March 13, 2026 • 45 mins
Andy Muir talks to Jeff Grant, Harriet Bremner, Laurie Margrain, Graham Butcher and Lana Marshall.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Last night I had the strangers a very good morning
and welcome along to the best of the muster, a
collaboration of interviews that took her attention during a busy
week here at Hoknu e HQ. My name's Andy muer
Thinks your company. We're starting off the hour by catching
up with Jeff Grant, former MP these days, business owner
and a farmer based in Balfaa, Northern Southland, talking about
(00:27):
the situation in the USA and what it means for
New Zealand in a trading sense. I mean very volatile
what we're seeing regarding President Trump and America's war with
Iran as such, So what does it mean for New
Zealand as a trading nation going forward. Harriet Bremden was
on the program twenty twenty three Xander McDonald wood Winner
(00:48):
talking to us while she was up at the Impact Summit.
A couple of speakers that actually revolved the Impact Summit,
and just such a positive story about stuff that's been
happening in the rural space and particularly of what Harriet's
been doing. It's a really inspirational story that was worth sharing.
Laurie Margrain is Chair of Open Country, talking about the
(01:08):
dairy sector just kicking goals at the moment and where
are we looking at the payout, what are we looking
at for the next gdet and just overall milk flows
around the country. Laurie's saying everything's in a really good
space at the moment. Graham Butcher Farm Consultant, we caught
up to talk leasing a lot of people. Do you
look at wondering what you do? Do you look at
(01:29):
least to buy? Are you just leasing for a couple
of years and what's the best going rate leasewise? Well,
Graham put some context around this and Lanna Marshall as well,
a finalist and the Zander McDonald Award as well as
being involved with the Impact Summit during the week and
just a positivity and this is a great thing about
speaking to these people. They're just so passionate about the
rural industry and it's something that we need to look
(01:51):
at going forward to realize that New Zealand farming is
in great hands. So, without further ado, we'll start the
hour now with Jeff Grunt. Every day it's again closer,
going faster. Then welcome back. You're listening to the muster
on Hakanui Jeff Grant joins us next, former MP a
(02:14):
member of the New Zealand Trade Envoy, amongst other things, Jeff,
good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
How are you good Andy?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
How's everything in northern South for namely Balfa.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Oh, we got eighteen mills of rain over the last
couple of days, which was useful. We were looking for
a more rain standing to brown off again on the
on the ridges and stuff. So I should set u
up for the autumn.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Right this Middle East war, we're starting to see the
ramifications at the pump here. For example, last Friday, the
discount day at the local salth service stations about a
dollar fifty seven for a liter of diesel. Fast forward
to this morning, the same product as about two dollars twelve.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, I see. The Commerce Commissioner said they had a
warning saying they think the pricing increase doesn't reflect the
market situation in the sense that the fuel hasn't even
arrived at the higher price. But that's just part of
the reality. As I always find it amusing, you get
these emails telling you've got a price adjustment, which really
(03:14):
means the price has gone up for something, and we're
going to see a bit of that you know, transport
and logistics will come under some pressure over the next
three or four months if this carries on for another
week or two, and then we'll start to see it
and fertilize the price etc. As we get into the winter.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So we're saying good prices in the farm gate, the
farm gate inflation. All of a sudden, it's going to
be the equation.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Isn't it always the case though? I mean, you just
start to think you're having a really good season and
then something comes along and changes the mathematics of it all,
and it's just it is what it is, and the
sense that we're going to see, you know, the impact.
I think the impact also for you know, places like
New Zealand, especially on shipping. Is there that extra cost
(04:01):
of bringing stuff having not been able to go through
the strait and delays. I'd imagine it's been a nightmare
for the meat companies along with the dairy industry in
terms of where ships are sitting, Especially with chilled meat.
You can't have it sitting in a sitting off the
gulf on its way to the European market and then
find that you've got to freeze it down and find
(04:22):
another buyer.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Etc.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So, yeah, tough time.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Now. Local government restructure has been well documented coming up
eighteen months now about a changing to regional councils, especially
here in the South. What are you hearing? What's the latest?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh? Look, I think that the Local Government Commissions in
the process of its reports, I think it's holding a
meeting in the nineteenth and march down in Riverton to
sort of gather information in terms of people's thinking. I
just so people should get actively involved. There's a nonline
survey as well that they're doing. But the reality is,
(05:00):
I just get a sense that the full councils down
here aren't really putting their mind to what's the best
option the change should take place, it's for sure, and
I think that there's a good argument to look at
what's the best delivery of a services for local government
over the next ten to fifteen years. There's a lot
(05:21):
of emphasis on structure and governance. Governance is about two
percent of the cost of reality is it's the services
and the staff that is a big cost of local government.
And you know, I find the focus in the wrong
direction to a certain extent.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
What's your feeling on there are these changes going to
happen regarding local government.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Well, look, I think there will be quite a some
course to find a solution in Southland that does create
some amalgamation. I'm not convinced about two unitary councils is
an option. And again I would say it's a drive
for the structure of what we should be arguing or
debating is how are the services that we want over
(06:05):
the next ten to fifteen years to be delivered and
then look at the structure it gives the best delivery.
And so I think there's an argument to centralize transport, roading,
environmental water into one. And so I'm a bit of
a fan of what you call centralize the services and
(06:26):
localize the democracy, and so there's a variety of structures
you could do to do that. Quite professionally.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Hey, Jeff, what's your thoughts around the latest pole that
came out Christopher Luxe and national plunging into the twenties.
Is it as catastrophic as what's being made out or
is this simply one pole?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Oh? Look, I think there's definitely a trend that's showing
that the coalition's struggling a bit in terms of the
people's attitude towards what's happening on the ground. I mean,
we've had lots of announcements about how things are improving,
but until people feel that in their back pocket and
also when they go to the pub on Friday night,
(07:09):
that sort of attitude towards saying are we hitting in
the right direction is going to be questioned. I think
it's going to be a there's always a close election
as you do get under m MP and I think
that coalitions at some risk of not quite getting over
the line.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Do you think Chris Special will be doing the numbers?
Has it come to that point.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Well, if he is, he's the wrong person. I think
that if we were down, if the Coalition or the
National Party was down around there twenty two percent, that
would build bigger change. I think they'll be looking at
what are they going to do to shift it back
up to around thirty one thirty two that's where they
(07:51):
need to get to. They may just have to accept
that the new coalition may have us stronger influence from
New Zealand first, and that will change the time.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Who what made the ideal candidate? They like Mike Mitchell
at Erica Stanford.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Oh, Look, I think the reality is that you're never
quite sure. It's always hard this sort of question about
who's the next person because they never sort of shine
through until they are actually elected. And just in there
a Dune as a classic example, I think that they
would have to look dynamically quite different from the current
(08:29):
leader if they were to make a change, and so
Erica Stanford would probably be the one that's stuck out
a little bit. But I think that they'll probably better
to stick with what they've got through this election.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
The fake meat story that's losing traction by the day
almost I.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Just thought it was interesting to go back and have
a little look. As we've talked about this before, and
the two big companies that have been in the market
quite strongly since you know, mid for two thousand and fifth,
Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods to American companies. Beyond Meats
are publicly listed. If you had their shares in twenty nineteen,
(09:09):
they're worth two hundred and forty three dollars each. They're
now worth ninety six seventy six cents, So the dramatic
change in terms of its value. What they're really struggling
around is their ability to take on the big players
like Tyson and any lead who have used their marketing
(09:34):
strength to do some of the meat alterns of but
the reality is the market hasn't really responded. So what's
happened is that there's been a lot more analysis around
what are false or these meats in terms of what
the makeup is and the argument around the health side
(09:57):
along with process food. That's because they use a lot
more ultra process food. Combination in terms of their products,
especially in the meat Hamburger paddies hasn't been successful, so
they've changed their swing now now talking about resource sufficiency,
so you know, impossible burgers talk about the fact that
they only used ninety nine percent less water and less
(10:22):
land by about ninety six percent and ninety two percent
less pollution. But that's that global trend towards saying you know,
what am I doing about climate change hasn't really had
an impact. Fascinating figure though, if you changed all the
current beef production in the world to a plant based alternative,
(10:44):
the global protein market would change to the extent that
the savings in terms of greenhouse gases would be greater
than the whole of the electric motor vehicle. If every
vehicle world was changed to electrics, so you would save
more from going to a plant based meat than you
(11:06):
would But the reality is the market is just not responding,
and so these companies are really struggling to find a
place in the market. And I just don't think other
than say Berger King and those providing an alternative, cheap
protein source, we're not going to see a big change
in the market in terms of what I call false meat.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Jeff Grant, always appreciate your time on the muster. I'll
catch you at the one of Cache on Friday.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Cheers will catch it in Enemy.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Chicken Sea. I got a hundred three. Harriet Bremner joins
us next now. She's worn a number of hats over
the years. She's a farmer and author as well as
being an advocate for rural health and safety. She was
a Xantha McDonald a ward winner in twenty twenty three,
(12:00):
and we talked to her this afternoon while she's up
there at the Impact Summit where the name means the
new Xander McDonald recipients tonight. So Harriet, great to chat
once again.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Good Andy, Yeah, it is, thank you so much for
having me.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Firstly being up in christ Church before the alumni from
previous sand McDonald's must be pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Oh look, it's really special. I actually grow up going
to school and things in christ Church. It's lovely to
be back and it's really neat to see six fresh
new faces here at the summit, awaiting the exciting unveiling
of the news tonight and of course catching up with
you know, what we see as a family. And you know,
(12:43):
you're always reminded when you come to these things how
important it is to actually stop, take some time orf
farm and come and connect with all these wonderful people
in here about what everybody's been up to. It's one
of those pinch yourself moments that you know, it actually
happened to you and I still still feel that way.
