March 17, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Damien O'Connor, Matt Chisholm, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, and Todd Clark.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch you're the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Look up to Demons feeding where things are coming awe
and the sunshine meaning dinner Looking again.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Dai.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Gemee's Hell and d and welcome to the Country boy
band five kicking off the show. We'll tell you why later,
but it's rather apt that we kick off with five.
I'm Jamie MacKaye by the way, because our Minister of
Agriculture and Trade has made five visits to India since
he got the job. He's in there or he's in
India as we speak. It's four point thirty in the morning.
(00:55):
He's got out of bed to talk to us, so
no time to waste. We'll tell you who's on the
show after we finish with Todd McLay. Todd, thanks for
getting out of bed at Sparrow's fart to talk to us.
You guys are obviously making some real progress in India.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, Jamie, thanks for having me. I'm better getting out
of bed at four thirty in the morning and going
to bed. I suppose this I'll be in trouble you're right.
We're making very good progress, you know, and very pleased
with Primos de Luxe and this week to be able
to announce that we have formerly launched trade negotiations with
India again, a new negotiation. We're not continuing the one
(01:31):
from ten years ago, brand new, and we're very hopeful
we can make good progress relatively quickly to get a
deal over the line so we can meddle the playing
field with Australia.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Okay, as a dairy deal off the table. With the
world's largest milk producer, Indian producers twenty four percent of
the world's production, they're aiming to raise that to thirty
percent by twenty thirty, we better off to concentrate on
lamb and say horticulture.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Well, no, it's not off the table. What we've done
over the last fifteen months actually, particularly since December last
year when I was last out here, is we're intensifying discussion.
It's not on detail but negotiating, but on what the
agreement should look like, what it should have achieve, what's
some sort of mutual benefit and both sides and so
we've all been negotiating there for everything. But there are
(02:23):
going to be some things that are challenging, and you're
right there, he always has been with India. But just
putting that aside, you know, there are many, many opportunities
here and I've said there's a lot on your show
over the last year, you know, for our lamb producers here,
and we don't see much lamb up here. Australian exports
have grown significantly since they did their free trade deal,
(02:44):
and you know it's thirty three percent teriff taken off
them at zero US at thirty three percent. So we're
going to this eyes wide open. We'll be negotiating, you know,
the best deal that we can get both sides. My
counterpart may have agree that we're not going to talk
about the detail of the negotiations we go along. We're
going to respect the negotiators so that they can do
the best deal. But they can say to every farmer
(03:06):
and every new generder, we'll get the best deal we
can for them.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
So I take it with the sacred cow and in
the abas off the table as well.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Well. That's the interesting thing. Well, that's one of the
things we'll work through because although you know the majority
of the one point four billion people here don't eat beef.
There's about three hundred million that do. I've actually asked
Official to give me a bit of advice because I'm
not sure whether they've ever done beef in any other agreement.
So we'll look at that. But ultimately, what we're very
(03:36):
keen to do both sides, the Indians and New Zealand,
is get an agreement that's balanced so that you know,
they have more opportunity to sell and invest in New
Zealand as we want to up here. And that's the
different sort of the approach on the two sides now
than than ten years ago, you know. And there's done
a couple of deals with others already and including Australia
(03:59):
and both we've got to know each other better and
so we've got to do a deal that works, you know,
and it's going to grow too way trade rather than
what it used to feel like if anybody's out for themselves.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Todd McLay with this Minister of Agriculture and Trade who's
on the trade delegation, obviously you and Christopher Luxan, who
seems in a sweet spot when he's deal making overseas,
are leading the delegation. But who are the key egg
players on the plane.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
With you look at significant it's the largest business there
were largest delegation we've ever taken to India, maybe the
largest we've ever taken overseas, one hundred and twenty strom
and across the border. Represented from the meat sector, from dairy, horticulture,
certainly a kiwi fruit are there. Across the board.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Everyone has been able to come along, either industry represented
or individual companies. But it's brought in that as well.
You know, it's right across our economy. And then we've
got a big delegation of Indian New Galans out there,
you know, from a sort of a cultural point of view.
And it's one of the things that actually I think
(05:05):
is surprising the Indian government quite a lot one how
seriously we're taking our our claim or our desire and decision,
our dilection to make our relationship with India priority and
just how engaged we are and how much support there
is and it's landed very well. We've got to say,
you know, over the years, Jane, we've got a chance
(05:26):
to go to a lot of meetings between leaders, our
prime ministers and others, and when promounce MODI, when Prime
Minister Luxe and met with Prime Minister Mody yesterday. It
was warm and friendly and veryment familiar and actually, you know,
the relationships in a really good place. And the Prime
Minister Modi when he spoke to the media talked about
(05:47):
areas that we want to cooperate. He thanked Prime Minister
lux for the efforts that he's putting in and said
the areas we want to work together, particularly around food production.
He said he wants to increase the earnings of their
farms by about fifty twenty thirty five. That's from some
dollars a day or a week, you know, upwards, and
(06:08):
he sees New Zealand as a partner in that. And
so I think we're in a really good place. One
to grow that relationship and two get a good deal
for trade deal for New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
You've got lots of egg laders with you. Have you
dragged any cricketers along to break the eyes?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yes, we have and it's fascinating. We're talking quite a
bit about that with some the PM who thanked them
for not talking too much about you know, this last
Cricket World cupfort where we will put the right at
the post. And that's the other very important thing you know,
I was talking with Stephen swimming last night. He's come along,
who's the great support of what we're doing and a
(06:42):
very very good friend of India. You know, it's that
blend between this. Of course, we want to trade more
with each other, but we want better sporting links and
we want people to people links. And you know, we've
announced a defense cooperation defense and security and I signed
to agreements yesterday we were going to cooperate one in
horticulture and two in the forestry, which actually is not
(07:03):
about directly trade. It's about helping, you know, grow the
relationship and do a lot more with him. And so
right across the board we're reaching out. And the very
good news is that's been reciprocated from India, you know,
not only if they've started to visit us a lot more.
The engagement is growing, and so I think, you know,
we're not far away from that sweet spot that you know,
(07:24):
we'll be able to get that TERRIFFYCT down. I tell
you here, here's here's a promise. If we include an
agreement with them, I'll get I'll get LAMB for zero,
I reckon, and we're able to compete against Australia and
Indians will get the best lamb in the world and
them they're only getting Australian.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Well, if you can do that, Tom McClay deserve the
keys of the Kingdom. Just a final question for you,
because he's waiting in the wings to come on the
show after you. Damian O'Connor, Labour's trade spokesperson, did he
well and truly or did Labor well and truly drop
the ball on India? Feel free to put the boat
in because it'll only rack him up.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah. No, I'm not going to do that because actually
we should be pointing forward and what I tried to
do since the elect you knows, make trade by the others,
and Edward's the best for all these Islanders and we're
working together. And I've got to say with the deals
we did last year and also getting a U deal
and placed pretty quickly, Damien was very good and we
worked together, we sort of got stuff over the line
a lot more quickly. There'll be a range of reasons
(08:20):
right that it didn't happen, and none of those important.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I think what we want to see a parliament joined
together and you know, and we'll go there to get
the best deal that we can and it will be
good for these Islanders. So you know, all I'd say
is I think Damon's a good guy and I wouldn't
like to be a trade magor cops and minister under
an abor government.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Okay, Yeah, And to be fair to him, he did
some excellent work in the trade sphere. Some of his
agriculture work was questionable and I'll throw that at him next,
but certainly on trade. It's nice to hear you say
some nice things about them. Hey, I don't know whether
you're going to go back to bed. It's four thirty
or court to five in India at the moment. Thanks
for getting out of bed to chat to us. I
(08:57):
really appreciate.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
It, Treasure Jamie. I'm in the middle of Delhi, so
otherwise I've gone that some cows. I don't know me,
but thanks for having me on and see when we're.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Back on you Todd McClay. There, they are doing a
good job over in India of the world's most populous
nation have overtaken China Unlimited Unlimited potential boy banded five.
