
Federated Farmers Podcast
A podcast for Kiwi farmers to stay up to date with the latest news and views shaping the future of farming in New Zealand. Tune in every fortnight as we take a deep dive into the big issues. Hosted by Ben Chapman-Smith.
Episodes
39 episodes
What’s next for agri-tech in New Zealand? | EP 39
Gallagher’s Sarah Adams returns to explore the latest in agri-tech, from virtual fencing to smart ear tags and integrated data systems. She shares insights from U.S. farming trends, discusses adoption barriers, and offers practical advice for t...
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41:25

Farm succession planning with Joe Morgan | EP 38
Farm succession—it’s one of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand’s rural families. How do you pass the farm on to the next generation in a way that’s fair, makes financial sense, and keeps relationships intact? Our guest today ...
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34:54

SOS: Save Our Sheep | EP 37
New Zealand’s sheep population has plummeted from over 70 million in the 1980s to just 25 million today—and the decline is accelerating. In this episode, we speak with Toby Williams, national meat and wool chair and a sheep farmer h...
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38:11

Contract Milking Survey – discussing the results with Brendan Attrill and Louise Gibson | EP 36
A recent contract milking survey has sparked debate across the dairy industry. In this episode, we speak with survey creator Louise Gibson, and Brendan Attrill, a long-time industry leader and Federated Farmers farm owner representative, to unp...
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53:05

Nailing Moving Day: tips to start the season well | EP 35
One of the biggest days in the dairy farming calendar, Moving Day, is fast approaching. It’s a day full of change and challenge as thousands of farmers, workers, and their families head off to start a new chapter on a new farm. It’...
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26:26

Turning the tide on the anti-farming agenda with Claire Taylor | EP 34
Global scrutiny of farming is rising — but how can farmers respond? Journalist and Nuffield Scholar Claire Taylor has travelled the world exploring how agricultural sectors are responding to criticism and shifting public perception. In this epi...
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51:30

Protecting farmland for future generations – a deep dive into QEII Trust | EP 33
One of the best ways for farmers to protect special areas of their land is covenanting with the QEII National Trust. But what does that actually mean in practice? What are the benefits and challenges? And what does the future of covenanting loo...
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32:29

Growing & protecting wealth: what farmers need to know in 2025 | EP 32
Financial adviser Michael Raynes returns to share fresh insights on building and protecting wealth in 2025. We cover savings, investments, debt, succession, and more—plus what today’s economic and global shifts mean for Kiwi farmers. Whether yo...
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33:34

Protecting your farm: tackling rural crime | EP 31
Is rural crime getting worse? When do most thefts happen? And what can farmers do to make their property a harder target for criminals? Abby France from FMG Insurance joins us to share insights on rural crime trends, practical ways ...
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27:43

Drought decisions: navigating tough times in sharemilking & contract milking | EP 30
Drought conditions are forcing sharemilkers, contract milkers and farm owners to make tough decisions, like drying off early, which can strain relationships and impact the future of the business. Some contract milkers are facing months of low i...
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39:01

More than tax: the benefits of a good rural accountant | EP 29
Our guest on this episode is Joe Morgan an accountant in Te Awamutu, Waikato, who does a lot of work with farmers. Joe is a director at GFA but previously had a career in rural banking. He ...
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38:43

Different battles, same pressures: an army veteran’s advice for farmers | EP 28
A military veteran of 16 years, Tony Groves’ military and security career saw him deployed to Timor-Leste, Iraq and Afghanistan, where he honed his leadership skills in high-pressure environments.He now fronts Halo Training, a business t...
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1:10:09

Signing smart: a step-by-step guide to sharefarming due diligence | EP 27
If you've seen an ad for a contract milking or sharemilking position that could tick the boxes, what comes next? What are the critical steps to take to ensure it’s the right job for you, that it'll pay what you need and keep you moving forward ...
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43:12

Drench resistance in cattle – new data shows need for urgent action | EP 26
Ginny Dodunski, Wormwise programme manager, joins us to share the concerning results of new research into the state of drench-resistant worms in cattle here in New Zealand. She covers the basics of good worm management, why drench resistance is...
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37:44

Wayne Langford on wins, challenges and the year ahead | Ep 25
After a break over summer, Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford reflects on the big wins for farmers last year, the challenges, and what his major goals are for the year ahead. He talks about plans to make the farmer voice even louder, ge...
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22:06

Managing risk in sharefarming | Ep 24
What are the biggest risks involved in going contract milking, sharemilking or being a share farm owner? And how do you manage or mitigate those risks? For our final episode of 2024, we’re talking to Taranaki dairy farmer Sam Ebbett, who’s Fede...
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20:05

Where to with wool and red meat? | Ep 23
Gisborne farmer and Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams joins us to discuss what’s going on for Kiwi sheep and beef farmers right now, where he thinks things are going in 2025, and what he reckons might need to change for sheep ...
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43:58

What a second Trump presidency could mean for Kiwi farmers | EP 22
How could Donald Trump’s second term in the White House affect Kiwi farmers? What should we expect to see with international trade and market access? To get some insights, we catch up with Todd Muller, former leader of the National Party and no...
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35:20

The science of pest management | EP 21
Feral animals are costing Kiwi farmers a fortune, so how are we going to control them? Landcare Research scientist Bruce Warburton and Federated Farmers pest spokesperson Richard McIntryre join us to quantify the impact pests have on farming an...
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43:37

Ben Purua – a redemption story | EP 20
Ben Purua is an award-winning dairy farm manager, but 15 years ago his life was heading in a very different direction. Hear Ben’s story of how he found farming while in prison, how he managed to turn his life around, and the pivotal role farmin...
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29:22

Planting tips from Adam Thompson | EP 19
If you’re thinking of planting trees on your farm, or you’ve done so recently, don’t miss this expert advice from Adam Thompson, owner of Restore Native nursery in the Waikato. Adam loves helping farmers not only plant more trees on their land,...
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30:40

Jason Herrick’s mental health story | EP 18
It was a wet, muddy day in Southland in December 2018 that local dairy farmer Jason Herrick decided to take his life. Months of heavy rain, the pressure of excessive regulation, negative sentiment towards farming, and an inability to share his ...
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26:17

Electrifying our farms to save money, make money and reduce emissions | EP 17
Our guest today is Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, who’s here to talk about the huge opportunities out there for farmers to save money and reduce emissions by electrifying their farm. Mike's seen these opportunities first-han...
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36:39

Todd McClay on cutting red tape, interest rates, KiwiSaver, and trade opportunities | EP 16
With farm confidence at rock-bottom, what’s the Government been doing to get things back on track? Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay joins us to discuss his first nine months in the job, cutting red tape, the banking inquiry, KiwiSaver...
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26:09