And just to have the privilege of being in the
same room of you know, everybody is just such a great,
(13:06):
forward thinking, innovative person and you've there's so much to learn.
You know, you've got Shane mcmanaway leading the ship, and
people like himself to be able to tap him on
the shoulder and ask questions and you know, and get
a helping hand and a listening air is just you know,
something that money couldn't pay for. So it's very special, Andy.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Harriet, What was a catalyst for you entering the awards?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Oh, look, it was something that I'd followed for a
while and it was really you know, it was an
award that really spoke to me. It was actually my
mother in law who gave me the push and said,
you need to do this. My husband's brother was a
finalist early on in the piece when the award first started,
and I had heard how it was just such a
(13:53):
special group of people to be part of. And you know,
it's so different to other awards. It's so much more
then receiving a trophy and having a nice photo and
a trophy on your sideboard. It is about becoming part
of this family that you're a part of forever, and
the connections that you make and the mentorship that you receive,
(14:13):
and it just encompasses so many things. I'd be here
all day if I could tell you about them all.
But yeah, it's definitely something that I would say to
people if they're thinking about it, if they're interested in it,
just have a go because becoming part of the Alumni
is a life changing thing that will change the world
(14:34):
and how you move forward in it forever.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Well, I suppose to narrow it all down, the biggest
takeaway from being involved with it was just the opportunities
that arose.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Ah, absolutely, and I would say the connections and relationships
with people. You know, it puts you in a position
where you can pick up the phone and wring somebody
across the ditch in Australia or anyone here in New Zealand.
They will open their doors to you, sit you down,
have a good chat, help you nut out any issues
or problems or challenges that you're facing, and also celebrate
(15:05):
the ones with you as well. So you know a
lot of us are on the lookout for great mentors
and people that we can be under their wing with
and the award just offers all of that, you know,
a big buffet of it that I suppose.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Now this is all part of the Impact Summit where
the awards are happening tonight. What was the theme there
is such this year?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Well, it's an extremely special theme. We're in christ Church
and dy fifteen years on from the earthquakes, which speaks
to me as I was here for those from solid foundations.
We Rise was our theme this year and look we
had an amazing afternoon yesterday with the alumni, with Elizabeth McNaughton,
(15:49):
who actually four fronted and ran the relief group for
the christ Church earthquake after it happened. So she took
us through you know, disasters, how we can learn to
lead through them, how we can get through them, you know,
preparing ourselves for us and other disaster arose. Are we
(16:09):
prepared for that? Do we know how to get ourselves
and our people through that? And so many amazing nuggets
of gold there and rich Green is currently talking to
us at the moment how we set up our businesses
to win. So yeah, it's going to be a jam
packed couple of days. So many wonderful people that are
presenting to us, and tonight we get to find out
(16:30):
who this is one of us. So very exciting.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Fifteen years on from the earthquakes. You say you were
in christ Church when they occurred. What was what's your
biggest memory about the event?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Oh? Goodness, it was actually my very first day teaching
in a classroom. I had five year old students. We obviously,
like everybody else, didn't know what really was going on,
but we had children that were not picked up from
school quite late in that evening, and a child came
(17:02):
up to me and said, excuse me, miss, My mom
and dad work in town. Do you think they're okay?
And I was, you know, twenty one years old, and
had this little face looking at me. We had only
heard what we had heard. We knew it wasn't good.
And I stood there and thought, my goodness, no one
(17:22):
has prepared me for answering this question. You know, it
was not how I first saw my first day and
classroom teaching going. Yeah, and then from there after graduating
with my primary teaching diploma, my first job and yoga
asked if I could handle pressure, and I could quite
confidently tell them that I survived through that year training
(17:46):
to be a teacher amongst all the earthquakes and you know,
children latching onto door frames every time there was a
tree miss, So I felt that, yeah, I had learned
some tools by that stage to deal with pressure.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Well, that must have been pretty confronting.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Yeah, look it was. And you know yesterday sitting in
that room sharing stories about the earthquake, and it's amazing
how your body and your mind you can take you
right back to how you felt in those moments. We
were living on anxiety and fear and no sleep for
a long time here in christ Church, and yeah, it's
(18:23):
really quite hard to believe that it was fifteen years ago.
But it's great to come back to the city and
see what the city is. A community's done to try
and rebuild, you know, and that's what we're looking at
at summit here. How we rebuild, how we move forward,
and you know, how you surround yourself with the right
people in life that when you come to a tricky
situation and disaster, whatever that may look like for you,
(18:47):
if you've got those right people around you, then you know,
it makes it that bit easier to put one foot
in front of the other and move forward.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Harriet, you're based at Blackmun. You were telling me before
we had a chat that you've had four scenes in
one day. We'rether wise, nothing's been normal lately.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Look, I think it started in spring andy on my
Lemming beat worth that eight hundred old miles of rain
in about six or seven weeks. I think that was
fairly depressing. And then we've actually had a great, a
great season summer wise. It hasn't been great boating weather,
but we haven't had time for that anyway. And you know,
last week we had snow on the mountains in the morning,
(19:26):
frozen windscreen, and then it was twenty eight degrees in
the afternoon, so it's take a jacket and pair of
shorts to work at the moment, I think, and it's
feeling awfully all to me already. So I'm not sure
what you think, but we're not sure what is in
store for us this winter. Maybe another mild one, maybe
a cold one. Who knows.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Harriet Bremner, thanks very much for your time on the
must of this afternoon. It sounds like a fantastic occasion
up there of networking and just connecting with people in
the farming industry. It'll be great to see who the
winners for the Xander McDonald Award this evening. Thanks you time.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Thanks Andy, you have a great day.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Welcome back to the muster Larry Margray and his chair
of Open Country. We catch up with the team on
a regular basis. Murry, good afternoon. It is autumn down
here in the Deep South up where you're based up north.
How's the season been pretty good?
Speaker 4 (20:24):
And you thank you? Yeah, welcome and nice to hear
from you. No, been a good year, I mean across
the country. I mean, I know South of Otaga is
no exception. There are sort of geographic pockets which are different.
But the milk flow has been strong, it's been consistent,
and it's hanging on very well into autumn, early autumn,
(20:46):
in the beginning or winter in a few months. I
guess people are getting many cuts, bead stops are high,
milk supply is still good, and the price is not
disappointing people.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, the price will talk about that, surely. But as
far as the milks have compared to say, this time
twelve months ago, Laurie, where would you say it's that?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Oh, run a few percent. I mean I always I'm
always reluctant Andy to compare milk flows to prior years,
because you could have you have periods of a prior
year which are particularly bad or disappointing, and then you
compare a reasonable average year to that and it looks
like it flows really up. I would say milk flows
are where you would expect within reason, with the herd
(21:28):
numbers we've got, the production per animal we've got, and
the grass conditions we've been getting, so we're not unhappy.
I think farmers really good at net nets. As a
better than average year.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
We're saying good conditions for growing grass predominantly and a
lot of the province at the moment, Lurie, what's it
been like at North?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Pretty good? Any pretty good White cato By have plenty
King country, et cetera. We don't go to North and
obviously Taranaki meno or two you're pretty good. I mean again,
there are there are differences. I mean the way things
we get with these weather patterns these days. You can
get pretty healthy, even substantial rains in one area and
(22:08):
then ten k down the road you're getting richer. Nothing
but consistently it's been good. I mean everybody. I think
when you talk to farmers, how are things? The answer
usually begins with the word too. It's too warm, it's
too wet, it's too dry, it's too windy. It's always
to something. But net when you lean across the farm fence,
(22:28):
I think the farmers are pretty happy and the grass
grows where we've kind of hope they'll be at the
summer year.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's a farming prerogatives though. Lorry, though, is either one
thing or the other. It can't be the middle bowl
of porrich.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
Oh hell no no, Because when you when you're when
you're running businesses as farmers do, with so many imponderables
that you can't control. You can never have perfection, you
can never have things exactly how you want to have them.
Just doesn't work that way. That's why our guys, our
farmers are good at what they do because they know it,
(23:01):
they understand it, and they deal with it.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, the Southern Field Days was a few weeks ago now, Laurie.
But from an open country viewpoint, how was it?
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Oh fantastic. I mean the attendance. I don't know what
the official numbers were andy to be Frank I was
there for two days, never left the stand, well, left
the stand once a day out of the bathroom, but
never left the stand, so it didn't get a chance
to do any wandering. But people were pouring in and
out of our marquee, our stand constantly. I just it
(23:31):
was a fabulous couple of days. I really, I can't
say enough positive things about it. The atmosphere was good,
people were happy. I mean, you only learn why you're
listening and when you go to these field Days and
you spend the time with the people that make it
count for farmers and you listen Jesus, you learn a lot,
You hear a lot, and it helps us make better decisions.
