July 1, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Craig Piggott, Anna Palairet, and Matthew Zonderop.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in John Deer construction equipment
and I think he's gonna be a long.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Long time.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Again.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Get Ainye Zealand Welcome to the Country. It's brought to
you by Brent. I'm Jamie McKay looking forward to being
an ash Burton tomorrow. We'll tell you more about that later,
but we're going to kick off the show as we
do when he's in the country with the Prime Minister.
Christopher Luxen. Caught up with him awee bit earlier this
morning and I asked him if he was doing a
secre starmer excelling on the world stage dropping the ball
(00:52):
at home on the domestic front, as suggested by fran
O'Sullivan and the Herald Rocketman by Elton John. For our
I guess our keynote interview today for a guy who
started his career out at Rocket Lab and then decided
to make his own company, a virtual fencing an animal
(01:13):
management system. His name is Craig Pigott. Raised on a
matter matter dairy farm. This company is now worth in
excess of one billion US dollars I wonder if he's
worth as much. We'll have to ask him as Sir
Peter Beck, who I think is worth two billion US dollars.
(01:34):
That's a lot of money. And Palore will join us
Fonterra's chief operating officer. Having a look at last night's
global dairy trade auction. Not a good one. You can't
say we weren't worn though futures was picking a drop
of four percent. We got four point one percent across
the board. Whole milk powder down five point one percent.
(01:55):
Ouch is the ten dollars milk forecast price for twenty
five twenty six under threat. And I ran into a
really interesting character at the Primary industry summit last week.
Another matter matter kal Kocky, What is it about these guys?
Matthew zonder up he made a mistake one night and
(02:18):
he's come up with Tinder for cows driven by chat GPT,
an amazing story bit of an ag tech day to
day on the Country, up next to the Prime Minister
and I think it's gone to bens me run again
(02:47):
Wednesdays on the Country. The Prime Minister kicks off the show,
except last week when he was doing work on our
behalf offshore NATO, and of course before that, China. Let's
have a look at those trips, Prime Minister. You're getting
good reviews for your work there not such stunning reviews
on the domestic front. But let's concentrate on China to
(03:07):
start with.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
Yeah, look amazing places. You know, Jamie and I had
felt that New Zealand had lost a lot of awareness
within China. So it really it's a big opportunity for
us to deepen our economic relationships. While I was there,
we did about one point two billion dollars worth of deals,
about four hundred million dollars in meat and horticulture and
dairy and it's a massive economy. It's the second biggest economy,
(03:30):
it's our biggest trading partner. And you know, even so
there's still so much more opportunity because there's five hundred
million people in the middle class living like a standard
living similar to what we have here in New Zealand.
So yeah, that's a huge opportunity for us. So it
was just about raising our profile and we had you know,
Fonterra along with us Miles, we had Nathan Guys brilliant
(03:51):
on the meat industry is doing a great job there.
There's lots of opportunity for red meat actually in China,
and you know we had all the key sector leaders
and see with us, which was fantastic, and so that
was a really successful trip and good just to raise
the profile of New Zealand, to sell more primary industry products,
to sell more education and tourism, and Noah's a really successful.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Could you have to like tipytoe along a political tight
rope awe, but you know, cuddle up to President she
and Premiere Lee because they're a bit worried that we're
going the American way.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Well, I mean I've met with them before and been
very clear from day one, from when I became Prime Minister.
You know, we have areas of collaboration and cooperation with China,
which there's still more for us to do together and
that's all good stuff. But yet we have different political systems,
we have different histories, we have different values, and we
have differences frankly as you do actually in all the
relationships are they have with different countries, and so it's
(04:46):
important if you've got a long standing part and mature
partnership and relationship that's been over fifty years, you should
be able to talk about the differences upfront and be
very direct about it as well, and that's the sign
of a strong part a good partnership, I think so
they you know, I raised and discussed all the things
that you know, we have our differences, but we also
talked about the areas where we can cooperate and actually
(05:07):
do more business together, which is important for New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
From there you went on to meet with the NATO
Secretary General, Get it right, Mark Rutter, who was an
old major yours or an old work colleague of yours
at UNI level. That's a handy connection.
Speaker 6 (05:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
He was the Dutch prime minister for fourteen years during
the John Key era. He was probably one of the
most probably the most successful center right politician in recent history.
So he was prime Minister of the Nevidends for a
long time and then obviously he has taken on the
role of Secretary General. But I flew straight from Beijing
into Brussels and what was good there, Jamie was I've
got to know, should have underlyon who's the President of
(05:42):
the European Union. And I've been talking to her obviously
about you know, making sure that in a world of
tariffs and lots of trade uncertainty that actually Europe and
the CPTPP countries actually continue to uphold the trading laws
and rules so that there's no tit for tat punishments
or breakdown in those rules. But the thing about Europe's
really exciting because Europe and the UK we've historically had
(06:05):
these old ties that go back one hundred years or so,
but we've also you know, we've not had always in
so far away, but we haven't had new stuff to
drive the relationship forward. And in both cases the FTA
agreements have been really good. So if you think about
the last twelve months, we added an extra extra billion dollars,
it's up twenty five percent our exports to Europe and
(06:26):
you go to a place like the Netherlands. I went
to Rotterdam Port where most of our goods go into
and you know, it's fantastic. And there's also investment coming
out of Europe investing into New Zealand, you know, so
that was really good. So it was partly that and
then obviously NATO was the security side, which Mark Rotter
as you said, the Sextra General of NATO around and
that was more about you know, the things of common
(06:47):
interest between US and the Indo Pacific region and the
things in the euro Atlantic region and particularly the war
in Ukraine was a big focus point.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Okay, are you talking about the europe war in Ukraine.
One man who's been at the forefront of negociations around
that is Secre Starmer, the Labor Prime Minister in the UK.
Frando Sullivan wrote an interesting piece in The Herald suggesting
that maybe you're doing a bit of a Secare Starmer,
excelling on the world stage, dropping the ball at home
(07:14):
on the domestic front. What do you say in your defense?
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Well, what a load of rubbish. The bottom line is,
I'm very focused on domestic New Zealand That's why I
go overseas is because everything I'm doing overseas is about
trying to help us grow our position and improve our
position here at home. One in four of our jobs
are actually tied to trade. Doubling our exports is really
important to It's a big goal, but it's important because
that's actually how we're leading our economy out of the
(07:39):
mess that we've been. And just just think about it.
In the last quarter, we grew the economy zero point
eight percent, four times faster than Australia faster than many
other Western economies. Why is that happening. It's happening because
if you look at our goods deficit, that went from
ten billion deficit down to three point eight billion in
less than twelve months. And that's because we're actually doing
the trade internationally that I need to be able to
(08:00):
sell to the world for so now, I'm really proud
of what we're doing to lift the intensity to trade
internationally and that's got real benefits for us here at home. Yep,
it's still tough, but look at it. Inflations from seven
to two point five percent. Interest rates are coming down,
the economy is growing for the first time in a
long time. Unemployment's peaking and will start to come down
as well. Now we've got to push on to make
(08:21):
sure that people can feel it in their cost of living.
And I know that's been difficult, but you know that's
what happens thanks to a labor government that mismanaged the
economy for six years.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Let's just finish with Heartland New Zealand. You're there today,
I think with Sue's redmain the star of the Rural
Support Trust debate. She was great at Field Days. She
got one of the best shots into the night. Mind you,
you've got a good one, and we won't we won't
go there with that one.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
But go there, Jamie.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
We're going to for our relationship exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
But let's just talk about Sue's Redmain and what you're
doing and what is it. Tye happy today, Yeah, Tye
happy today.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
I want to see some of the good stuff that's
happening in Wall, which is really great. There's some really
enterprising entrepreneurs that are doing incredibly good job there. But
it's a chance to get out across Ranger tech A.
There's some there's some great companies in regional New Zealand.