I was reading a story in The Herald yesterday that
they were traumatized after their early days as a boy band,
(09:27):
and Michelle apparently was a Big Five fan back in
the day. We'll see what she has to say when
we do rural news. But up next, Damian O'Connor. That
was nice, actually that Todd McLay said some nice things
about Damien. We'll ask him. Did he drop the ball
in India? I know he's been on the front foot
in the house attacking both Todd McClay and Nikola Willis
(09:50):
So Damian O'Connor. Up next, before the end of the hour,
Matt Chisholm, rural mental health advocate, Central Otago, hobby farmer.
He's taken up walking and studying. Interesting stories behind those
doctor Jack willn Rowath lock Of or Loki or March
tell you all about this. This is really weird. And
(10:11):
Todd Clark's our US farming correspondent. It is a National
Agriculture Week in the US and Trump is handing out
big bucks to the farmers. Will vandals do rucking? And
(10:44):
twenty after twelve y're with the country. Damien O'Connor as
Labour's trade spokesperson, former Minister of Agriculture. Of course. Now, Damien,
I know you didn't hear Todd McLay, but he actually
said some nice things about you as a former trade minister.
Are you going to reciprocate and say nice things about him?
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (11:04):
I have to congratulate them. You know, the energy and
the trips and the efforties made into India, and you know,
getting the UAE and the GCC thing deals over the line.
That's that's great, and I have the compliment on that's
good for all of our our economy and for our country.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
He's made five trips to India. I'm not sure how
many you made, but Winston's been on a plane constantly
also as a Foreign Affairs minister, and I never left
the country.
Speaker 8 (11:33):
No, that's completely untrue. And I did make trips. I
don't know when you've forgotten that. COVID Jamie kind of
interrupted a couple of years of travel and meetings with
people around the world. I made three trips to India
and David Parker Winston had made them to Naimahuta had
made them, and of course we hosted the Indian Foreign minister.
(11:55):
Prime Minister Adurn met with Primeister Modi. Chris Hopkins met
with Modi too, So we were working on those relationships
and partnerships and it's great that it's coming to fruition
and we're making progress here.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
But didn't you just end up sort of dropping the
ball and saying India is just in the too hart
a basket.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
No. I think there was a comment from the Nayama
who to saying it wasn't a priority at the time,
because India had given a clear indication to us that
a free trade agreement at that time wasn't a priority
or something they were prepared to consider. But they did
want to continue to build the relationships. And indeed that's
what has happened between Indian people, New Zealanders, cricketers, everyone
(12:35):
has been building a strong relationship and in good luck
to the negotiators on this comprehensive trade agreement. And I
have said that, you know, there is our biggest industry.
We do need to have it included in there. Although
it's going to be a challenge.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
But the reality of it is, deary may not be
a big part of the steal. It doesn't need to
be a big part of the steal. There's plenty of
other countries around the world. We can see their dairy
products too. India is the largest producer of dairy in
the world and getting bigger. Surely we just forget about
dairy and let's concentrate on stuff that's going to be
good for a slam horticulture.
Speaker 8 (13:12):
Well, we don't have enough lamb to fill the market
opportunities now, you know, so you could look at we
have to keep the doors open for every exporter. It's
opening opportunities. It's up to them whether they take them up.
I mean, we might get zero tariff on lamb and
yet it still might be hard work to get a
better price than some of the other markets. And the
exporters will choose whether they go to India or China
(13:34):
or US or EU. You know, these are opportunities. They
aren't guaranteed in outcomes.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
The Aussies have got zero tariff on lamb. We need
to be following in their footsteps.
Speaker 7 (13:46):
Surely, well we do.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
I think you have to talk to the exporters who
are putting lamb into India and see how well it's
going for them. I don't know what the market price is,
and there is a lot of There are a lot
of wealthy people in India, and where are able to
target them accurately and get that return back? To the farmers.
I haven't seen the returns for Ossie farmers from that
trade deal.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Aman, you and I enjoy but a bit of a
banter and a bit of a scrap on the old radio.
I look forward to it. Actually, so do I have
to start being nice to you just in case she
Chippy sleep sleepwalks to victory.
Speaker 8 (14:22):
Look, you know, surprising where you do hear comments that
this might be a one term government, It might be
a coalition makeup, that might be you know what they're doing.
I'm not making a judgment on that other than look
at the polls, talk to people around the place who
are not happy with a lot of things that are
going on in our country. But in terms of trade
and our efforts in there, you know, I want to
(14:43):
congratulate and support the Prime Minister and the Minister of
Trade and all the delegation. I had taken the biggest
trade delegation prior to this one to Indar fifty people.
We didn't have a couple of Harker group, which I
know have gone this time. You know, we had some
serious players. We made some good progress.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Is it a waste of time sending the Maori cultural group?
Speaker 8 (15:05):
Not at all? I think building that cultural connection. We
had somebody on our trip as well. It is important
that you know, the bicultural nature of our nation is
appreciated and it helps us actually to sell and to
tell the story of New Zealand and its nation every
to every market around the world. And we have to
(15:26):
keep that up.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Damien, could you think of a worse scenario than being
in a coalition government with Roweri and Chloe.
Speaker 8 (15:34):
Be honest, oh, being in one with David Seymour.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
I mean, that's never going to happen. But I mean, gee,
I mean to party Maria to political party. They're activists.
Speaker 8 (15:46):
Well, I mean, you know they have some principles there
around what they're trying to do. I don't agree with
a lot of what they say, but you know, it
depends on how you negotiate. And I think that chrys
Lux may maybe be disappointed that he allowed to get
a few too many things across the line. We just
have to make sure when we negotiate that we keep
things sensible, reasonable and pragmatic for our country.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
You think Winston's doing a good job on the world stage,
and I know you're sticking up for your previous foreign minister,
and I am a huta, but I think she was
next to useless. That's just my observation. Sorry if I'm
wrong on that one. He seems to be doing a
good job.
Speaker 8 (16:23):
Well you are wrong, and he has been doing it
for quite some time. He was the minister and with
us from twenty seventeen to twenty built a lot of
connections across the globe. He's been around for a while
and had some of those prior to that as well,
So you know he's got the experience and as I say,
personal connections which help him.
Speaker 7 (16:42):
I hope they help.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
Us in the US at the moment. It's a very
very troubling time. We don't know what will happen from
one day to the next, and Winston's over there. I
guess we're keeping a low profile is a great objective.
The minute you've gone to Washington, as he has, our
profile will be lifted. I guess we just got to
make sure we go kick carding across fright.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Damian O'Connor, thanks for your time today. I think we
agreed too much. Not good for ratings, but always enjoy
having you on the show.
Speaker 8 (17:08):
Damien, Thanks Jamie. I always I'm sure I'll be able
to find an argument with you.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I'm sure. Well, thanks for your time. Have a good day,
Damian O'Connor there, former Minister of Agriculture, former Minister of Trade. Yes,
and as I said, he did do some good work,
very good work, probably in the trade space. Up next, Matchism.
What's he up to these days? Of course? A well
known former television celebrity, if there's such a thing these days.
(17:36):
A rural mental health advocate and central Otago hobby farmer.
Why has he taken up? Taken up? Should I say?
Walking and studying? He's up next. Haven't caught up with
(18:00):
this floke for a while. His name is Matt Chism,
former television star these days, rural mental health advocate and
central Otago hobby farmer. He's got the south down start
and some short horns as well on his farm near
Chadow Creek. Hey, Matt Chisholm. First question for you is
did you get meaningful rain overnight?
Speaker 9 (18:21):
Couldn't tell you how much, Jamie, But I woke up
this morning better than Christmas mate.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
I think it was the middle of a night.
Speaker 9 (18:26):
I woke up, who heard it coming down? And no
better sound, no better sound, So yeah, we got a
bit of rain and the place looks good this morning.
So we're always screaming out for a bit of rain
here at Chadow Creek. Even if you're a hobby farmer
or not, we like it. And i'd like to think, Jamie,
actually that I'm a little bit more than a hobby farmer.
But you sure me whatever you like. I'm just happy
you're talking to me.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Yeah, well, I'm happy to have you talking to me.
What tell us about your hobby farm, which is more
than a hobby farm, because you actually have got a
meaningful south Down sheep stud for instance.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Yeah, probably got a about sixty south Down news now
and selling a few rams to the real farmers. I
mean they come take six or four and I reckon,
I've got done a couple of things now in life,
and there's not a whole lot more that makes me
proud than seeing.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
A trailer, you know, with six good looking south Down
rams heading down the road.