(23:53):
It was just a terrific, terrific couple of days.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Forty two five hundred was the official figure for the
three days.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Well, whoa pretty good on the first day, I think
the Wednesday morning, I've got that right. The Wednesday morning
I attended the first Wednesday morning, it was pretty bleak,
pretty cold, pretty damp, pretty muddy. By Wednesday afternoon the
sun was out, that was scorching. Thursday was a scorcher.
People were pretty buoyant.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
I also also thought.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
They were, if what I heard was correct, aronting circumspect
about how they're spending, how they're planning, how they're running
their balance sheets. I still note, which is very encouraging,
a very good approach to good fiscal management. So, in
other words, take advantage of the good times, but don't
(24:41):
overextend yourself.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Was that the thing that seemed to stick out for
you speaking to Supplies Lourie was that they were happy
with the season, but fiscally responsible the space.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Absolutely. I don't know how many good years in a
row you need to have andy before people start to
forget if hope, the lessons of the past, but I
don't I don't feel in that position yet. We've had
some good years in succession. But farmers are being, for
the most part, I think, very pragmatic, very sensible, very
(25:12):
conscious of balance sheets, very conscious of debt. It seems
that the banks are more open for business now than
there were two years ago. But debt is debt, and
you know, debt, as we all know, can often be
called in when you least expected or when you least
want to pay it. So I think I think the
high degree of pragmatism very very encouraged. I think it's
(25:35):
a healthy sign for our industry.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Well, I just need to look at the GDT results
this year to date, after what was a nine consecutive
false is it about four rises on the trot now
and everything's looking pretty healthy for the sector. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I mean we never we never had our full year
full season, no, but we never had it go below
I think about nine twenty eight, nine thirty, So we
never we never fell as low as nine dollars as
some others did. We didn't see it as a long
term trend, and we've been proven right. We're not always right, obviously,
but we've have a proven right this year. I think
(26:12):
hard to say at this point. I mean, a lot
of things happened in the world and he aren't there.
But you'd say right now, there's as much chance. There's
probably a better chance to have been a little bit
higher than nine point fifty for the year. There's more
chance of that, and it is been lower than nine
point fifty.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Regarding the situation overseas, Lurie, what does that do for
New Zealand as an exporting nation, Well, it's a cost issue.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
Obviously, freight costs will go up. The search yards are
starting to flow through now. The The reality is it
will take longer to get some goods to some markets,
which slows down the payment schedule or regime if you like.
So it pushes up working capital for processes. Not an
(26:57):
issue for us. We've always run such a concer with
a belt sheet. We've always planned for this sort of stuff.
We plan for these contingencies and we won't bat an eyelid.
But for the industry, it slows down the process of
goods getting the market, slows down the return of capital
to the general or funds to working capitals in ZIL
(27:18):
and cause a lot more logistical headaches but touch Wood
so far as you would expect, is what we're paid
to do.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
We're coping.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
So you think we'll be able to absorb these costs
that we're going to see as a result.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Well, the answer with anty is your choice. We will
between ourselves, the supply base and the customers, all those
costs shared in proportioned somewhere. There are no choices, so
we have to cope with it and we do.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
Just finally, Lurie, we know you're a great North Harbor fan,
the Blues doing the business over the sadors that the
we care. But you've got the local derby givest Mawana Pacifica.
That'll be a good game, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
It will be. I mean, I gee, I saw the
Crusaders game last week. I think I've got this right. Andy.
We've only beat the Crusaders twice down the last eleven games.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, something ridiculous at Eden Park.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Lit alone in christ Church, so it was a significant win.
Speaker 5 (28:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
I mean they should beat Minor Pacifica on current form.
And I think I don't know what the bookies are saying,
but there'd be a significant level of disappointment in the
Blues camp if they don't but they got tipped up
by them last year, and any team coach by Tana
I wouldn't underestimate. So looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Larry Margray, open country chair. Thanks for your time when
the master is always enjoy the afternoon.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Pleasure, Andy take care.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Graham Butcher, fun consultant, joins us once again in studio.
How are you. I'm very well, indeed got your jersey
on today.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
I have had to dig it out of the bottom
of the cover.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Leasing. Talking about leasing today quite a bit to entail.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
Leasing's always a topic that comes up. I get frequent
calls from people saying what's the lease worth? And basically
you say, how long have you got to discuss that?
So I just thought i'd talk briefly about leasing about
how you should go about doing things. So what I
what I did is took the beef and lamb Class
(29:21):
six and seven is U said as a base for
what production levels are like and all that sort of
thing in gross incomes and what have you. Because it's
been around for quite a while, that leasing probably should
be around twenty to twenty five percent of your gross
farm income, right, So that's a base that's been there
for a number of years, and as we know, gross
(29:42):
incomes are gone up quite a bit. So got hold
of the Class six and Class seven latest report and
they have Lambs still at one eighty one fifty six,
stores at one hundred and twenty six, use at one
hundred and five, well at two thirty or two dollars
thirty three, quite a bit below where they actually are
at the moment, but that's not unusual for the beef
(30:05):
of labs Severn. They take a weee while to catch
up with what's actually happening because they're not there every
day doing stuff. So I looked at it and I said,
they're probably twenty percent below where they actually out right now.
So with a Class six farm, and that's the bigger
Hill country farm, your stock unit income, according to Beef
and Lambs one hundred and sixty four a stock unit.
This is your gross farm income, but really it's probably
(30:27):
closer to one hundred and ninety six. So take that,
take that as a figure and apply your twenty to
twenty five percent of your gross farm income. So we
actually need to think about what stock units are running
on the farm to do that. So at ten to
the heck deer, at to twenty percent mark, it's three
ninety two the heck dere. Well, if you're thinking acres,
that's one hundred and fifty eight an acre. If you
(30:50):
go to twenty five, it's four ninety and that's one
hundred and ninety eight an acre.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
How many people still working acres?
Speaker 5 (30:58):
Well, while I can count one, I still think better
in agason.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
We just a default mechanism almost although Greg Erickson now
correspondent in Canada from my movement, they work in bushels
over there for measurement. Well there you go anyway.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
So well, if you take that class six farm and
go up to eleven stock units, we range from four
thirty eight to five thirty nine a hec there. If
we go to twelve stock units, it was probably bit
unusual for a class six it's four sixty eight to
five eighty eight. So on that particular class six farm
we have depending on what stock units are caring and
depending on whether you use twenty to twenty five percent,
(31:32):
could be anywhere between one hundred and fifty eight and
two thirty eight and acre. If we go to a
class seven farm, the gross farm incumber stock units one
hundred and eighty eight eighty I reckon, it's closer to
two twenty six for that class seven farms. And if
we go through that whole drama again, going from ten
to twelve stock units in twenty to twenty five percent,
(31:53):
it could be anywhere between one hundred and or four
fifty two a hec there and six hundred and seventy
eight a hectare. So when we look at the class
six seven farms, and sometimes they overlap a but it's
a bit hard to decide which is which. The range
we get for our twenty to twenty five percent gross
income could be anywhere between three ninety two a hectare
(32:13):
and six seventy eight a hectare, right, and that depends
entirely on the stocking rate. If you think an acre
is better, it's one hundred and sixty to two seventy
five an acre. So if people bring me up, that's
probably going to be my standard response is what's the
least worth? I'll say anywhere between one hundred and sixty
and two seventy five an acre. So I suppose the
most important thing about tendering for release is not to
(32:38):
think about what other people are bidding. You're not trying
to outbid a neighbor who's got perhaps has to fill
up a labor unit from point eight to one and
all that sort of stuff. We need to sit down
and do a very serious budget on what you can do.
You've got to work out what stock you can carry,
what it's going to cost you to run it, what
(32:58):
your necessary profit is. But that's left over as the
lease and it'll probably forward between our somewhere between one's
sixty and two seventy five and acre. But you can't
tender for a lease on the basis that you need
to outbid someone else to get it. Very dangerous ground.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
To sat on dutch oction.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
Well, well it is because you take a case of
a neighboring farmer, it's on the boundary of the lease.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
He might have.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
Two stock units on the farm at work for one
point eight He can run that farm a lot more
efficiently than you can if you're fifty k's away or
have to shift or have to align an income from
that farm for drawings. So don't outbid, be very serious
about how you do your budget, and a few other
(33:46):
things are taken into account too if you if you're leasing,
it's a bit of a risk when you have to
buy stock and sell stock at the end of a
lease if you buy them. If you have to go
in and buy stock now to do a lease, what's
the price going to be when you need to sell
or can't do anything else with them, but sell at
the end of say five years, you could take a
(34:07):
bit of a hiding. In other cases, if you were
a few least five years ago, I bought stock and
selling them now, great, probably have money in the bank.
So that's always a fact you to consider. So the
key point is do your own budget. Make sure you
allow for a profit, because the only point about having
a lease is having more cash at the end of
(34:28):
the days than when the lease started. So be very critical.
