our thinking,
(32:32):
get some collective collective action going collaboratively. Collective action should
resolve in some bare outcomes, and we want to promote
push those forward.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Well, I hope, so good luck with that. Just a
quick final word on your apple growing season. It's been
a good one and you needed it.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
Yeah, it is over.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
Judy.
Speaker 8 (32:49):
Jamie, we've had three or four pretty tough years on
the trot with a cyclone thrown in as well, So yeah,
we're very pleased. Harvest just finished on Friday for us,
and yeah, we're very pleased with the volume and the
quality of the apples that have come off. Looking forward
to closing out the season and being successful one.
Speaker 6 (33:08):
Well.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
I love this time of year, Greg Taylor, when we
get great hawks By apples in fact in z apples
in our supermarkets and greengrosses. It's a fantastic time of
year to enjoy a wonderful product. Thanks for your time,
Good luck getting some water.
Speaker 8 (33:22):
Thanks Jamie, I think we'll need it.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Cheers, got on you, Greg, not to mention the key
we for it gold. It is a great time of
the year to be a guts up Next Todd Clark
in Kentucky. You've heard from Hunter McGregor and Shanghai. Let's
(33:44):
cross the Pacific Ocean and catch up with our US
farm and correspondent, Todd Clark based out of Lexington, Kentucky. Todd,
you're a lot wealthier today than you were yesterday. The
Dow Jones up nearly three percent off news that Trump
is reducing the tariffs with China. It's been well received
in the US.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
Good afternoon, Jamie. It has been well received. But I
would venture to guess the average American probably has no
idea what's going on and has no idea that anything's
different today than it was yesterday. But outside of that,
the people that do pay attention. As you're aware, the
(34:29):
stock market is on an upward tick today here in
the in the US, and there's a lot of positivity.
But we were looking for positivity, so it's it's not
surprising that the first glimmer of hope that everybody has
latched onto it.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
So, Todd Clark in Kentucky, you're heading into your spring
summer period. How's the season been in general?
Speaker 6 (34:51):
The season so far has been good. Plenty of rainfall,
a little on the cool side, but as far as
grass growth and that sort of thing, it's it's been good.
We've had some flooding here in Kentucky and up and
down the Mississippi River, and if there was one complaint,
it would be that it's raining too much in a
(35:13):
big part of the crop growing portion of the US.
And so there's a lot of concern right now about
whether farmers will be able to finish planting corn, soybeans, rice, cotton,
those sorts of things. And so a friend of mine
was telling me in Arkansas this morning, the last time
he planted rice was the nineteenth of April and hasn't
(35:35):
been able to get into the field since then. And
he feels like the window closes the twentieth of May.
So he's pretty nervous. He's got another sixteen hundred acres
to go.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Hey, the clock is ticking there. New Zealand beef farmers
are getting record prices courtesy of you guys and your
insatiable demand for hamburgers. Does it follow that you guys
are getting record beef prices as well.
Speaker 6 (35:59):
Yes, it continues, and it just keeps ticking up. The steers,
five hundred pound steers are bringing four dollars and thirty
cents US per pound, and so that's unheard of prices.
We're in three four five dollars a pound live weight
prices at the stockyards here, and so it's it's just
(36:23):
crazy prices. People's net worth talking about Trump, the cattle
prices have caused people's net worth to change overnight, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Yep. Todd they are literally black gold on Who's that
is the beef cattle in America at the moment? Talking
about things with Who's the Kentucky Derby was run first
Saturday in May. It's just down the road from you,
just outside of Louisville. You're in Lexington. Did you hit along?
Speaker 6 (36:49):
I wish I did, but I didn't. We had a
party at our house. But attendance this year was down
a little bit, but partially because it had rained all
day that Saturday. But there was still one hundred and
forty seven thousand people in attendance. In sovereignty, a horse
(37:09):
belonging to the ruling family of Dubai was the winner.
It's the first time that they had a derby winner.
But the most interesting thing is the jockey had used
his whip. He's allowed six times to hit the horse
with the crop, and he used it eight, which cost
him a fine of sixty two thousand dollars. So that's
(37:32):
the big discussion in horse country in the last several
days is once that penalty was levied against him.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Thanks Todd, Todd, Clark and Kentucky. Wrapping the show with
some of your feedback. Jamie joined the Deaf Club says
the text, My deafness is due to crawl attractors. I
think that made my father deaf as well. Hunter I
dogs and the yards and chin saws. Yeah, if you're
on the chin saw and even duck hunting looks put
the muf song. It's something you can never get back anyhow.
(38:02):
We'll be back tomorrow. Take care, We're out of here.
Thank of Mere and shine Out to land.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment
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