Speaker 9 (19:19):
Dust everywhere makes a good photo in our part of
the world, actually, So yeah, pretty excited about that. And
also the other day eight sheep a rive from Canterbury.
My kids, bree Thin and Bead three six and eight.
They've started their own South Down stud. Well, they're on
their way to starting their own Southdown stud so they
(19:40):
haven't seen just how stupid Dad is trying to have
a go. They're having to go themselves, which is you know,
they're in that stage where they still think Dad's pretty cool,
which is neat.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
But here's a question for you, match is and how
stupid has Dad been recently? They tell me that you're
vastly increasing your daily step count.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (19:56):
Look, I can take away the booz drugs, Jamie, but
my life's always going to be a little chaotic, you know,
the talk to them, seeing the TV producing and.
Speaker 7 (20:08):
The kids in their sports. So I'm always running a
little bit late.
Speaker 9 (20:12):
And I got pulled over, come home camping at harwhere
come home to check we had any flydline lambs and
these beautiful Southdowns, And just took cat away from home,
saw that the lights, heard the siren, lockdown.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
I'm doing one hundred and seventeen clicks.
Speaker 6 (20:28):
The little.
Speaker 9 (20:31):
Pommy bloody copper tells me that that's one hundred demerit points.
So I was driving just drop the kids off at
school the other day in our little village Omakau or
all my coat and the local cop who I play
a bit of football with just sort of.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Signals me over.
Speaker 9 (20:46):
Hey Matt, that's one hundred demerits made. I've got to
take your license off yet. Is there anything you need
to do in the next little while before I take
it off? Here, So I had to go to North
Canterbury to the Heart and Show at the weekend. So
that was a bus from Alexander to Queenstown.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
And yet it's a.
Speaker 9 (21:02):
Bit of a disaster, Jamie. But I can see the
funny side of it. Three months without a license.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
So interesting changes in matchism's life. He's doing a bit
more walking than he was due to a lead foot.
Hey Matt, they told me that you've gone back to studying.
You wouldn't have opened a book since your days at Lincoln.
Speaker 9 (21:21):
I didn't know many books back then, either, Jamie. Noah, No, Look,
I don't mind a bit of change. Actually I embraced change.
And you know, I've made a decision to step out
of the television in the journalism game.
Speaker 7 (21:35):
But probably, I think, certainly TV probably are right for you, Jamie.
Speaker 9 (21:39):
A man has talented as you, But I'm not going
to feed my family and making television for the next
twenty years.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
So yeah, I've gone back to the books.
Speaker 9 (21:50):
So I'm actually standing outside the Alexandra Public Library because
I can't do anything at home because I just want
to get outside and look at my beautiful animals and
pretend to do some work. So I come under the
Alexander Library when I'm not racing around the country in
buses nowadays, and I'm doing some study. Probably can't see
you exactly what I'm studying at this point, but I'm
pretty excited about a new chapter.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Yeah, never a dull moment in your life. Matches and
we'll keep in touch. Thanks to some of your time,
and I'm glad you got some rain in Central Otago.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
Yet very much, Jamie bloody good dear, thank you for
your toime.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Thanks Matt, it is twenty six away from one you
are with the country. I hope you're enjoying the show.
Someone's not. I think we need to block this person, Michelle.
This is nasty. Hi, Jamie Todd mclay's show. Just what
a horrible little man you are, as he wasn't putting
O'Connor down. I wasn't putting O'Connor down, Ei though, I'm
(22:45):
just looking for a bit of banter with Damien. Why
don't we have enough lamb Damen? Right, it's another text,
something to do with all the trees you allowed to
be planted. Well, as it stands at the moment, they're
still being planted and Damien's not in there. Hopefully that
will get itself sorted. He's a text in from Lorry Patterson,
(23:06):
co founder of Groundswell Jamie. How good was Damien in
the trade space when him and Jacinda signed New Zealand
up to an EU Green Agenda in order to rush
through an FTA. So Laurie's not too pleased with Damien's
effort as a trade minister. We're going to take a
break on the other side of it. We're going to
(23:26):
find out if Michelle Watt actually had a poster of
boy band Five in her room when she was growing
up in the in the in Bealcluther, because I kind
of thought if you grew up in Becluther it would
be more ACDC than Five. But anyhow, we'll find that
one with Rural News and we'll have sports news for
(23:47):
you before the end of the Doctor Jack Wilnroweth and
our US based farming correspondent Todd Clark Okay, welcome back
to the country twenty two away from one with short
on time Michelle Yes or No. Five boy band poster
(24:08):
when you were growing up in belk Luther.
Speaker 10 (24:10):
Yes, I did.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Okay, Guilty, guilty.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Here's Rural News, The Country's rural News with Cob Cadet,
New Zealand's leading right on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel
Ford dot co dot Nz.
Speaker 11 (24:21):
For your locals.
Speaker 9 (24:22):
Dock.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Actually I've got no time, but they do like a
bunch of pensioners now and this is coming from a pensioner.
What's in rural news?
Speaker 9 (24:29):
Okay?
Speaker 10 (24:29):
And rural News Jamie, thanks for that. I just lost
a lot of Bogan creds with that one. But anyway,
the two sides of the boardroom battle at Carpetmaker Bremworth
of cut a Deal. George Adams has stepped down his
chair and will be replaced by Rob Hewitt, who is
currently in India on the Prime Minister Christoph Luckson's delegation.
So that's the rural news. You can find more at
the Country dot Co dot m Z.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Sport with a fco visit them online at Fco dot
co dot Nz.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Yeah, and looking at our studio window. It is raining
in Dunedin and the white ferns off the field at
the moment rain delay, but they did get to eighty
four for three after twelve of a maximum fifteen overs
during the rain affected third and final T twenty cricket
International against Sri Lanka here in Duneed and the black
Caps are due to play Pakistan and the second match
(25:15):
of their five game T twenty series from two fifteen
and the weather is going to clear a bit later
in the day, but we're going to be limited as
to how much cricket we're going to get up next.
You'll enjoy this one. Doctor Jacqueline Roweth a really interesting
column on our website this week. She is one of
(25:36):
our leading primary sector academics. Fortnightly she writes a wonderful
column on our website The Country dot co dot enz
Jacqueline Roweth, If you don't mind me saying so, you've
outdone yourself this week or this Fortnight with your Locivore
March column. Tell me all about Lokivore March, a new
way of eating with your mind engaged.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
We've been promoted at the beginning of the month and
we're halfway through and I wonder how many people have
absolutely done it, and they're trying to eat within a
certain radius maybe one hundred and fifty k of where
they're living. And it should be about producing as well
as preparing, and it's actually incredibly restrictive, and people don't
(26:22):
realize how limited their whole eating then become. So I've
got some various examples there, and of course the prime
one is chocolate. When people don't realize we don't grow
chocolate their own sugar, then their whole way of life
will change. And think about tea and coffee, where does
that actually grow? And of course we're aware about the
(26:44):
tropical fruits such as bananas and pineapples, but avocados are
in there as well.
Speaker 7 (26:50):
Spices.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
We don't grow spices except for saffron and then salt.
You're in fundamentally within grassme the Margara region very limiting.
And I don't think people realize about grain for your
toast and sandwiches, either mostly South Island or imported from
indeed Australia.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Not hijequal and not to mention South Island as not
being able to have smashed avocado on toast.
Speaker 6 (27:15):
Your cope, your coat, but no they wouldn't be able to,
So there are all sorts of interesting things when you
start thinking about a radius like that, so you can
go along to your farmer's market. There's been some bit
of coverage about them this month as well, but actually
quite a lot of what they prepare has come from
things that were growing further away. So the critical thing
(27:37):
about whatever radius they've decided is that the people who
are selling it have been involved in the preparation and
perhaps the production. But it's there that you see what
is actually in season and what you might be able
to eat, you know, for the week. I think the
farmer's markets have a great place, and it's really helping
(27:58):
people to see what it really takes to produce food.