See if you can get stockholding capacities of the farm.
Look at the farm. What are the sal tests like,
what are the pastures like? What can I reasonably do
on this farm and make a profit. Don't think about
what someone else can do on the farm because it
won't work and.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
The opportunity may arise least to buy down the line.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
Well, yeah, that can be case. Often liases have ride
a first option to purchase at the end. Yeah, on
two minds about that From the less aw's point of view,
it's probably a bit of a hindrance having something like
that in there, but from the less eas point of view,
it's probably quite good.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Well, these think it benefit both parties as well.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
Well, it's got to be a win win, that's well,
that's my other comment about leasing. It's got to be
a win win. The less has got to make he's
got to achieve his objectives and so to say less see. So, yeah,
it's quite interesting to look at the option of leasing
into purchase. Got some figure here somewhere. If we say
(35:29):
land's worth fifteen hundred a hectare about thirteen to fifty
a stock unit, or about eleven fifty or thirteen sixty
three are stock unit, there's a hectory of land to
lease that. Let's say it's five to fifty a stock unit.
There's your annual cost of cost of your ability to
farm that land. If we go and buy it, and
we have sixty percent equity, so we've got nine thousand
(35:51):
we can put in, and we borrow six thousand to
buy it five and a half percent on the six
thousand you buys three hundred and thirty, and there's an
opportunity cost of that cash you're putting into it, you're
sixty percent, you're nine thousand a hect here, and it's
probably around about three percent, which is two twenty a hectare,
which is five poin fifty a hectare, which is exactly
the same as and you're running cost of leasing. So
(36:13):
if you only got forty percent equity in the cost
of owning that land and the ability to farment is
six seventy five a hectare, which is more than the
cost of leasing. So leasing is a pretty serious option
for a farm that wants to expand that hasn't got capital.
It's also a very good vehicle for young people we
(36:37):
haven't got haven't got a lot of capital, but want
to get into farming. But it all comes down to
doing your budgets.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Properly, due diligence. Absolutely can on your gram always relevant,
good times.
Speaker 6 (36:49):
Really good.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Below river scene. This is the muster on Hokanuilana Marshall
is up at the Impact Summit in christ Church which
is happening this week. But she was a finalist in
the Xander McDonald Awards, which we're announced last night because
(37:14):
identally the winners from New Zealand, Cahn Dali Well and
from Australia Bryce Neyland, but nonetheless being involved in a
week it just seems to wreak a positivity in the
rural sector. It sounds like in a real outstanding event.
Lana's going to give us a bit of rundown of
how it's been. Good afternoon and welcome to the muster.
Speaker 6 (37:34):
Hey, thanks very much for having me Andy firstly up.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
There in christ Church. Just at the summit in general,
it must be a pretty positive mood.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
It has been perfick up here and now everyone you
talk to is here for the same reason. It's all
about improving the ad sector. We've all got the same
desire to improve what we do and being surrounded by
these incredible people is just so humbling and inspiring e
all at the same time.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
Just regarding the mood, I'd say to be pretty positive
given the way the sectors are performing this year.
Speaker 6 (38:08):
Definitely yet no, it has been. Yeah, everyone everyone's in
really good spirits. We're talking about what's next to the future.
You know where we're going to be investing in next
we's our biggest growth opportunities and we've actually just come
off a talk with the in regards to some trades
so yeah, that's all been yeah, real positive.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Yeah, and a resting regarding trade, what was the hot
topic today, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (38:34):
It was a it was a very good topic this morning.
The main thing was what is what are we looking
at in regards to the international trading system at the
moment and what might lie heads for New Zealand. We
didn't dive into too much detail as such. It was
more just around you know, how are we going to
continue to trade? What what O nations need to do
to respond, and especially in New Zealand, what's our presence
(38:57):
like around the world. So just sort of very likely
touch and all those subjects.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Was the general consensus that New Zealand has equipped to
adjust to these ever evolving changes.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (39:08):
Yeah, there was a lot of positivity in the room,
and you know, we sort of looked at you know,
what do our products offer, you know, what's our export
around the world? And everyone around the world loves what
New Zealand does, so they think that we're in a
pretty good space there.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
I suppose about yourself that and for people who are
underwear about your background, just give them a brief understanding
of your farming background as such and where you're based.
Speaker 6 (39:36):
Yeah. So I like to tell people I'm an unpaid
dairy farmer, so my husband and I are fifty fifty
year milking and mocketur. And then outside of farming, I
work for an awsome company called MZAB so I get
to live in breefe farming every single day, whether it's
on our farm or helping other people and empowering them
(39:58):
to succeed in their own farming.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Well, I suppose when you've had a rough day out
of the office, going and to help out on the
farm is probably a release more than anything, or sometimes
it could be the other way around.
Speaker 6 (40:08):
It's it's fantastic. I mean it makes me very grounded
and I feel it makes me a lot more relatable
to my clients. Being out there on the farm is
an experience that you can't really explain. It's nice have
that but a piece and fid although during carving you
sort of have to put the air pods in so
you can't hit the calves out. But yeah, no, it's
(40:30):
it really does bring.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
A breath with a fresh air.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
And what was a driving force for you applying for
the Zander McDonald Award.
Speaker 6 (40:38):
For me? Look, I looked at it and thought, oh,
this is an amazing opportunity. Didn't think I was good
enough and enough to having a few conversations with people,
said no, you've got to put your name in the hat.
You know that the award brings opportunities and connections that
you will not make anywhere else with any other award.
(40:59):
And so for me, the winning would have been fantastic
in regards to the mentoring trip and being able to
go over to Australia. But the real award has been
part of the alumni. So as a finalist US Top three,
we get invited back every single year. We're in a
room with these incredible every business professionals and farmers, and
(41:21):
you know, it's those long lasting connections that that we're
going to be able to implement change moving forward. And
I think that's something that money can't buy.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
It's interesting you say that Harriet Bremner. I hit her
on the program yesterday and she echoed those exact same sentiments.
Speaker 6 (41:36):
Oh good good, Well we didn't rehearse it, so I can.
Speaker 5 (41:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
It's it's very hard to put into words what this
award brings you. And you know, like this morning, just
meeting with people from across the Ditch who said, you know,
if you ever over in Australia, please come and see us.
Would love to have you there, And yeah, I mean
you wouldn't get that anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Regarding the Australian contingent, how are they feeling at the
omened regarding the far Regarding the farming sector.
Speaker 6 (42:04):
Yeah, it's interesting because you know, in New Zealand very
predominantly shem beef and dairy. One of the finalists are
and a partner are cotton farmers. So for them, it's
it's very interesting to hear about how water plays such
a significant role in their business. You know, they're all
about flood irrigation, and you know they've had a lot
(42:26):
of rainfall over there lately, so you know, the weather's
plays quite a big part for what they're doing over
in their countries. But they are all in really good
spirits they have despite what's happening with weather over there.
They are taking on new initiatives, they're trialing new ways
of farming, and yeah, that they're in pretty good spirits
(42:48):
to be fair.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
The situation in the Middle East is a playing on
their minds at all, given that Albanez's starting to do
a bit of accommodation for Donald Trump.
Speaker 6 (42:57):
Yeah, the old Trump Trump's name come up a couple
I's yesterday actually, and you know, talking about the price
of oil and what that's going to do for the
dairy sector and you know things like that. So yeah,
there is a wee bit of unease around that. But look,
and I'm a very big believers, you can only focus
on what you can control. You know, we can't affect
(43:18):
a lot of these decisions and what's going on. So
if we just focus on what we can do and
how we can improve what we are doing worldwide, then
you know, that's that's the best thing.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
Well, okay, it's the end of the week that impacts
suit is all over and done with. What is Lanna
Marshall going to do differently going forward?
Speaker 6 (43:34):
Oh that's a great question.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
Only the tough questions on this show.
Speaker 6 (43:40):
I think for me, we're going on a field trip
tomorrow around christ Church which is going to be very exciting.
Speaker 5 (43:47):
We head over to.
Speaker 6 (43:47):
Lincoln University to their Egrey Tech Space and then we
are lucky enough to head out to a whole to
farm tomorrow afternoon as well, So that'll be exciting. But
I think following on for me. You know, I'm very
very passionate about my job with the DAB and what
I do for my clients, and to me, it's taking
(44:09):
these connections at that I've now gained at the summit
and being able to bring them back to my role
so I can continue to help people succeed in their
farming businesses, but also around that governance space. For me,
that's sort of my trajectory for now is working on
some further education in that space, which means that I'm
going to be best placed for any sort of governance
(44:30):
roles relating to my interests moving forward, and hopefully we
can be part of creating a sector that you know,
young people look at it and say I want to
go and work in that sector. It's not just milking
cows or out in paddock setting up breaks or anything
like that. There's other roles within our sector and yeah,
just trying to keep those people engaged and so that way,
(44:51):
you know, our economy will continue to flow.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
Lana Marshall there be caught up during the week as
part of the Impact Summit that was happening in Christchurch.
That's the best of the master over and done with.
