April 14, 2025 • 36 mins
Rowena Duncum talks to Damien O'Connor, Hunter McGregor, Mark de Lautour, and Dr Jacqueline Rowarth.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckuy thanks to Brent the starkest of
the leading agriculture brands.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
As the shut Up.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
You Gotta Leader.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
A very good afternoon, New Zealander. Welcome into the country.
But a Katie Pierry there today. She is safely back
from space. Yea the pop star own five other women
can now call themselves astronauts after reaching space on GF
Biss's Blue Origin Rockets. Imagine little Katie and a lot
(01:02):
of those other women as children wanted to be astronauts.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
They can now call themselves. Thus, I guess right on
with the show.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I'm Rowena Duncan and for Jamie mackay today waiting patiently
on hold. Damian O'Connor, Labor Trade spokesperson, of course, will
talk tariffs, what's happening on the West Coast, and also
if there's any updates on MDIA. Be more off to
Shanghai to see what the impression of Trump's tariff players
really like on the ground. The Hunter McGregor joining us
(01:31):
out of China tonight, of course as the first GDT
auction post the tariffs as well, We're going to preview
that event with Open Country CEO Mark Delatour. He's done
in south Land, so we'll find out what he's making
of that. We've got the latest and rural news and
sports news for you, some big weather warnings coming through.
(01:52):
Will update with that, and doctor Jacqueline Rollith has a
new column out. We're going to explore the connection between
the ancient agriculture all calendar and a food But joining
me now is Labor Trades Books person Damian O'Connor. Good afternoon, Damien.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Good afternoon, cairo Verena.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Now you're on the west coast at the moment, Damien.
How is that looking?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well? Pretty good. It's wet and actually the vast majority
of farmers down here welcoming a bit of rain, and
she's been pretty tough and dry summer, all dry coming
into autumn and they've needed some rain, so it will
hopefully give them some good growth into leading up into winter.
But other than that, always magic down here.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Hey you're off to a palmer field day tomorrow. What's
that all about?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Well, the interesting part we're putting on a field day
about managing Bobby Calves and I think they as I
understand that we're going to keep the bobby calves on
the properties and grow them through. You know, I know
there's a veal trade emerging, you know, growing them up
until about nine months I think, and flicking them on
them too, the veal market, you know, and they're growing
(03:04):
them through into beefies and I guess so they'll be
interesting to see what the ideas are because there is
pressure coming on internationally around management of bobby carves. We
just have to incorporate them into our farming systems and
so Palmer as they should be kind of leading away
with some trials and being fully open and transparent to
(03:25):
the wide of farming community. That's why government owns it
in my view, so that they can try these things
and share their knowledge. You know, it might not work
all the time, but unless it's given them a go
and farmers seeing what the good and bad points about it, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You do raise a good point there.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
You know, people are looking to New Zealand what are
we doing with those bobby calves and stuff. It's not
a conversation that's a new one. That kind of questioning
has been around for a while and we are yet
to see a definitive way that we can deal with
them as part of that farming system.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Absolutely, and I know there are one or two of
the Supermarke change in the UK looking only to take
animals and meet from farming systems that keep the bobby
calves on the cows for I think it's up to
three months or something, but it's kind of it's an
evolving area of animal welfare in farm management, and we
just we should be, you know, ahead of the pack.
(04:19):
And if we're going to promote our pastoral systems and
good animal management and welfare, then you know, we have
to learn from each other and share that knowledge and
tell the world of course, so that we can get
market access in some cases, but a premium hopefully over time.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Now, your labour's trade spokesperson, it's been a very interesting
couple of weeks in the trade world. What are you
making of Trump's announcement and were tariffs are going and
that kind of back and forth awe, but with a
few shots fired between America and China.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Well you kind of wake up every morning and see
what's next, and it has literally been shifting sands every day.
Trump makes a pronouncement, tweets from the Oval Office and
you know, the world jumps in and there's a lot
of uncertainty, and I think that's the major problem here.
No one knows where things will settle. You know, some
(05:14):
views that you know, the world needs protein. The US
market is short on beef, and so we should be okay.
The dollars come back, which offsets some of that, maybe
the tariff impact in the short term, but it's what
happens to other markets around the world as people shift
product from one place to another, or you know, cut
their prices or do whatever. I don't think anyone knows
(05:39):
where we'll be in one month's time, probably not a
week's time really, the way that Trump has been behaving,
and it's unfortunately undermining faith in democracy, undermining faith in
the global trading system and the individual markets that we
deal in.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
A lot of questions coming through around maybe Trump is
manipulating markets for gain as well, you know, short changing
stocks and things like that. Do you subscribe to that?
Have you seen anything like this before?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Though?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Well, there was a little a social media you've got
to you know, take it all to punch of salt.
But he was quite proud of a couple of mates
who are in the Oval office with him. You know
one had made one point well, he said, one had
made one point nine billion dollars in the day's trading.
There will be people who are exploiting and manipulating the
opportunities as stocks go up and down, and you know,
(06:34):
whether they are mates or whatever, who knows. But there's
a bit of tension emerging among those billionaires, among the
people who some of whom will be making a lot
of money and some might be losing. So again, where
that will pan out, no one quite knows. You've got
the Foreign Minister in New Zealand, Winston Peters, and the
Prime Minister kind of two different opinions as to how
(06:57):
they approached us. To my view, should always be open,
honest and express our views. That's what we're known for,
and so kind of tiptoeing around at this time probably
won't serve us well when the rest of the world
is really concerned.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
It's a wild time to be in politics, no matter
which way you look at it. Willie Jackson made some
comments around labor potentially having missed a trick by not
removing GST on meat. What an absolute logistical nightmare that
would have been, though, But how do you feel on this.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Did you miss a trick on that front?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
No, Willy's wrong, you know. Look, the GST system is simple,
It runs right across you know, the whole economy. It
is a bit regressive. People who spent a large portion
of your income on food and goods, you know, pay
that for GST. So it's not always fear as a tax,
(07:52):
but it is a simple one. And playing around with
what is meat isn't what's frood and vegetables, as we
kind of saw and my views, is not the smart
way forward. There are other ways of trying to reduce
the costs, trying to make it fearer for people and
have affordable food for them, But playing around with one
(08:15):
particular food type with GC just create a mess.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah, I'll certainly be trying to remove the GST from
my mate this weekend up in the Mania Tito there.
But my goodness, the cost of ammunition has gone up
quite markedly, so I think Damien will be making sure
each shot counts there and.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Make sure you have plenty of character so that you
know your eyesight's good.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah, exactly, exactly. Hey, look where are we at with Andira?
I know you've continued to work on that front.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Look, you know the government's gone, the Prime Minisse has
gone over there and Trade Mission, and you know I'd
taken one in government as well. We're building those relationships
that started negotiation, and you know, any progress in that
area we welcome and will endorse. And we've been speaking
with the leader Chris Hipkins, and the Group of US
(09:05):
met with Indian business leaders in Auckland just to reassure
them that we'll continue to progress in trade arrangements, whether
it's a free trade agreement or a close economic partnership
or whatever. Building partnerships over time with India is a
good way forward, particularly when we are seeing the chaos
out of the US.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
What else have you been up to, Damien. What's on
the cards for you for the next week other than
the Palmufield day.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Well, I looking through the West coast and it's been
good to catch up for Graymouth here at the moment,
they're still on the boiled water notice. Now, the council
wasn't very enthusiastic about our three waters proposals. So I
guess the absence of any real alternative from this coalition
government means that there are many councils like Gray district
(09:55):
who will be grappling with how they pay for secure
water supplies into the future and at the moment people
are having to boil the water. Ridiculous situation in the
West Coast when people think we've probably always got more
than enough order.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Well, I guess it does rain a lot more than
expected in the West Coast, So yeah, thinking of everyone
over there, I guess yeah, it is just a challenging situation.
