The Country-Wide Podcast

In this episode we look at the ways farmers can get the most out of their four-legged farm workers, and give them the best care possible. Learn about a Massey University project looking at the DNA and behaviour of working dogs in New Zealand, and hear advice from a Hunterville vet on how to best care for your working dogs throughout their life, from a pup through to old age. Guests include: Jaime Watters, Mixed Animal Veterinarian, Hunterville Vet Club Matt Littlejohn, Professor of Animal Genetics, Massey University Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Hunterville Vet Club mixed animal veterinarian, Jaime Watters, discusses providing your four-legged companions with the best care, including giving your puppy the best start, the importance of diet, and what to check for regularly health-wise. Massey University Professor of Animal Genetics, Matt Littlejohn, discusses a study that hopes to shed light on the origin of the Huntaway and heading dog breeds, and identify predispositions to genetic conditions, such as twisted gut. They’ve teamed up with Ancestry to provide testing kits to sample dogs taking part in the study, and you can get your farm dogs involved in this study too.   Read more about the study 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.

Recruiting and keeping great employees is always relevant in the success of farm businesses, and is the focus of the special report in Country-Wide Summer. In this episode find out more about what employees are looking for when it comes to work contracts, how we’re doing as a sector when it comes to remuneration, and how you can attract good employees through your recruitment process.  Guests include: Richard McIntyre, Employment Spokesperson, Federated Farmers Gretchen Parkes, Manager, Rural Directions Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Luisa Osborne, Podcast Producer, CountryWide Media Federated Farmers Employment Spokesperson Richard McIntyre discusses the importance of the total value package, one that benefits both an employee's work and personal life. He says agriculture is at risk of workers taking better paid jobs in towns, and so farmers need to provide good progression pathways.  Manager of Rural Directions Gretchen Parkes discusses how farm business branding will help when it comes to recruiting employees to your farm, and what this could look like. She also gives some tips for employees looking for jobs, and how to pitch themselves to employers.  Read the special report 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.

Keeping young people engaged in the farming industry is vital to the long term success of our sector. Nurturing and growing the next generation of farmers is something we should all care about. In this episode we look at the programmes that exist to upskill our future farmers, and give them the tools to have a long and rewarding career. We also dive into the current property markets as we head into spring and summer, and what we can glean from iconic sheep and beef farms hitting the markets. Guests include: Wendy Paul, CEO, Growing Future Farmers Conrad Wilkshire, General Manager of Rural, Property Brokers Shane Boderick, Team Leader Trades Academy Tutors, Primary ITO Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Growing Future Farmers CEO, Wendy Paul, discusses the role Growing Future Farmers has taken in developing the skills of young people going into the farming industry. The programme sets up 16-20 year-olds on farms for a two year programme to get practical farming experience, and learn valuable life skills.  General Manager of Rural at Property Brokers Conrad Wilkshire discusses the spring property markets, as a number of iconic sheep and beef properties go on the market, what this means for land values, and whether farmers should be concerned.  Team Leader Trades Academy Tutors at Primary ITO Shane Boderick discusses the Trades Academy Programme, and how it gives students hands-on experience and skills to get into the primary industries. He says it’s been part of his own journey, and helps a lot of school students to find something they’re talented at, and get real world experience.  Make the smart call. Click here to contact an Agri Manager. 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.

Farm businesses, like any other business, thrive better when there’s good leadership, from large multi-farm businesses to family owned-and-operated farmers. But how do you become a good leader, and what actually makes one? In this episode we delve into Pāmu’s leadership programme model, and talk to a Marlborough farmer investing in good leadership and team culture on his farm.  Guests include: Bernadette Kelly, Chief People, Safety and Reputation Officer, Pāmu Fraser Avery, Marlborough Farmer Hosts: Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media Pāmu’s Chief People, Safety and Reputation Officer, Bernadette Kelly, discusses how they’ve developed a culture of good leadership to do the best by their staff. This includes making sure there are opportunities for growth, development, and having each other’s back. She says people often leave workplaces due to poor leadership, so it’s critical to get it right.   Marlborough Farmer Fraser Avery works hard to create good team culture on his farm. He says it’s something that farmers often don’t learn about when they’re training, and is overlooked. He’s been looking for ways to learn from others about effective leadership styles and team culture, to do the best by his farm team.  Read more in the Special Report “Leadership It Starts at the Top” 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.