My name's Andy mull enjoy the weekend and take a
bit of time off. If you get the opportunity, go
and connect. See you Monday.
Last night I had the strangers a very good morning
and welcome along to the best of the muster, a
collaboration of interviews that took her attention during a busy
week here at Hoknu e HQ. My name's Andy muer
Thinks your company. We're starting off the hour by catching
up with Jeff Grant, former MP these days, business owner
and a farmer based in Balfaa, Northern Southland, talking about
(00:27):
the situation in the USA and what it means for
New Zealand in a trading sense. I mean very volatile
what we're seeing regarding President Trump and America's war with
Iran as such, So what does it mean for New
Zealand as a trading nation going forward. Harriet Bremden was
on the program twenty twenty three Xander McDonald wood Winner
(00:48):
talking to us while she was up at the Impact Summit.
A couple of speakers that actually revolved the Impact Summit,
and just such a positive story about stuff that's been
happening in the rural space and particularly of what Harriet's
been doing. It's a really inspirational story that was worth sharing.
Laurie Margrain is Chair of Open Country, talking about the
(01:08):
dairy sector just kicking goals at the moment and where
are we looking at the payout, what are we looking
at for the next gdet and just overall milk flows
around the country. Laurie's saying everything's in a really good
space at the moment. Graham Butcher Farm Consultant, we caught
up to talk leasing a lot of people. Do you
look at wondering what you do? Do you look at
(01:29):
least to buy? Are you just leasing for a couple
of years and what's the best going rate leasewise? Well,
Graham put some context around this and Lanna Marshall as well,
a finalist and the Zander McDonald Award as well as
being involved with the Impact Summit during the week and
just a positivity and this is a great thing about
speaking to these people. They're just so passionate about the
rural industry and it's something that we need to look
(01:51):
at going forward to realize that New Zealand farming is
in great hands. So, without further ado, we'll start the
hour now with Jeff Grunt. Every day it's again closer,
going faster. Then welcome back. You're listening to the muster
on Hakanui Jeff Grant joins us next, former MP a
(02:14):
member of the New Zealand Trade Envoy, amongst other things, Jeff,
good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
How are you good Andy?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
How's everything in northern South for namely Balfa.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Oh, we got eighteen mills of rain over the last
couple of days, which was useful. We were looking for
a more rain standing to brown off again on the
on the ridges and stuff. So I should set u
up for the autumn.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Right this Middle East war, we're starting to see the
ramifications at the pump here. For example, last Friday, the
discount day at the local salth service stations about a
dollar fifty seven for a liter of diesel. Fast forward
to this morning, the same product as about two dollars twelve.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, I see. The Commerce Commissioner said they had a
warning saying they think the pricing increase doesn't reflect the
market situation in the sense that the fuel hasn't even
arrived at the higher price. But that's just part of
the reality. As I always find it amusing, you get
these emails telling you've got a price adjustment, which really
(03:14):
means the price has gone up for something, and we're
going to see a bit of that you know, transport
and logistics will come under some pressure over the next
three or four months if this carries on for another
week or two, and then we'll start to see it
and fertilize the price etc. As we get into the winter.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So we're saying good prices in the farm gate, the
farm gate inflation. All of a sudden, it's going to
be the equation.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Isn't it always the case though? I mean, you just
start to think you're having a really good season and
then something comes along and changes the mathematics of it all,
and it's just it is what it is, and the
sense that we're going to see, you know, the impact.
I think the impact also for you know, places like
New Zealand, especially on shipping. Is there that extra cost
(04:01):
of bringing stuff having not been able to go through
the strait and delays. I'd imagine it's been a nightmare
for the meat companies along with the dairy industry in
terms of where ships are sitting, Especially with chilled meat.
You can't have it sitting in a sitting off the
gulf on its way to the European market and then
find that you've got to freeze it down and find
(04:22):
another buyer.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Etc.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So, yeah, tough time.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Now. Local government restructure has been well documented coming up
eighteen months now about a changing to regional councils, especially
here in the South. What are you hearing? What's the latest?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh? Look, I think that the Local Government Commissions in
the process of its reports, I think it's holding a
meeting in the nineteenth and march down in Riverton to
sort of gather information in terms of people's thinking. I
just so people should get actively involved. There's a nonline
survey as well that they're doing. But the reality is,
(05:00):
I just get a sense that the full councils down
here aren't really putting their mind to what's the best
option the change should take place, it's for sure, and
I think that there's a good argument to look at
what's the best delivery of a services for local government
over the next ten to fifteen years. There's a lot
(05:21):
of emphasis on structure and governance. Governance is about two
percent of the cost of reality is it's the services
and the staff that is a big cost of local government.
And you know, I find the focus in the wrong
direction to a certain extent.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
What's your feeling on there are these changes going to
happen regarding local government.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Well, look, I think there will be quite a some
course to find a solution in Southland that does create
some amalgamation. I'm not convinced about two unitary councils is
an option. And again I would say it's a drive
for the structure of what we should be arguing or
debating is how are the services that we want over
(06:05):
the next ten to fifteen years to be delivered and
then look at the structure it gives the best delivery.
And so I think there's an argument to centralize transport, roading,
environmental water into one. And so I'm a bit of
a fan of what you call centralize the services and
(06:26):
localize the democracy, and so there's a variety of structures
you could do to do that. Quite professionally.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Hey, Jeff, what's your thoughts around the latest pole that
came out Christopher Luxe and national plunging into the twenties.
Is it as catastrophic as what's being made out or
is this simply one pole?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Oh? Look, I think there's definitely a trend that's showing
that the coalition's struggling a bit in terms of the
people's attitude towards what's happening on the ground. I mean,
we've had lots of announcements about how things are improving,
but until people feel that in their back pocket and
also when they go to the pub on Friday night,
(07:09):
that sort of attitude towards saying are we hitting in
the right direction is going to be questioned. I think
it's going to be a there's always a close election
as you do get under m MP and I think
that coalitions at some risk of not quite getting over
the line.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Do you think Chris Special will be doing the numbers?
Has it come to that point.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Well, if he is, he's the wrong person. I think
that if we were down, if the Coalition or the
National Party was down around there twenty two percent, that
would build bigger change. I think they'll be looking at
what are they going to do to shift it back
up to around thirty one thirty two that's where they
(07:51):
need to get to. They may just have to accept
that the new coalition may have us stronger influence from
New Zealand first, and that will change the time.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Who what made the ideal candidate? They like Mike Mitchell
at Erica Stanford.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Oh, Look, I think the reality is that you're never
quite sure. It's always hard this sort of question about
who's the next person because they never sort of shine
through until they are actually elected. And just in there
a Dune as a classic example, I think that they
would have to look dynamically quite different from the current
(08:29):
leader if they were to make a change, and so
Erica Stanford would probably be the one that's stuck out
a little bit. But I think that they'll probably better
to stick with what they've got through this election.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
The fake meat story that's losing traction by the day
almost I.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Just thought it was interesting to go back and have
a little look. As we've talked about this before, and
the two big companies that have been in the market
quite strongly since you know, mid for two thousand and fifth,
Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods to American companies. Beyond Meats
are publicly listed. If you had their shares in twenty nineteen,
(09:09):
they're worth two hundred and forty three dollars each. They're
now worth ninety six seventy six cents, So the dramatic
change in terms of its value. What they're really struggling
around is their ability to take on the big players
like Tyson and any lead who have used their marketing
(09:34):
strength to do some of the meat alterns of but
the reality is the market hasn't really responded. So what's
happened is that there's been a lot more analysis around
what are false or these meats in terms of what
the makeup is and the argument around the health side
(09:57):
along with process food. That's because they use a lot
more ultra process food. Combination in terms of their products,
especially in the meat Hamburger paddies hasn't been successful, so
they've changed their swing now now talking about resource sufficiency,
so you know, impossible burgers talk about the fact that
they only used ninety nine percent less water and less
(10:22):
land by about ninety six percent and ninety two percent
less pollution. But that's that global trend towards saying you know,
what am I doing about climate change hasn't really had
an impact. Fascinating figure though, if you changed all the
current beef production in the world to a plant based alternative,
(10:44):
the global protein market would change to the extent that
the savings in terms of greenhouse gases would be greater
than the whole of the electric motor vehicle. If every
vehicle world was changed to electrics, so you would save
more from going to a plant based meat than you
(11:06):
would But the reality is the market is just not responding,
and so these companies are really struggling to find a
place in the market. And I just don't think other
than say Berger King and those providing an alternative, cheap
protein source, we're not going to see a big change
in the market in terms of what I call false meat.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Jeff Grant, always appreciate your time on the muster. I'll
catch you at the one of Cache on Friday.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Cheers will catch it in Enemy.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Chicken Sea. I got a hundred three. Harriet Bremner joins
us next now. She's worn a number of hats over
the years. She's a farmer and author as well as
being an advocate for rural health and safety. She was
a Xantha McDonald a ward winner in twenty twenty three,
(12:00):
and we talked to her this afternoon while she's up
there at the Impact Summit where the name means the
new Xander McDonald recipients tonight. So Harriet, great to chat
once again.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Good Andy, Yeah, it is, thank you so much for
having me.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Firstly being up in christ Church before the alumni from
previous sand McDonald's must be pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Oh look, it's really special. I actually grow up going
to school and things in christ Church. It's lovely to
be back and it's really neat to see six fresh
new faces here at the summit, awaiting the exciting unveiling
of the news tonight and of course catching up with
you know, what we see as a family. And you know,
(12:43):
you're always reminded when you come to these things how
important it is to actually stop, take some time orf
farm and come and connect with all these wonderful people
in here about what everybody's been up to. It's one
of those pinch yourself moments that you know, it actually
happened to you and I still still feel that way.