Anything else on the cards for you? When do you
go back to parliament?
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Well, is it another couple of weeks of recessor obviously
after ends out day, of course the week after that
will be back in parliament. But it's an opportunity for
MPs to get around and I'll certainly be right through
the South Island, just keeping an eye on things, meeting
people listening as we kind of work through the policy
process of putting up an alternative at the next election
(10:43):
from the current coalition government.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yeah, do you reckon we'll see any When will we
see some ad policy? Damien?
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Well, you know, we'll just you know, see where things
are at. I think that there's a growing number of
people across agriculture far who are a bit confused about
what's coming from this government. We see messages from the
market around things like you know, around labor, around barb
(11:13):
and of course always nitrates, environmental management, all of that stuff,
but you know government is saying, don't worry about it.
So there are companies on the you know, on the
front foot. You have Fonterra, you have silver Foond Farms
talking about better practice on farm that we can tell
the world it has to be supported by government. All
(11:34):
government agencies that are moving in the same direction at
the moment, the directions are a bit confused.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Well, at least everyone's enjoying good returns at the moment,
and in terms of being.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Certainly are Yeah. And I heard a comment from a
dairy farmer the other day saying, you know, if people
aren't aren't doing really well with the current payouts, then
you've got to look at the system that you're running,
either on your farm or across the industry. And there
are some legitimate questions that area, and I think we
just have to reak through those carefully.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Damian O'Connor, labor trade spokespre's an interesting time in that
trade space, but really appreciate your time on the country.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Go enjoy the rest of the West Coast for a
couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Oh well, thank you very much for my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
It is nineteen after twelve. Gosh, wouldn't I like to
be driving down the West Coast at the moment? Beautiful
part of the country. What are we doing next? We're
heading to Southland. Later this hour we'll head to the
White Cattle. But up next we're off to Shanghai. We're
going to see what the impression of Trump's Tower of
Plague is like on the ground with Hunter McGregor. Next
(12:36):
here on the country.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Yes, it's very stupa.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
We're off to Shanghai, China. Now on the country there
we find Kei we businessman Hunter MacGregor. Good afternoon, Hunter.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Rote.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Hey, Look, I've been dying to chat to you after
the world kind of went crazy with Trump's tariffs in China.
What are some of the response you're seeing over there?
Speaker 6 (13:13):
Well, surprisingly enough, I'm not actually seeing too much of
a response. You know, people are not panicking about the
tariffs coming in. They don't seem to worry. I'm sure
it's going to have an impact on the economy here
and for companies that only export to the US is
going to be a bit of a problem. But you know,
(13:34):
people can see this coming. I think when Trump put
the initial tariffs sign on his first term, there was
a bit of a shock. But since then, you know,
people can see a lot of people can see there's
probably been some riding on.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
The wall in this.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
And to be fair, the likes of Walmart and any
of the big companies out of America that source in
China a lot, they've been pushing for years to get
their supply chain and factories out of char So, you know,
I think that, yeah, the average punter doesn't really is
not really too worried. There's no panic, and a lot
(14:08):
of people are willing to roll up their sleeves and
see and see how it goes sort of thing, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
And then you know, with.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Trump, you know, putting some exemptions into you with mobile
phones and electronics and stuff. A lot of Chinese people
think that Trump has blinked first and backing down. So yeah,
it's interesting times.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, indeed, and Trump saying you know, all China has
to do is pick up the phone on open to negotiations.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Do you reckon that will actually happen?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
I don't need to be a rush to pick up
the phone from the st from the Chinese, so I
know not at all.
Speaker 7 (14:41):
Now.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
What what the Chinese have done is they've put the
towerffs up from products coming into from America up to
one hundred and twenty five percent, which more or less
stops the trade of you know, just about everything, and
they've said, we're not going to go any higher. That's
that's where we're going to be. If America wants to
go high, they can go high. So I'm not going
(15:01):
to go keep going to the tat. So they sort
of stopped there. But you know, if you look at
some of the products that are going from China, you know,
to the US, it's more sort of high end electronics
and things like that. It's not cheap clothing and cheap
shoes and things like that. A lot of that sort
of stuff that's already left China and in Southeast Asia
(15:24):
and now been hit by.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Tariffs as well.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
But you know, microwaves, for example, ninety percent of microwaves
imported into the States is from China. You know, eighty
percent of mobile phones and around sixty percent of laptops,
So you know, you can see why he sort of
added some exemptions.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Absolutely, and we've seen the same for wood products as well.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
To help that industry to look. I chatted to our US.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Farming correspondent last week, Todd Clark. An interesting time for
US farmers even before they started kicking off with great
beef prices. But the grain farmers are just really struggling
and that's going to get worse and be exacerbated by this.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Oh yeah, unfortunately, they're going to get it's going to
go only going to get worse. For the sawyer beans,
exports to China are around about forty eight forty five
percent of the total crop in the US. So if
that stops, or the Chinese source from probably Brazil, Argentina,
maybe a bit from Russia, you know that market will
(16:32):
be gone and China won't come back. You know, they're
not going to come back because the tariffs are gone,
because they can't they're learning to work with trust A partners.
So the poor US farm is going to be hit then. Also,
you know American beef in here. You know there's nearly
two point seven billion dollars of American beef is exported
(16:52):
into China. It's a high quality, high end product. It
sits at the top of the market, and you know
that's going to be gone as well. It's kind of
significantly slow down. And you know that grain fed beef
is exactly your high marbling that's what the Chinese consumer wants,
and they will have to source this that that elsewhere.
(17:15):
Probably in the short term, the Australians will pick up
the slack, you know, because they have a lot of
grain fed beef. There will be more more demand for
New Zealand beef. But we don't sit at the high
end tables, and you know around China and you know
we don't have grass fed beef is not at the
(17:36):
premium end of the market. You know, USD a prime
grain fed is what the what the consumer wants. But
funny enough to keep hearing from chefs that are you know,
these people order these really high, high marbling marble piece
of meat and then then complain about how fatty it is.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
So yeah, yeah, Look.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
Some of the American beef is actually quite good. I
bought some the other day because it's probably not going
to be available again for a while, but you know,
it is what it is. But you know it's going
to really affect and the music, the American farmer across
many aspects, which is not good. It's not good for anyone.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
No, it's not indeed, And yeah, and I go back
to my point of it being disgusting. Each to their own.
I'm very much an iphill it or nothing kind of girl.
I don't like fat and my meat. And I've tried
some of this marbled meat when I was out for dinner,
must have been a couple of months ago, and I
just couldn't get through it.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Hunter, personal preference.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
I honestly don't know why people want that kind of thing.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Well, I think the Japanese do it well with regards
to marble meat. They have a very small portion. Yeah,
that's beautiful, and they cook it really quickly and that's great.