But then also think about the localization, because when I'm
at a farmer's market, I see a lot of things
like juices or jams and chutneys and those sorts of things,
but you do actually need to think where the sugar
comes from, and it's not New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Obviously, back in the old cave man days, Jack wall
n Rowis, every month was a loke of war months
because one hundred and fifty kilometers would have been one
hell of a radius for a cave mate.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
My ears, Yes, I think it would be rather less
so the way you ate then, and all sorts of
theories about what you had available to you. I think
you ate whatever you could get, frankly, and there are
people who say we shouldn't eat one thing or another,
but you know, our teeth showed that we were pretty
much omnivorous, and we ate what we could get, and
(28:53):
there was a lot of exercise, there was a lot
of lifting, and people were fundamentally healthy. If they got
through the first few years, they lived as long as
we do. It's just that most of them died when
before they reached Adulthook.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Hi Jack Well, and what happens if you lived in Greenland?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Now?
Speaker 4 (29:09):
The old trumpster he wants to take it over. Man,
here's an interesting step from your column. Greenland is only
seventeen percent food secure.
Speaker 6 (29:18):
Yeah, that is certainly the estimate. And it's because they
can't grow much and they have access when it's not
completely frozen to fish and seals, and you know, there's
lots of blubber there so they can try and keep warm,
and they can get oil. But food was one of
the main problems with actually getting through the winter. And
I think we're talking a couple of weeks about the
(29:41):
whole celebrations of food supply, and we're coming into Easter.
We will be able to celebrate the fact that the
hens are laying again. This is in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the cows are in milk. But just remember, think
about Thanksgiving Day, food arrived and the poor old turkey
gets either of the pardoned or eaten. So food has
(30:02):
played a major part in our cultural development and indeed
in our survival, and sometimes we forget.
Speaker 7 (30:09):
And that's why.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
We're so I'm so pleased to be talking to you
today because it is National Agriculture Day in the United
States of America. They've got a whole week of celebrations
reminding us about the field and the farms and the
people who keep them going.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
Okay, we're going to speak to our US correspondent, hopefully
Todd Clark, very shortly on the country. Just give me
thirty seconds on the drought and the North Island. You're
based in the Waikato region there. I'm looking at my
knee with drought and Dick smapp as I do every day.
It's getting darker and darker.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
Yeah, it's very ugly and though there was five dollars overnight,
I turned that urban rain. Sorry about the barbecues and
the washing, but it's not okay for agriculture. It hasn't
done anything in terms of replenishment. We're feeding out an
extra twenty thousand dollars worth of feed to our animals,
deer and dairy, just to make sure that they are fit,
(31:06):
that they are healthy animals and going into either carving
or about to be dried off. But they'll go in
at the right state into their next stage. And of
course that's a lot of staff time, and this is
the sort of thing which you hope won't have to occur,
and it's difficult to budget for, but the expenditure has
to be made. So when people are saying great record
(31:27):
milk writers, we need to remember what the costs behind
that are and go back to the US. They're about
to hand out ten billion US dollars in support for farmers.
We need to think, as we're doing our local bore
or our paleo or just celebrating food in general.
Speaker 7 (31:45):
What is the cost of production.
Speaker 6 (31:47):
Because it's not being met.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Doctor jackeln rowis always appreciate your time. You can read
all about it on our website, The Country dot co
dot nz. Catch you in a fortnight lovely toald you
then eleven away from you are with the Country. Thank you, Jacqueline.
What Hamilton needs to do is schedule an international cricket
game guaranteed rainmaker here in Dunedin the black ferns, let
(32:10):
me try the silver ferns. I'm getting confused with my
ferns one hundred and one for three after fourteen point
one of their fifteen overs. They're currently in rain delay,
although the Sri Lankans may be coming back to back
very shortly. Up next, we wrap it with our US
correspondent Todd Clark. All the exambergs are flaying. He is
(32:36):
our Kentucky based US farm and correspondent, Todd Clark. Is
his name? It is as we heard from Jacqueline Row
with National Agriculture Week in the United States. Todd Clark.
Are you embarrassed that I had to tell you this?
Good afternoon?
Speaker 11 (32:53):
Good afternoon, Jamie, just a little bit. But as I
was saying to your fair I have been a flat
out and so I did have to look that up.
For US farmers every day is National Agriculture Day, but
my wife would tell you the most important day this
week is the eighteenth, which is our thirtieth wedding anniversary.
(33:15):
So that's looking it up. It appears that's the official
day for the week for ironically for agricultural.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Ok, well that's tomorrow your time. So National Agriculture Week
from March seventeen to twenty four. And Donald Trump, your
glorious president, is doing his but to thank and help
a farmer because he's handing out ten billion dollars of
economic assistance this week to farmers. How much are you
going to get your hands on.
Speaker 11 (33:43):
I don't think i'll get anything because I don't do
any crops. For the most part, I understand that it's
for all the various crops. It's so much per acre
for corn, beans, rice, cotton, that sort of thing. But
he did this sort of thing his first term because
of the effect that the tariffs were having on the
(34:05):
farming sector, especially corn and soybeans going to China. So
this was already this was already slated to happen prior
to Trump. And so the reason I'd say that is
not to blame the previous administration, but if I were
you all, I would watch closely because it wouldn't surprise
me if Trump hands out more money to the farmers
(34:28):
later in the year or following years, depending on how
these tariffs go.
Speaker 4 (34:32):
How has tariffs and proposed tariffs because we don't know
where he's going to stop here affecting the likes of
beef prices in America. Because you've got Mexico on one side,
Canada on the other. There's a lot of beef exchanges,
locations if you want, and markets between the three countries.
What's happening to your prices?
Speaker 11 (34:53):
So your assessment's correct. There's a lot of trade between
between the three of US countries here in North America,
but the our prices are just skyrocketing. We sold sold
some cattle this morning and it's I want to say,
your listeners need to just look this. Look this up
either Bluegrass Stockyards or Paris Stockyards online and you can
(35:16):
you can get the market reports. But four to five
dollars a pound for four or five five weight steers.
So that's that's prices that have never been heard of.
So a weaned calf, whether it's a heifers or steer,
is seventeen fifty to two thousand dollars.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
Wow, and that is US dollars as well. We need
to make the conversion. Yeah, it's mind blowing, isn't it.
Speaker 11 (35:41):
Dollars wow? But the history tells us that we have
to once the animal's finished, we have to get rid
of the whole animal. And it takes the whole world
for us to pull that off, and so tariff will
hurt us long term. With with beef, you all are
some of the best producers in the world of protein,
(36:02):
but we're not too bad in the US, but we
don't have enough consumers, and so we really need the
rest of the world to sell our products to. And
so it's going to be interesting times to see what
happens with these arrants.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Odd, you are a Republican, but you're not an out
and out Trump than you're a very reasonable and reasoned man.
What is your average American saying about Trump's tariffs? Has
he got support?
Speaker 11 (36:26):
It depends on where you were on election day. If
you were just if you were two hundred percent in
on Trump, then it's full steam ahead in your mind.
But if if you were sort of on the fence,
you're trying to climb off that fence right now. And
then there's some that didn't care for Trump to begin with,
and you know, and so they're they're sharing what they
(36:50):
can on social media as to why this is a
terrible idea. But there's a lot going on in the
country with Trump outside of tariffs, and so there's there's
a lot of shots being fired.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Not to mention, Elon Musk haven't got time to mention.
Let me just finish with your seasons. We're heading into
our autumn here in New Zealand. We've got a cricket
game or two cricket games scheduled in Dunedin. So it
goes without saying it's raining. How are you going, because
you're heading into your spring, I think you're carving on
your farm at the moment we are.
Speaker 7 (37:22):
You're exactly right.
Speaker 11 (37:23):
We're grass is finally grown again after a long winter
in lots of moisture around, so we'll see what happens.
But we're in that phase of early early spring where
you're trying to figure out if baillage as you feed out,
are they going to actually eat it or is the
grass going to keep them away from it? So yeah,
(37:44):
hopefully it's onward and upward.
Speaker 7 (37:46):
From here.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
We'll chat again next month, no doubt you'll be in
the heart of spring. Then Todd Clark out of Lexington, Kentucky,
thanks for your time, appreciate it.
Speaker 11 (37:56):
Thanks Jamie, good to talk, great to.
Speaker 4 (37:58):
Talk, Todd wrapping the Country. No cricket at the moment
here in Dunedin. The Woman are one hundred and one
for three, fourteen point one of their fifteen overs. Hopefully
we'll get some cricket this afternoon. Catch you tomorrow, sad
words are flying.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Catch you're the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, you're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Catch you're the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Look up to Demons feeding where things are coming awe
and the sunshine meaning dinner Looking again.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Dai.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Gemee's Hell and d and welcome to the Country boy
band five kicking off the show. We'll tell you why later,
but it's rather apt that we kick off with five.