And just to have the privilege of being in the
same room of you know, everybody is just such a great,
(13:06):
forward thinking, innovative person and you've there's so much to learn.
You know, you've got Shane mcmanaway leading the ship, and
people like himself to be able to tap him on
the shoulder and ask questions and you know, and get
a helping hand and a listening air is just you know,
something that money couldn't pay for. So it's very special, Andy.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Harriet, What was a catalyst for you entering the awards?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Oh, look, it was something that I'd followed for a
while and it was really you know, it was an
award that really spoke to me. It was actually my
mother in law who gave me the push and said,
you need to do this. My husband's brother was a
finalist early on in the piece when the award first started,
and I had heard how it was just such a
(13:53):
special group of people to be part of. And you know,
it's so different to other awards. It's so much more
then receiving a trophy and having a nice photo and
a trophy on your sideboard. It is about becoming part
of this family that you're a part of forever, and
the connections that you make and the mentorship that you receive,
(14:13):
and it just encompasses so many things. I'd be here
all day if I could tell you about them all.
But yeah, it's definitely something that I would say to
people if they're thinking about it, if they're interested in it,
just have a go because becoming part of the Alumni
is a life changing thing that will change the world
(14:34):
and how you move forward in it forever.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Well, I suppose to narrow it all down, the biggest
takeaway from being involved with it was just the opportunities
that arose.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Ah, absolutely, and I would say the connections and relationships
with people. You know, it puts you in a position
where you can pick up the phone and wring somebody
across the ditch in Australia or anyone here in New Zealand.
They will open their doors to you, sit you down,
have a good chat, help you nut out any issues
or problems or challenges that you're facing, and also celebrate
(15:05):
the ones with you as well. So you know a
lot of us are on the lookout for great mentors
and people that we can be under their wing with
and the award just offers all of that, you know,
a big buffet of it that I suppose.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Now this is all part of the Impact Summit where
the awards are happening tonight. What was the theme there
is such this year?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Well, it's an extremely special theme. We're in christ Church
and dy fifteen years on from the earthquakes, which speaks
to me as I was here for those from solid foundations.
We Rise was our theme this year and look we
had an amazing afternoon yesterday with the alumni, with Elizabeth McNaughton,
(15:49):
who actually four fronted and ran the relief group for
the christ Church earthquake after it happened. So she took
us through you know, disasters, how we can learn to
lead through them, how we can get through them, you know,
preparing ourselves for us and other disaster arose. Are we
(16:09):
prepared for that? Do we know how to get ourselves
and our people through that? And so many amazing nuggets
of gold there and rich Green is currently talking to
us at the moment how we set up our businesses
to win. So yeah, it's going to be a jam
packed couple of days. So many wonderful people that are
presenting to us, and tonight we get to find out
(16:30):
who this is one of us. So very exciting.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Fifteen years on from the earthquakes. You say you were
in christ Church when they occurred. What was what's your
biggest memory about the event?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Oh? Goodness, it was actually my very first day teaching
in a classroom. I had five year old students. We obviously,
like everybody else, didn't know what really was going on,
but we had children that were not picked up from
school quite late in that evening, and a child came
(17:02):
up to me and said, excuse me, miss, My mom
and dad work in town. Do you think they're okay?
And I was, you know, twenty one years old, and
had this little face looking at me. We had only
heard what we had heard. We knew it wasn't good.
And I stood there and thought, my goodness, no one
(17:22):
has prepared me for answering this question. You know, it
was not how I first saw my first day and
classroom teaching going. Yeah, and then from there after graduating
with my primary teaching diploma, my first job and yoga
asked if I could handle pressure, and I could quite
confidently tell them that I survived through that year training
(17:46):
to be a teacher amongst all the earthquakes and you know,
children latching onto door frames every time there was a
tree miss, So I felt that, yeah, I had learned
some tools by that stage to deal with pressure.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Well, that must have been pretty confronting.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Yeah, look it was. And you know yesterday sitting in
that room sharing stories about the earthquake, and it's amazing
how your body and your mind you can take you
right back to how you felt in those moments. We
were living on anxiety and fear and no sleep for
a long time here in christ Church, and yeah, it's
(18:23):
really quite hard to believe that it was fifteen years ago.
But it's great to come back to the city and
see what the city is. A community's done to try
and rebuild, you know, and that's what we're looking at
at summit here. How we rebuild, how we move forward,
and you know, how you surround yourself with the right
people in life that when you come to a tricky
situation and disaster, whatever that may look like for you,
(18:47):
if you've got those right people around you, then you know,
it makes it that bit easier to put one foot
in front of the other and move forward.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Harriet, you're based at Blackmun. You were telling me before
we had a chat that you've had four scenes in
one day. We'rether wise, nothing's been normal lately.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Look, I think it started in spring andy on my
Lemming beat worth that eight hundred old miles of rain
in about six or seven weeks. I think that was
fairly depressing. And then we've actually had a great, a
great season summer wise. It hasn't been great boating weather,
but we haven't had time for that anyway. And you know,
last week we had snow on the mountains in the morning,
(19:26):
frozen windscreen, and then it was twenty eight degrees in
the afternoon, so it's take a jacket and pair of
shorts to work at the moment, I think, and it's
feeling awfully all to me already. So I'm not sure
what you think, but we're not sure what is in
store for us this winter. Maybe another mild one, maybe
a cold one. Who knows.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Harriet Bremner, thanks very much for your time on the
must of this afternoon. It sounds like a fantastic occasion
up there of networking and just connecting with people in
the farming industry. It'll be great to see who the
winners for the Xander McDonald Award this evening. Thanks you time.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Thanks Andy, you have a great day.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Welcome back to the muster Larry Margray and his chair
of Open Country. We catch up with the team on
a regular basis. Murry, good afternoon. It is autumn down
here in the Deep South up where you're based up north.
How's the season been pretty good?
Speaker 4 (20:24):
And you thank you? Yeah, welcome and nice to hear
from you. No, been a good year, I mean across
the country. I mean, I know South of Otaga is
no exception. There are sort of geographic pockets which are different.
But the milk flow has been strong, it's been consistent,
and it's hanging on very well into autumn, early autumn,
(20:46):
in the beginning or winter in a few months. I
guess people are getting many cuts, bead stops are high,
milk supply is still good, and the price is not
disappointing people.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, the price will talk about that, surely. But as
far as the milks have compared to say, this time
twelve months ago, Laurie, where would you say it's that?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Oh, run a few percent. I mean I always I'm
always reluctant Andy to compare milk flows to prior years,
because you could have you have periods of a prior
year which are particularly bad or disappointing, and then you
compare a reasonable average year to that and it looks
like it flows really up. I would say milk flows
are where you would expect within reason, with the herd
(21:28):
numbers we've got, the production per animal we've got, and
the grass conditions we've been getting, so we're not unhappy.
I think farmers really good at net nets. As a
better than average year.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
We're saying good conditions for growing grass predominantly and a
lot of the province at the moment, Lurie, what's it
been like at North?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Pretty good? Any pretty good White cato By have plenty
King country, et cetera. We don't go to North and
obviously Taranaki meno or two you're pretty good. I mean again,
there are there are differences. I mean the way things
we get with these weather patterns these days. You can
get pretty healthy, even substantial rains in one area and
(22:08):
then ten k down the road you're getting richer. Nothing
but consistently it's been good. I mean everybody. I think
when you talk to farmers, how are things? The answer
usually begins with the word too. It's too warm, it's
too wet, it's too dry, it's too windy. It's always
to something. But net when you lean across the farm fence,
(22:28):
I think the farmers are pretty happy and the grass
grows where we've kind of hope they'll be at the
summer year.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's a farming prerogatives though. Lorry, though, is either one
thing or the other. It can't be the middle bowl
of porrich.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
Oh hell no no, Because when you when you're when
you're running businesses as farmers do, with so many imponderables
that you can't control. You can never have perfection, you
can never have things exactly how you want to have them.
Just doesn't work that way. That's why our guys, our
farmers are good at what they do because they know it,
(23:01):
they understand it, and they deal with it.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, the Southern Field Days was a few weeks ago now, Laurie.
But from an open country viewpoint, how was it?
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Oh fantastic. I mean the attendance. I don't know what
the official numbers were andy to be Frank I was
there for two days, never left the stand, well, left
the stand once a day out of the bathroom, but
never left the stand, so it didn't get a chance
to do any wandering. But people were pouring in and
out of our marquee, our stand constantly. I just it
(23:31):
was a fabulous couple of days. I really, I can't
say enough positive things about it. The atmosphere was good,
people were happy. I mean, you only learn why you're
listening and when you go to these field Days and
you spend the time with the people that make it
count for farmers and you listen Jesus, you learn a lot,
You hear a lot, and it helps us make better decisions.