But you know, a big sort of five hundred grand
piece of fat is not really my cup of tea
as well. But you know, for me, I like eating grass,
the grain fed. I like to eat everything. I want
to understand what's happening in the market. So it's one
(18:57):
of those things that I do. You know, it's like
going to different restaurants and bars. Sometimes it's got to.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Be done, absolutely, Hunter, What is the next kind of
a couple of weeks have in store for you.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Where are you heading? What are you doing?
Speaker 6 (19:11):
Yeah, we're heading into some good weather. We've got May
Day holidays coming up the first five days of May,
so everyone's sort of planning their trips for that. It's
a good time of the year. But we're just sort
of knuckling down and focusing on work, trying to get
a few more restaurants to to buy a bit of
New Zealand meet and develop my retail sales. So it's
(19:31):
a good time of the year to get on and
crack on and do stuff. So and looking forward to
a bit of a break in the first five days
of May.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Nice nice already having a text coming through Hunter and
five double O nine. Ifil at Steak is the vanilla
ice cream of steaks, I'll absolutely wear that one because
that's my favorite ice cream flavored to Hunter MacGregor out
of China, Shanghai. Appreciate your time, enjoy that May Day holiday.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Cheers.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Thanks right, my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
It is bang on twelve thirty up next to the
line and Rural news and sports news. Then later tonight,
first excuse me, Global dairy trade auction post tariffs, We're
going to look at that with Mark Delatour Out of
Open Country.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Night, the country's world news with Cod Cadet, New Zealand's
leading right on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot
co dot in set for your local stockist.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Yes and your rural news. If you're farming up north,
you're in for a rough few days. Severe gales of
up to one hundred and forty kilometers an hour and
to rent all downpaurs are set to begin overnight. They've
prompted Met Service to upgrade were the warnings for the
Upper North Island. There's an orange heavy rain morning and
a strong wind warning for North and Auckland and Great
(20:50):
Barrier Island coming into force at three am tomorrow. Up
to one hundred and eighty millimeters of rain expected to
fall in forty one hours until midnight Thursday. Thunderstorms are
expected to barrel in on Thursday as well. Met Services
the Orange heavy rain warning could be upgraded to a
red warning. We will keep you updated on that one.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
That's your ural news. His sports.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at AFCO dot co.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Dot nz and your sports newsheadlines. All blackswing mank Talaa
will play in Japan next year. Who's confirmed his departure
via social media. It's understood he's signed a three year
deal at Toyota. Former Warriors coach Frank Endicott believes the
Warriors are two conservative on their fifth tackle plays as
Luke Metcalfe and Chanell Harris Tavita continue to develop as
(21:39):
NRL Harves combination. Former Keywey's prop Jared Wiry. Hargraves will
retire at the end of the English Super League season,
aged thirty six at the Rome Football Derby may return
to Afternoon Kickoff's next season season after Sunday Night's fixture
descended into what Italian media termed urban guerrilla warfare. That
(22:00):
we have thirteen police injured and clashes between rival fan groups.
Violent scenes erupted around the studio Olimpico hours before Lazio
hosted Roma in a one all drawer football hooligans. Right
up next, we are heading to South End Open Country
CEO Mark Delatour joining us to preview tonight's GDT auction
(22:21):
before the end of the hour. Doctor Jacqueline Rawath, She's
got a new column out. We're going to explore the
connection between the ancient agricultural calendar and food.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Well we're after God's Own Country now just down the
road here from the Country HQ and Dneida and we're
heading to Bellcluther. There we find Mark Delatour, CEO of
Open Country. Mark's supplier meetings in South End. At the moment,
you've just wrapped up the one in Bellcluther. How did
it go?
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Good afternoon, Yeah, good afternoon, Bro. Really nice to catch
up with you. Little bit bit of a while since
we've spoken. But gorgeous, gorgeous morning down here. I got
to say there was a there was a little light
frost and Bealcluther and and Croyd and when we started
this morning, and and but it was a beautiful drive
drive through there. So you know, it's been great. This
(23:17):
will be week three. We started off with the Wye
Kaddow last week. We're doing Taranaki and mah Watu and
South and Otaga this week. So it's been really good
to catch up with our supply base.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
What were some of the messages coming through? Mark?
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Oh, you know, everyone's pretty happy. I mean, you've just
got ten dollars fifty seven in the pocket, I guess,
and of course and true fashions. When are we going
to get to eleven?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
So it's the goal post always moves.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Absolutely, but I think it's you know, that's a great
sign because it means that everyone's positive, everyone's looking forward,
and you know, after the last sort of three or
four years, that's that's a really great place for the
industry to be and I think a lot of energy
and a little bit about the future.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
So it's been great.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
It's been a really really positive three weeks.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
You touched on it just then, Mark when you said
it was a beautiful drive through South and today you've
gone from Gore to Belklutha.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
What are you seeing in the paddocks out there?
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Ah, look, it's you know, it's again stunning, stunning day
through South and Otago. I got to say, well, we're
talking in the car on the way through, and what
I will say I was, you know, we've really got
to start looking at ourselves again here and you know,
in the context of doubling exports for New Zealand, we've
got to really question what appropriate land use here is
(24:37):
in New Zealand. You know, we're our farmers down here
with beg turn out last night it was standing room
only and ninety five percent of open country supplies down
on this part of the world have completed farm environment plans, right,
so they're responsible owners, the good managers of land use
and water quality and driving through from Gordon bell Cliff,
like you said, there's so much land there that really
(25:00):
should be a very very productive dairy country and you know,
the days of dairy conversions being a swear word are gone.
We need to really start looking at that and saying,
you know, we're responsible land Union's land owners and users
and let's get real in New Zealand and start looking
at this because there's so much opportunity down in this
(25:22):
part of the world for a greater productivity.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
So do you think we're going to see more of
these dairy conversions moving forward if we can inch towards
that eleven dollar payout?
Speaker 7 (25:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:32):
I hope.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
So I don't think it's just payout too. I think
it is legislation and sort of saying, hey, what is
appropriate land use. You know, my history, my early career
was in forestry, and there's nothing worse than seeing farmland
being planted up in trees. There's also, you know, nothing
worse than seeing steep forested land.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Being clear Feld.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
So I think you know New Zealand does need to
look at appropriate land use and there say we may
not have done the best best work on that in
the last sort of fifty years, but now we need
to get practical and so we've been through that. Productivity
is good, payouts good. How do we increase our export nings?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You have got a new bunter factory going in at Wahurah.
How's that going, Mark?
Speaker 5 (26:15):
Yeah, we're close now, so sort of at the end
of August we'll be commissioning with the supplies of the
gear and putting the first cream through to see that
we're going to make. How the butter is going to
be and then I would say not according to our schedule,
our first production of butter and anger will be in September,
So we're really looking forward to that getting off the ground.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Where will that be seen? Is that all for export
or will that be hading some domestic supermarkets.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
No, the stage is, you know our target markets are
all export driven. That's where the best returns are, and
you know we're going to get the best returns. Then
that's all about milk payment to our supplies. So this
stage it's all export country supplies. We'll get some, but
I like they do our cheese row so it might
(27:05):
be the odd block. You can get a few if
you smile nicely.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I will definitely be rating Jamie Mackay's fridge. I tried
to buy butter in the supermarket yesterday here in Dunedin
and just about it felt like I was giving away
my unborn, firstborn child, you know, this figurative thing, because
my goodness it was expensive.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Anyway, I do agree.