I'm Jamie MacKaye by the way, because our Minister of
Agriculture and Trade has made five visits to India since
he got the job. He's in there or he's in
India as we speak. It's four point thirty in the morning.
(00:55):
He's got out of bed to talk to us, so
no time to waste. We'll tell you who's on the
show after we finish with Todd McLay. Todd, thanks for
getting out of bed at Sparrow's fart to talk to us.
You guys are obviously making some real progress in India.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, Jamie, thanks for having me. I'm better getting out
of bed at four thirty in the morning and going
to bed. I suppose this I'll be in trouble you're right.
We're making very good progress, you know, and very pleased
with Primos de Luxe and this week to be able
to announce that we have formerly launched trade negotiations with
India again, a new negotiation. We're not continuing the one
(01:31):
from ten years ago, brand new, and we're very hopeful
we can make good progress relatively quickly to get a
deal over the line so we can meddle the playing
field with Australia.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Okay, as a dairy deal off the table. With the
world's largest milk producer, Indian producers twenty four percent of
the world's production, they're aiming to raise that to thirty
percent by twenty thirty, we better off to concentrate on
lamb and say horticulture.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Well, no, it's not off the table. What we've done
over the last fifteen months actually, particularly since December last
year when I was last out here, is we're intensifying discussion.
It's not on detail but negotiating, but on what the
agreement should look like, what it should have achieve, what's
some sort of mutual benefit and both sides and so
we've all been negotiating there for everything. But there are
(02:23):
going to be some things that are challenging, and you're
right there, he always has been with India. But just
putting that aside, you know, there are many, many opportunities
here and I've said there's a lot on your show
over the last year, you know, for our lamb producers here,
and we don't see much lamb up here. Australian exports
have grown significantly since they did their free trade deal,
(02:44):
and you know it's thirty three percent teriff taken off
them at zero US at thirty three percent. So we're
going to this eyes wide open. We'll be negotiating, you know,
the best deal that we can get both sides. My
counterpart may have agree that we're not going to talk
about the detail of the negotiations we go along. We're
going to respect the negotiators so that they can do
the best deal. But they can say to every farmer
(03:06):
and every new generder, we'll get the best deal we
can for them.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
So I take it with the sacred cow and in
the abas off the table as well.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Well. That's the interesting thing. Well, that's one of the
things we'll work through because although you know the majority
of the one point four billion people here don't eat beef.
There's about three hundred million that do. I've actually asked
Official to give me a bit of advice because I'm
not sure whether they've ever done beef in any other agreement.
So we'll look at that. But ultimately, what we're very
(03:36):
keen to do both sides, the Indians and New Zealand,
is get an agreement that's balanced so that you know,
they have more opportunity to sell and invest in New
Zealand as we want to up here. And that's the
different sort of the approach on the two sides now
than than ten years ago, you know. And there's done
a couple of deals with others already and including Australia
(03:59):
and both we've got to know each other better and
so we've got to do a deal that works, you know,
and it's going to grow too way trade rather than
what it used to feel like if anybody's out for themselves.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Todd McLay with this Minister of Agriculture and Trade who's
on the trade delegation, obviously you and Christopher Luxan, who
seems in a sweet spot when he's deal making overseas,
are leading the delegation. But who are the key egg
players on the plane.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
With you look at significant it's the largest business there
were largest delegation we've ever taken to India, maybe the
largest we've ever taken overseas, one hundred and twenty strom
and across the border. Represented from the meat sector, from dairy, horticulture,
certainly a kiwi fruit are there. Across the board.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Everyone has been able to come along, either industry represented
or individual companies. But it's brought in that as well.
You know, it's right across our economy. And then we've
got a big delegation of Indian New Galans out there,
you know, from a sort of a cultural point of view.
And it's one of the things that actually I think
(05:05):
is surprising the Indian government quite a lot one how
seriously we're taking our our claim or our desire and decision,
our dilection to make our relationship with India priority and
just how engaged we are and how much support there
is and it's landed very well. We've got to say,
you know, over the years, Jane, we've got a chance
(05:26):
to go to a lot of meetings between leaders, our
prime ministers and others, and when promounce MODI, when Prime
Minister Luxe and met with Prime Minister Mody yesterday. It
was warm and friendly and veryment familiar and actually, you know,
the relationships in a really good place. And the Prime
Minister Modi when he spoke to the media talked about
(05:47):
areas that we want to cooperate. He thanked Prime Minister
lux for the efforts that he's putting in and said
the areas we want to work together, particularly around food production.
He said he wants to increase the earnings of their
farms by about fifty twenty thirty five. That's from some
dollars a day or a week, you know, upwards, and
(06:08):
he sees New Zealand as a partner in that. And
so I think we're in a really good place. One
to grow that relationship and two get a good deal
for trade deal for New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
You've got lots of egg laders with you. Have you
dragged any cricketers along to break the eyes?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Yes, we have and it's fascinating. We're talking quite a
bit about that with some the PM who thanked them
for not talking too much about you know, this last
Cricket World cupfort where we will put the right at
the post. And that's the other very important thing you know,
I was talking with Stephen swimming last night. He's come along,
who's the great support of what we're doing and a
(06:42):
very very good friend of India. You know, it's that
blend between this. Of course, we want to trade more
with each other, but we want better sporting links and
we want people to people links. And you know, we've
announced a defense cooperation defense and security and I signed
to agreements yesterday we were going to cooperate one in
horticulture and two in the forestry, which actually is not
(07:03):
about directly trade. It's about helping, you know, grow the
relationship and do a lot more with him. And so
right across the board we're reaching out. And the very
good news is that's been reciprocated from India, you know,
not only if they've started to visit us a lot more.
The engagement is growing, and so I think, you know,
we're not far away from that sweet spot that you know,
(07:24):
we'll be able to get that TERRIFFYCT down. I tell
you here, here's here's a promise. If we include an
agreement with them, I'll get I'll get LAMB for zero,
I reckon, and we're able to compete against Australia and
Indians will get the best lamb in the world and
them they're only getting Australian.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Well, if you can do that, Tom McClay deserve the
keys of the Kingdom. Just a final question for you,
because he's waiting in the wings to come on the
show after you. Damian O'Connor, Labour's trade spokesperson, did he
well and truly or did Labor well and truly drop
the ball on India? Feel free to put the boat
in because it'll only rack him up.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah. No, I'm not going to do that because actually
we should be pointing forward and what I tried to
do since the elect you knows, make trade by the others,
and Edward's the best for all these Islanders and we're
working together. And I've got to say with the deals
we did last year and also getting a U deal
and placed pretty quickly, Damien was very good and we
worked together, we sort of got stuff over the line
a lot more quickly. There'll be a range of reasons
(08:20):
right that it didn't happen, and none of those important.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I think what we want to see a parliament joined
together and you know, and we'll go there to get
the best deal that we can and it will be
good for these Islanders. So you know, all I'd say
is I think Damon's a good guy and I wouldn't
like to be a trade magor cops and minister under
an abor government.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Okay, Yeah, And to be fair to him, he did
some excellent work in the trade sphere. Some of his
agriculture work was questionable and I'll throw that at him next,
but certainly on trade. It's nice to hear you say
some nice things about them. Hey, I don't know whether
you're going to go back to bed. It's four thirty
or court to five in India at the moment. Thanks
for getting out of bed to chat to us. I
(08:57):
really appreciate.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
It, Treasure Jamie. I'm in the middle of Delhi, so
otherwise I've gone that some cows. I don't know me,
but thanks for having me on and see when we're.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Back on you Todd McClay. There, they are doing a
good job over in India of the world's most populous
nation have overtaken China Unlimited Unlimited potential boy banded five.
I was reading a story in The Herald yesterday that
they were traumatized after their early days as a boy band,
(09:27):
and Michelle apparently was a Big Five fan back in
the day. We'll see what she has to say when
we do rural news. But up next, Damian O'Connor. That
was nice, actually that Todd McLay said some nice things
about Damien. We'll ask him. Did he drop the ball
in India? I know he's been on the front foot
in the house attacking both Todd McClay and Nikola Willis
(09:50):
So Damian O'Connor. Up next, before the end of the hour,
Matt Chisholm, rural mental health advocate, Central Otago, hobby farmer.
