Farmers Weekly In Focus

This week Bryan talks with Liz Shackleton from Animal and Plant Health NZ. She discusses the review of our approval system for pesticides, herbicides and other tools farmers need to face the diseases and pests that are becoming more prevalent here. 

Senior reporter Richard Rennie outlines some of the stories he’s been working on this week, including a lack of funding for the QEII National Trust. We also get an update on the liquidation of Whanganui’s Waimarie Meats.

Wayne Langford of Federated Farmers joins the podcast to talk about the year ahead. Wayne is looking to help grow membership and consolidate the Feds mandate to advocate on the behalf of the rural sector.

This week Bryan talks with AgResearch scientist Dr Alec Mackay about his new study into pasture productivity. Mackay says not only is productivity falling, but gains that were forecast to be made because of the warming climate aren’t evident. He says volatility appears to trump warmth when it comes to pasture growth.Sandra Faulkner of Federated Farmers joins the podcast to talk about the upcoming local government elections. She’s urging farmers to put their hand up for councils because representation is the key to getting good outcomes for rural communities. Senior reporter Richard Rennie outlines some of the stories he’s been working on this week, including farmer concern that their properties are becoming fire risks due to environmental regulations. Australia is going to tag all of its sheep so they can be traced if there’s a disease outbreak. Will it happen here? And, after a decade of boom times, the honey industry is facing a reckoning