Breaking away from average: James Allen on what sets top farms apart
In this episode, Wade and Matt sit down with James Allen, CEO of Ag First, to unpack three decades of insights from the dairy sector. Drawing on long-term financial data, James explores the gap between average and top-performing farms and how small, targeted changes can lead to impactful improvements.From micro-improvements to smarter decision-making, James delves into the numbers of average farms versus the top 20% performers, outlining the gains that can be made by breaking away from being an average farm. James provides a practical roadmap for farmers looking to lift profitability without overhauling their systems. With relatable examples and a focus on achievable gains, this episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone interested in what drives exceptional farm performance.
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44:14
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44:14
Setting your maize crop up for success with Dr Rowland Tsimba
As spring approaches, maize growers across New Zealand are preparing for planting. Understanding how to set up your crop for success is critical. In this episode, Wade and Matt welcome Dr Rowland Tsimba, National Research & Agronomy Manager, who says it all begins with knowing your growing environment.“The key to cropping success is a combination of understanding the science and good strategic planning”, says Rowland. “While factors like temperature, radiation levels, soil type, and moisture availability are largely beyond a grower's control, understanding how they influence crop growth allows for better management decisions that can mitigate their impact on yield”.
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36:47
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36:47
Pathway to Farm Ownership & Engineering on-farm success with Dave England
During the Rural Roadie, Matt and Wade sat down with Taranaki dairy farmer, Dave England, to explore his transition from engineering to dairy farm ownership. At 28, Dave and wife, Hollie made the decision to enter the dairy industry, advancing from a 200-cow lower order role to managing a 600-cow operation within a year. By intentionally working with progressive farmers, Dave rapidly developed his skills and built the equity needed to step into a 310 cow 50/50 sharemilking role. His disciplined approach to budgeting and consistent delivery on financial projections earned the banks' trust and laid the foundation for future growth.Now at the helm of a high-performing System 5 dairy operation with 1000 cows and newly acquired land, Dave shares the strategies that have shaped his success. He emphasises the importance of proactively seeking opportunities, maintaining strong financial literacy, and surrounding yourself with a trusted team. Listeners will walk away with practical advice: know your numbers, treat every farm as your own, and build a reputation that opens doors in the farming community.
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17:06
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17:06
Inside and outside the farm gate: Jen Corkran on pasture and protein markets
Tune in as Jen Corkran, Senior Animal Protein Analyst at Rabobank, shares her expertise on converting grass into protein and explores current market trends in New Zealand’s primary sector. The conversation begins inside the farm gate, drawing on Jen’s 12 years of experience in agronomy and farm systems. Jen unpacks the fundamentals of pasture management and insights into modern pasture varieties. Top-performing operators, she notes, consistently prioritise what grows underfoot, regardless of season or soil type. The discussion then shifts beyond the farm gate to Jen’s current role at RaboResearch, where she forecasts commodity trends, interprets global supply and demand, and translates these insights for farmers. With protein demand rising and global supply constrained, the outlook is promising. This episode reinforces the global advantage of New Zealand’s grass-based, homegrown feed systems. Despite challenges like weather variability and rising costs, Jen highlights the opportunity in our ability to efficiently convert local feed into premium products valued by increasingly discerning consumers.**Recorded late May 2025.
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From family succession to diversified agriculture with Frank Briant
Tune in as Matt and Simon Begley, local Area Manager, sit down with Frank Briant to delve into the story of the Briant Brothers’ operation in Patutahi, Gisborne. This episode highlights how the diverse 520ha operation, which consists of maize grain, Pioneer seed production maize, livestock, kiwifruit, grapes, citrus, squash, and popcorn, has weathered challenges and thrived through strategic diversification and family succession. After parting ways with his brother after 42 years of farming together, Frank established a new operation with his three sons in 2012/13. The Briant Brothers’ partnership with Pioneer dates back to 1989/90, growing seed production maize. Frank shares insights into how their farming practices have evolved from traditional maize cribs to modern combines and precision agriculture. Frank discusses the family's resilience and the importance of diversification when Cyclone Gabrielle devastated their crops in 2022, and how they've recovered and thrived through modern techniques like strip tillage, achieving impressive maize grain yields averaging 18 tonnes per hectare this season.
Welcome to Feed for Thought, a regular podcast hosted by Pioneer® Farm Systems Specialists Wade Bell and Matt Dalley. In this podcast series we aim to share in-depth information on technical and farm systems topics. Our aim is to keep the information practical and relevant to farmers and we hope to prompt thoughts, discussions and actions which improve the profitability and sustainability of farming. Tune in and listen to the team as well as our guests who will include researchers, agronomists and nutritionists from New Zealand and abroad. We hope to deliver cutting edge information, tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your investment in Pioneer® brand products and give you some “Feed for Thought”.
New Zealand