He's taken up walking and studying. Interesting stories behind those
doctor Jack willn Rowath lock Of or Loki or March
tell you all about this. This is really weird. And
(10:11):
Todd Clark's our US farming correspondent. It is a National
Agriculture Week in the US and Trump is handing out
big bucks to the farmers. Will vandals do rucking? And
(10:44):
twenty after twelve y're with the country. Damien O'Connor as
Labour's trade spokesperson, former Minister of Agriculture. Of course. Now, Damien,
I know you didn't hear Todd McLay, but he actually
said some nice things about you as a former trade minister.
Are you going to reciprocate and say nice things about him?
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (11:04):
I have to congratulate them. You know, the energy and
the trips and the efforties made into India, and you know,
getting the UAE and the GCC thing deals over the line.
That's that's great, and I have the compliment on that's
good for all of our our economy and for our country.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
He's made five trips to India. I'm not sure how
many you made, but Winston's been on a plane constantly
also as a Foreign Affairs minister, and I never left
the country.
Speaker 8 (11:33):
No, that's completely untrue. And I did make trips. I
don't know when you've forgotten that. COVID Jamie kind of
interrupted a couple of years of travel and meetings with
people around the world. I made three trips to India
and David Parker Winston had made them to Naimahuta had
made them, and of course we hosted the Indian Foreign minister.
(11:55):
Prime Minister Adurn met with Primeister Modi. Chris Hopkins met
with Modi too, So we were working on those relationships
and partnerships and it's great that it's coming to fruition
and we're making progress here.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
But didn't you just end up sort of dropping the
ball and saying India is just in the too hart
a basket.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
No. I think there was a comment from the Nayama
who to saying it wasn't a priority at the time,
because India had given a clear indication to us that
a free trade agreement at that time wasn't a priority
or something they were prepared to consider. But they did
want to continue to build the relationships. And indeed that's
what has happened between Indian people, New Zealanders, cricketers, everyone
(12:35):
has been building a strong relationship and in good luck
to the negotiators on this comprehensive trade agreement. And I
have said that, you know, there is our biggest industry.
We do need to have it included in there. Although
it's going to be a challenge.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
But the reality of it is, deary may not be
a big part of the steal. It doesn't need to
be a big part of the steal. There's plenty of
other countries around the world. We can see their dairy
products too. India is the largest producer of dairy in
the world and getting bigger. Surely we just forget about
dairy and let's concentrate on stuff that's going to be
good for a slam horticulture.
Speaker 8 (13:12):
Well, we don't have enough lamb to fill the market
opportunities now, you know, so you could look at we
have to keep the doors open for every exporter. It's
opening opportunities. It's up to them whether they take them up.
I mean, we might get zero tariff on lamb and
yet it still might be hard work to get a
better price than some of the other markets. And the
exporters will choose whether they go to India or China
(13:34):
or US or EU. You know, these are opportunities. They
aren't guaranteed in outcomes.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
The Aussies have got zero tariff on lamb. We need
to be following in their footsteps.
Speaker 7 (13:46):
Surely, well we do.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
I think you have to talk to the exporters who
are putting lamb into India and see how well it's
going for them. I don't know what the market price is,
and there is a lot of There are a lot
of wealthy people in India, and where are able to
target them accurately and get that return back? To the farmers.
I haven't seen the returns for Ossie farmers from that
trade deal.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Aman, you and I enjoy but a bit of a
banter and a bit of a scrap on the old radio.
I look forward to it. Actually, so do I have
to start being nice to you just in case she
Chippy sleep sleepwalks to victory.
Speaker 8 (14:22):
Look, you know, surprising where you do hear comments that
this might be a one term government, It might be
a coalition makeup, that might be you know what they're doing.
I'm not making a judgment on that other than look
at the polls, talk to people around the place who
are not happy with a lot of things that are
going on in our country. But in terms of trade
and our efforts in there, you know, I want to
(14:43):
congratulate and support the Prime Minister and the Minister of
Trade and all the delegation. I had taken the biggest
trade delegation prior to this one to Indar fifty people.
We didn't have a couple of Harker group, which I
know have gone this time. You know, we had some
serious players. We made some good progress.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Is it a waste of time sending the Maori cultural group?
Speaker 8 (15:05):
Not at all? I think building that cultural connection. We
had somebody on our trip as well. It is important
that you know, the bicultural nature of our nation is
appreciated and it helps us actually to sell and to
tell the story of New Zealand and its nation every
to every market around the world. And we have to
(15:26):
keep that up.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Damien, could you think of a worse scenario than being
in a coalition government with Roweri and Chloe.
Speaker 8 (15:34):
Be honest, oh, being in one with David Seymour.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
I mean, that's never going to happen. But I mean, gee,
I mean to party Maria to political party. They're activists.
Speaker 8 (15:46):
Well, I mean, you know they have some principles there
around what they're trying to do. I don't agree with
a lot of what they say, but you know, it
depends on how you negotiate. And I think that chrys
Lux may maybe be disappointed that he allowed to get
a few too many things across the line. We just
have to make sure when we negotiate that we keep
things sensible, reasonable and pragmatic for our country.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
You think Winston's doing a good job on the world stage,
and I know you're sticking up for your previous foreign minister,
and I am a huta, but I think she was
next to useless. That's just my observation. Sorry if I'm
wrong on that one. He seems to be doing a
good job.
Speaker 8 (16:23):
Well you are wrong, and he has been doing it
for quite some time. He was the minister and with
us from twenty seventeen to twenty built a lot of
connections across the globe. He's been around for a while
and had some of those prior to that as well,
So you know he's got the experience and as I say,
personal connections which help him.
Speaker 7 (16:42):
I hope they help.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
Us in the US at the moment. It's a very
very troubling time. We don't know what will happen from
one day to the next, and Winston's over there. I
guess we're keeping a low profile is a great objective.
The minute you've gone to Washington, as he has, our
profile will be lifted. I guess we just got to
make sure we go kick carding across fright.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Damian O'Connor, thanks for your time today. I think we
agreed too much. Not good for ratings, but always enjoy
having you on the show.
Speaker 8 (17:08):
Damien, Thanks Jamie. I always I'm sure I'll be able
to find an argument with you.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I'm sure. Well, thanks for your time. Have a good day,
Damian O'Connor there, former Minister of Agriculture, former Minister of Trade. Yes,
and as I said, he did do some good work,
very good work, probably in the trade space. Up next, Matchism.
What's he up to these days? Of course? A well
known former television celebrity, if there's such a thing these days.
(17:36):
A rural mental health advocate and central Otago hobby farmer.
Why has he taken up? Taken up? Should I say?
Walking and studying? He's up next. Haven't caught up with
(18:00):
this floke for a while. His name is Matt Chism,
former television star these days, rural mental health advocate and
central Otago hobby farmer. He's got the south down start
and some short horns as well on his farm near
Chadow Creek. Hey, Matt Chisholm. First question for you is
did you get meaningful rain overnight?
Speaker 9 (18:21):
Couldn't tell you how much, Jamie, But I woke up
this morning better than Christmas mate.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
I think it was the middle of a night.
Speaker 9 (18:26):
I woke up, who heard it coming down? And no
better sound, no better sound, So yeah, we got a
bit of rain and the place looks good this morning.
So we're always screaming out for a bit of rain
here at Chadow Creek. Even if you're a hobby farmer
or not, we like it. And i'd like to think, Jamie,
actually that I'm a little bit more than a hobby farmer.
But you sure me whatever you like. I'm just happy
you're talking to me.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Yeah, well, I'm happy to have you talking to me.
What tell us about your hobby farm, which is more
than a hobby farm, because you actually have got a
meaningful south Down sheep stud for instance.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Yeah, probably got a about sixty south Down news now
and selling a few rams to the real farmers. I
mean they come take six or four and I reckon,
I've got done a couple of things now in life,
and there's not a whole lot more that makes me
proud than seeing.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
A trailer, you know, with six good looking south Down
rams heading down the road.
