The Country

We catch up with the Minister of Agriculture and Trade in India where he's heading the PM's trade delegation looking for a comprehensive FTA with the world's most populous nation. But is a dairy deal off the table with the world's largest milk producer (24% aiming for 30% by 2030)? Perhaps lamb and horticulture are a better bet?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did Labour drop the trade ball in India? We ask Labour's trade spokesman (and former Minister of Agriculture) to defend himself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We chat with a rural mental health advocate and Central Otago hobby farmer, who has taken up walking and studying!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's "Locavore March". But can we really suffer through 31 days of eating only food grown within a 150km radius? One of NZ's leading farming academics says you can but with much difficulty!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We remind our Kentucky-based farming correspondent it's National Agriculture Week in the US. It was introduced in 1973 and each year, it highlights how agriculture supports our food supply, fuels the economy, and creates job opportunities. And what's happening to beef prices under Trump's tariffs?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Richard McIntyre, David Seymour, Chris McCollough, Tom Young, and Phil DuncanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers' banking spokesman is calling for the Reserve Bank to drop overly conservative and growth-restricting banking capital rules that are costing farmers a fortune. Plus, we ask how autumn calving is going during a Manawatū drought.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the absence of the PM and the Deputy PM, the Acting PM and Act leader comments on the school lunch debacle, the Reserve Bank ripping off farmers and whether the Coalition will cannibalise itself as we head into the 2026 election.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Affco's National Livestock Manager comments on record beef returns and vastly improved lamb and mutton prices. But he's reluctant to commit to how long they'll last.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On St Patrick's Day, we're joined by Irish Ag Journo who says the iconic day is celebrated more in the cities and with tourists than in rural Ireland. Plus, we look at tough times for farmers under Sir Keir Starmer, FMD in Europe and Trump's tariffs potentially hitting the Irish dairy industry hard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.