(23:53):
It was just a terrific, terrific couple of days.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Forty two five hundred was the official figure for the
three days.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Well, whoa pretty good on the first day, I think
the Wednesday morning, I've got that right. The Wednesday morning
I attended the first Wednesday morning, it was pretty bleak,
pretty cold, pretty damp, pretty muddy. By Wednesday afternoon the
sun was out, that was scorching. Thursday was a scorcher.
People were pretty buoyant.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
I also also thought.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
They were, if what I heard was correct, aronting circumspect
about how they're spending, how they're planning, how they're running
their balance sheets. I still note, which is very encouraging,
a very good approach to good fiscal management. So, in
other words, take advantage of the good times, but don't
(24:41):
overextend yourself.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Was that the thing that seemed to stick out for
you speaking to Supplies Lourie was that they were happy
with the season, but fiscally responsible the space.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Absolutely. I don't know how many good years in a
row you need to have andy before people start to
forget if hope, the lessons of the past, but I
don't I don't feel in that position yet. We've had
some good years in succession. But farmers are being, for
the most part, I think, very pragmatic, very sensible, very
(25:12):
conscious of balance sheets, very conscious of debt. It seems
that the banks are more open for business now than
there were two years ago. But debt is debt, and
you know, debt, as we all know, can often be
called in when you least expected or when you least
want to pay it. So I think I think the
high degree of pragmatism very very encouraged. I think it's
(25:35):
a healthy sign for our industry.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Well, I just need to look at the GDT results
this year to date, after what was a nine consecutive
false is it about four rises on the trot now
and everything's looking pretty healthy for the sector. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I mean we never we never had our full year
full season, no, but we never had it go below
I think about nine twenty eight, nine thirty, So we
never we never fell as low as nine dollars as
some others did. We didn't see it as a long
term trend, and we've been proven right. We're not always right, obviously,
but we've have a proven right this year. I think
(26:12):
hard to say at this point. I mean, a lot
of things happened in the world and he aren't there.
But you'd say right now, there's as much chance. There's
probably a better chance to have been a little bit
higher than nine point fifty for the year. There's more
chance of that, and it is been lower than nine
point fifty.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Regarding the situation overseas, Lurie, what does that do for
New Zealand as an exporting nation, Well, it's a cost issue.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
Obviously, freight costs will go up. The search yards are
starting to flow through now. The The reality is it
will take longer to get some goods to some markets,
which slows down the payment schedule or regime if you like.
So it pushes up working capital for processes. Not an
(26:57):
issue for us. We've always run such a concer with
a belt sheet. We've always planned for this sort of stuff.
We plan for these contingencies and we won't bat an eyelid.
But for the industry, it slows down the process of
goods getting the market, slows down the return of capital
to the general or funds to working capitals in ZIL
(27:18):
and cause a lot more logistical headaches but touch Wood
so far as you would expect, is what we're paid
to do.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
We're coping.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
So you think we'll be able to absorb these costs
that we're going to see as a result.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Well, the answer with anty is your choice. We will
between ourselves, the supply base and the customers, all those
costs shared in proportioned somewhere. There are no choices, so
we have to cope with it and we do.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
Just finally, Lurie, we know you're a great North Harbor fan,
the Blues doing the business over the sadors that the
we care. But you've got the local derby givest Mawana Pacifica.
That'll be a good game, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
It will be. I mean, I gee, I saw the
Crusaders game last week. I think I've got this right. Andy.
We've only beat the Crusaders twice down the last eleven games.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, something ridiculous at Eden Park.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Lit alone in christ Church, so it was a significant win.
Speaker 5 (28:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
I mean they should beat Minor Pacifica on current form.
And I think I don't know what the bookies are saying,
but there'd be a significant level of disappointment in the
Blues camp if they don't but they got tipped up
by them last year, and any team coach by Tana
I wouldn't underestimate. So looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Larry Margray, open country chair. Thanks for your time when
the master is always enjoy the afternoon.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Pleasure, Andy take care.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Graham Butcher, fun consultant, joins us once again in studio.
How are you. I'm very well, indeed got your jersey
on today.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
I have had to dig it out of the bottom
of the cover.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Leasing. Talking about leasing today quite a bit to entail.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
Leasing's always a topic that comes up. I get frequent
calls from people saying what's the lease worth? And basically
you say, how long have you got to discuss that?
So I just thought i'd talk briefly about leasing about
how you should go about doing things. So what I
what I did is took the beef and lamb Class
(29:21):
six and seven is U said as a base for
what production levels are like and all that sort of
thing in gross incomes and what have you. Because it's
been around for quite a while, that leasing probably should
be around twenty to twenty five percent of your gross
farm income, right, So that's a base that's been there
for a number of years, and as we know, gross
(29:42):
incomes are gone up quite a bit. So got hold
of the Class six and Class seven latest report and
they have Lambs still at one eighty one fifty six,
stores at one hundred and twenty six, use at one
hundred and five, well at two thirty or two dollars
thirty three, quite a bit below where they actually are
at the moment, but that's not unusual for the beef
(30:05):
of labs Severn. They take a weee while to catch
up with what's actually happening because they're not there every
day doing stuff. So I looked at it and I said,
they're probably twenty percent below where they actually out right now.
So with a Class six farm, and that's the bigger
Hill country farm, your stock unit income, according to Beef
and Lambs one hundred and sixty four a stock unit.
This is your gross farm income, but really it's probably
(30:27):
closer to one hundred and ninety six. So take that,
take that as a figure and apply your twenty to
twenty five percent of your gross farm income. So we
actually need to think about what stock units are running
on the farm to do that. So at ten to
the heck deer, at to twenty percent mark, it's three
ninety two the heck dere. Well, if you're thinking acres,
that's one hundred and fifty eight an acre. If you
(30:50):
go to twenty five, it's four ninety and that's one
hundred and ninety eight an acre.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
How many people still working acres?
Speaker 5 (30:58):
Well, while I can count one, I still think better
in agason.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
We just a default mechanism almost although Greg Erickson now
correspondent in Canada from my movement, they work in bushels
over there for measurement. Well there you go anyway.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
So well, if you take that class six farm and
go up to eleven stock units, we range from four
thirty eight to five thirty nine a hec there. If
we go to twelve stock units, it was probably bit
unusual for a class six it's four sixty eight to
five eighty eight. So on that particular class six farm
we have depending on what stock units are caring and
depending on whether you use twenty to twenty five percent,
(31:32):
could be anywhere between one hundred and fifty eight and
two thirty eight and acre. If we go to a
class seven farm, the gross farm incumber stock units one
hundred and eighty eight eighty I reckon, it's closer to
two twenty six for that class seven farms. And if
we go through that whole drama again, going from ten
to twelve stock units in twenty to twenty five percent,
(31:53):
it could be anywhere between one hundred and or four
fifty two a hec there and six hundred and seventy
eight a hectare. So when we look at the class
six seven farms, and sometimes they overlap a but it's
a bit hard to decide which is which. The range
we get for our twenty to twenty five percent gross
income could be anywhere between three ninety two a hectare
(32:13):
and six seventy eight a hectare, right, and that depends
entirely on the stocking rate. If you think an acre
is better, it's one hundred and sixty to two seventy
five an acre. So if people bring me up, that's
probably going to be my standard response is what's the
least worth? I'll say anywhere between one hundred and sixty
and two seventy five an acre. So I suppose the
most important thing about tendering for release is not to
(32:38):
think about what other people are bidding. You're not trying
to outbid a neighbor who's got perhaps has to fill
up a labor unit from point eight to one and
all that sort of stuff. We need to sit down
and do a very serious budget on what you can do.
You've got to work out what stock you can carry,
what it's going to cost you to run it, what
(32:58):
your necessary profit is. But that's left over as the
lease and it'll probably forward between our somewhere between one's
sixty and two seventy five and acre. But you can't
tender for a lease on the basis that you need
to outbid someone else to get it. Very dangerous ground.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
To sat on dutch oction.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
Well, well it is because you take a case of
a neighboring farmer, it's on the boundary of the lease.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
He might have.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
Two stock units on the farm at work for one
point eight He can run that farm a lot more
efficiently than you can if you're fifty k's away or
have to shift or have to align an income from
that farm for drawings. So don't outbid, be very serious
about how you do your budget, and a few other
(33:46):
things are taken into account too if you if you're leasing,
it's a bit of a risk when you have to
buy stock and sell stock at the end of a
lease if you buy them. If you have to go
in and buy stock now to do a lease, what's
the price going to be when you need to sell
or can't do anything else with them, but sell at
the end of say five years, you could take a
(34:07):
bit of a hiding. In other cases, if you were
a few least five years ago, I bought stock and
selling them now, great, probably have money in the bank.
So that's always a fact you to consider. So the
key point is do your own budget. Make sure you
allow for a profit, because the only point about having
a lease is having more cash at the end of
(34:28):
the days than when the lease started. So be very critical.
See if you can get stockholding capacities of the farm.
