Federated Farmers Podcast

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, explain how the wool industry works, why strong wool in particular faces challenges, and what farmers can do to improve outcomes. 
They unpack who the players are in the supply chain, share insights on the future of wool, and discuss why they're feeling confident that wool prices will continue to lift. 
Useful links
New Zealand Wool Services International
The New Zealand Merino Company

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 attention to right now?
In this episode, we’re joined by Jarred Mair, chief insights officer at MPI. Jarred has spoken at a number of Federated Farmers events around the country, sparking plenty of interest and discussion, and we sat down with him to unpack the big picture.
We cover emerging technologies farmers need on their radar, how innovation could reshape on-farm decision-making, and Jarred’s long-term outlook for New Zealand agriculture.

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 mobile and micro abattoirs could be the future of local meat. 
He also shares his own business journey with Plains Butchery, the challenges around waste and by-products, and how innovation could help rural communities keep feeding themselves. 
Plains Butchery

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 to his system to tap into global demand for mohair, alongside a marketing and exporting business. Sheep and beef farmer Laura Morrison has diversified into agritourism, running a farm-based B&B near Marton.
Both are Federated Farmers leaders, and they share practical, real-world advice for farmers thinking about diversification – what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how the benefits can go beyond just financial.
Useful links

Mohair Fibres NZ 
Mohair Producers NZ
Farmers Weekly article: ‘Mohair wins ad boost to convert sheep farmers’
The Gullies
Farmers Weekly article: ‘When knowing the ‘enemy’ is part of success’

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 landmark year for rural New Zealand and what it will take for New Zealand farming to be genuinely world-leading again.
We unpack the major policy wins delivered in 2025, including reduced red tape, real cost savings for farmers, and a Government that’s finally backing the sector rather than holding it back.
Wayne shares what he’s most proud of from the past year, the toughest calls he’s had to make as president, and how the organisation’s long-standing policy priorities are tracking. 
We also look ahead to the next election, the challenges still facing farmers at a regional level, and what it will take to turn recent wins into lasting progress.