August 28, 2025 • 7 mins
Today's brother and sister farming panel discuss calving and whether Fonterra should be selling its consumer brands.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today's Farmer Panel brother and sister Emma Paul Tim Dangin.
Tim was the Young Farmer of the Year I f
MG Young Farmer of the Year in twenty twenty two.
Emma broke the grass ceiling in twenty twenty three. They're
both dairy farmers. Now Tim's ventured down to the rivi
Era of the South Riverton and Emma's in the way Katto.
I'll start with you. Tim are down on Southland. I'm
(00:21):
hearing reports of a brilliant start to carving.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Oh, it was very fantastic, Jamie got afternoon. We've had
unbelievable weather really, so good enough to a really good
start here. Most farms are well over fifty cents through
they're carving, so I think we'll take it. There's a
bit of air weather coming though, so everyone keep your
eyes out for that. But suddenly, after a good start
here and talking to farmers that were down here last year,
it's chalk and cheese. So at least is this highest
(00:46):
centerment out there at the moment, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, I can tell you from bitter experience, many a
lambing beat done down on south and you won't get
through September unscathed. But that's part of the beauty of
farming in Southland. How's the whye caaddo reagion treating you,
Emma Paul And.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
You've been so kind of you, Jamie. Good afternoon and
good to be here with yeh stella start to spring.
But yeah, the range is coming in now in September
is usually a weet one here as well, so we'll
wide and see. But it's been bloody easy going at
the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, I'm pleased to hear that. And you must be.
You must have a spring and your step as dairy farmers,
Tim your share milking, Emma, you own some farms, Tim's
share milking with a view to buying some farms. You
must have a spring in your step when you're thinking,
I'm getting out to milk these cows first thing, sparrows
fat in the morning, but I'm going to get ten
dollars plus for it, hopefully.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, certainly makes it easier to get up, doesn't it, Jamie.
It's everything's looking so positive at the moment, Like Tim said,
sentiments pretty high among farmers. And yeah, and then we've
had another carrot dangled in front of our face.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yes, well, let's talk about that carrot dangled in front
of your face. This is Fonterra selling its consumer brands
two dollars a share back in your pocket. I'd be
in boots on all for that one. Emma, you're not
you're in two mines. Well I'm in.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Two mind, Jimmie. I'm a young person at the start
of my farming career, aren't I. So I'm not at
the end looking to cash up. And I've got kids
that their first word was trecked I so it's likely
they're going to be here to play the long game too.
Jamie and myself and my husband Chris have always been
firm believers that a diverse business is a resilient business,
and that's sort of how we've managed to stay afloat
when the payout changes. We rear calves and run an
(02:22):
embryo business so that we're not solely reliant on that
milk income. It sort of seems that if Fonterra sells
us off, they might be less diverse. Talking to people
within Fonterra, it's sort of saying that's not the case.
That they're wanting to divest away from the consumer brands
and potentially invest a portion of that money back into
something else. Well, the question gets raised, Jamie, what is
(02:43):
there's something else? And are we moving away from an
area of non performance? It might not be the best performance,
but at least we do know how it performs to
an area of unknown performance and is that the right
spending of our money? And I just don't know. And
I don't know if attending row shows and getting more
informational answer those questions, Jamie, because I'm not sure if
anyone really knows.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Mike Peterson, who's the chair of Scales, former president or
whatever of Beef and Lamb New Zealand form a special
agricultural tradeing Boy said Fonterra is basically following what Scales
is doing. He was sort of tongue in cheek there,
but he said, it's quite a good point not to
be competing with your business partners. So you're not You're
(03:25):
going to supply those consumer brands with the goods, but
you're not going to be competing with them.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, and that is a fair point, absolutely, But and
I guess this is where the tear in my heart comes, Jamie,
is you know, we vote these people in to run
Fontier because we're too busy running our farms ourselves, so
we've got to have an element of trust and what
they're doing. And presumably they've looked at the numbers. But yeah,
like I say, a large portion of that money, some
(03:52):
of it's coming back to the farmers, a lot of it.
But where does the rest of it go? And what
are we investing that in? And it's such an unknown
You know, they might try and the pharmaceuticals products or
high value proteins are saying, but like I say, we
just don't know how that will perform at this stage
and what the return will be on that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, we know you're going to get four point two
to two billion. Three point two is going back to
the farmer shareholders, Tim Dangin. That leaves about a billion
for Fonterra to play around. But what's your view on this?