Speaker 5 (27:24):
It is exciting. You know, it's really good that we
Open Country continue to expand its product lines, and we're
doing it very much in our style, you know, very simple, nice,
clear sales strategies, bolt production and just being very very
good at what we do. So we're really excited about that.
We're counting the weeks now, not the months.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Yeah, yeah, it is exciting when you see a massive
project like that really kind of entering towards that finish
line quite quickly. Badly, look GDT tonight, the first one
post all of this tariff talk kicking off.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
What are you expecting to see?
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Yeah, I guess what we've been communicating to the suppliers
in the last three weeks. Rowers don't worry about what
you can't control. So the tariffs and whatnot, they're there.
I think what we're starting to see is that the
tariffs are really just being used as almost a bargaining
chip to get people to the table. You know that
(28:22):
the China tariff is harsh, but it's almost like it's
a tariff on everything apart from what America are going
to buy now with iPhones and whatnot. So it's a
changing field, so let's not worry about that. At the
end of the day, everyone needs to eat. The fundamentals
are still there. Supply and demand globally is still there.
The balance is there, and we're actually expecting a positive
(28:44):
result this GDT. Certainly nothing coming off. So you know,
we've just readone our milk price forecasts and they're saying
these these prices are you know, all indications are they're
going to be holding through into the next season, so
we're not expecting to see any great drop in prices.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
It's going to be an interesting one, all eyes on that.
Mark Delatore, CEO of Open Country, Nice to chat to
you from the Deep South as well. Enjoy the rest
of your day and your trip back home.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Yeah, we'll do hitting two, hitting your way to the
need and now to jump on a plane. So it'll
be uh, it'll be good to have the three weeks over.
But it's it's been great to catch up.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I bet it has Hey, Travor, well my friend, all right, thanks.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
It is sixteen away from one. Just want to clarify,
not pregnant. I should have used a better analogy. I
felt like I was giving away an arm and a
leg when I was trying to buy butter. Yeah, that's
a better one. Up next, doctor Jacqueline Roweth, here on
the country. You're welcome back to the country. Doctor Jacqueline
(29:47):
Roweth joins me now primary sector academic and one of
my great friends. Hello Jack, welcome.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Thank you very much, lovely to be talking to you now.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Last night you were at the y BOP regional debating finals,
and of course this is young farmers we're talking about.
I competed in this I think in twenty seventeen, got
joint b speaker with a bloke in the other team
who was debating holding onto a bottle of wine and
I wasn't quite sure how to take that.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Jeck.
Speaker 7 (30:13):
Well, it's all much more serious now and they take
it in a very professional manner, so I can say
I had the similar experience to you, but it was
last century, and having been a young farmer since nineteen
seventy four back in the UK. The way that they
did their arguments and put forward, whether they believed them
or not, what we felt was complete integrity and the
(30:36):
arguments being put forward. And I hold out great hope
for the industry and the fact that these people can
take a debate, can think about the pros and cons
of either side and then move forward. And when I
looked at these young farmers, and I looked at my
co judges who are now generated farmers rotarians doing good work.
(30:57):
And we also had their Young Farmer of the Year
of nineteen seventy seven, Keith Holmes, who's currently the Waikato
president of Federated Farmers. We're all there cheering them on
and looking forward to them moving through from being young
farmers to Federated Farmers to rotary all of us trying
to do good work for the country, not just the
(31:21):
rule sector, but the country. And I think there are
some great prospects for the future in those teams last night,
and the fact but all their clubs were there nodding
sagely at the point the teams made and of course
applauding and cheering everybody.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Oh fantastic, it was good.
Speaker 7 (31:39):
It really was a very good occasion.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Oh, you must be like a proud mamma hen just
watching these young ones coming through that.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
How I feel?
Speaker 7 (31:48):
Yes, I do, yes, I'd think of the students through
the years and now they're doing such good things for
the country. I mean hamishma is one of them. Yeah,
he is being the special enjoying in agriculture for New Zealand.
There were just some lovely young people out there, and
of course they are maturing and they continue to do
(32:09):
everything they can to manage the land and help the
economy and produce food row.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
Now, speaking of food, you've written an amazing column for
the Country dot co dot ms at exploring the connection
between the ancient agricultural calendar and food.
Speaker 7 (32:26):
Yes, the whole of the calendar, and there were eight
periods during the year, and we can think of the
Yule Tide, which some people will call Christmas or Midsummer
Day or indeed Easter, which is actually a styra. It's
the sort of the quarter point, the equinox of the year,
but the Christian component moves backwards and forwards a bit.
(32:46):
But all of these feasts and the agricultural calendar were
celebrating the likely arrival of new food or using up
the stuff of the old food before it went out
went and couldn't be used. And the issue was if
you didn't at the harvest festival, which might also be
(33:07):
called Halloween or Samhim, if you didn't have enough food,
then you were going to die soot. You just needed
enough food to get through the darkade part of the
year when there was no harvest to be had, and
part of the celebrations were thanking the gods for the
(33:29):
fact that you hadn't got the harvest in but also
warding them off, warding off the evil spirits from taking
what food you had.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
I think you know, modern celebrations have lost that deeper
meaning of food tied to survival and community. Now we
see Halloween as just a way for kids to get candy.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
Well as one might say, the lame about Easter and
all those chocolate bummies and chocolate eggs and oh heavens
now there are chocolate hot Cross buns. But there's a
direct correlation with Christianity. There were bunds were certainly celebrated,
the Diester bonds, bread cakes, but now they have crosses
on them. They bring in the Christianity thing. So from
(34:10):
the agricultural point of view, the thanking of the gods,
whichever god it was, was really important and there's been
a sort of platting and intermingling of the different beliefs,
and that's great.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
How do we maintain food cultural significance jaqueline with that
well while addressing climate change and food security just moving forward.
Speaker 7 (34:34):
Yes, there are major challenges and a lot of this
understanding about what's happening with food out there. And the
main thing I think is to be able to celebrate
the feast days of family with family and think about
the food we're eating. And of course, because it comes
because of refrigeration and freasing and those sorts of things,
(34:55):
it's just available at the supermarket and you can make
your choices about vice point, but it is available all
the time and just sometimes. And this is the point
of the column, just remembering that actually food hasn't always
been around in terms of the way it is now
and just thanking and I'd be thanking the farmers who
are out there milking the cows till twice a day
(35:18):
or once you know, depending on where they are in
the season, because they go on doing their job to
make sure that there is food and indeed work for
New Zealand. And it's still the economy and they're still
doing a great job.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
So let's give thanks absolutely.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
It is a wonderful column and we'll be up on
the Country dot co dot m Z if you want
to find out more about this, Doctor Jaquelin a roath
pleasure is always to chat with you.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
Thank you lovely to talk bro.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
All right, a wrapping the Country for your Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
We've got Prime Minister Christopher Luxan joining us on tomorrow's show,
so Andrew Murray out of Fonterra to recap what happens
and tonight's Global Dairy Trade auction of course, as I've mentioned,
the first one since the tariffs came into effect. Be
interesting to see what happens and that one. Enjoy the
rest of your Tuesday, folks, and I will catch you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
podcast with Jamie Mgue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere machinery,
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckuy thanks to Brent the starkest of
the leading agriculture brands.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
As the shut Up.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
You Gotta Leader.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
A very good afternoon, New Zealander. Welcome into the country.
