The Country-Wide Podcast CountryWide Media

Drench resistance is a growing challenge for many New Zealand farms, but it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Hear about what tools are out there, including adapting farm systems, and being proactive with testing. 

Rebecca Greaves talks to Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski about what to do if you discover drench resistance onfarm, and Hawke’s Bay farmer Charles Yule, who is farming with drench resistance and wrote his Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme report on this topic. 

Guests include:


Ginny Dodunski, Wormwise Programme Manager
Charles Yule, Hawke’s Bay farmer and Kellog Rural Leadership Programme report author

Hosts:


Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski says discovering drench resistance onfarm isn’t the death sentence it once was, but does require looking at long term solutions. She says changing drench products isn’t enough, and farmers need to look at how their farm system could adapt. 

She says farmers shouldn't feel ashamed of having drench resistance, as it’s becoming more prevalent, and the most important thing is to keep testing, and talking to your vet and advisors about what you can do. 

Farmer Charles Yule happened to be starting his research under the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme when he discovered drench resistance on the farm he manages, which changed the direction of his study towards addressing the problem in real time. 

His focus is on providing accessible information for farmers on this issue, and investigating solutions. He says the key is finding the right management tools for drench resistance. You can read Charles Yule’s report here. 

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Lifting the price of wool, the benefits of deferred grazing and capturing money left on the table from everyday tools - Sarah Perriam-Lampp was roving around Fieldays to capture yarns reflecting the opportunities in front of us today.

She checked out some exciting announcements for farmers across New Zealand: outdoor clothing company Stoney Creek’s pledge to pay farmers more for their wool; a new deferred grazing study from AgResearch; and innovations in animal management with Gallagher. 

Guests include:


Dan & Gee Harper, wool farmers, Quartz Hill Station
Brent & Juanita McConnell, Stoney Creek
Katherine Tozer, scientist, AgResearch
Mark Maitland & Brett Beagley, Gallagher

Hosts:


Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Popular outdoor apparel brand Stoney Creek launched their mission to lift the price of strong wool direct to the farmer with Quartz Hill Station owners, Dan and Gee Harper. The Canterbury farmers on a mission to diversify their income were on-site to interact with customers keen to wear wool.

AgResearch’s Dr. Katherine Tozer shared the research findings and the free management tool of deferred grazing to benefit pasture yields, weed and pest control and animal health.

And regular partner of innovation, yet focused on the here and now, Gallagher’s Mark Maitland shares his thoughts on the cost control and revenue opportunities of getting the basics right with the current technology we already have, before investing in new.

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How do we keep the next generation and beyond engaged in the agriculture sector? In order to keep the agriculture sector growing, we have to get young people interested, from both rural and urban backgrounds. 

 

Hear from those across different programmes introducing agriculture to a whole new generation, from primary school children participating in Farmer Time for Schools through to skills-based onfarm cadetships, with the positive news that Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust has found a new home and hopes to accept cadets again in 2026. 

Guests include:


Tim Rhodes, Chairperson, Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust
Marie Burke, National Coordinator, Farmer Time for Schools

Hosts:


Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Farmer Time in Schools aims to connect primary-aged children to the food and fibre industries, to foster a partnership between urban and rural communities. National Coordinator Marie Burke says it’s been really popular, and came about during lockdown, after seeing something similar in the UK. She says it's been brilliant for New Zealand children to learn about all aspects of the farming sector.

The future of the Waipaoa Training Trust looked uncertain when Waipaoa Station was put on the market. The scheme has been providing structured onfarm training for young people since 2006, with a focus on sheep and beef. Trust Chairperson Tim Rhodes shares an update on an exciting new location and the future of the scheme, and says there’s certainly still a need for the training it provides.

The cadets learn a holistic set of skills, from technical onfarm practices, to breaking in a horse and cooking and cleaning for themselves. Tim shares what the cadets get up to, and where the scheme will go in the future. 