I'm going to meet with PEC Fuel Systems. I've got
Hotarpo Pine, We're going to go meet with Honest Wall
(09:16):
for which the guys doing some creat cool entrepreneurial stuff,
and with World as well. So you know, the great
thing is that for places like the fuel systems business,
for the pine and forestry businesses again for them to
actually invest in new capital, plant and equipment by virtue
of the Investment Boost program that we put in place
that's again designed so we can get this economy moving
(09:36):
and growing into a much stronger place. So yes, it's
always good to get out of Wellington, and that's what
I try and do as fast as I can. Come
to Wellington, get out as quickly as possible, so you
can go see what's happening in the real world.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Okay, there you go. We'll enjoy your day and TI happy.
It's not too late to introduce a big, beautiful bill.
It's worked for Trump, it could work for you on
the home front. Prime Minister, thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Always good to talking to Jovie.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
You take care of a great week.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I will, indeed seventeen after twelve, caught up with them
earlier this morning. You've got to get the PM when
he's available. Up next though, live on the country. An
outstanding young New Zealander the founder and chief executive of
ag tech Giant Halter. Of course they do the virtual
fencing and the animal management system with the electric collars
(10:23):
or the battery powered collars. I better say that the
company's now worth US one billion dollars. The guy and
I'm playing Rocketman because he started off at Rocket Lab
with Sir Peter Beck before the end of their Anna
Pellore from Fonterra. Having a look at that global Deiry
trade auctions ten dollars under threat, and there's something about
(10:45):
something in the water and Mada matter. Matthew Zonder up
before the end of the hour, got a text in
from Richard McIntyre regarding the drop and the GDT auction overnight.
He said, the market is reacting to a change in
the theater. It's very cheer roll. Well, good on you, Richard,
Thanks for listening up. Next, it's going to be the
(11:07):
highlight of the day. It will be for me talking
to him. Some people are just smart, some people are
just clever. We're going to talk to a very clever bloke.
Next on the Country, Craig Pigt from Halter.
Speaker 7 (11:20):
In fact, as cool.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
As hell.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Suns done. I think I am no.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Here is a young man who is setting the agg
tech world alight. In fact, I call him the Sir
Peter Beck of ag Tech. His name is Craig Piket.
He's the chief executive of Halter. His company is now
worth an excess of one billion US dollars. Craig, you
have come a long way since twenty sixteen when you
(12:05):
kicked off Holter. Can you believe the speed at which
your company has grown.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
Firstly, just thanks, thanks for having me as always. Yes, definitely,
it's been a journey. We've come a long way, although
I still feel like we've got, you know, so far
to go. So and we try and we try to
move as fast as we can. So I guess that's
it's all part of it.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Well, I did and respect really call you the sir
Peter Beck of ag Tech. And you've got a connection
because you started your career off with rocket Lab.
Speaker 6 (12:38):
Yes, yeah, before Halter, I was at rocket Lab and
I have, you know, a lot to be very grateful
for and thankful for from Pete. He was my boss
or Rocke Lab, and I learned, you know, so much there,
and he's on the board of Holter and he was
one of our first investors and he's had such big
influence on us as well. So he's he is awesome
(12:58):
and and I'm very grateful to Pete.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
You grew up on a three hundred cow dairy farm
and Madam Matter in the Whitecado region. Are your parents
or family still farming that property?
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Yes, my parents still farming today. They were the first
I guess you probably can't really call them my customer,
you know, they didn't have much of an option, but
they were the first farm to have halter and yeah,
they've been farming for twenty or maybe even thirty odd
years now.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Talk to me about big Bird. Was this the first
cow that you trialed the halter collar technology on.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
Yes, she was the first cow we trained to respond
to sound and that we were using.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
She was able to kind of.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Prove I guess that the concept was possible, that she
was a cow on my parents' farm and she literally
was just for no particular reason, very big. She's one
of the tallest cars in the herd, and so you know,
in the beginning, when you're working with just very small numbers,
like on an individual basis, she was that kind of
(14:12):
at the center of that in terms of proving the idea,
and then from that, obviously we're able to build, build
the product and the rest of the company around that.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Of course it holds her as for those who are
unaware of what we're talking about. A solar powered smart
collar allows virtual fencing and of course health monitoring. Craig
Piggott was the one kind of Eureka moment when it
hits you the idea or was it a slow burner?
Speaker 6 (14:38):
It was definitely a slow burn and even today, like
you know, the product today is with the best system
to run a past your farm. And yes, there's you know,
there's collars on cows and there's an app on the
farmer's phone, and at the heart of that there's this
virtual fencing and shifting product. But in alongside of that
is all this kind of animal health and heat, but
(14:59):
also pastia around like measuring grass and growth rates and
all the kind of inducts you need to run farms.
It's probably much more kins like an operating system, and
that's evolved a lot over time, and it still is today,
like we're releasing new products and new features every few weeks.
And so right at the beginning, it was a much
simpler idea, I guess, and.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
The goal was just how do you lift the.
Speaker 6 (15:21):
Productivity of land? That's what every farmer effectively is trying
to do, and we thought how you graize the land
is probably like the best first principle for that, and
that was really why we started with a collar and
virtual fencing and so but yeah, definitely has evolved over
the years as the teams grow, and as you know,
(15:43):
it's been really been built by farmers like farmers giving
us feedback things.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
So that you obviously faced many challenges as you pie
and aered this technology over the years, things like calibration
and battery life. Craig, I can't get a mobile phone
that's the batteries any good after about two years. So
did you have issues with battery life? With the collars?
Speaker 6 (16:02):
For instance, we had, you know, countless Like we're trying
to build a product which no one has really done before,
and and you know, we're like partnering with some of
the best farmers in the world, and it's pretty clear
what you know, what the outcomes are that we want.
And so then it's kind of our job to go
(16:23):
away and work.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Out how to do that.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
And that does result in a lot of like very
hard challenges and and so and still today we're trying
to build new features and you have more impact on
the industry and things like that. And some stuff's not
technically feasible and some stuff is and it's our job
to work out where that sits. And so keeping collars
online over winter or from a power perspective, and or
(16:47):
how do he talk to the devices when the you know,
kilometers away from a tower, or things like that there's
just countless, countless problems to solve, and that's fine, that's
the business we're.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
In Pigot with this chief executive of Halter. This was
initially set up for the dairy industry, for dairy cows,
but you're very much moving into the beef industry as well,
and beef angus bulls angus beef cattle at the moments
are almost black gold. I put it to you that
there could be more potential in the beef industry than
(17:19):
the dairy industry. Is that the track you're heading down.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
We obviously our roots kind of started in dairy and
literally in the white heat of where my parents farmers.
And the plan was always to do beef, like whether
it's ranch and overseas or you know, she'dn't beef here,
So I think the like it was always a matter
of when, not if, And that is a function of like.
(17:45):
I guess the mission where on in terms of lifting
the productivity of the land around the world, and from
an agricultural perspective, it's half the planets have all ad
Mass obviously a mission to get out of bed for
him and so so yes, I guess we were. The
plan was to do it. We're pushing really hard into
that at the moment, and so the first principles of
(18:09):
I guess are very similar in a way. Right we're
trying to graze the land better and do it in
a way that lifts the productivity of that land. And
so yeah, we're excited bout that. It's been really neat
opportunity to work with be farmers around the world alongside
of the Jerry farmers that you know still are so
so caught to the system.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I'm going to go off piece here and go into
back for the sheep farmers. Could there ever be a
halter collar for sheep or are they too dumb to train?
Or would the wall get on the way? Craig Piggot.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Never say never. We haven't done any work on chief
and right now we're still just very focused on cattle
and cows. But you know, maybe one day we try
and work back with I guess from this mission of
land productivity and so we'll see where that takes us.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
How many countries around the world does halter actively in.