But a Katie Pierry there today. She is safely back
from space. Yea the pop star own five other women
can now call themselves astronauts after reaching space on GF
Biss's Blue Origin Rockets. Imagine little Katie and a lot
(01:02):
of those other women as children wanted to be astronauts.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
They can now call themselves. Thus, I guess right on
with the show.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I'm Rowena Duncan and for Jamie mackay today waiting patiently
on hold. Damian O'Connor, Labor Trade spokesperson, of course, will
talk tariffs, what's happening on the West Coast, and also
if there's any updates on MDIA. Be more off to
Shanghai to see what the impression of Trump's tariff players
really like on the ground. The Hunter McGregor joining us
(01:31):
out of China tonight, of course as the first GDT
auction post the tariffs as well, We're going to preview
that event with Open Country CEO Mark Delatour. He's done
in south Land, so we'll find out what he's making
of that. We've got the latest and rural news and
sports news for you, some big weather warnings coming through.
(01:52):
Will update with that, and doctor Jacqueline Rollith has a
new column out. We're going to explore the connection between
the ancient agriculture all calendar and a food But joining
me now is Labor Trades Books person Damian O'Connor. Good afternoon, Damien.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Good afternoon, cairo Verena.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Now you're on the west coast at the moment, Damien.
How is that looking?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well? Pretty good. It's wet and actually the vast majority
of farmers down here welcoming a bit of rain, and
she's been pretty tough and dry summer, all dry coming
into autumn and they've needed some rain, so it will
hopefully give them some good growth into leading up into winter.
But other than that, always magic down here.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Hey you're off to a palmer field day tomorrow. What's
that all about?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Well, the interesting part we're putting on a field day
about managing Bobby Calves and I think they as I
understand that we're going to keep the bobby calves on
the properties and grow them through. You know, I know
there's a veal trade emerging, you know, growing them up
until about nine months I think, and flicking them on
them too, the veal market, you know, and they're growing
(03:04):
them through into beefies and I guess so they'll be
interesting to see what the ideas are because there is
pressure coming on internationally around management of bobby carves. We
just have to incorporate them into our farming systems and
so Palmer as they should be kind of leading away
with some trials and being fully open and transparent to
(03:25):
the wide of farming community. That's why government owns it
in my view, so that they can try these things
and share their knowledge. You know, it might not work
all the time, but unless it's given them a go
and farmers seeing what the good and bad points about it, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You do raise a good point there.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
You know, people are looking to New Zealand what are
we doing with those bobby calves and stuff. It's not
a conversation that's a new one. That kind of questioning
has been around for a while and we are yet
to see a definitive way that we can deal with
them as part of that farming system.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Absolutely, and I know there are one or two of
the Supermarke change in the UK looking only to take
animals and meet from farming systems that keep the bobby
calves on the cows for I think it's up to
three months or something, but it's kind of it's an
evolving area of animal welfare in farm management, and we
just we should be, you know, ahead of the pack.
(04:19):
And if we're going to promote our pastoral systems and
good animal management and welfare, then you know, we have
to learn from each other and share that knowledge and
tell the world of course, so that we can get
market access in some cases, but a premium hopefully over time.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Now, your labour's trade spokesperson, it's been a very interesting
couple of weeks in the trade world. What are you
making of Trump's announcement and were tariffs are going and
that kind of back and forth awe, but with a
few shots fired between America and China.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Well you kind of wake up every morning and see
what's next, and it has literally been shifting sands every day.
Trump makes a pronouncement, tweets from the Oval Office and
you know, the world jumps in and there's a lot
of uncertainty, and I think that's the major problem here.
No one knows where things will settle. You know, some
(05:14):
views that you know, the world needs protein. The US
market is short on beef, and so we should be okay.
The dollars come back, which offsets some of that, maybe
the tariff impact in the short term, but it's what
happens to other markets around the world as people shift
product from one place to another, or you know, cut
their prices or do whatever. I don't think anyone knows
(05:39):
where we'll be in one month's time, probably not a
week's time really, the way that Trump has been behaving,
and it's unfortunately undermining faith in democracy, undermining faith in
the global trading system and the individual markets that we
deal in.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
A lot of questions coming through around maybe Trump is
manipulating markets for gain as well, you know, short changing
stocks and things like that. Do you subscribe to that?
Have you seen anything like this before?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Though?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Well, there was a little a social media you've got
to you know, take it all to punch of salt.
But he was quite proud of a couple of mates
who are in the Oval office with him. You know
one had made one point well, he said, one had
made one point nine billion dollars in the day's trading.
There will be people who are exploiting and manipulating the
opportunities as stocks go up and down, and you know,
(06:34):
whether they are mates or whatever, who knows. But there's
a bit of tension emerging among those billionaires, among the
people who some of whom will be making a lot
of money and some might be losing. So again, where
that will pan out, no one quite knows. You've got
the Foreign Minister in New Zealand, Winston Peters, and the
Prime Minister kind of two different opinions as to how
(06:57):
they approached us. To my view, should always be open,
honest and express our views. That's what we're known for,
and so kind of tiptoeing around at this time probably
won't serve us well when the rest of the world
is really concerned.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
It's a wild time to be in politics, no matter
which way you look at it. Willie Jackson made some
comments around labor potentially having missed a trick by not
removing GST on meat. What an absolute logistical nightmare that
would have been, though, But how do you feel on this.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Did you miss a trick on that front?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
No, Willy's wrong, you know. Look, the GST system is simple,
It runs right across you know, the whole economy. It
is a bit regressive. People who spent a large portion
of your income on food and goods, you know, pay
that for GST. So it's not always fear as a tax,
(07:52):
but it is a simple one. And playing around with
what is meat isn't what's frood and vegetables, as we
kind of saw and my views, is not the smart
way forward. There are other ways of trying to reduce
the costs, trying to make it fearer for people and
have affordable food for them, But playing around with one
(08:15):
particular food type with GC just create a mess.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah, I'll certainly be trying to remove the GST from
my mate this weekend up in the Mania Tito there.
But my goodness, the cost of ammunition has gone up
quite markedly, so I think Damien will be making sure
each shot counts there and.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Make sure you have plenty of character so that you
know your eyesight's good.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Yeah, exactly, exactly. Hey, look where are we at with Andira?
I know you've continued to work on that front.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Look, you know the government's gone, the Prime Minisse has
gone over there and Trade Mission, and you know I'd
taken one in government as well. We're building those relationships
that started negotiation, and you know, any progress in that
area we welcome and will endorse. And we've been speaking
with the leader Chris Hipkins, and the Group of US
(09:05):
met with Indian business leaders in Auckland just to reassure
them that we'll continue to progress in trade arrangements, whether
it's a free trade agreement or a close economic partnership
or whatever. Building partnerships over time with India is a
good way forward, particularly when we are seeing the chaos
out of the US.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
What else have you been up to, Damien. What's on
the cards for you for the next week other than
the Palmufield day.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Well, I looking through the West coast and it's been
good to catch up for Graymouth here at the moment,
they're still on the boiled water notice. Now, the council
wasn't very enthusiastic about our three waters proposals. So I
guess the absence of any real alternative from this coalition
government means that there are many councils like Gray district
(09:55):
who will be grappling with how they pay for secure
water supplies into the future and at the moment people
are having to boil the water. Ridiculous situation in the
West Coast when people think we've probably always got more
than enough order.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Well, I guess it does rain a lot more than
expected in the West Coast, So yeah, thinking of everyone
over there, I guess yeah, it is just a challenging situation.