Speaker 9 (19:19):
Dust everywhere makes a good photo in our part of
the world, actually, So yeah, pretty excited about that. And
also the other day eight sheep a rive from Canterbury.
My kids, bree Thin and Bead three six and eight.
They've started their own South Down stud. Well, they're on
their way to starting their own Southdown stud so they
(19:40):
haven't seen just how stupid Dad is trying to have
a go. They're having to go themselves, which is you know,
they're in that stage where they still think Dad's pretty cool,
which is neat.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
But here's a question for you, match is and how
stupid has Dad been recently? They tell me that you're
vastly increasing your daily step count.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (19:56):
Look, I can take away the booz drugs, Jamie, but
my life's always going to be a little chaotic, you know,
the talk to them, seeing the TV producing and.
Speaker 7 (20:08):
The kids in their sports. So I'm always running a
little bit late.
Speaker 9 (20:12):
And I got pulled over, come home camping at harwhere
come home to check we had any flydline lambs and
these beautiful Southdowns, And just took cat away from home,
saw that the lights, heard the siren, lockdown.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
I'm doing one hundred and seventeen clicks.
Speaker 6 (20:28):
The little.
Speaker 9 (20:31):
Pommy bloody copper tells me that that's one hundred demerit points.
So I was driving just drop the kids off at
school the other day in our little village Omakau or
all my coat and the local cop who I play
a bit of football with just sort of.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Signals me over.
Speaker 9 (20:46):
Hey Matt, that's one hundred demerits made. I've got to
take your license off yet. Is there anything you need
to do in the next little while before I take
it off? Here, So I had to go to North
Canterbury to the Heart and Show at the weekend. So
that was a bus from Alexander to Queenstown.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
And yet it's a.
Speaker 9 (21:02):
Bit of a disaster, Jamie. But I can see the
funny side of it. Three months without a license.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
So interesting changes in matchism's life. He's doing a bit
more walking than he was due to a lead foot.
Hey Matt, they told me that you've gone back to studying.
You wouldn't have opened a book since your days at Lincoln.
Speaker 9 (21:21):
I didn't know many books back then, either, Jamie. Noah, No, Look,
I don't mind a bit of change. Actually I embraced change.
And you know, I've made a decision to step out
of the television in the journalism game.
Speaker 7 (21:35):
But probably, I think, certainly TV probably are right for you, Jamie.
Speaker 9 (21:39):
A man has talented as you, But I'm not going
to feed my family and making television for the next
twenty years.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
So yeah, I've gone back to the books.
Speaker 9 (21:50):
So I'm actually standing outside the Alexandra Public Library because
I can't do anything at home because I just want
to get outside and look at my beautiful animals and
pretend to do some work. So I come under the
Alexander Library when I'm not racing around the country in
buses nowadays, and I'm doing some study. Probably can't see
you exactly what I'm studying at this point, but I'm
pretty excited about a new chapter.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Yeah, never a dull moment in your life. Matches and
we'll keep in touch. Thanks to some of your time,
and I'm glad you got some rain in Central Otago.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
Yet very much, Jamie bloody good dear, thank you for
your toime.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Thanks Matt, it is twenty six away from one you
are with the country. I hope you're enjoying the show.
Someone's not. I think we need to block this person, Michelle.
This is nasty. Hi, Jamie Todd mclay's show. Just what
a horrible little man you are, as he wasn't putting
O'Connor down. I wasn't putting O'Connor down, Ei though, I'm
(22:45):
just looking for a bit of banter with Damien. Why
don't we have enough lamb Damen? Right, it's another text,
something to do with all the trees you allowed to
be planted. Well, as it stands at the moment, they're
still being planted and Damien's not in there. Hopefully that
will get itself sorted. He's a text in from Lorry Patterson,
(23:06):
co founder of Groundswell Jamie. How good was Damien in
the trade space when him and Jacinda signed New Zealand
up to an EU Green Agenda in order to rush
through an FTA. So Laurie's not too pleased with Damien's
effort as a trade minister. We're going to take a
break on the other side of it. We're going to
(23:26):
find out if Michelle Watt actually had a poster of
boy band Five in her room when she was growing
up in the in the in Bealcluther, because I kind
of thought if you grew up in Becluther it would
be more ACDC than Five. But anyhow, we'll find that
one with Rural News and we'll have sports news for
(23:47):
you before the end of the Doctor Jack Wilnroweth and
our US based farming correspondent Todd Clark Okay, welcome back
to the country twenty two away from one with short
on time Michelle Yes or No. Five boy band poster
(24:08):
when you were growing up in belk Luther.
Speaker 10 (24:10):
Yes, I did.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Okay, Guilty, guilty.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Here's Rural News, The Country's rural News with Cob Cadet,
New Zealand's leading right on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel
Ford dot co dot Nz.
Speaker 11 (24:21):
For your locals.
Speaker 9 (24:22):
Dock.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Actually I've got no time, but they do like a
bunch of pensioners now and this is coming from a pensioner.
What's in rural news?
Speaker 9 (24:29):
Okay?
Speaker 10 (24:29):
And rural News Jamie, thanks for that. I just lost
a lot of Bogan creds with that one. But anyway,
the two sides of the boardroom battle at Carpetmaker Bremworth
of cut a Deal. George Adams has stepped down his
chair and will be replaced by Rob Hewitt, who is
currently in India on the Prime Minister Christoph Luckson's delegation.
So that's the rural news. You can find more at
the Country dot Co dot m Z.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Sport with a fco visit them online at Fco dot
co dot Nz.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Yeah, and looking at our studio window. It is raining
in Dunedin and the white ferns off the field at
the moment rain delay, but they did get to eighty
four for three after twelve of a maximum fifteen overs
during the rain affected third and final T twenty cricket
International against Sri Lanka here in Duneed and the black
Caps are due to play Pakistan and the second match
(25:15):
of their five game T twenty series from two fifteen
and the weather is going to clear a bit later
in the day, but we're going to be limited as
to how much cricket we're going to get up next.
You'll enjoy this one. Doctor Jacqueline Roweth a really interesting
column on our website this week. She is one of
(25:36):
our leading primary sector academics. Fortnightly she writes a wonderful
column on our website The Country dot co dot enz
Jacqueline Roweth, If you don't mind me saying so, you've
outdone yourself this week or this Fortnight with your Locivore
March column. Tell me all about Lokivore March, a new
way of eating with your mind engaged.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
We've been promoted at the beginning of the month and
we're halfway through and I wonder how many people have
absolutely done it, and they're trying to eat within a
certain radius maybe one hundred and fifty k of where
they're living. And it should be about producing as well
as preparing, and it's actually incredibly restrictive, and people don't
(26:22):
realize how limited their whole eating then become. So I've
got some various examples there, and of course the prime
one is chocolate. When people don't realize we don't grow
chocolate their own sugar, then their whole way of life
will change. And think about tea and coffee, where does
that actually grow? And of course we're aware about the
(26:44):
tropical fruits such as bananas and pineapples, but avocados are
in there as well.
Speaker 7 (26:50):
Spices.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
We don't grow spices except for saffron and then salt.
You're in fundamentally within grassme the Margara region very limiting.
And I don't think people realize about grain for your
toast and sandwiches, either mostly South Island or imported from
indeed Australia.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Not hijequal and not to mention South Island as not
being able to have smashed avocado on toast.
Speaker 6 (27:15):
Your cope, your coat, but no they wouldn't be able to,
So there are all sorts of interesting things when you
start thinking about a radius like that, so you can
go along to your farmer's market. There's been some bit
of coverage about them this month as well, but actually
quite a lot of what they prepare has come from
things that were growing further away. So the critical thing
(27:37):
about whatever radius they've decided is that the people who
are selling it have been involved in the preparation and
perhaps the production. But it's there that you see what
is actually in season and what you might be able
to eat, you know, for the week. I think the
farmer's markets have a great place, and it's really helping
(27:58):
people to see what it really takes to produce food.
