The Country

She broke the grass ceiling when she became the first female president of Federated Farmers in 2017 (and had to deal with M.Bovis and Covid on her watch). Today we look back on some of the Feds presidents of the last 30 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This well-known Canterbury farmer (and husband of Beef + Lamb NZ chairwoman Kate) runs Mt Somers Station and is the descendent of one of the forebears of Federated Farmers - Henry Acland. His grandfather’s uncle was one of the original members of the NZ Sheep Owners' Association (formed in  Canterbury in 1910), which combined in 1945 with the NZ Farmers' Union (formed in Northland on this day in 1899) to establish Federated Farmers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers' current president reflects on 125 years of speaking up for farmers. Plus, he talks about what he would like his legacy to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Todd Charteris, Blair "Blizzard" McLean, Jo Luxton, and Mark Storey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Rabobank's chief executive comments on the bank's latest rural confidence survey which sees farmer confidence in the broader agri-economy has risen strongly and is now at net positive levels for the first time since quarter four of 2021.  Among farmers with a positive outlook on the agri-economy, higher commodity prices (40 per cent), and falling interest rates (31 per cent) were the major sources of optimism. Rising input costs (48 per cent) remained the major concern identified by those looking less favourably at the year ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's well-named today! Our Blenheim-based (home of the Log of Wood) viticulture correspondent does his best to offer some cheer to farmers facing brutal weather conditions - a "spring reviver pack" from Caythorpe Family Farms. And how many thespians does it take to change a light bulb?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Agriculture Spokesperson defends the travel habits of politicians, particularly Damien O'Connor's, plus we ask her why she's not knuckling down and coming up with some meaningful agricultural policy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy NZ's Head of Economics says the outlook for the industry is better than anticipated with a forecast average payout of $8.84 per kg/MS and the breakeven forecast sitting at $8.09.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Phil Duncan, Josh Kronfeld, Pat Coogan, and Todd Clark.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Monday’s resident weather expert to turn off the tap for the deep south, but he can’t promise an end to the chaotic spring weather battering us!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.