Look at the farm. What are the sal tests like,
what are the pastures like? What can I reasonably do
on this farm and make a profit. Don't think about
what someone else can do on the farm because it
won't work and.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
The opportunity may arise least to buy down the line.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
Well, yeah, that can be case. Often liases have ride
a first option to purchase at the end. Yeah, on
two minds about that From the less aw's point of view,
it's probably a bit of a hindrance having something like
that in there, but from the less eas point of view,
it's probably quite good.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Well, these think it benefit both parties as well.
Speaker 5 (35:08):
Well, it's got to be a win win, that's well,
that's my other comment about leasing. It's got to be
a win win. The less has got to make he's
got to achieve his objectives and so to say less see. So, yeah,
it's quite interesting to look at the option of leasing
into purchase. Got some figure here somewhere. If we say
(35:29):
land's worth fifteen hundred a hectare about thirteen to fifty
a stock unit, or about eleven fifty or thirteen sixty
three are stock unit, there's a hectory of land to
lease that. Let's say it's five to fifty a stock unit.
There's your annual cost of cost of your ability to
farm that land. If we go and buy it, and
we have sixty percent equity, so we've got nine thousand
(35:51):
we can put in, and we borrow six thousand to
buy it five and a half percent on the six
thousand you buys three hundred and thirty, and there's an
opportunity cost of that cash you're putting into it, you're
sixty percent, you're nine thousand a hect here, and it's
probably around about three percent, which is two twenty a hectare,
which is five poin fifty a hectare, which is exactly
the same as and you're running cost of leasing. So
(36:13):
if you only got forty percent equity in the cost
of owning that land and the ability to farment is
six seventy five a hectare, which is more than the
cost of leasing. So leasing is a pretty serious option
for a farm that wants to expand that hasn't got capital.
It's also a very good vehicle for young people we
(36:37):
haven't got haven't got a lot of capital, but want
to get into farming. But it all comes down to
doing your budgets.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Properly, due diligence. Absolutely can on your gram always relevant,
good times.
Speaker 6 (36:49):
Really good.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Below river scene. This is the muster on Hokanuilana Marshall
is up at the Impact Summit in christ Church which
is happening this week. But she was a finalist in
the Xander McDonald Awards, which we're announced last night because
(37:14):
identally the winners from New Zealand, Cahn Dali Well and
from Australia Bryce Neyland, but nonetheless being involved in a
week it just seems to wreak a positivity in the
rural sector. It sounds like in a real outstanding event.
Lana's going to give us a bit of rundown of
how it's been. Good afternoon and welcome to the muster.
Speaker 6 (37:34):
Hey, thanks very much for having me Andy firstly up.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
There in christ Church. Just at the summit in general,
it must be a pretty positive mood.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
It has been perfick up here and now everyone you
talk to is here for the same reason. It's all
about improving the ad sector. We've all got the same
desire to improve what we do and being surrounded by
these incredible people is just so humbling and inspiring e
all at the same time.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
Just regarding the mood, I'd say to be pretty positive
given the way the sectors are performing this year.
Speaker 6 (38:08):
Definitely yet no, it has been. Yeah, everyone everyone's in
really good spirits. We're talking about what's next to the future.
You know where we're going to be investing in next
we's our biggest growth opportunities and we've actually just come
off a talk with the in regards to some trades
so yeah, that's all been yeah, real positive.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Yeah, and a resting regarding trade, what was the hot
topic today, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (38:34):
It was a it was a very good topic this morning.
The main thing was what is what are we looking
at in regards to the international trading system at the
moment and what might lie heads for New Zealand. We
didn't dive into too much detail as such. It was
more just around you know, how are we going to
continue to trade? What what O nations need to do
to respond, and especially in New Zealand, what's our presence
(38:57):
like around the world. So just sort of very likely
touch and all those subjects.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Was the general consensus that New Zealand has equipped to
adjust to these ever evolving changes.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (39:08):
Yeah, there was a lot of positivity in the room,
and you know, we sort of looked at you know,
what do our products offer, you know, what's our export
around the world? And everyone around the world loves what
New Zealand does, so they think that we're in a
pretty good space there.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
I suppose about yourself that and for people who are
underwear about your background, just give them a brief understanding
of your farming background as such and where you're based.
Speaker 6 (39:36):
Yeah. So I like to tell people I'm an unpaid
dairy farmer, so my husband and I are fifty fifty
year milking and mocketur. And then outside of farming, I
work for an awsome company called MZAB so I get
to live in breefe farming every single day, whether it's
on our farm or helping other people and empowering them
(39:58):
to succeed in their own farming.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Well, I suppose when you've had a rough day out
of the office, going and to help out on the
farm is probably a release more than anything, or sometimes
it could be the other way around.
Speaker 6 (40:08):
It's it's fantastic. I mean it makes me very grounded
and I feel it makes me a lot more relatable
to my clients. Being out there on the farm is
an experience that you can't really explain. It's nice have
that but a piece and fid although during carving you
sort of have to put the air pods in so
you can't hit the calves out. But yeah, no, it's
(40:30):
it really does bring.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
A breath with a fresh air.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
And what was a driving force for you applying for
the Zander McDonald Award.
Speaker 6 (40:38):
For me? Look, I looked at it and thought, oh,
this is an amazing opportunity. Didn't think I was good
enough and enough to having a few conversations with people,
said no, you've got to put your name in the hat.
You know that the award brings opportunities and connections that
you will not make anywhere else with any other award.
(40:59):
And so for me, the winning would have been fantastic
in regards to the mentoring trip and being able to
go over to Australia. But the real award has been
part of the alumni. So as a finalist US Top three,
we get invited back every single year. We're in a
room with these incredible every business professionals and farmers, and
(41:21):
you know, it's those long lasting connections that that we're
going to be able to implement change moving forward. And
I think that's something that money can't buy.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
It's interesting you say that Harriet Bremner. I hit her
on the program yesterday and she echoed those exact same sentiments.
Speaker 6 (41:36):
Oh good good, Well we didn't rehearse it, so I can.
Speaker 5 (41:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
It's it's very hard to put into words what this
award brings you. And you know, like this morning, just
meeting with people from across the Ditch who said, you know,
if you ever over in Australia, please come and see us.
Would love to have you there, And yeah, I mean
you wouldn't get that anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Regarding the Australian contingent, how are they feeling at the
omened regarding the far Regarding the farming sector.
Speaker 6 (42:04):
Yeah, it's interesting because you know, in New Zealand very
predominantly shem beef and dairy. One of the finalists are
and a partner are cotton farmers. So for them, it's
it's very interesting to hear about how water plays such
a significant role in their business. You know, they're all
about flood irrigation, and you know they've had a lot
(42:26):
of rainfall over there lately, so you know, the weather's
plays quite a big part for what they're doing over
in their countries. But they are all in really good
spirits they have despite what's happening with weather over there.
They are taking on new initiatives, they're trialing new ways
of farming, and yeah, that they're in pretty good spirits
(42:48):
to be fair.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
The situation in the Middle East is a playing on
their minds at all, given that Albanez's starting to do
a bit of accommodation for Donald Trump.
Speaker 6 (42:57):
Yeah, the old Trump Trump's name come up a couple
I's yesterday actually, and you know, talking about the price
of oil and what that's going to do for the
dairy sector and you know things like that. So yeah,
there is a wee bit of unease around that. But look,
and I'm a very big believers, you can only focus
on what you can control. You know, we can't affect
(43:18):
a lot of these decisions and what's going on. So
if we just focus on what we can do and
how we can improve what we are doing worldwide, then
you know, that's that's the best thing.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
Well, okay, it's the end of the week that impacts
suit is all over and done with. What is Lanna
Marshall going to do differently going forward?
Speaker 6 (43:34):
Oh that's a great question.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
Only the tough questions on this show.
Speaker 6 (43:40):
I think for me, we're going on a field trip
tomorrow around christ Church which is going to be very exciting.
Speaker 5 (43:47):
We head over to.
Speaker 6 (43:47):
Lincoln University to their Egrey Tech Space and then we
are lucky enough to head out to a whole to
farm tomorrow afternoon as well, So that'll be exciting. But
I think following on for me. You know, I'm very
very passionate about my job with the DAB and what
I do for my clients, and to me, it's taking
(44:09):
these connections at that I've now gained at the summit
and being able to bring them back to my role
so I can continue to help people succeed in their
farming businesses, but also around that governance space. For me,
that's sort of my trajectory for now is working on
some further education in that space, which means that I'm
going to be best placed for any sort of governance
(44:30):
roles relating to my interests moving forward, and hopefully we
can be part of creating a sector that you know,
young people look at it and say I want to
go and work in that sector. It's not just milking
cows or out in paddock setting up breaks or anything
like that. There's other roles within our sector and yeah,
just trying to keep those people engaged and so that way,
(44:51):
you know, our economy will continue to flow.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
Lana Marshall there be caught up during the week as
part of the Impact Summit that was happening in Christchurch.
That's the best of the master over and done with.
My name's Andy mull enjoy the weekend and take a
bit of time off. If you get the opportunity, go
and connect. See you Monday.
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