Speaker 6 (19:00):
We're in New Zealand, Australia in the US, so the
three markets were really focused on right now. And then
obviously we will expand past that, but we've got a
handful and fall in terms of trying to like hire
our teams in those countries. I think we've got sixty
odd roles open at the moment, and so we're trying
to hire as fast as we can. Cheeky plug, if
(19:22):
you're if you're interested, But in terms of anyone listening
but yet beyond the three countries, then we will definitely
look to expand into South America and Europe and places
like that.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
You recently raised one hundred and sixty five million dollars
in a fundraising round, which effectively now values Halter. As
I see that US one billion dollars in New Zealand
money about one point sixty five billion dollars, Craig, how
much of that? How much of that belongs to you?
I note that your mentor, Sir Peter beckxworth nearly two billion.
(19:53):
You won't be doing too badly.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
I think myself and the team, you know, we're in
a healthy s in terms of in terms of Halter
and for us. Really the key thing though is, like
you know, we don't get out of bed worried about
all these numbers, Like we get out of bed to
build a product and have impact on an industry, and
that's the exciting part. So I think, you know, that's
(20:17):
the motivation and the purpose behind it all really and
so you know, beyond the numbers. The numbers only really
matter because they enable us to raise the money in
the first place or do around like we have, and
then with that we can invest it into the features
we're building and the teams we hire on the front lines,
and we can be more ambitious and move faster. So
I think that's the you know, that's the core of
(20:38):
it all.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well, you could never accuse the accus, should I say,
of not being ambitious. Halter now New Zealand's fastest growing
company on the Deloitte Fast fifty Index. Craig Piggott's well done.
You've done bloody well for yourself. Onwards and upwards. You've
got to challenge Sir Peter Beck your mentor.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Thank you, Jamie, thank you, Craig.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Inspiration alrighty, we will take a break talking about inspirational Michelle.
What will be in here with the rural news? Can't
I hope you've got something good, Michelle, and I'll have
rural news for you. The old Seeds are being scattered
in the wind. I'm reading here on my sports news
at Wimbledon. Yeah, there's a few gone already before the
(21:20):
end of the hour. Anna Paloray from Fonterra chief operating Officer,
not a good global dairy trade auction overnight. And Matthew
Zonder up from Madamata. Another cow Kocky who's thought up
something wonderfully techie in the agg world. More about that
one later. Tinder for cows. But it's rural news.
Speaker 7 (21:43):
Next record, too bad ass?
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Gee, you haven't heard this song for ages? Carlos Santana
and the guy from Matchbox twenty Michelle help me out.
What's his name? Robed someone? Thomas, Rob Thomas, Well done.
I'm eagerly awaiting your rural news. Now. I've got a
text and halter for sheep Steve one Harris, Hello Steve,
thanks for listening. He says, Jamie's sheep aren't dumb, despite
(22:28):
us shepherds getting rid of the smarter ones for ten
thousand years because they are a pain in the ass.
And I was talking about this the other day with
a top Texel breeder and he was saying Texels aren't dumb.
Romney Zar and then we moved on to some other
form of conversation. So thank you for your feedback, Steve.
(22:51):
Now tomorrow I tease this, Michelle, you're gonna have to
look well, you're not gonna have to look after the
thought because I'm going to Ashburton tomorrow some exciting news
for the mid Canterbury farming community. Not me going there,
but the Rural Co ash Burton. They're in store Days.
They're wonderful and brilliant opportunity to come down and say gooday,
(23:12):
And we've got a financial incentive for you if you're
in Cowey of Ashburton tomorrow to come in and say
hello because we've got a couple of one thousand dollars
Rural Co vouches to give away. More about that tomorrow,
but you can connect with the whole Rural Co team
and their suppliers. So these in store days are all
(23:33):
about bringing the agricultural community together and this year's event
is shaping up to being another Cracker exclusive deals on
the day, great food that's very important, and the chance
to catch up with your fellow farmers and the local
Rural Co crew. I think Yolo's going to be there
as well. Wayne Langford and so David Carter and Craig Wiggins,
so lots of people to chat to. It's exactly the
(23:56):
kind of community spirit that makes mid Canterbury farming special.
So join us. That's us at the country at Rural
Co ash Burton tomorrow. It is the third of July.
Don't be confused if you're not a Rural Co member yet.
Tomorrow is the perfect time to join up and excess
access all those instore deals. We'll see you there tomorrow.
(24:17):
It's going to be a great day. And remember I've
got some money to give away and we'll give you
an opportunity if you're not there as well. But you've
got a better chance if you're front up. Here's Michelle
with a dynamic rural news bulletin.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
The Country's world news with Cod Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Visit steel Ford dot co dot nz for your locals. Doggist.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You're shaking your head, it's not a dynamic rural news bulletin.
Speaker 8 (24:41):
Well after that introduction, I'm a little bit worried you've
built this up.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I've pumped up your tires where you go.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Okay, So a low pressure system is currently causing havoc
and New South Wales and it's sets across the Tasman
and effect large parts of the North Island on Thursday.
According to NIWA, the already drenched top half of the
South Island is also in more and for more bad weather,
with Met Service upgrading its watches to an Orange warning
on Wednesday mornings of this morning, Met Services also isshured
(25:07):
four Orange heavy rain warnings plus other rain and wind
watches that affect a bulk of the North Island, and
snow warnings are in place of State Highway Way eight
over the Limbs Pass and also Queenstown and around those
areas to keep your eye out for that one. And
the unset of weather is expected to hang around until Saturday,
so it might be quite cold for that Young Farmer
Grand Final outdoors the next couple of days.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Yeah, at Winston. I think the practical is down on
South and your mind, you you've got to win the
Young Farmer Grand Final. You've got to be tough. It
won't affect the test here in Dunedin because we've got
a roof there you go. Michelle with Rural News fore
Warned is Forearmed sport with.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
The Avco Kiwi to the Bowl since nineteen oh four.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yes, the wimbled and seeds are being scattered in the wind.
With four big names and both the men's and women's
singles being turfed out in the first round. That's the
most of any Grand Slam since the Open Era began
in nineteen sixty eight. And Ethan Blackadder has signed a
one year contract extension with the Crusaders in New Zealand
(26:08):
rugby through to the end of twenty twenty six. And
good on Ethan for not throwing his toys for not
being picked in the All Blacks. He probably should have
been to be fair, but he's going to hang around
for another year. That's your sports news for you. Up next,
we're going to have a look at the Global Dairy
Trade auction held overnight. Wasn't a good one. There's ten
(26:28):
dollars under threat. We'll ask Anna Paloa, Fonterra's chief operating officer.
Speaker 7 (26:35):
Next the sas Abortion matters.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
She is the chief operating officer for Fonterra. Anna Palora
joins us on the country to look at last night's
Global Dairy Trade auction. Well, the futures market was picking
a four percent drop, and that's exactly what we got
across the board. Homewilk powder was worth Anna down five
point one percent. Was it a surprise to you.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Oh, Cure Jamie, thanks for having me on today. We
probably not. I think you're right. The futures market did
predict this going out. I think the results fairly consistent
with market expectations. Milk is starting to flow around the
country and so a lot more going on to the GDT. Sure,
(27:26):
a bit of a decline, but you know, not unexpected
and very very early in the season.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yet, Yeah, it is early in the season. And I
think back a couple of years. Was it to August
twenty twenty three when we had that huge drop in
the GDT auction and we were suddenly talking about a
six dollar milk price and things can turn very quickly.
How much of this was due to the really strong
finish to the New Zealand season, Like May milk production
(27:53):
was off the radar almost.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Eight percent, I think yerein Yeah, I mean what a
great result in May. Sort of a perfect combination of
those climatic conditions, the milk price encouragement and also ability
to get that through in process and onto the market.
