The Country

The NZ First leader is at his combative and argumentative best when it comes to the Alliance and Fonterra farmer votes. We also debate unemployment rates, Te Pāti Māori, an FTA with India, the Pike River movie, and whether he was interviewed for Jacinda’s unauthorised biography.

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Farming academic says the current high red meat prices, up more than 30% since 2024, are a “sweet spot that won’t be maintained”. 

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For this month’s Farmstrong interview, we revisit a Hawke’s Bay farmer we’ve had tabs on since Cyclone Gabrielle. Today, he offers some sound advice to South Island farmers who have been hammered by the recent wind events on how to deal with the aftermath of extreme weather.  

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Our Australian correspondent talks about the Melbourne Cup, beef prices, and feral pigs eating lambs.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Jane Smith, Andrew Murray, and Stefan Vogel.

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The Prime Minister ponders Pike River, Apec and Trump, an economy on the rise, the demise of Te Pāti Māori, next week’s Christchurch Cup and Show week, and who would play him in a movie?

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This outspoken North Otago farmer pulls no punches when it comes to Nicola Willis's "taking the piss" technology, the Bill Gates woke joke that's starting to revoke, ridiculous sheep research on the Port Hills, banning farming on the Wellington farm park, and we ask if it's getting dry on the home farm.

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We ask Fonterra’s chief financial officer if a $10 milk price is now in danger after yet another downward GDT auction (-2.4%, whole milk powder down 2.7%).

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Rabobank’s senior agriculture analyst previews the bank’s November Agribusiness Monthly - aptly titled “Spring throws parting weather shots”. 

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Jamie Mackay talks to Nicola Willis, Kate Acland, Tom Young, Thomas Macdonald, and Julian Raine.

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We find Beef + Lamb NZ’s chairwoman in the UK in a Bath pub, wearing her Sugar Loaf Wines producer’s hat. We also talk about B+LNZ leading a joint statement by global agricultural organisations calling for countries to follow best scientific practice and take a split-gas approach when reporting greenhouse gas emissions. 

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Affco’s National Livestock Manager comments on red meat prospects after leading academic Keith Woodford suggested the lamb schedule could be in for a big correction by Christmas.

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Spring Sheep Milk’s chief executive, Nick Hammond, has been appointed Zespri’s new chief strategy officer. Hammond will be replaced at Spring Sheep by chief operating officer Thomas Macdonald in November. Macdonald replaced Hammond as chief operating officer when he took on the top job, and has also been with the company since it was started.

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Nelson-based dairy entrepreneur and former president of Horticulture NZ, who updates on the recent storm damage in his region.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Phil Duncan, Emlyn Francis, David Seymour, Todd Clark, and John McOviney.

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Monday’s weatherman on November’s change of fortunes.

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North Canterbury dairy farmer updates on the horrific damage in the Culverden district from the recent wind event.

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We ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader, who’s really calling the shots in the Coalition government? Plus, we discuss Chris Hipkins’ capital gains tax, and Trump at Apec.

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