You and Emma don't always agree.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
No, I'm probably a bit more in favor of it
than what Emma is. I suppose I have just as
many questions, if not more. What it ultimately comes down
to for me, though, Jamie is do we trust the
co op structure? Do we trust the current board and
the senior executive team that are obviously trying to take
us in this direction for a reason, and at the
moment I do have faith in them, So it's sort
(04:44):
of what it boils down to me down to for me,
We're obviously never going to have as farmers as much
information in front of us is what you'd think the
top top chiefs that Froontira will have, so we've really
just got to rely on their guidance up there in
favor for it. Then they obviously think that it's a
strong long term strategy for the co op. My main
(05:06):
concern really is just around social perception for it. I
don't think it's Fonterra or farmer's responsibility to make sure
that there is affordable food products for all kiwi's, but
all Kiwis have a voting right, Jamie, and if it
ends up meaning that there are high priced commodities on
the shelves and New Zealand supermarkets, then I think the
(05:27):
general public will have something to say about that. So
we need to be very kind.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Help swhere have you gone? Tim? Talk to me?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Tim?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Are you still there, Emma, I'm still here. We might
just have to battle on with you. Hey, Emma, Look,
it's not Buttergate's a bit of a beat up. It's
not the problem of New Zealand farmers that butter and
dairy products are expensive. I know that fonterra is probably
being picked on here, but for instance, I don't see
silver fer and farms being picked on from the price
(05:56):
of meat or zesprey for the price of Kiwi fruit.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
No, you did right there, Jamie, And I guess it's
the bigger the player you are, the more spotlight you
get in, the more you've got to answer to, isn't it.
But yeah, you're right, it's a New Zealand inc problem,
isn't it that we are paying nine bucks for.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
A block of butter.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
I still buy the butter so I like baking and
there's no substitute for using butter. But yeah, it's definitely
unaffordable for so many Kiwis. And it's not really fear
I think when we've got such a oversupply of brilliant
products here that we are just exporting.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's a bit of a shame we've lost him. Danjin
a poor reception and the rivi era of the South
Riveton down there in Southland, but he's an adopted Stags
fan now, Emma, he's heading up your way on Sunday
for a Shield challenge against the White Catow rugby side.
You've just taken it off Taranaki. It's all the dairy
farming provinces dominating the shield. No doubt you'll be backing
(06:48):
your home side.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I'd have to, Jamie, especially when Southland supporting a reception
like that that they can't even keep their their farmers
on the line. So yeah, way Keto all the way
and we'll see how they get on.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
You got out voted that one, Tim and I versus you.
It's two versus one, go the Stags. Thanks for your time.
Say hello to your brother, your long lost brother from
the things.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Thanks Jamie,
Today's Farmer Panel brother and sister Emma Paul Tim Dangin.
Tim was the Young Farmer of the Year I f
MG Young Farmer of the Year in twenty twenty two.
Emma broke the grass ceiling in twenty twenty three. They're
both dairy farmers. Now Tim's ventured down to the rivi
Era of the South Riverton and Emma's in the way Katto.
I'll start with you. Tim are down on Southland. I'm
(00:21):
hearing reports of a brilliant start to carving.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Oh, it was very fantastic, Jamie got afternoon. We've had
unbelievable weather really, so good enough to a really good
start here. Most farms are well over fifty cents through
they're carving, so I think we'll take it. There's a
bit of air weather coming though, so everyone keep your
eyes out for that. But suddenly, after a good start
here and talking to farmers that were down here last year,
it's chalk and cheese. So at least is this highest
(00:46):
centerment out there at the moment, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, I can tell you from bitter experience, many a
lambing beat done down on south and you won't get
through September unscathed. But that's part of the beauty of
farming in Southland. How's the whye caaddo reagion treating you,
Emma Paul And.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
You've been so kind of you, Jamie. Good afternoon and
good to be here with yeh stella start to spring.
But yeah, the range is coming in now in September
is usually a weet one here as well, so we'll
wide and see. But it's been bloody easy going at
the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Well, I'm pleased to hear that. And you must be.
You must have a spring and your step as dairy farmers,
Tim your share milking, Emma, you own some farms, Tim's
share milking with a view to buying some farms. You
must have a spring in your step when you're thinking,
I'm getting out to milk these cows first thing, sparrows
fat in the morning, but I'm going to get ten
dollars plus for it, hopefully.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yeah, certainly makes it easier to get up, doesn't it, Jamie.
It's everything's looking so positive at the moment, Like Tim said,
sentiments pretty high among farmers. And yeah, and then we've
had another carrot dangled in front of our face.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yes, well, let's talk about that carrot dangled in front
of your face. This is Fonterra selling its consumer brands
two dollars a share back in your pocket. I'd be
in boots on all for that one. Emma, you're not
you're in two mines. Well I'm in.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Two mind, Jimmie. I'm a young person at the start
of my farming career, aren't I. So I'm not at
the end looking to cash up. And I've got kids
that their first word was trecked I so it's likely
they're going to be here to play the long game too.
