The Country-Wide Podcast

• Episode 54 - Is your farm insurance keeping up with the changes?

  This episode we take a deep dive into the changes affecting rising insurance premiums and advice on how to navigate the changes including a new insurance model called parametric insurance that will help farmers insure in the face of extreme weather events. Guests include: Brett Borrell, Commercial and Rural Manager, Gallaghers Insurance Lucie Douma, Head of Client Strategy and Advice, FMG Hosted by Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Co-Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter 2. Tony Legget, Journalist, Country-Wide Gallagher Insurance commercial and rural manager Brett Borrell, breaks down the key factors driving insurance prices up for farmers and how insurance for insurers (reinsurance) plays a significant role in the rising costs of premiums. He also discusses the challenges farmers face in managing risk and offers insights on how understanding the components of your premium can help make informed decisions. FMG head of client strategy and advice Lucie Douma, introduces the new insurance model parametric insurance. This is a model designed to help farmers manage extreme weather risks. She highlights its growing popularity, especially for farmers dealing with climate change, and how it can complement existing coverage to ensure quicker and more efficient compensation when disaster strikes. Read the Country-Wide Summer articles on insurance premiums and insurance market insights Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here. Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $79/year for four seasonal magazines including free postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE WEEKLY EMAILSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 53 - A national and international look at the sheep industry and where it’s heading

  With the start of the new year, more signs are appearing for the direction the sheep industry is going. The majority of these signs are positive and are pointing towards an exciting year for the industry. In this episode, hear from the South Island Livestock Manager for PGG Wrightson, Shane Gerken about how prices have looked over the summer break and what they’re shifting towards. We also hear from a young up and coming sheep breeder, Jasper Hewlett-Coffey about what he plans to do as part of a new generation of sheep breeders. Hank Vogler, a sheep farmer based in Nevada, U.S.A, gives his insight on what lamb in the US is looking like and how this might affect New Zealand. Guests include: Shane Gerken, South Island Livestock Manager, PGG Wrightson Jasper Hewlett-Coffey, Sheep Breeder, Te Kapaha Farm, PH: 021 707 733 Hank Vogler, Nevada Based Sheep Farmer Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media South Island Livestock Manager for PGG Wrightson, Shane Gerken discusses how events late last year have currently influenced where prices are and how they will continue to affect for the next part of this year. Sheep Breeder from Tekapaha Farm, Jasper Hewlett-Coffey discusses how raising his studs as a young sheep breeder is going and the help he has from those in the industry. Nevada based sheep farmer Hank Vogler discusses the similarities and differences between the sheep industry in the US and New Zealand and what needs to happen next for the industry worldwide. Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here. Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE WEEKLY EMAILSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 52 - How are farmers implementing low emissions solutions?

  Selecting sheep for their lower methane traits could be a great tool for farmers, if emissions pricing is on the cards. Cool Sheep Programme Manager Dr Cynthia Lawrence discusses how they are using gene selection to breed lower methane sheep. Central Otago farmer Emma Crutchley shares how they’ve tackled emissions reductions on her family farm, using a range of actions, including a larger arable component, which led to a reduction in stocking rate. Guests include: Emma Crutchley, Sheep and Beef Farmer, Maniototo Dr Cynthia Lawrence, Cool Sheep Programme Manager Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Central Otago farmer Emma Crutchley discusses their family farm journey to becoming more efficient, building a resilient farming business, and lowering methane emissions in tandem with each other. She says since they started they’ve managed to lower their farm emissions by 8%, and little actions add up. Cool Sheep Programme Manager Dr Cynthia Lawrence discusses the programme's goals, how they are using gene selection for breeding lower methane sheep, and what the opportunity for farmers is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 51 - Shutting the paddock gate to cut costs

  Deferred grazing could be a great option for your farm, to reduce costs, and improve soil health, with environmental benefits too, and could be as simple as shutting the paddock gate. In this episode, hear from a Waikato farmer who has implemented this practice on his farm, and a scientist behind the research into deferred grazing. We also hear from Property Brokers about what changing land use regulations could mean for the rural property market going into 2025.. Guests include: Bill Garland, Waikato Sheep & Beef Farmer Conrad Wilkshire, General Manager Rural, Property Brokers Dr. Katherine Tozer, Senior Scientist, AgResearch Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Waikato sheep and beef farmer Bill Garland discusses how he’s used deferred grazing as a low cost pasture renewal tool, and the environmental benefits he’s noticed. He says managing biodiversity is a big part of their operation, with five QEII covenants on their land. He shares how deferred grazing has reduced input costs, and benefitted the environment and their farm system. Read more about Bill’s story here. Property Brokers General Manager for Rural Conrad Wilkshire discusses the impact of changing regulations around full farm to forestry conversion, and what this means for the rural property market. He says we collectively need more information about what this means for the property market, but it does create an opportunity for farmers to look at land use change opportunities. AgResearch Senior Scientist Katherine Tozer discusses how to get started with deferred grazing for pasture renewal, and what the benefits are. She discusses how deferred grazing improves soil quality, and can lead to increased root depth. She says not to think of it as wasted feed that’s not eaten, but instead that it’s part of the pasture rejuvenation process. Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here. Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE WEEKLY EMAILSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 50 - Is 2025 the year of the deer?

  2025 could be a window of opportunity for farmers to get into the deer industry, as the sheep industry faces tough times. With new market access opportunities opening up in China and South Korea, and the benefits of mixed species farming in mind, could it be the year of the deer for New Zealand farmers? Guests include: Rhys Griffiths, CEO, Deer Industry New Zealand Mark McCoard, Chairman, New Zealand Deer Farmers Association Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Taihape deer farmer Mark McCoard farms a velvet focussed operation in his mixed species farm, alongside cattle and sheep. He is also the Chairman of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA). He says the beauty of having deer as part of his operation is that once you have the deer fencing up you can run anything behind it, and this could be a great opportunity for the next generation of farmers. He also discusses how deer could help in the battle against drench resistance. Learn more about the NZDFA here. Velvet access to China has been a challenge for Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), but with market access restored, it’s opening up the market for New Zealand. The new CEO of DINZ, Rhys Griffiths, discusses the deer market at the moment, including what a Trump administration in the USA will mean for exporting to America, what the Chinese and South Korea markets are looking for, and more about the upcoming Deer Industry Awards next year. Find out more about the awards and nominations here. Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here. Subscribe to Country-Wide magazine for $59/four magazines plus postage annually: https://country-wide.co.nz/shop/  SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY-WIDE WEEKLY EMAILSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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