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We have a mountain to climb to shift a narrative with society of farming as well as a determined effort by political leaders to develop the best stable of agricultural policies in the world - but first we must draw on what is happening globally as New Zealand is but isn't unique. 

2023 Nuffield scholar and Gisborne sheep & beef farmer, Kerry Worsnop says, we need better leadership that's prepared to elevate the importance of the primary sector to the New Zealand public both environmentally and economically even if it's at the expense of political wins.

Guests include:


Kerry Worsnop - 2023 Nuffield Scholar and Gisborne sheep & beef farmer.

Hosts:


Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Read Kerry's full Nuffield Report "Designing agricultural policy for a future in farming"

This episode is a special bonus episode through CountryWide Media’s partnership with Rural Leaders and the New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarship. 
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There’s no denying times are tough right now for most farm businesses, and profitability is severely challenged. The key to surviving is being as solutions-focussed as possible. 

Cutting costs is the obvious solution, but it’s important to continue investing in your farm business, even during tough financial times. We hear from those in the rural business industry about what farmers can practically do now to keep afloat, and how to stay hopeful for the future when pressures ease again. 

Guests include:


Ed Harrison, Agribusiness Consultant, Baker Ag 
Geordie McCallum, Director/Rural Business Consultant, Wairarapa Property Consultants

Hosts:


Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

BakerAg Agribusiness Consultant Ed Harrison says despite prices being poor, farmers still need to focus on capitalising on what they can get. He says part of this is planning ahead, and being adaptable to the situation at hand. He says cutting costs onfarm can only go so far; it’s important to balance being as lean as possible without undermining the farming asset. Ed also discusses the value of off-farm income when times are tight.

Rural Business Consultant Geordie McCallum says everything is stacked against farmers at the moment but it’s important to remember that bad years and good years are cyclical, and pressures will ease again in the future. He says having resilience and hope is key to survival - believe there is something better coming in the future.

Rebecca and Geordie also discuss the proposed inquiry into bank lending from Federated Farmers. With Geordie’s background in rural banking he provides useful advice for getting the most from your banker and cultivating a good relationship.

Check out the Dairy Exporter episode on managing fertiliser costs

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Those in New Zealand’s deer industry have an exciting future ahead of them, as they come out the other side of the pandemic era. Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) held its conference earlier this month, and say there is a lot to look forward to, including disseminating into more overseas markets and moving into the retail space.

We hear from a key specialist in the industry, Ron Schroeder, ahead of his retirement, about his hope for the future of deer, and how we got here. And we speak to DINZ executive chef, Graham Brown, who shares his love for venison and its versatility, and gives us some tips for cooking venison at home.

Guests include:


Graham Brown, Executive Chef, DINZ
Ron Schroeder, deer specialist of 50 years, PGG Wrightson 
Rhys Griffiths, Market Manager, DINZ

Hosts:


Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Deer Industry NZ Executive Chef Graham Brown has just spent time in China and Korea upskilling the market on how to utilise lesser known cuts of venison in their cooking. Back home on local soil, there’s an emphasis on making sure cuts provided to restaurants are as user-friendly as possible, to take pressure off restaurants with less staff. 

He’s been with DINZ for the past 30 years, and loves working with venison due to its versatility. He shares his top tips on how to perfect cooking venison at home in your kitchen. 

Deer industry stalwart Ron Schroeder has recently announced his retirement, after 49 years as a deer specialist at PGG Wrightsons. Ron got on the deer ladder back in the 70s, and has watched it grow and develop in the following decades. He shares his insights and wisdom with Sarah Perriam-Lampp, from his time at Lincoln to now. He’s excited about where the deer industry is at, and has enjoyed mentoring the next generation. 

DINZ Market Manager Rhys Griffiths says in the post-covid climate they’re focusing on diversifying their options overseas, and not relying on the food service market. Prior to the pandemic, the USA market had been growing. Now they’re evenly distributed across Europe, USA, and the Asia markets.

DINZ held their conference earlier this month and Griffiths says it went really well, and there’s a lot to look forward to in the future. The sector is starting to recover and move forward now, in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

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