So sure those volumes are continuing and that does have
an impact, but we love every drop of milk, so
(28:19):
just wonderful to see that flowing through. I think the
other thing that's interesting now is a strong demand out
of China, and China hasn't come back forty but really
great to see over half the bit is on the
genicy auction last night. We're Chinese based in some significant
volumes going into that market. So really positive there.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
On the other side. And I don't want to be
the eternal pessimist, but we do have and it's not
a bad thing for the country. This Our currency is
appreciating against the US dollar. I think we got up
or nudged sixty one cents, So that's got to affect
things too.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Yes, it does. I mean a lot of things happening
out of the US at the moment, and I think
that's the wonderful thing about the cooperative and the support,
the risk support we can provide farmers that when the
world is a little bit volatile, as we're certainly seeing
coming out of that market, that the cop is able
to support our farmers with a bit more consistency.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Oh, you'll have lots of currency hedged anyhow anna correct
right there, you go, get in while it's low. The
other thing is your ten dollars forecast milk price. Once again,
don't want to be a pessimist. But is this under
threat now or is it just too early to tell?
Speaker 8 (29:37):
Well?
Speaker 4 (29:37):
I think it is too early. As I said, the
volatility was signaled. We've got that wide range in there.
There's you know, it's the sort of thing we look
for all the time. Farmers will certainly be the first
to know. But at the moment, the ten dollars is
an appropriate place.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Let's just finish with a couple of positive stories. Geopolitically,
the words in a challenging place at the moment. But
do you think the worst is behind us in the
Persian golf?
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be someone who a
commentator on what's happening in geopolitics at the moment. I mean,
what an interesting time. But I think, following on from
my last comments, what we're seeing is real stability in
terms of our shipping movements. We do have. We don't
see any change currently for movements into that part of
(30:29):
the world, and we have great business continuity plans set
up through strong partners with with our shipping providers and
with Kultahia, the shipping consolidator. So that's given what's going
on in that part of the world that is in
a relatively good place.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Yep, Kotahi doing a great job. Finally, the grass feed
standard in China, what's this all about.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Yeah, well, it was fantastic to see that announced at
Field Days recently and great pos A buy through there.
This was another really positive thing when we think about
what's most impactful for China or also other Southeast Asian markets,
government assurance and standards you know, really resonate with buyers
(31:15):
in that part of the world. So really positive for
New Zealand to be able to capitalize on the competitive
advantage that we already have and to tell that story
in a more standard way.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So it was great to see Hannah Pelleri, chief operating
officer for Fonterra. Thanks for your time today. Great to
meet you in person at Field Days.
Speaker 8 (31:36):
By the way, Thank you, Jamie, Thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
Ana.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
It is bang on fourteen away from one year with
the country. We're going to be an ash Burton tomorrow,
but up next we're off to Matter Matter and another
kelcocky who's pretty smart. Matthew zonder up Tender for Cows
up next on the country. So what is it about
(32:07):
these Madamata cow cockies and ag tech. You've heard from
Craig Picket, the chief executive Offholter. His company is now
worth US one billion dollars. Well, one of the innovations
we talked about last week at the Primary Industry summit
came from another Madamta cow cocky who's come up with
an app called the Perfect Cow Reading Solution. It's like
(32:29):
Tinder for cows, driven by chat gp GPT. I keep
wanting to say GDT. Of course we've already had one
of those last night. So Matthew a Zonderop joins us. Matthew,
you have a connection with Craig Picket. This is uncanny.
Speaker 9 (32:46):
Yeah. Yeah, Actually I used to work for the Picket
so when they're out in Wardville and Craig was just
a young boy who was just learning how to milk
and who was feeding cars with his mum, and I
used to milk with him during the school holidays and
sometimes in the weekends.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
So you could see he was a bright young bloke
even back then.
Speaker 9 (33:05):
I think I was thinking about it when I was
talked to Malcolm a while back at field Days, and
I think even then they were already talking about GPS
four cows, you know, over ten years ago now, So.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Talk to me about your creation, because you created quite
a stir. I think you were mentioned in dispatches by
let me guess who was it. Was it the PM's
chief Science officer, Brian.
Speaker 9 (33:31):
Yeah, yeah, John John.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Rush not Brian rush here, So he mentioned you in dispatches.
So you're kind of up there. But your eureka moment,
because we talked to Craig about his Eureka moment, he
said his was a bit more of a slow burn,
but yours came about because of a mistake he made.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
Yeah, that's right. I made it just a simple coding
here in a spreadsheet what I was planning for mating.
And I had one workbook open with five individual spreecheet
sheets all linked together, and they were you know, all
the herd bvs and heifers getting ready for mating. And
(34:11):
I made it wasn't a coding era what I thought
it was. It was actually a spelling mistake. And I've
heard about chat GDP. I played around with it a
little bit, nothing to the extent what I was about
to experience. And then I uploaded it into chat GDP
to find the coding era. It came back within five
(34:32):
seconds that it was a spelling mistake. It corrected the
spelling mistake, streamlined the code, and gave it back to
me and said it's a common mistake to make at
this time of night. And I'd fixed the era, and
then it asked if I wanted to do anything else,
So I thought, I've got nothing to lose. It's just
heard BEVs. I uploaded those and to herd bvs and
(34:54):
then all of a sudden it analyzed it extracted data
that I wasn't thinking about doing, and then it just
after then it just took off.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
Okay, so did you I mean, we talked about Craig
Piggot Piggot, but did you have a background in tech computers?
What's your background?
Speaker 9 (35:12):
Not to this sort of extent. No, No, I put
computers together and you know, made a network and that
sort of thing, but not comparison to you know, what
is in the cloud now and doing and doing this
sort of thing. It's it's a completely different beast now, So.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
Tender for cows. How does it work?
Speaker 9 (35:31):
Well, Basically, what it does is we take the herd
bvs of a cow. So most most guys have genomically
tested or DNA profiled their animals now and they've got
the herd bvs and loaded into mindor or my herd
from CRV, and we take those bvs in a spreadsheet
and then we throw it at our chatchigp engine. And
(35:55):
then thanks to all the good folk throughout New Zealand
that have and put a lot of data and research,
you know, Mngael Perian z l i C. That's all
public and available data that we can utilize and it
interprets it in a manner that's suitable for pasture based
farming in New Zealand. And then we can decide which
(36:18):
traits are the need to be enhanced, corrected or improved.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
So is this a career path for you are going
to drop the dairy farming and become a tech entrepreneur
like Craig.
Speaker 9 (36:27):
Pigot Ah, It would be. I think that would be
a bit of a nice a nice dream. So I
think there's still a bit of water to go under
the bridge. Yet in terms of development, we're pretty well there.
It's now, it's just building the I suppose building the
following like Holter, you know, once you get a momentum going,
it's you know, it's it should there be no stopping us.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Really well, free plug time. Are you in the market
at the moment? Is your product out there?
Speaker 9 (36:54):
Yes? Yeah, yep, yep. We're already doing several heads already
now and we're fine tuning down, you know, to add
a confirmation some at excel count. You know, all the
things that people are looking for, and we're but we're
able to find a ball that can actually match not
only those traits, but maybe improve others that you generally
(37:15):
wouldn't find as such, you know, compared to when you're
looking at a catalog, because most guys, you know, if
they're browsing through a catalog, it can take them up
to six weeks, you know, to sort a ball team
out for the herd. We can do it in a
few hours now.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Wow, wonderful technology. Hey Matthew, it was really good to
catch up with you in person at that primary industry summit.
I tip my hat to you tech entrepreneurs because I'm
technically inert, so I'm fascinated by what you can do.
Good luck with your venture and keep in touch.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
Thanks very much. We'll do.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Fucking and that.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Wraps the country for a beautifully fine and sunny Wednesday
here in Duned, and I hope the weather doesn't eventuate
in these sudden areas around the country. Fingers crossed for
you guys. We'll catch you back, same time, same place
tomorrow from Ashburton for the big rural co in store Day.