Jamie and myself and my husband Chris have always been
firm believers that a diverse business is a resilient business,
and that's sort of how we've managed to stay afloat
when the payout changes. We rear calves and run an
(02:22):
embryo business so that we're not solely reliant on that
milk income. It sort of seems that if Fonterra sells
us off, they might be less diverse. Talking to people
within Fonterra, it's sort of saying that's not the case.
That they're wanting to divest away from the consumer brands
and potentially invest a portion of that money back into
something else. Well, the question gets raised, Jamie, what is
(02:43):
there's something else? And are we moving away from an
area of non performance? It might not be the best performance,
but at least we do know how it performs to
an area of unknown performance and is that the right
spending of our money? And I just don't know. And
I don't know if attending row shows and getting more
informational answer those questions, Jamie, because I'm not sure if
anyone really knows.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Mike Peterson, who's the chair of Scales, former president or
whatever of Beef and Lamb New Zealand form a special
agricultural tradeing Boy said Fonterra is basically following what Scales
is doing. He was sort of tongue in cheek there,
but he said, it's quite a good point not to
be competing with your business partners. So you're not You're
(03:25):
going to supply those consumer brands with the goods, but
you're not going to be competing with them.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, and that is a fair point, absolutely, But and
I guess this is where the tear in my heart comes, Jamie,
is you know, we vote these people in to run
Fontier because we're too busy running our farms ourselves, so
we've got to have an element of trust and what
they're doing. And presumably they've looked at the numbers. But yeah,
like I say, a large portion of that money, some
(03:52):
of it's coming back to the farmers, a lot of it.
But where does the rest of it go? And what
are we investing that in? And it's such an unknown
You know, they might try and the pharmaceuticals products or
high value proteins are saying, but like I say, we
just don't know how that will perform at this stage
and what the return will be on that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, we know you're going to get four point two
to two billion. Three point two is going back to
the farmer shareholders, Tim Dangin. That leaves about a billion
for Fonterra to play around. But what's your view on this?
You and Emma don't always agree.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
No, I'm probably a bit more in favor of it
than what Emma is. I suppose I have just as
many questions, if not more. What it ultimately comes down
to for me, though, Jamie is do we trust the
co op structure? Do we trust the current board and
the senior executive team that are obviously trying to take
us in this direction for a reason, and at the
moment I do have faith in them, So it's sort
(04:44):
of what it boils down to me down to for me,
We're obviously never going to have as farmers as much
information in front of us is what you'd think the
top top chiefs that Froontira will have, so we've really
just got to rely on their guidance up there in
favor for it. Then they obviously think that it's a
strong long term strategy for the co op. My main
(05:06):
concern really is just around social perception for it. I
don't think it's Fonterra or farmer's responsibility to make sure
that there is affordable food products for all kiwi's, but
all Kiwis have a voting right, Jamie, and if it
ends up meaning that there are high priced commodities on
the shelves and New Zealand supermarkets, then I think the
(05:27):
general public will have something to say about that. So
we need to be very kind.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Help swhere have you gone? Tim? Talk to me?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Tim?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Are you still there, Emma, I'm still here. We might
just have to battle on with you. Hey, Emma, Look,
it's not Buttergate's a bit of a beat up. It's
not the problem of New Zealand farmers that butter and
dairy products are expensive. I know that fonterra is probably
being picked on here, but for instance, I don't see
silver fer and farms being picked on from the price
(05:56):
of meat or zesprey for the price of Kiwi fruit.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
No, you did right there, Jamie, And I guess it's
the bigger the player you are, the more spotlight you
get in, the more you've got to answer to, isn't it.
But yeah, you're right, it's a New Zealand inc problem,
isn't it that we are paying nine bucks for.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
A block of butter.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
I still buy the butter so I like baking and
there's no substitute for using butter. But yeah, it's definitely
unaffordable for so many Kiwis. And it's not really fear
I think when we've got such a oversupply of brilliant
products here that we are just exporting.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's a bit of a shame we've lost him. Danjin
a poor reception and the rivi era of the South
Riveton down there in Southland, but he's an adopted Stags
fan now, Emma, he's heading up your way on Sunday
for a Shield challenge against the White Catow rugby side.
You've just taken it off Taranaki. It's all the dairy
farming provinces dominating the shield. No doubt you'll be backing
(06:48):
your home side.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I'd have to, Jamie, especially when Southland supporting a reception
like that that they can't even keep their their farmers
on the line. So yeah, way Keto all the way
and we'll see how they get on.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
You got out voted that one, Tim and I versus you.
It's two versus one, go the Stags. Thanks for your time.
Say hello to your brother, your long lost brother from
the things.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Thanks Jamie,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.