Anything else on the cards for you? When do you
go back to parliament?
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Well, is it another couple of weeks of recessor obviously
after ends out day, of course the week after that
will be back in parliament. But it's an opportunity for
MPs to get around and I'll certainly be right through
the South Island, just keeping an eye on things, meeting
people listening as we kind of work through the policy
process of putting up an alternative at the next election
(10:43):
from the current coalition government.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yeah, do you reckon we'll see any When will we
see some ad policy? Damien?
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Well, you know, we'll just you know, see where things
are at. I think that there's a growing number of
people across agriculture far who are a bit confused about
what's coming from this government. We see messages from the
market around things like you know, around labor, around barb
(11:13):
and of course always nitrates, environmental management, all of that stuff,
but you know government is saying, don't worry about it.
So there are companies on the you know, on the
front foot. You have Fonterra, you have silver Foond Farms
talking about better practice on farm that we can tell
the world it has to be supported by government. All
(11:34):
government agencies that are moving in the same direction at
the moment, the directions are a bit confused.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Well, at least everyone's enjoying good returns at the moment,
and in terms of being.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Certainly are Yeah. And I heard a comment from a
dairy farmer the other day saying, you know, if people
aren't aren't doing really well with the current payouts, then
you've got to look at the system that you're running,
either on your farm or across the industry. And there
are some legitimate questions that area, and I think we
just have to reak through those carefully.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Damian O'Connor, labor trade spokespre's an interesting time in that
trade space, but really appreciate your time on the country.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Go enjoy the rest of the West Coast for a
couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Oh well, thank you very much for my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
It is nineteen after twelve. Gosh, wouldn't I like to
be driving down the West Coast at the moment? Beautiful
part of the country. What are we doing next? We're
heading to Southland. Later this hour we'll head to the
White Cattle. But up next we're off to Shanghai. We're
going to see what the impression of Trump's Tower of
Plague is like on the ground with Hunter McGregor. Next
(12:36):
here on the country.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Yes, it's very stupa.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
We're off to Shanghai, China. Now on the country there
we find Kei we businessman Hunter MacGregor. Good afternoon, Hunter.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Rote.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Hey, Look, I've been dying to chat to you after
the world kind of went crazy with Trump's tariffs in China.
What are some of the response you're seeing over there?
Speaker 6 (13:13):
Well, surprisingly enough, I'm not actually seeing too much of
a response. You know, people are not panicking about the
tariffs coming in. They don't seem to worry. I'm sure
it's going to have an impact on the economy here
and for companies that only export to the US is
going to be a bit of a problem. But you know,
(13:34):
people can see this coming. I think when Trump put
the initial tariffs sign on his first term, there was
a bit of a shock. But since then, you know,
people can see a lot of people can see there's
probably been some riding on.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
The wall in this.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
And to be fair, the likes of Walmart and any
of the big companies out of America that source in
China a lot, they've been pushing for years to get
their supply chain and factories out of char So, you know,
I think that, yeah, the average punter doesn't really is
not really too worried. There's no panic, and a lot
(14:08):
of people are willing to roll up their sleeves and
see and see how it goes sort of thing, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
And then you know, with.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Trump, you know, putting some exemptions into you with mobile
phones and electronics and stuff. A lot of Chinese people
think that Trump has blinked first and backing down. So yeah,
it's interesting times.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Yeah, indeed, and Trump saying you know, all China has
to do is pick up the phone on open to negotiations.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Do you reckon that will actually happen?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
I don't need to be a rush to pick up
the phone from the st from the Chinese, so I
know not at all.
Speaker 7 (14:41):
Now.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
What what the Chinese have done is they've put the
towerffs up from products coming into from America up to
one hundred and twenty five percent, which more or less
stops the trade of you know, just about everything, and
they've said, we're not going to go any higher. That's
that's where we're going to be. If America wants to
go high, they can go high. So I'm not going
(15:01):
to go keep going to the tat. So they sort
of stopped there. But you know, if you look at
some of the products that are going from China, you know,
to the US, it's more sort of high end electronics
and things like that. It's not cheap clothing and cheap
shoes and things like that. A lot of that sort
of stuff that's already left China and in Southeast Asia
(15:24):
and now been hit by.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Tariffs as well.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
But you know, microwaves, for example, ninety percent of microwaves
imported into the States is from China. You know, eighty
percent of mobile phones and around sixty percent of laptops,
So you know, you can see why he sort of
added some exemptions.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Absolutely, and we've seen the same for wood products as well.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
To help that industry to look. I chatted to our US.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Farming correspondent last week, Todd Clark. An interesting time for
US farmers even before they started kicking off with great
beef prices. But the grain farmers are just really struggling
and that's going to get worse and be exacerbated by this.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Oh yeah, unfortunately, they're going to get it's going to
go only going to get worse. For the sawyer beans,
exports to China are around about forty eight forty five
percent of the total crop in the US. So if
that stops, or the Chinese source from probably Brazil, Argentina,
maybe a bit from Russia, you know that market will
(16:32):
be gone and China won't come back. You know, they're
not going to come back because the tariffs are gone,
because they can't they're learning to work with trust A partners.
So the poor US farm is going to be hit then. Also,
you know American beef in here. You know there's nearly
two point seven billion dollars of American beef is exported
(16:52):
into China. It's a high quality, high end product. It
sits at the top of the market, and you know
that's going to be gone as well. It's kind of
significantly slow down. And you know that grain fed beef
is exactly your high marbling that's what the Chinese consumer wants,
and they will have to source this that that elsewhere.
(17:15):
Probably in the short term, the Australians will pick up
the slack, you know, because they have a lot of
grain fed beef. There will be more more demand for
New Zealand beef. But we don't sit at the high
end tables, and you know around China and you know
we don't have grass fed beef is not at the
(17:36):
premium end of the market. You know, USD a prime
grain fed is what the what the consumer wants. But
funny enough to keep hearing from chefs that are you know,
these people order these really high, high marbling marble piece
of meat and then then complain about how fatty it is.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
So yeah, yeah, Look.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
Some of the American beef is actually quite good. I
bought some the other day because it's probably not going
to be available again for a while, but you know,
it is what it is. But you know it's going
to really affect and the music, the American farmer across
many aspects, which is not good. It's not good for anyone.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
No, it's not indeed, And yeah, and I go back
to my point of it being disgusting. Each to their own.
I'm very much an iphill it or nothing kind of girl.
I don't like fat and my meat. And I've tried
some of this marbled meat when I was out for dinner,
must have been a couple of months ago, and I
just couldn't get through it.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Hunter, personal preference.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
I honestly don't know why people want that kind of thing.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Well, I think the Japanese do it well with regards
to marble meat. They have a very small portion. Yeah,
that's beautiful, and they cook it really quickly and that's great.
