Federated Farmers Podcast
The Federated Farmers Podcast is your weekly guide to the issues affecting rural New Zealand. Join us as we unpack the policies, challenges and big ideas shaping life on farm. With frank conversations from farmers, advocates and experts, we break down what matters and why, so you can stay informed, prepared and heard. Hosted by Ben Chapman-Smith.
Episodes
78 episodes
Glenaray Station and the future of high-country farming | EP 78
Stretching across nearly 68,000 hectares in northern Southland, Glenaray is a sheep, beef and deer station that’s quietly challenging assumptions about high-country farming.In this episode, we’re joined by station manager Simon Lee and o...
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48:22
Why farm succession fails — even on profitable farms | EP 77
In this episode, Waikato lawyer Andrew Clements explains why farm succession can fail even when the balance sheet looks rock solid. He breaks down the five types of capital that really determine long-term success, and why focusing on just one c...
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40:41
Arable sector in crisis — and why it matters to all farmers | EP 76
New Zealand's arable farmers are facing some of their toughest conditions in years, with margins collapsing and growers exiting the industry.It's a "crisis" that will have flow-on effects for dairy, sheep and beef farmers, says David Bir...
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40:47
Meet the farmer: Carla de Wet | EP 75
In this episode, we’re joined by Waikato dairy farmer Carla de Wet, who shares an honest look at building a career in farming as a young woman today.Originally from South Africa, Carla talks about her journey to New Zealand just before C...
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32:12
What’s next for Federated Farmers — with Mike Siermans | EP 74
In this episode, we sit down with Mike Siermans, the new CEO of Federated Farmers, to talk about what’s next for the organisation and for farmers.Mike shares his journey from growing up around farming in rural South Auckland to a commerc...
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17:53
Meet the farmer: Jimmy Emmett | EP 73
This is the first episode in a new series where we sit down with good keen Kiwi farmers and simply have a chat – how they got into farming, what drives them, and what they’ve learned along the way. We’ll release one each month. For ...
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51:51
Jamie Mackay on life, farming and broadcasting | EP 72
He’s the most recognisable voice in rural New Zealand but you’ll usually hear The Country host Jamie Mackay asking the questions rather than answering them. In this episode, Jamie sits on the other side of the mic to reflec...
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1:02:55
Wool — who’s clipping the ticket? | EP 71
What actually happens to wool after it leaves the sheep’s back? In this episode, Breanna Hayes, supply growth manager at The New Zealand Merino Company, and Nathan Watt, trading manager at New Zealand Wool Services International, ex...
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42:09
AI, gene tech and the trends shaping NZ farming | EP 70
What does the rise of artificial intelligence mean for Kiwi farmers? Where does gene technology fit into New Zealand’s farming future — and what are the real opportunities and risks? And which global trends should farmers be paying close attent...
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31:49
Inside the homekill boom with Toby Barkla | EP 69
Homekill is booming in New Zealand, and Edgecumbe butcher Toby Barkla is right at the centre of it. In this episode, Toby explains why more Kiwis are choosing homekill, the pressures facing rural meat processors, and why he believes regulated m...
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26:06
Diversifying on-farm to build new income | EP 68
In this episode, we speak with two farmers who’ve taken different approaches to diversification as a way to build resilience, create new income, and keep life interesting.King Country dairy farmer Michael Woodward has added Angora goats ...
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40:43
Back on the front foot – driving farming forward with Wayne Langford | EP 67
After several years focused on restoring farmer confidence, the conversation is shifting – from fighting roadblocks to driving the sector forward.In this conversation, Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford reflects on a lan...
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28:30
When farming isn’t the problem – a Farmstrong story | EP 66
Marc Gascoigne, a Cambridge dairy farmer and Farmstrong Champion, joins us to share his wellbeing journey, including what it was like to suffer in silence for years and what helped him turn things around, including an unexpected conversation wi...
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43:27
Fix or float the farm loan? | EP 65
Interest rates have been shifting fast, and many farmers are wondering if now is the time to fix or float their loans. To help cut through the noise, we’re joined by NZAB founder and director Scott Wishart, who explains what’s happe...
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25:25
UK farmers under pressure – with Tom Bradshaw | EP 64
British farmers are facing many of the same pressures as Kiwi farmers – rising costs, land use change, tougher environmental rules, and greater public scrutiny.Tom Bradshaw, president of the UK’s National Farmers’ Union, joins us to shar...
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45:42
The dos and don'ts of farm equity partnerships | EP 63
Thinking about entering a farm equity partnership, or just curious about how they work? In this episode, rural accountant Joe Morgan breaks it all down. Joe, a director at GFA in Te Awamutu, explains what equity partnerships are, ho...
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30:47
Jim Ward and Simon Cameron — bringing grazing back to crown land | EP 62
For decades, grazing kept New Zealand’s Crown land in check, supporting healthy landscapes and holding back pests and weeds. But when livestock were removed, those problems exploded. In this episode, Jim Ward and Simon Cameron expla...
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38:22
How do we win the war on pines and pests? | EP 61
Feral pests like deer pigs are exploding in number across New Zealand, while wilding pines are marching across some of our most iconic landscapes. Farmers are seeing the fallout every day: destroyed pasture, lost production, biosecurity risks, ...
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42:32
How farmers can lead well when the pressure is on | EP 60
Running a farm means leadership under pressure is part of the job. When the weather turns, the workload spikes or the unexpected hits, there’s no pause button. Southland leadership trainer and former military veteran Tony Groves hel...
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34:55
The KiwiSaver roadblock facing young farmers | EP 59
It’s been more than two years since the Government promised to let young farmers use their KiwiSaver to buy their first home or farm — but nothing has changed. In this episode, we talk with Kylee Smit, a Cambridge-based mortgage adv...
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19:39
Contract milking insights from Colin Glass | EP 58
Contract milking remains a key stepping stone in New Zealand dairying, but what does it take to succeed in this role today? In this episode, Dairy Holdings chief executive Colin Glass shares his experience running one of the country...
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39:02
Unpacking the Alliance–Dawn Meats proposal with Professor Keith Woodford | EP 57
Alliance Group farmer-shareholders are facing one of the biggest decisions in New Zealand’s red meat sector in decades: whether to approve a proposed $250 million joint venture with Europe’s Dawn Meats Group. In this episode, we’re joined by Pr...
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23:48
Fonterra and the future | EP 56
Fonterra is at a crossroads, with its proposed sale of Mainland Group raising big questions for its farmer suppliers, the wider dairy sector, and everyday consumers.In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Montgomerie, a senior analyst at F...
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35:38
‘How are you really doing?’ — Bex Green’s mental health story | EP 55
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and North Canterbury dairy farmer Bex Green is opening up about one of the toughest periods of her life. Between a severe injury, raising three kids, and running a 1000-cow contract milking operati...
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49:44