The Country

Jamie Mackay talks to Erica Stanford, Pita Alexander, Blair McLean, David Seymour, and Phil Duncan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Education walks back the decision to remove agriculture and horticulture from the Year 11 curriculum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Christchurch-based farm accountant runs his financial eye over the state of the rural economy and the state of NZ Rugby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk wine, golf and cherries with our viticulture correspondent as a new facility opens, Caythorpe Green, in Marlborough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister on agriculture in Year 11, strategic split voting, and his vision for New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday’s resident weatherman on the increasing dry in North Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Luxon, Kane Brisco, Rowena Duncum and Riley Kennedy, and Shane Jones. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Richard Allen, Shane Jones, Chris Brandolino, Rachel Shearer, Sean Daly, and Barry Soper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief executive of Fonterra today announced an increase of the midpoint of the 2026/27 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price from $9.50 per kgMS to $9.75 per kgMS. The Co-operative has also lifted and narrowed the forecast range from $8.50 - $10.50 per kgMS to $9.00 - $10.50 per kgMS. The Co-operative has also today increased the Organic Milk Price, with the midpoint lifting from $14.30 per kgMS to $15.25 per kgMS! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The self-proclaimed Prince of the Provinces, the Mighty Matua, says his controversial comments on his wives (plural) and shopping was on brand, even if his one wife Dot had to sternly correct him. We also traversed strategic split voting, fast track consenting, bottom trawling, youth unemployment and whether he has a Plan B? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a look at Earth Sciences NZ's Seasonal Climate Outlook for November 2026 - January 2027 where El Niño is expected to remain the primary driver of New Zealand's climate patterns over the coming three months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The GM of PGG Wrightson Wool takes a look at a "steady as she goes" wool market where reduced supply is a key driver. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Southland Vet who says drench resistance in our sheep industry is costing farmers hundreds of millions of dollars. But a solution is at hand! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our political correspondent calls the election one week out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Rowena Duncum, Riley Kennedy, Emma Poole, Tim Dangen, Chris Russell, and Farmer Tom Martin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first panel features a couple of Aucklanders (FMG and BusinessDesk) with rural roots as we debate agriculture in schools, skin cancer checks for farmers, a wonderful golf fundraiser for Farmstrong and strategic split voting for rural New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s brother and sister farmer panel ponder dairy farming seasons at opposite ends of the country, Ag in Schools, and getting your head around the election at the busiest time of the year for farmers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent says, “El Niño? What El Niño?” as new cattle records are set as the rain pours. Plus, we talk about problems for cropping farmers, a gold rush in Broken Hill and a new airport in western Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our UK farming correspondent comments on a good autumn planting campaign, not such a good Autumn Budget, water restrictions after the summer drought and Harry Kane. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waikato dairy farmer and DairyNZ Environment Specialist Johan van Ras joins Michelle Watt to share his journey of transforming unproductive areas of his farm into thriving native wetlands and bush. He discusses the environmental and on-farm benefits he's seen firsthand and explains how a whole-farm approach to biodiversity can support both farm performance and sustainability. To learn more about DairyNZ's work in precision dairying and biodiversity improvement, visit www.dairynz.co.nz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Richard McIntyre, Toby Williams, Ben Picton, and Kane Brisco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister comments on the OCR, the One News poll, Chloe Swarbrick as Finance Minister, and why true-blue National Party supporters should not split their votes to get a centre-right coalition across the line. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two former Federated Farmers, a Horowhenua dairy farmer and an East Coast sheep and beef farmer, reflect on why they’ve both confidently reinvested in their respective farms. Plus, we ask them if they will strategically split their votes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s senior market strategist (chief economist) offers his OCR preview ahead of this afternoon’s announcement, where a .25% rate increase is a lock in. But where is neutral, and where will the OCR peak? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Taranaki dairy farmer tells us why Farmstrong has teamed up with NZ Young Farmers to support everyone who enters this year’s competition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Cameron Bagrie, Nancy Crawshaw, Olivia Caldwell, Phil Duncan, and Andrew Whiley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independent economist previews tomorrow’s OCR announcement, where a .25% rise is on the cards. Plus, do we have an issue with our exchange rate? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is running out to enter the Zanda McDonald Award for 2027. We ask the 2024 winner why young Australasian Ag leaders (ages 21-35) should enter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A freelance rural agricultural journalist steps up to the plate after Jo Luxton goes AWOL on the election campaign trail. Today we discuss the “aggressive urbanisation of rural New Zealand”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday’s resident weather man on a Tuesday with a temperature feast-to-famine scenario. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The author of New Zealand’s Best Golf Courses joins to discuss some rural gems! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Nathan Stewart, Damien O'Connor, Emma Higgins, and Winston Peters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Rowland Smith, Steve Abel, Stu Duncan, Stu Loe, and Chris Brandolino. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to the World Shearing Champion and Hawke’s Bay farmer about this province’s A&P Show, shearing competitions, and El Niño. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party agriculture spokesman outlines his party’s rural policies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s farmer panel talks the Big Wind one year on, the season down on the farm, the election and the NPC final. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday’s Weather Guy talks about the Big Wind one year on, plus the drying effects of El Niño, especially in the North Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Winston Peters, Professor Hamish Gow, Naomi Wilde, Hunter McGregor, and Chris Russell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ First Leader is back to his belligerent best as we debate the Powerbrokers Debate, the Indian free trade agreement, agriculture in schools, strategic split voting, and whether he covets the Prime Minister’s job. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Lincoln University Giving Day 2026, as we encourage alumni to give back to a learning institution that gave them so much. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Shanghai-based correspondent discusses how El Niño is affecting China and wider Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Australian correspondent talks tariffs on Aussie lamb and NSW setting a new record for agricultural production off the back of beef. But he’s less forthcoming about why the Wallabies are so useless! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Craig Hickman, Duncan Humm, Emma Higgins, George Dodson and Hugh Jackson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister ponders polls, the Indian free trade agreement, agriculture in schools and whether the Greens and gangs could be a game-changer in this election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first farmer panel hails from Mid Canterbury as we talk dairy, deer and politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s senior dairy analyst reviews last night’s Global Dairy Trade auction (up 2.5%), which continued the now well-established trend; powders strong and fats weaker. (Whole milk powder 4.4%, Skim milk powder 3.4%, anhydrous milk fat -3.4%, butter -0.4%, and cheese -7.4%.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our second farmer panel of the day features the 2024 and 2025 Young Farmers of the Year, a dairy farmer and a sheep/beef farmer. We discuss Halter on cows, the Young Farmer of the Year district competitions, and the NPC final. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Nigel Woodhead, Mark de Lautour, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, and John McOviney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We book in for an argument with Labour’s trade spokesman and former Minister of Agriculture as we debate the Indian FTA, agriculture in schools, and the Greens and the gangs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2017 Young Farmer of the Year has his say on agriculture in schools, and we reflect on the big wind event of one year ago that ripped through his South Otago sheep and beef farm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.