But you know, a big sort of five hundred grand
piece of fat is not really my cup of tea
as well. But you know, for me, I like eating grass,
the grain fed. I like to eat everything. I want
to understand what's happening in the market. So it's one
(18:57):
of those things that I do. You know, it's like
going to different restaurants and bars. Sometimes it's got to.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Be done, absolutely, Hunter, What is the next kind of
a couple of weeks have in store for you.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Where are you heading? What are you doing?
Speaker 6 (19:11):
Yeah, we're heading into some good weather. We've got May
Day holidays coming up the first five days of May,
so everyone's sort of planning their trips for that. It's
a good time of the year. But we're just sort
of knuckling down and focusing on work, trying to get
a few more restaurants to to buy a bit of
New Zealand meet and develop my retail sales. So it's
(19:31):
a good time of the year to get on and
crack on and do stuff. So and looking forward to
a bit of a break in the first five days
of May.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Nice nice already having a text coming through Hunter and
five double O nine. Ifil at Steak is the vanilla
ice cream of steaks, I'll absolutely wear that one because
that's my favorite ice cream flavored to Hunter MacGregor out
of China, Shanghai. Appreciate your time, enjoy that May Day holiday.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Cheers.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Thanks right, my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
It is bang on twelve thirty up next to the
line and Rural news and sports news. Then later tonight,
first excuse me, Global dairy trade auction post tariffs, We're
going to look at that with Mark Delatour Out of
Open Country.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Night, the country's world news with Cod Cadet, New Zealand's
leading right on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot
co dot in set for your local stockist.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Yes and your rural news. If you're farming up north,
you're in for a rough few days. Severe gales of
up to one hundred and forty kilometers an hour and
to rent all downpaurs are set to begin overnight. They've
prompted Met Service to upgrade were the warnings for the
Upper North Island. There's an orange heavy rain morning and
a strong wind warning for North and Auckland and Great
(20:50):
Barrier Island coming into force at three am tomorrow. Up
to one hundred and eighty millimeters of rain expected to
fall in forty one hours until midnight Thursday. Thunderstorms are
expected to barrel in on Thursday as well. Met Services
the Orange heavy rain warning could be upgraded to a
red warning. We will keep you updated on that one.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
That's your ural news. His sports.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at AFCO dot co.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Dot nz and your sports newsheadlines. All blackswing mank Talaa
will play in Japan next year. Who's confirmed his departure
via social media. It's understood he's signed a three year
deal at Toyota. Former Warriors coach Frank Endicott believes the
Warriors are two conservative on their fifth tackle plays as
Luke Metcalfe and Chanell Harris Tavita continue to develop as
(21:39):
NRL Harves combination. Former Keywey's prop Jared Wiry. Hargraves will
retire at the end of the English Super League season,
aged thirty six at the Rome Football Derby may return
to Afternoon Kickoff's next season season after Sunday Night's fixture
descended into what Italian media termed urban guerrilla warfare. That
(22:00):
we have thirteen police injured and clashes between rival fan groups.
Violent scenes erupted around the studio Olimpico hours before Lazio
hosted Roma in a one all drawer football hooligans. Right
up next, we are heading to South End Open Country
CEO Mark Delatour joining us to preview tonight's GDT auction
(22:21):
before the end of the hour. Doctor Jacqueline Rawath, She's
got a new column out. We're going to explore the
connection between the ancient agricultural calendar and food.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Well we're after God's Own Country now just down the
road here from the Country HQ and Dneida and we're
heading to Bellcluther. There we find Mark Delatour, CEO of
Open Country. Mark's supplier meetings in South End. At the moment,
you've just wrapped up the one in Bellcluther. How did
it go?
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Good afternoon, Yeah, good afternoon, Bro. Really nice to catch
up with you. Little bit bit of a while since
we've spoken. But gorgeous, gorgeous morning down here. I got
to say there was a there was a little light
frost and Bealcluther and and Croyd and when we started
this morning, and and but it was a beautiful drive
drive through there. So you know, it's been great. This
(23:17):
will be week three. We started off with the Wye
Kaddow last week. We're doing Taranaki and mah Watu and
South and Otaga this week. So it's been really good
to catch up with our supply base.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
What were some of the messages coming through? Mark?
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Oh, you know, everyone's pretty happy. I mean, you've just
got ten dollars fifty seven in the pocket, I guess,
and of course and true fashions. When are we going
to get to eleven?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
So it's the goal post always moves.
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Absolutely, but I think it's you know, that's a great
sign because it means that everyone's positive, everyone's looking forward,
and you know, after the last sort of three or
four years, that's that's a really great place for the
industry to be and I think a lot of energy
and a little bit about the future.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
So it's been great.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
It's been a really really positive three weeks.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
You touched on it just then, Mark when you said
it was a beautiful drive through South and today you've
gone from Gore to Belklutha.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
What are you seeing in the paddocks out there?
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Ah, look, it's you know, it's again stunning, stunning day
through South and Otago. I got to say, well, we're
talking in the car on the way through, and what
I will say I was, you know, we've really got
to start looking at ourselves again here and you know,
in the context of doubling exports for New Zealand, we've
got to really question what appropriate land use here is
(24:37):
in New Zealand. You know, we're our farmers down here
with beg turn out last night it was standing room
only and ninety five percent of open country supplies down
on this part of the world have completed farm environment plans, right,
so they're responsible owners, the good managers of land use
and water quality and driving through from Gordon bell Cliff,
like you said, there's so much land there that really
(25:00):
should be a very very productive dairy country and you know,
the days of dairy conversions being a swear word are gone.
We need to really start looking at that and saying,
you know, we're responsible land Union's land owners and users
and let's get real in New Zealand and start looking
at this because there's so much opportunity down in this
(25:22):
part of the world for a greater productivity.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
So do you think we're going to see more of
these dairy conversions moving forward if we can inch towards
that eleven dollar payout?
Speaker 7 (25:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:32):
I hope.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
So I don't think it's just payout too. I think
it is legislation and sort of saying, hey, what is
appropriate land use. You know, my history, my early career
was in forestry, and there's nothing worse than seeing farmland
being planted up in trees. There's also, you know, nothing
worse than seeing steep forested land.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Being clear Feld.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
So I think you know New Zealand does need to
look at appropriate land use and there say we may
not have done the best best work on that in
the last sort of fifty years, but now we need
to get practical and so we've been through that. Productivity
is good, payouts good. How do we increase our export nings?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You have got a new bunter factory going in at Wahurah.
How's that going, Mark?
Speaker 5 (26:15):
Yeah, we're close now, so sort of at the end
of August we'll be commissioning with the supplies of the
gear and putting the first cream through to see that
we're going to make. How the butter is going to
be and then I would say not according to our schedule,
our first production of butter and anger will be in September,
So we're really looking forward to that getting off the ground.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Where will that be seen? Is that all for export
or will that be hading some domestic supermarkets.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
No, the stage is, you know our target markets are
all export driven. That's where the best returns are, and
you know we're going to get the best returns. Then
that's all about milk payment to our supplies. So this
stage it's all export country supplies. We'll get some, but
I like they do our cheese row so it might
(27:05):
be the odd block. You can get a few if
you smile nicely.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I will definitely be rating Jamie Mackay's fridge. I tried
to buy butter in the supermarket yesterday here in Dunedin
and just about it felt like I was giving away
my unborn, firstborn child, you know, this figurative thing, because
my goodness it was expensive.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Anyway, I do agree.