We'll see you there.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McGue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in John Deer construction equipment
and I think he's gonna be a long.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Long time.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Again.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Get Ainye Zealand Welcome to the Country. It's brought to
you by Brent. I'm Jamie McKay looking forward to being
an ash Burton tomorrow. We'll tell you more about that later,
but we're going to kick off the show as we
do when he's in the country with the Prime Minister.
Christopher Luxen. Caught up with him awee bit earlier this
morning and I asked him if he was doing a
secre starmer excelling on the world stage dropping the ball
(00:52):
at home on the domestic front, as suggested by fran
O'Sullivan and the Herald Rocketman by Elton John. For our
I guess our keynote interview today for a guy who
started his career out at Rocket Lab and then decided
to make his own company, a virtual fencing an animal
(01:13):
management system. His name is Craig Pigott. Raised on a
matter matter dairy farm. This company is now worth in
excess of one billion US dollars I wonder if he's
worth as much. We'll have to ask him as Sir
Peter Beck, who I think is worth two billion US dollars.
(01:34):
That's a lot of money. And Palore will join us
Fonterra's chief operating officer. Having a look at last night's
global dairy trade auction. Not a good one. You can't
say we weren't worn though futures was picking a drop
of four percent. We got four point one percent across
the board. Whole milk powder down five point one percent.
(01:55):
Ouch is the ten dollars milk forecast price for twenty
five twenty six under threat. And I ran into a
really interesting character at the Primary industry summit last week.
Another matter matter kal Kocky, What is it about these guys?
Matthew zonder up he made a mistake one night and
(02:18):
he's come up with Tinder for cows driven by chat GPT,
an amazing story bit of an ag tech day to
day on the Country, up next to the Prime Minister
and I think it's gone to bens me run again
(02:47):
Wednesdays on the Country. The Prime Minister kicks off the show,
except last week when he was doing work on our
behalf offshore NATO, and of course before that, China. Let's
have a look at those trips, Prime Minister. You're getting
good reviews for your work there not such stunning reviews
on the domestic front. But let's concentrate on China to
(03:07):
start with.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
Yeah, look amazing places. You know, Jamie and I had
felt that New Zealand had lost a lot of awareness
within China. So it really it's a big opportunity for
us to deepen our economic relationships. While I was there,
we did about one point two billion dollars worth of deals,
about four hundred million dollars in meat and horticulture and
dairy and it's a massive economy. It's the second biggest economy,
(03:30):
it's our biggest trading partner. And you know, even so
there's still so much more opportunity because there's five hundred
million people in the middle class living like a standard
living similar to what we have here in New Zealand.
So yeah, that's a huge opportunity for us. So it
was just about raising our profile and we had you know,
Fonterra along with us Miles, we had Nathan Guys brilliant
(03:51):
on the meat industry is doing a great job there.
There's lots of opportunity for red meat actually in China,
and you know we had all the key sector leaders
and see with us, which was fantastic, and so that
was a really successful trip and good just to raise
the profile of New Zealand, to sell more primary industry products,
to sell more education and tourism, and Noah's a really successful.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Could you have to like tipytoe along a political tight
rope awe, but you know, cuddle up to President she
and Premiere Lee because they're a bit worried that we're
going the American way.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Well, I mean I've met with them before and been
very clear from day one, from when I became Prime Minister.
You know, we have areas of collaboration and cooperation with China,
which there's still more for us to do together and
that's all good stuff. But yet we have different political systems,
we have different histories, we have different values, and we
have differences frankly as you do actually in all the
relationships are they have with different countries, and so it's
(04:46):
important if you've got a long standing part and mature
partnership and relationship that's been over fifty years, you should
be able to talk about the differences upfront and be
very direct about it as well, and that's the sign
of a strong part a good partnership, I think so
they you know, I raised and discussed all the things
that you know, we have our differences, but we also
talked about the areas where we can cooperate and actually
(05:07):
do more business together, which is important for New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
From there you went on to meet with the NATO
Secretary General, Get it right, Mark Rutter, who was an
old major yours or an old work colleague of yours
at UNI level. That's a handy connection.
Speaker 6 (05:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
He was the Dutch prime minister for fourteen years during
the John Key era. He was probably one of the
most probably the most successful center right politician in recent history.
So he was prime Minister of the Nevidends for a
long time and then obviously he has taken on the
role of Secretary General. But I flew straight from Beijing
into Brussels and what was good there, Jamie was I've
got to know, should have underlyon who's the President of
(05:42):
the European Union. And I've been talking to her obviously
about you know, making sure that in a world of
tariffs and lots of trade uncertainty that actually Europe and
the CPTPP countries actually continue to uphold the trading laws
and rules so that there's no tit for tat punishments
or breakdown in those rules. But the thing about Europe's
really exciting because Europe and the UK we've historically had
(06:05):
these old ties that go back one hundred years or so,
but we've also you know, we've not had always in
so far away, but we haven't had new stuff to
drive the relationship forward. And in both cases the FTA
agreements have been really good. So if you think about
the last twelve months, we added an extra extra billion dollars,
it's up twenty five percent our exports to Europe and
(06:26):
you go to a place like the Netherlands. I went
to Rotterdam Port where most of our goods go into
and you know, it's fantastic. And there's also investment coming
out of Europe investing into New Zealand, you know, so
that was really good. So it was partly that and
then obviously NATO was the security side, which Mark Rotter
as you said, the Sextra General of NATO around and
that was more about you know, the things of common
(06:47):
interest between US and the Indo Pacific region and the
things in the euro Atlantic region and particularly the war
in Ukraine was a big focus point.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Okay, are you talking about the europe war in Ukraine.
One man who's been at the forefront of negociations around
that is Secre Starmer, the Labor Prime Minister in the UK.
Frando Sullivan wrote an interesting piece in The Herald suggesting
that maybe you're doing a bit of a Secare Starmer,
excelling on the world stage, dropping the ball at home
(07:14):
on the domestic front. What do you say in your defense?
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Well, what a load of rubbish. The bottom line is,
I'm very focused on domestic New Zealand That's why I
go overseas is because everything I'm doing overseas is about
trying to help us grow our position and improve our
position here at home. One in four of our jobs
are actually tied to trade. Doubling our exports is really
important to It's a big goal, but it's important because
that's actually how we're leading our economy out of the
(07:39):
mess that we've been. And just just think about it.
In the last quarter, we grew the economy zero point
eight percent, four times faster than Australia faster than many
other Western economies. Why is that happening. It's happening because
if you look at our goods deficit, that went from
ten billion deficit down to three point eight billion in
less than twelve months. And that's because we're actually doing
the trade internationally that I need to be able to
(08:00):
sell to the world for so now, I'm really proud
of what we're doing to lift the intensity to trade
internationally and that's got real benefits for us here at home. Yep,
it's still tough, but look at it. Inflations from seven
to two point five percent. Interest rates are coming down,
the economy is growing for the first time in a
long time. Unemployment's peaking and will start to come down
as well. Now we've got to push on to make
(08:21):
sure that people can feel it in their cost of living.
And I know that's been difficult, but you know that's
what happens thanks to a labor government that mismanaged the
economy for six years.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Let's just finish with Heartland New Zealand. You're there today,
I think with Sue's redmain the star of the Rural
Support Trust debate. She was great at Field Days. She
got one of the best shots into the night. Mind you,
you've got a good one, and we won't we won't
go there with that one.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
But go there, Jamie.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
We're going to for our relationship exactly.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
But let's just talk about Sue's Redmain and what you're
doing and what is it. Tye happy today, Yeah, Tye
happy today.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
I want to see some of the good stuff that's
happening in Wall, which is really great. There's some really
enterprising entrepreneurs that are doing incredibly good job there. But
it's a chance to get out across Ranger tech A.
There's some there's some great companies in regional New Zealand.
