The CountryWide Podcast

In this episode, Curtis Pannett, farming in Central Otago, explains how yard weaning gives calves a better start to life and improves long-term growth and temperament. Drawing on experience from his own farm and large Australian cattle operations, he shares his advice on how calves are kept in the yards, getting them used to people and dogs helps them settle quickly, mustering and better management with moving winter feed breaks.

G...

In this episode, Andrew Dowling, Technical Expert at PGG Wrightson, explains why farmers should think carefully before applying nitrogen to struggling fodder beet crops after a difficult 2025–26 season. With cold conditions, slow crop growth and persistent wet weather impacting yields across the country, Andrew outlines why adding nitrogen late in the season may not deliver the extra feed farmers are hoping for.

Guest:

• Andrew ...

In this episode, Hamish Mulcock, Portfolio Manager at ADAMA New Zealand, introduces Tower, a new pre-emergent herbicide for wheat and barley designed to strengthen weed control and support resistance management in arable systems. As herbicide resistance continues to challenge growers, Hamish explains how Tower brings a new active ingredient to the New Zealand market, chlortoluron, alongside pendimethalin and diflufenican, deliverin...

In this episode, Phil Journeaux shares his strong thoughts on the failings of the New Zealand’s National Policy Statement (NPS) for Highly Productive Land and how the Ministry for the Environment’s ‘economically viable’ metric was flawed.

Guest:

• Phil Journeaux, Consulting Agricultural Economist

Host:

• Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

Phil, a consulting agricultural economist shares his experi...

In this episode, Mike White, Chief Science Officer at Ravensdown, explains how Hawkeye Pro, the cooperative’s precision nutrient management platform, is helping New Zealand farmers apply the right nutrients in the right place at the right time. Drawing on years of research, soil science, and advanced technology, Mike outlines how Hawkeye Pro combines soil testing, remote sensing, farm-specific data, and AI to deliver measurable val...

In this special 100th episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp reflects on the beginning of the CountryWide Podcast in 2024 and where it has evolved to now. She also looks towards the future and how this podcast will transform into a paid-only, members podcast for those with a CountryWide Club membership to reflect the new free podcast CountryWide Connect - home to the daily radio/video show coming at the end of March.

Host:

• Sarah Perri...

In this episode, Jeremy McPhail, Chair of Environment Southland and seventh-generation Southland farmer, discusses the region’s community-led review of local government and what it could mean for the future of regional governance.

Guest:

• Jeremy McPhail, Chair, Environment Southland

Host:

• Andy Thompson, CountryWide

Jeremy shares why Southland moved early to explore structural change, the pressures driving ref...

In this episode, Conan Moynihan, farm consultant at Force of Nature and host of the From the Soil Up podcast, reflects on what it means to be part of the next generation shaping New Zealand agriculture. 

Guest:

• Conan Moynihan, Host of From the Soil Up

Host:

• Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

Conan shares the realities of succession and land ownership, the tension between profitability and enviro...

In this episode, James Laughlin, a high-performance coach, author of Habits of High Performers and host of the Lead on Purpose podcast, shares how principles of sustained high performance can be applied to farming. Drawing on his work with elite athletes, business leaders and rural clients, James explains why high performance is about consistently exceeding expectations while protecting wellbeing, relationships and long-term resili...

In this episode, Terry Kingsbury, Chief Drone Pilot at Agricultural Consulting Services in Canterbury, discusses the evolution of drone technology in New Zealand agriculture and why it is becoming an essential tool for farm productivity and precision management. He explains how drones are used for accurate plant counts, crop health monitoring, mapping, and variable rate spraying, and highlights the importance of integrating these t...

In this episode, Jane Robb, Senior Environmental Consultant at Irricon, discusses the evolution of soil moisture monitoring in New Zealand and why it is becoming an essential tool for farm productivity and environmental management. She explains how modern technology helps farmers make smarter irrigation decisions, highlights the importance of matching sensors to different soil types, and outlines what this could mean for improving ...

In this episode, Dr Lucy Bell discusses her PhD research into legume species that can thrive in hill and high country soils affected by high aluminium toxicity. She explains why traditional options like lucerne struggle in these environments, highlights the standout performance of species such as Lotus pedunculatus and crimson clover, and outlines what this could mean for improving nitrogen supply, forage quality and animal perform...

In this episode, Rebecca Furzeland shares how she and her husband Andrew have built one of New Zealand’s standout large-scale calf rearing operations, combining smart infrastructure, tight systems and strong supplier relationships to rear 3,500 calves a year. She outlines the design decisions that drive efficiency, the early life nutrition that underpins animal health, and why clear communication with dairy farmers is the critical ...

This special episode of CountryWide explores the first independent evaluation of Halter’s virtual fencing and herding technology, now used on more than 600,000 dairy and beef cows across New Zealand, the United States and Australia. An AgFirst and Transform Agri study of ten high-performing dairy farms shows clear gains in pasture utilisation, labour efficiency, animal performance and environmental outcomes. 

Sarah Perriam-Lampp sp...

In this episode, Louise Cook, Fonterra’s Environment Programme Lead for On-Farm Excellence, unpacks how farmers boost efficiency while cutting emissions in a major industry project showing farmers can cut greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen surplus without sacrificing profitability. She explains the practices that lift efficiency with homegrown feed utilisation is the standout lever, and how top farms turn the same inputs into fa...

What are the key drivers behind New Zealand’s 47% reduction in antibiotic sales? 

In this episode, Dr Annabel Harris, Chair of the NZVA’s Antimicrobial Resistance Committee explains how cross-industry collaboration and learnings internationally have helped shape on-farm practice of antibiotic use to protect New Zealand farmers from the threat of antibiotic resistance.

Guest:

• Dr Annabel Harris, Chairperson, NZVA’s Antimicrobial...

Daniel Judd’s interest in soil management grew from his experience as a conventional dairy farmer and curiosity about evolving sector practices. His 2025 Kellogg’s Report explores the ‘soils gap’, showing how science, commerce, and culture shape decisions across conventional, regenerative, and organic systems.

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Daniel about what drives differences in farmer approaches, challenges in soil science fu...

Dr Jordi Hoult’s interest in leadership grew from her military family upbringing and her own experiences navigating the food and fibre sector. Her Kellogg research shows that many mid-career people in their 30s to 50s are ready to lead but face barriers that stop them from taking opportunities, leaving a “missing middle” in sector leadership.

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Jordi about what’s creating this gap, why mentorship is...

Witnessing the stress of sheep farming in Southland as a child led Steve Clarke to a career as a helicopter pilot before returning home to the dairy farm. He and wife Hayley are on a mission to ensure that farming creates a balance of work and life for their family and staff.

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Steve about his journey from sheep and beef to dairy, the lessons learned through early challenges, and how smart infrastru...