But then also think about the localization, because when I'm
at a farmer's market, I see a lot of things
like juices or jams and chutneys and those sorts of things,
but you do actually need to think where the sugar
comes from, and it's not New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Obviously, back in the old cave man days, Jack wall
n Rowis, every month was a loke of war months
because one hundred and fifty kilometers would have been one
hell of a radius for a cave mate.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
My ears, Yes, I think it would be rather less
so the way you ate then, and all sorts of
theories about what you had available to you. I think
you ate whatever you could get, frankly, and there are
people who say we shouldn't eat one thing or another,
but you know, our teeth showed that we were pretty
much omnivorous, and we ate what we could get, and
(28:53):
there was a lot of exercise, there was a lot
of lifting, and people were fundamentally healthy. If they got
through the first few years, they lived as long as
we do. It's just that most of them died when
before they reached Adulthook.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Hi Jack Well, and what happens if you lived in Greenland?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Now?
Speaker 4 (29:09):
The old trumpster he wants to take it over. Man,
here's an interesting step from your column. Greenland is only
seventeen percent food secure.
Speaker 6 (29:18):
Yeah, that is certainly the estimate. And it's because they
can't grow much and they have access when it's not
completely frozen to fish and seals, and you know, there's
lots of blubber there so they can try and keep warm,
and they can get oil. But food was one of
the main problems with actually getting through the winter. And
I think we're talking a couple of weeks about the
(29:41):
whole celebrations of food supply, and we're coming into Easter.
We will be able to celebrate the fact that the
hens are laying again. This is in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the cows are in milk. But just remember, think
about Thanksgiving Day, food arrived and the poor old turkey
gets either of the pardoned or eaten. So food has
(30:02):
played a major part in our cultural development and indeed
in our survival, and sometimes we forget.
Speaker 7 (30:09):
And that's why.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
We're so I'm so pleased to be talking to you
today because it is National Agriculture Day in the United
States of America. They've got a whole week of celebrations
reminding us about the field and the farms and the
people who keep them going.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
Okay, we're going to speak to our US correspondent, hopefully
Todd Clark, very shortly on the country. Just give me
thirty seconds on the drought and the North Island. You're
based in the Waikato region there. I'm looking at my
knee with drought and Dick smapp as I do every day.
It's getting darker and darker.
Speaker 6 (30:42):
Yeah, it's very ugly and though there was five dollars overnight,
I turned that urban rain. Sorry about the barbecues and
the washing, but it's not okay for agriculture. It hasn't
done anything in terms of replenishment. We're feeding out an
extra twenty thousand dollars worth of feed to our animals,
deer and dairy, just to make sure that they are fit,
(31:06):
that they are healthy animals and going into either carving
or about to be dried off. But they'll go in
at the right state into their next stage. And of
course that's a lot of staff time, and this is
the sort of thing which you hope won't have to occur,
and it's difficult to budget for, but the expenditure has
to be made. So when people are saying great record
(31:27):
milk writers, we need to remember what the costs behind
that are and go back to the US. They're about
to hand out ten billion US dollars in support for farmers.
We need to think, as we're doing our local bore
or our paleo or just celebrating food in general.
Speaker 7 (31:45):
What is the cost of production.
Speaker 6 (31:47):
Because it's not being met.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Doctor jackeln rowis always appreciate your time. You can read
all about it on our website, The Country dot co
dot nz. Catch you in a fortnight lovely toald you
then eleven away from you are with the Country. Thank you, Jacqueline.
What Hamilton needs to do is schedule an international cricket
game guaranteed rainmaker here in Dunedin the black ferns, let
(32:10):
me try the silver ferns. I'm getting confused with my
ferns one hundred and one for three after fourteen point
one of their fifteen overs. They're currently in rain delay,
although the Sri Lankans may be coming back to back
very shortly. Up next, we wrap it with our US
correspondent Todd Clark. All the exambergs are flaying. He is
(32:36):
our Kentucky based US farm and correspondent, Todd Clark. Is
his name? It is as we heard from Jacqueline Row
with National Agriculture Week in the United States. Todd Clark.
Are you embarrassed that I had to tell you this?
Good afternoon?
Speaker 11 (32:53):
Good afternoon, Jamie, just a little bit. But as I
was saying to your fair I have been a flat
out and so I did have to look that up.
For US farmers every day is National Agriculture Day, but
my wife would tell you the most important day this
week is the eighteenth, which is our thirtieth wedding anniversary.
(33:15):
So that's looking it up. It appears that's the official
day for the week for ironically for agricultural.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Ok, well that's tomorrow your time. So National Agriculture Week
from March seventeen to twenty four. And Donald Trump, your
glorious president, is doing his but to thank and help
a farmer because he's handing out ten billion dollars of
economic assistance this week to farmers. How much are you
going to get your hands on.
Speaker 11 (33:43):
I don't think i'll get anything because I don't do
any crops. For the most part, I understand that it's
for all the various crops. It's so much per acre
for corn, beans, rice, cotton, that sort of thing. But
he did this sort of thing his first term because
of the effect that the tariffs were having on the
(34:05):
farming sector, especially corn and soybeans going to China. So
this was already this was already slated to happen prior
to Trump. And so the reason I'd say that is
not to blame the previous administration, but if I were
you all, I would watch closely because it wouldn't surprise
me if Trump hands out more money to the farmers
(34:28):
later in the year or following years, depending on how
these tariffs go.
Speaker 4 (34:32):
How has tariffs and proposed tariffs because we don't know
where he's going to stop here affecting the likes of
beef prices in America. Because you've got Mexico on one side,
Canada on the other. There's a lot of beef exchanges,
locations if you want, and markets between the three countries.
What's happening to your prices?
Speaker 11 (34:53):
So your assessment's correct. There's a lot of trade between
between the three of US countries here in North America,
but the our prices are just skyrocketing. We sold sold
some cattle this morning and it's I want to say,
your listeners need to just look this. Look this up
either Bluegrass Stockyards or Paris Stockyards online and you can
(35:16):
you can get the market reports. But four to five
dollars a pound for four or five five weight steers.
So that's that's prices that have never been heard of.
So a weaned calf, whether it's a heifers or steer,
is seventeen fifty to two thousand dollars.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
Wow, and that is US dollars as well. We need
to make the conversion. Yeah, it's mind blowing, isn't it.
Speaker 11 (35:41):
Dollars wow? But the history tells us that we have
to once the animal's finished, we have to get rid
of the whole animal. And it takes the whole world
for us to pull that off, and so tariff will
hurt us long term. With with beef, you all are
some of the best producers in the world of protein,
(36:02):
but we're not too bad in the US, but we
don't have enough consumers, and so we really need the
rest of the world to sell our products to. And
so it's going to be interesting times to see what
happens with these arrants.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Odd, you are a Republican, but you're not an out
and out Trump than you're a very reasonable and reasoned man.
What is your average American saying about Trump's tariffs? Has
he got support?
Speaker 11 (36:26):
It depends on where you were on election day. If
you were just if you were two hundred percent in
on Trump, then it's full steam ahead in your mind.
But if if you were sort of on the fence,
you're trying to climb off that fence right now. And
then there's some that didn't care for Trump to begin with,
and you know, and so they're they're sharing what they
(36:50):
can on social media as to why this is a
terrible idea. But there's a lot going on in the
country with Trump outside of tariffs, and so there's there's
a lot of shots being fired.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Not to mention, Elon Musk haven't got time to mention.
Let me just finish with your seasons. We're heading into
our autumn here in New Zealand. We've got a cricket
game or two cricket games scheduled in Dunedin. So it
goes without saying it's raining. How are you going, because
you're heading into your spring, I think you're carving on
your farm at the moment we are.
Speaker 7 (37:22):
You're exactly right.
Speaker 11 (37:23):
We're grass is finally grown again after a long winter
in lots of moisture around, so we'll see what happens.
But we're in that phase of early early spring where
you're trying to figure out if baillage as you feed out,
are they going to actually eat it or is the
grass going to keep them away from it? So yeah,
(37:44):
hopefully it's onward and upward.
Speaker 7 (37:46):
From here.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
We'll chat again next month, no doubt you'll be in
the heart of spring. Then Todd Clark out of Lexington, Kentucky,
thanks for your time, appreciate it.
Speaker 11 (37:56):
Thanks Jamie, good to talk, great to.
Speaker 4 (37:58):
Talk, Todd wrapping the Country. No cricket at the moment
here in Dunedin. The Woman are one hundred and one
for three, fourteen point one of their fifteen overs. Hopefully
we'll get some cricket this afternoon. Catch you tomorrow, sad
words are flying.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Catch you're the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, you're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
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