I'm going to meet with PEC Fuel Systems. I've got
Hotarpo Pine, We're going to go meet with Honest Wall
(09:16):
for which the guys doing some creat cool entrepreneurial stuff,
and with World as well. So you know, the great
thing is that for places like the fuel systems business,
for the pine and forestry businesses again for them to
actually invest in new capital, plant and equipment by virtue
of the Investment Boost program that we put in place
that's again designed so we can get this economy moving
(09:36):
and growing into a much stronger place. So yes, it's
always good to get out of Wellington, and that's what
I try and do as fast as I can. Come
to Wellington, get out as quickly as possible, so you
can go see what's happening in the real world.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Okay, there you go. We'll enjoy your day and TI happy.
It's not too late to introduce a big, beautiful bill.
It's worked for Trump, it could work for you on
the home front. Prime Minister, thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Always good to talking to Jovie.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
You take care of a great week.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I will, indeed seventeen after twelve, caught up with them
earlier this morning. You've got to get the PM when
he's available. Up next though, live on the country. An
outstanding young New Zealander the founder and chief executive of
ag tech Giant Halter. Of course they do the virtual
fencing and the animal management system with the electric collars
(10:23):
or the battery powered collars. I better say that the
company's now worth US one billion dollars. The guy and
I'm playing Rocketman because he started off at Rocket Lab
with Sir Peter Beck before the end of their Anna
Pellore from Fonterra. Having a look at that global Deiry
trade auctions ten dollars under threat, and there's something about
(10:45):
something in the water and Mada matter. Matthew Zonder up
before the end of the hour, got a text in
from Richard McIntyre regarding the drop and the GDT auction overnight.
He said, the market is reacting to a change in
the theater. It's very cheer roll. Well, good on you, Richard,
Thanks for listening up. Next, it's going to be the
(11:07):
highlight of the day. It will be for me talking
to him. Some people are just smart, some people are
just clever. We're going to talk to a very clever bloke.
Next on the Country, Craig Pigt from Halter.
Speaker 7 (11:20):
In fact, as cool.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
As hell.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Suns done. I think I am no.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Here is a young man who is setting the agg
tech world alight. In fact, I call him the Sir
Peter Beck of ag Tech. His name is Craig Piket.
He's the chief executive of Halter. His company is now
worth an excess of one billion US dollars. Craig, you
have come a long way since twenty sixteen when you
(12:05):
kicked off Holter. Can you believe the speed at which
your company has grown.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
Firstly, just thanks, thanks for having me as always. Yes, definitely,
it's been a journey. We've come a long way, although
I still feel like we've got, you know, so far
to go. So and we try and we try to
move as fast as we can. So I guess that's
it's all part of it.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Well, I did and respect really call you the sir
Peter Beck of ag Tech. And you've got a connection
because you started your career off with rocket Lab.
Speaker 6 (12:38):
Yes, yeah, before Halter, I was at rocket Lab and
I have, you know, a lot to be very grateful
for and thankful for from Pete. He was my boss
or Rocke Lab, and I learned, you know, so much there,
and he's on the board of Holter and he was
one of our first investors and he's had such big
influence on us as well. So he's he is awesome
(12:58):
and and I'm very grateful to Pete.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
You grew up on a three hundred cow dairy farm
and Madam Matter in the Whitecado region. Are your parents
or family still farming that property?
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Yes, my parents still farming today. They were the first
I guess you probably can't really call them my customer,
you know, they didn't have much of an option, but
they were the first farm to have halter and yeah,
they've been farming for twenty or maybe even thirty odd
years now.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Talk to me about big Bird. Was this the first
cow that you trialed the halter collar technology on.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
Yes, she was the first cow we trained to respond
to sound and that we were using.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
She was able to kind of.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Prove I guess that the concept was possible, that she
was a cow on my parents' farm and she literally
was just for no particular reason, very big. She's one
of the tallest cars in the herd, and so you know,
in the beginning, when you're working with just very small numbers,
like on an individual basis, she was that kind of
(14:12):
at the center of that in terms of proving the idea,
and then from that, obviously we're able to build, build
the product and the rest of the company around that.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Of course it holds her as for those who are
unaware of what we're talking about. A solar powered smart
collar allows virtual fencing and of course health monitoring. Craig
Piggott was the one kind of Eureka moment when it
hits you the idea or was it a slow burner?
Speaker 6 (14:38):
It was definitely a slow burn and even today, like
you know, the product today is with the best system
to run a past your farm. And yes, there's you know,
there's collars on cows and there's an app on the
farmer's phone, and at the heart of that there's this
virtual fencing and shifting product. But in alongside of that
is all this kind of animal health and heat, but
(14:59):
also pastia around like measuring grass and growth rates and
all the kind of inducts you need to run farms.
It's probably much more kins like an operating system, and
that's evolved a lot over time, and it still is today,
like we're releasing new products and new features every few weeks.
And so right at the beginning, it was a much
simpler idea, I guess, and.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
The goal was just how do you lift the.
Speaker 6 (15:21):
Productivity of land? That's what every farmer effectively is trying
to do, and we thought how you graize the land
is probably like the best first principle for that, and
that was really why we started with a collar and
virtual fencing and so but yeah, definitely has evolved over
the years as the teams grow, and as you know,
(15:43):
it's been really been built by farmers like farmers giving
us feedback things.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
So that you obviously faced many challenges as you pie
and aered this technology over the years, things like calibration
and battery life. Craig, I can't get a mobile phone
that's the batteries any good after about two years. So
did you have issues with battery life? With the collars?
Speaker 6 (16:02):
For instance, we had, you know, countless Like we're trying
to build a product which no one has really done before,
and and you know, we're like partnering with some of
the best farmers in the world, and it's pretty clear
what you know, what the outcomes are that we want.
And so then it's kind of our job to go
(16:23):
away and work.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Out how to do that.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
And that does result in a lot of like very
hard challenges and and so and still today we're trying
to build new features and you have more impact on
the industry and things like that. And some stuff's not
technically feasible and some stuff is and it's our job
to work out where that sits. And so keeping collars
online over winter or from a power perspective, and or
(16:47):
how do he talk to the devices when the you know,
kilometers away from a tower, or things like that there's
just countless, countless problems to solve, and that's fine, that's
the business we're.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
In Pigot with this chief executive of Halter. This was
initially set up for the dairy industry, for dairy cows,
but you're very much moving into the beef industry as well,
and beef angus bulls angus beef cattle at the moments
are almost black gold. I put it to you that
there could be more potential in the beef industry than
(17:19):
the dairy industry. Is that the track you're heading down.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
We obviously our roots kind of started in dairy and
literally in the white heat of where my parents farmers.
And the plan was always to do beef, like whether
it's ranch and overseas or you know, she'dn't beef here,
So I think the like it was always a matter
of when, not if, And that is a function of like.
(17:45):
I guess the mission where on in terms of lifting
the productivity of the land around the world, and from
an agricultural perspective, it's half the planets have all ad
Mass obviously a mission to get out of bed for
him and so so yes, I guess we were. The
plan was to do it. We're pushing really hard into
that at the moment, and so the first principles of
(18:09):
I guess are very similar in a way. Right we're
trying to graze the land better and do it in
a way that lifts the productivity of that land. And
so yeah, we're excited bout that. It's been really neat
opportunity to work with be farmers around the world alongside
of the Jerry farmers that you know still are so
so caught to the system.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I'm going to go off piece here and go into
back for the sheep farmers. Could there ever be a
halter collar for sheep or are they too dumb to train?
Or would the wall get on the way? Craig Piggot.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Never say never. We haven't done any work on chief
and right now we're still just very focused on cattle
and cows. But you know, maybe one day we try
and work back with I guess from this mission of
land productivity and so we'll see where that takes us.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
How many countries around the world does halter actively in.