Speaker 5 (27:24):
It is exciting. You know, it's really good that we
Open Country continue to expand its product lines, and we're
doing it very much in our style, you know, very simple, nice,
clear sales strategies, bolt production and just being very very
good at what we do. So we're really excited about that.
We're counting the weeks now, not the months.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Yeah, yeah, it is exciting when you see a massive
project like that really kind of entering towards that finish
line quite quickly. Badly, look GDT tonight, the first one
post all of this tariff talk kicking off.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
What are you expecting to see?
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Yeah, I guess what we've been communicating to the suppliers
in the last three weeks. Rowers don't worry about what
you can't control. So the tariffs and whatnot, they're there.
I think what we're starting to see is that the
tariffs are really just being used as almost a bargaining
chip to get people to the table. You know that
(28:22):
the China tariff is harsh, but it's almost like it's
a tariff on everything apart from what America are going
to buy now with iPhones and whatnot. So it's a
changing field, so let's not worry about that. At the
end of the day, everyone needs to eat. The fundamentals
are still there. Supply and demand globally is still there.
The balance is there, and we're actually expecting a positive
(28:44):
result this GDT. Certainly nothing coming off. So you know,
we've just readone our milk price forecasts and they're saying
these these prices are you know, all indications are they're
going to be holding through into the next season, so
we're not expecting to see any great drop in prices.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
It's going to be an interesting one, all eyes on that.
Mark Delatore, CEO of Open Country, Nice to chat to
you from the Deep South as well. Enjoy the rest
of your day and your trip back home.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Yeah, we'll do hitting two, hitting your way to the
need and now to jump on a plane. So it'll
be uh, it'll be good to have the three weeks over.
But it's it's been great to catch up.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I bet it has Hey, Travor, well my friend, all right, thanks.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
It is sixteen away from one. Just want to clarify,
not pregnant. I should have used a better analogy. I
felt like I was giving away an arm and a
leg when I was trying to buy butter. Yeah, that's
a better one. Up next, doctor Jacqueline Roweth, here on
the country. You're welcome back to the country. Doctor Jacqueline
(29:47):
Roweth joins me now primary sector academic and one of
my great friends. Hello Jack, welcome.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Thank you very much, lovely to be talking to you now.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Last night you were at the y BOP regional debating finals,
and of course this is young farmers we're talking about.
I competed in this I think in twenty seventeen, got
joint b speaker with a bloke in the other team
who was debating holding onto a bottle of wine and
I wasn't quite sure how to take that.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Jeck.
Speaker 7 (30:13):
Well, it's all much more serious now and they take
it in a very professional manner, so I can say
I had the similar experience to you, but it was
last century, and having been a young farmer since nineteen
seventy four back in the UK. The way that they
did their arguments and put forward, whether they believed them
or not, what we felt was complete integrity and the
(30:36):
arguments being put forward. And I hold out great hope
for the industry and the fact that these people can
take a debate, can think about the pros and cons
of either side and then move forward. And when I
looked at these young farmers, and I looked at my
co judges who are now generated farmers rotarians doing good work.
(30:57):
And we also had their Young Farmer of the Year
of nineteen seventy seven, Keith Holmes, who's currently the Waikato
president of Federated Farmers. We're all there cheering them on
and looking forward to them moving through from being young
farmers to Federated Farmers to rotary all of us trying
to do good work for the country, not just the
(31:21):
rule sector, but the country. And I think there are
some great prospects for the future in those teams last night,
and the fact but all their clubs were there nodding
sagely at the point the teams made and of course
applauding and cheering everybody.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Oh fantastic, it was good.
Speaker 7 (31:39):
It really was a very good occasion.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Oh, you must be like a proud mamma hen just
watching these young ones coming through that.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
How I feel?
Speaker 7 (31:48):
Yes, I do, yes, I'd think of the students through
the years and now they're doing such good things for
the country. I mean hamishma is one of them. Yeah,
he is being the special enjoying in agriculture for New Zealand.
There were just some lovely young people out there, and
of course they are maturing and they continue to do
(32:09):
everything they can to manage the land and help the
economy and produce food row.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
Now, speaking of food, you've written an amazing column for
the Country dot co dot ms at exploring the connection
between the ancient agricultural calendar and food.
Speaker 7 (32:26):
Yes, the whole of the calendar, and there were eight
periods during the year, and we can think of the
Yule Tide, which some people will call Christmas or Midsummer
Day or indeed Easter, which is actually a styra. It's
the sort of the quarter point, the equinox of the year,
but the Christian component moves backwards and forwards a bit.
(32:46):
But all of these feasts and the agricultural calendar were
celebrating the likely arrival of new food or using up
the stuff of the old food before it went out
went and couldn't be used. And the issue was if
you didn't at the harvest festival, which might also be
(33:07):
called Halloween or Samhim, if you didn't have enough food,
then you were going to die soot. You just needed
enough food to get through the darkade part of the
year when there was no harvest to be had, and
part of the celebrations were thanking the gods for the
(33:29):
fact that you hadn't got the harvest in but also
warding them off, warding off the evil spirits from taking
what food you had.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
I think you know, modern celebrations have lost that deeper
meaning of food tied to survival and community. Now we
see Halloween as just a way for kids to get candy.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
Well as one might say, the lame about Easter and
all those chocolate bummies and chocolate eggs and oh heavens
now there are chocolate hot Cross buns. But there's a
direct correlation with Christianity. There were bunds were certainly celebrated,
the Diester bonds, bread cakes, but now they have crosses
on them. They bring in the Christianity thing. So from
(34:10):
the agricultural point of view, the thanking of the gods,
whichever god it was, was really important and there's been
a sort of platting and intermingling of the different beliefs,
and that's great.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
How do we maintain food cultural significance jaqueline with that
well while addressing climate change and food security just moving forward.
Speaker 7 (34:34):
Yes, there are major challenges and a lot of this
understanding about what's happening with food out there. And the
main thing I think is to be able to celebrate
the feast days of family with family and think about
the food we're eating. And of course, because it comes
because of refrigeration and freasing and those sorts of things,
(34:55):
it's just available at the supermarket and you can make
your choices about vice point, but it is available all
the time and just sometimes. And this is the point
of the column, just remembering that actually food hasn't always
been around in terms of the way it is now
and just thanking and I'd be thanking the farmers who
are out there milking the cows till twice a day
(35:18):
or once you know, depending on where they are in
the season, because they go on doing their job to
make sure that there is food and indeed work for
New Zealand. And it's still the economy and they're still
doing a great job.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
So let's give thanks absolutely.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
It is a wonderful column and we'll be up on
the Country dot co dot m Z if you want
to find out more about this, Doctor Jaquelin a roath
pleasure is always to chat with you.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
Thank you lovely to talk bro.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
All right, a wrapping the Country for your Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
We've got Prime Minister Christopher Luxan joining us on tomorrow's show,
so Andrew Murray out of Fonterra to recap what happens
and tonight's Global Dairy Trade auction of course, as I've mentioned,
the first one since the tariffs came into effect. Be
interesting to see what happens and that one. Enjoy the
rest of your Tuesday, folks, and I will catch you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
podcast with Jamie Mgue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere machinery,
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