Speaker 6 (19:00):
We're in New Zealand, Australia in the US, so the
three markets were really focused on right now. And then
obviously we will expand past that, but we've got a
handful and fall in terms of trying to like hire
our teams in those countries. I think we've got sixty
odd roles open at the moment, and so we're trying
to hire as fast as we can. Cheeky plug, if
(19:22):
you're if you're interested, But in terms of anyone listening
but yet beyond the three countries, then we will definitely
look to expand into South America and Europe and places
like that.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
You recently raised one hundred and sixty five million dollars
in a fundraising round, which effectively now values Halter. As
I see that US one billion dollars in New Zealand
money about one point sixty five billion dollars, Craig, how
much of that? How much of that belongs to you?
I note that your mentor, Sir Peter beckxworth nearly two billion.
(19:53):
You won't be doing too badly.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
I think myself and the team, you know, we're in
a healthy s in terms of in terms of Halter
and for us. Really the key thing though is, like
you know, we don't get out of bed worried about
all these numbers, Like we get out of bed to
build a product and have impact on an industry, and
that's the exciting part. So I think, you know, that's
(20:17):
the motivation and the purpose behind it all really and
so you know, beyond the numbers. The numbers only really
matter because they enable us to raise the money in
the first place or do around like we have, and
then with that we can invest it into the features
we're building and the teams we hire on the front lines,
and we can be more ambitious and move faster. So
I think that's the you know, that's the core of
(20:38):
it all.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well, you could never accuse the accus, should I say,
of not being ambitious. Halter now New Zealand's fastest growing
company on the Deloitte Fast fifty Index. Craig Piggott's well done.
You've done bloody well for yourself. Onwards and upwards. You've
got to challenge Sir Peter Beck your mentor.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Thank you, Jamie, thank you, Craig.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Inspiration alrighty, we will take a break talking about inspirational Michelle.
What will be in here with the rural news? Can't
I hope you've got something good, Michelle, and I'll have
rural news for you. The old Seeds are being scattered
in the wind. I'm reading here on my sports news
at Wimbledon. Yeah, there's a few gone already before the
(21:20):
end of the hour. Anna Paloray from Fonterra chief operating Officer,
not a good global dairy trade auction overnight. And Matthew
Zonder up from Madamata. Another cow Kocky who's thought up
something wonderfully techie in the agg world. More about that
one later. Tinder for cows. But it's rural news.
Speaker 7 (21:43):
Next record, too bad ass?
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Gee, you haven't heard this song for ages? Carlos Santana
and the guy from Matchbox twenty Michelle help me out.
What's his name? Robed someone? Thomas, Rob Thomas, Well done.
I'm eagerly awaiting your rural news. Now. I've got a
text and halter for sheep Steve one Harris, Hello Steve,
thanks for listening. He says, Jamie's sheep aren't dumb, despite
(22:28):
us shepherds getting rid of the smarter ones for ten
thousand years because they are a pain in the ass.
And I was talking about this the other day with
a top Texel breeder and he was saying Texels aren't dumb.
Romney Zar and then we moved on to some other
form of conversation. So thank you for your feedback, Steve.
(22:51):
Now tomorrow I tease this, Michelle, you're gonna have to
look well, you're not gonna have to look after the
thought because I'm going to Ashburton tomorrow some exciting news
for the mid Canterbury farming community. Not me going there,
but the Rural Co ash Burton. They're in store Days.
They're wonderful and brilliant opportunity to come down and say gooday,
(23:12):
And we've got a financial incentive for you if you're
in Cowey of Ashburton tomorrow to come in and say
hello because we've got a couple of one thousand dollars
Rural Co vouches to give away. More about that tomorrow,
but you can connect with the whole Rural Co team
and their suppliers. So these in store days are all
(23:33):
about bringing the agricultural community together and this year's event
is shaping up to being another Cracker exclusive deals on
the day, great food that's very important, and the chance
to catch up with your fellow farmers and the local
Rural Co crew. I think Yolo's going to be there
as well. Wayne Langford and so David Carter and Craig Wiggins,
so lots of people to chat to. It's exactly the
(23:56):
kind of community spirit that makes mid Canterbury farming special.
So join us. That's us at the country at Rural
Co ash Burton tomorrow. It is the third of July.
Don't be confused if you're not a Rural Co member yet.
Tomorrow is the perfect time to join up and excess
access all those instore deals. We'll see you there tomorrow.
(24:17):
It's going to be a great day. And remember I've
got some money to give away and we'll give you
an opportunity if you're not there as well. But you've
got a better chance if you're front up. Here's Michelle
with a dynamic rural news bulletin.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
The Country's world news with Cod Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Visit steel Ford dot co dot nz for your locals. Doggist.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You're shaking your head, it's not a dynamic rural news bulletin.
Speaker 8 (24:41):
Well after that introduction, I'm a little bit worried you've
built this up.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I've pumped up your tires where you go.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Okay, So a low pressure system is currently causing havoc
and New South Wales and it's sets across the Tasman
and effect large parts of the North Island on Thursday.
According to NIWA, the already drenched top half of the
South Island is also in more and for more bad weather,
with Met Service upgrading its watches to an Orange warning
on Wednesday mornings of this morning, Met Services also isshured
(25:07):
four Orange heavy rain warnings plus other rain and wind
watches that affect a bulk of the North Island, and
snow warnings are in place of State Highway Way eight
over the Limbs Pass and also Queenstown and around those
areas to keep your eye out for that one. And
the unset of weather is expected to hang around until Saturday,
so it might be quite cold for that Young Farmer
Grand Final outdoors the next couple of days.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Yeah, at Winston. I think the practical is down on
South and your mind, you you've got to win the
Young Farmer Grand Final. You've got to be tough. It
won't affect the test here in Dunedin because we've got
a roof there you go. Michelle with Rural News fore
Warned is Forearmed sport with.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
The Avco Kiwi to the Bowl since nineteen oh four.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yes, the wimbled and seeds are being scattered in the wind.
With four big names and both the men's and women's
singles being turfed out in the first round. That's the
most of any Grand Slam since the Open Era began
in nineteen sixty eight. And Ethan Blackadder has signed a
one year contract extension with the Crusaders in New Zealand
(26:08):
rugby through to the end of twenty twenty six. And
good on Ethan for not throwing his toys for not
being picked in the All Blacks. He probably should have
been to be fair, but he's going to hang around
for another year. That's your sports news for you. Up next,
we're going to have a look at the Global Dairy
Trade auction held overnight. Wasn't a good one. There's ten
(26:28):
dollars under threat. We'll ask Anna Paloa, Fonterra's chief operating officer.
Speaker 7 (26:35):
Next the sas Abortion matters.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
She is the chief operating officer for Fonterra. Anna Palora
joins us on the country to look at last night's
Global Dairy Trade auction. Well, the futures market was picking
a four percent drop, and that's exactly what we got
across the board. Homewilk powder was worth Anna down five
point one percent. Was it a surprise to you.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Oh, Cure Jamie, thanks for having me on today. We
probably not. I think you're right. The futures market did
predict this going out. I think the results fairly consistent
with market expectations. Milk is starting to flow around the
country and so a lot more going on to the GDT. Sure,
(27:26):
a bit of a decline, but you know, not unexpected
and very very early in the season.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yet, Yeah, it is early in the season. And I
think back a couple of years. Was it to August
twenty twenty three when we had that huge drop in
the GDT auction and we were suddenly talking about a
six dollar milk price and things can turn very quickly.
How much of this was due to the really strong
finish to the New Zealand season, Like May milk production
(27:53):
was off the radar almost.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Eight percent, I think yerein Yeah, I mean what a
great result in May. Sort of a perfect combination of
those climatic conditions, the milk price encouragement and also ability
to get that through in process and onto the market.
So sure those volumes are continuing and that does have
an impact, but we love every drop of milk, so
(28:19):
just wonderful to see that flowing through. I think the
other thing that's interesting now is a strong demand out
of China, and China hasn't come back forty but really
great to see over half the bit is on the
genicy auction last night. We're Chinese based in some significant
volumes going into that market. So really positive there.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
On the other side. And I don't want to be
the eternal pessimist, but we do have and it's not
a bad thing for the country. This Our currency is
appreciating against the US dollar. I think we got up
or nudged sixty one cents, So that's got to affect
things too.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Yes, it does. I mean a lot of things happening
out of the US at the moment, and I think
that's the wonderful thing about the cooperative and the support,
the risk support we can provide farmers that when the
world is a little bit volatile, as we're certainly seeing
coming out of that market, that the cop is able
to support our farmers with a bit more consistency.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Oh, you'll have lots of currency hedged anyhow anna correct
right there, you go, get in while it's low. The
other thing is your ten dollars forecast milk price. Once again,
don't want to be a pessimist. But is this under
threat now or is it just too early to tell?
Speaker 8 (29:37):
Well?
Speaker 4 (29:37):
I think it is too early. As I said, the
volatility was signaled. We've got that wide range in there.
There's you know, it's the sort of thing we look
for all the time. Farmers will certainly be the first
to know. But at the moment, the ten dollars is
an appropriate place.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Let's just finish with a couple of positive stories. Geopolitically,
the words in a challenging place at the moment. But
do you think the worst is behind us in the
Persian golf?
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be someone who a
commentator on what's happening in geopolitics at the moment. I mean,
what an interesting time. But I think, following on from
my last comments, what we're seeing is real stability in
terms of our shipping movements. We do have. We don't
see any change currently for movements into that part of
(30:29):
the world, and we have great business continuity plans set
up through strong partners with with our shipping providers and
with Kultahia, the shipping consolidator. So that's given what's going
on in that part of the world that is in
a relatively good place.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Yep, Kotahi doing a great job. Finally, the grass feed
standard in China, what's this all about.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Yeah, well, it was fantastic to see that announced at
Field Days recently and great pos A buy through there.
This was another really positive thing when we think about
what's most impactful for China or also other Southeast Asian markets,
government assurance and standards you know, really resonate with buyers
(31:15):
in that part of the world. So really positive for
New Zealand to be able to capitalize on the competitive
advantage that we already have and to tell that story
in a more standard way.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So it was great to see Hannah Pelleri, chief operating
officer for Fonterra. Thanks for your time today. Great to
meet you in person at Field Days.
Speaker 8 (31:36):
By the way, Thank you, Jamie, Thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
Ana.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
It is bang on fourteen away from one year with
the country. We're going to be an ash Burton tomorrow,
but up next we're off to Matter Matter and another
kelcocky who's pretty smart. Matthew zonder up Tender for Cows
up next on the country. So what is it about
(32:07):
these Madamata cow cockies and ag tech. You've heard from
Craig Picket, the chief executive Offholter. His company is now
worth US one billion dollars. Well, one of the innovations
we talked about last week at the Primary Industry summit
came from another Madamta cow cocky who's come up with
an app called the Perfect Cow Reading Solution. It's like
(32:29):
Tinder for cows, driven by chat gp GPT. I keep
wanting to say GDT. Of course we've already had one
of those last night. So Matthew a Zonderop joins us. Matthew,
you have a connection with Craig Picket. This is uncanny.
Speaker 9 (32:46):
Yeah. Yeah, Actually I used to work for the Picket
so when they're out in Wardville and Craig was just
a young boy who was just learning how to milk
and who was feeding cars with his mum, and I
used to milk with him during the school holidays and
sometimes in the weekends.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
So you could see he was a bright young bloke
even back then.
Speaker 9 (33:05):
I think I was thinking about it when I was
talked to Malcolm a while back at field Days, and
I think even then they were already talking about GPS
four cows, you know, over ten years ago now, So.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Talk to me about your creation, because you created quite
a stir. I think you were mentioned in dispatches by
let me guess who was it. Was it the PM's
chief Science officer, Brian.
Speaker 9 (33:31):
Yeah, yeah, John John.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Rush not Brian rush here, So he mentioned you in dispatches.
So you're kind of up there. But your eureka moment,
because we talked to Craig about his Eureka moment, he
said his was a bit more of a slow burn,
but yours came about because of a mistake he made.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
Yeah, that's right. I made it just a simple coding
here in a spreadsheet what I was planning for mating.
And I had one workbook open with five individual spreecheet
sheets all linked together, and they were you know, all
the herd bvs and heifers getting ready for mating. And
(34:11):
I made it wasn't a coding era what I thought
it was. It was actually a spelling mistake. And I've
heard about chat GDP. I played around with it a
little bit, nothing to the extent what I was about
to experience. And then I uploaded it into chat GDP
to find the coding era. It came back within five
(34:32):
seconds that it was a spelling mistake. It corrected the
spelling mistake, streamlined the code, and gave it back to
me and said it's a common mistake to make at
this time of night. And I'd fixed the era, and
then it asked if I wanted to do anything else,
So I thought, I've got nothing to lose. It's just
heard BEVs. I uploaded those and to herd bvs and
(34:54):
then all of a sudden it analyzed it extracted data
that I wasn't thinking about doing, and then it just
after then it just took off.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
Okay, so did you I mean, we talked about Craig
Piggot Piggot, but did you have a background in tech computers?
What's your background?
Speaker 9 (35:12):
Not to this sort of extent. No, No, I put
computers together and you know, made a network and that
sort of thing, but not comparison to you know, what
is in the cloud now and doing and doing this
sort of thing. It's it's a completely different beast now, So.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
Tender for cows. How does it work?
Speaker 9 (35:31):
Well, Basically, what it does is we take the herd
bvs of a cow. So most most guys have genomically
tested or DNA profiled their animals now and they've got
the herd bvs and loaded into mindor or my herd
from CRV, and we take those bvs in a spreadsheet
and then we throw it at our chatchigp engine. And
(35:55):
then thanks to all the good folk throughout New Zealand
that have and put a lot of data and research,
you know, Mngael Perian z l i C. That's all
public and available data that we can utilize and it
interprets it in a manner that's suitable for pasture based
farming in New Zealand. And then we can decide which
(36:18):
traits are the need to be enhanced, corrected or improved.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
So is this a career path for you are going
to drop the dairy farming and become a tech entrepreneur
like Craig.
Speaker 9 (36:27):
Pigot Ah, It would be. I think that would be
a bit of a nice a nice dream. So I
think there's still a bit of water to go under
the bridge. Yet in terms of development, we're pretty well there.
It's now, it's just building the I suppose building the
following like Holter, you know, once you get a momentum going,
it's you know, it's it should there be no stopping us.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Really well, free plug time. Are you in the market
at the moment? Is your product out there?
Speaker 9 (36:54):
Yes? Yeah, yep, yep. We're already doing several heads already
now and we're fine tuning down, you know, to add
a confirmation some at excel count. You know, all the
things that people are looking for, and we're but we're
able to find a ball that can actually match not
only those traits, but maybe improve others that you generally
(37:15):
wouldn't find as such, you know, compared to when you're
looking at a catalog, because most guys, you know, if
they're browsing through a catalog, it can take them up
to six weeks, you know, to sort a ball team
out for the herd. We can do it in a
few hours now.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Wow, wonderful technology. Hey Matthew, it was really good to
catch up with you in person at that primary industry summit.
I tip my hat to you tech entrepreneurs because I'm
technically inert, so I'm fascinated by what you can do.
Good luck with your venture and keep in touch.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
Thanks very much. We'll do.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Fucking and that.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Wraps the country for a beautifully fine and sunny Wednesday
here in Duned, and I hope the weather doesn't eventuate
in these sudden areas around the country. Fingers crossed for
you guys. We'll catch you back, same time, same place
tomorrow from Ashburton for the big rural co in store Day.
We'll see you there.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McGue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
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