This week on The Farmers Weekly Podcast: Richard Rennie reports from China on Fonterra, Zespri and trade trends; Beef + Lamb NZ’s Alan Thomson on global climate talks; and Federated Farmers’ Brendan Attrill on new share farming workshops. Plus — could US sheep farmers drag Trump into a lamb tariff fight?


News Wrap | China Check-In: Fonterra’s future and Zespri’s kiwifruit crackdown
1:44 – Senior reporter Richard Rennie wraps up his recent visit to China, where he attended one of the biggest trade shows on earth and visited Fonterra’s innovation centre in Shanghai. He also headed west to see how Zespri is dealing with the thousands of hectares of illegal Sungold kiwifruit being grown.

Feature | NZ’s ag strategy: the split-gas initiative explained
16:05 – Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Alan Thomson tells Bryan about how a group of red meat producers reached agreement on a campaign pushing for a split-gas approach to be adopted globally. He says while it is accepted here, that’s not the case in other countries.

Feds Focus | Workshops for share farmers and contractors
28:37 – Federated Farmers share farming chair Brendan Attrill outlines what to expect at the series of workshops Feds is running on getting the best out of share farming and contracting. The workshops are being held over the coming weeks around the country.

The Final Word
36:30 – American sheep farmers have taken aim at our sector, asking the Trump administration to increase tariffs on the lamb we sell there. At first glance one would think Trump doesn’t have time for what is, in the scheme of things, a small quibble. But with US farmers doing it tough and sky-high prices at the checkout, is the president about to turn his attention to agriculture?

Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Alan Thomson tells Bryan about how a group of red meat producers reached agreement on a campaign pushing for a split-gas approach to be adopted globally. He says while it is accepted here, that’s not the case in other countries.

Senior reporter Richard Rennie wraps up his recent visit to China, where he attended one of the biggest trade shows on earth and visited Fonterra’s innovation centre in Shanghai. He also headed west to see how Zespri is dealing with the thousands of hectares of illegal Sungold kiwifruit being grown.

Federated Farmers share farming chair Brendan Attrill outlines what to expect at the series of workshops Feds is running on getting the best out of share farming and contracting. The workshops are being held over the coming weeks around the country.

(00:00:00) Full Show | November 7
(00:01:29) Navigating the Busy Store Cattle Market
(00:06:39) High Peak Brothers Explore Farming in Argentina
(00:19:39) Eradicating TB: Lessons from New Zealand's Past
(00:25:51) The Final Word

In this episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast, High Peak’s Simon and Hamish Guild share lessons from Argentina, while Feds’ Karl Dean discusses the new bovine TB plan and AgriHQ’s Fiona Quarrie reports on cattle sales.

Market Insights | Navigating the Busy Store Cattle Market
1:30 – AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie reports on the recent cattle sales at Matawhero, Stortford Lodge and Feilding, where large numbers of cattle have been sold as eastern regions dry out. Fiona says there’s more to come, and while prices have been back on recent months, there’s still good value for vendors.

Feature | High Peak Brothers Explore Farming in Argentina
6:40 – Bryan catches up with Simon and Hamish Guild of High Peak Station, who have just returned from a study tour of Argentina made possible by their win in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. They say there’s a lot to admire about the way Argentinians grow and eat red meat.

Feds Focus | Eradicating TB: Lessons from New Zealand's Past
19:40 – Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson Karl Dean says the new plan to eradicate bovine TB is good in theory, but farmers have bad memories of previous attempts to stamp it out, and this time it needs to be enacted with care and communication. 

The Final Word
25:52 – Rural sports are a big deal in places like the United States, as Jack Jordan’s recent woodchopping world championship win showed. But it’s the next generation that could discover a passion for food production through events like the recent Clash of the Colleges that really shows us that rural sports are more than just a game.

Bryan catches up with Simon and Hamish Guild of High Peak Station, who have just returned from a study tour of Argentina made possible by their win in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. They say there’s a lot to admire about the way Argentinians grow and eat red meat.

AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie reports on the recent cattle sales at Matawhero, Stortford Lodge and Feilding, where large numbers of cattle have been sold as eastern regions dry out. Fiona says there’s more to come, and while prices have been back on recent months, there’s still good value for vendors.

Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson Karl Dean says the new plan to eradicate bovine TB is good in theory, but farmers have bad memories of previous attempts to stamp it out, and this time it needs to be enacted with care and communication.

In this episode, we dive into the latest developments across New Zealand’s agricultural sector.

Alex Coddington from AgriHQ provides an update on the lamb and cattle markets, highlighting how weather conditions are affecting livestock prices and availability, while Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton discusses the co-operative’s turnaround, posting a net profit of $2.8 million for FY25 after a prior loss. 
 
Lincoln University’s Dr Nic Lees also joins the studio to explore the implications of Fonterra’s $3.2 billion windfall from the sale of its consumer brands, and Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst addresses the complexities of agricultural regulations and RMA reform. 

Market Insights | Store stock demand top dollar at saleyards
1:38 – Alex Coddington from AgriHQ discusses the current state of the lamb and cattle markets, highlighting the impact of weather conditions on livestock pricing and availability. She talks us through the softer lamb market in Hawke's Bay, the effects of local buying power, and the strong demand in the cattle market, indicating a seller's market with high confidence in beef prices.

Feature | Farmlands: strategic improvements and market sentiment
6:48 – Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton discusses the co-operative’s annual result, which saw it post a net profit after tax of $2.8 million for the 2025 financial year – up from a loss of $9.3m (restated) in FY24. She says a refreshed strategy and the acquisition of nutrition manufacturer Seales Winslow helped turn things around.

Feature | Navigating Fonterra's $3.2 billion windfall
18:34 – Lincoln University’s Dr Nic Lees unpacks Fonterra’s $3.2b windfall from the sale of its consumer brands, exploring how farmers can invest wisely for long-term resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in the dairy sector.
He talks about potential investment strategies for farmers, including the risks associated with increased production, and Fonterra's competitive advantages in the market.

Feds Focus | Survey shows consent process frustrating farmers
29:11 – Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst discusses the complexities and costs associated with agricultural regulations. With the RMA currently being reformed by the government, Colin says all consents should be rolled over, rather than forcing farmers to renew them under the outgoing regulatory regime.

The Final Word
35:12 – The arable sector is at the heart of farming in NZ, but is still struggling to conquer the market here. At least 75% of the bread sold in NZ is made with imported grain, something the industry is keen to rectify through the newly launched New Zealand Grown Grains Mark. Early signs are that it might prove a success.

Lincoln University’s Dr Nic Lees unpacks Fonterra’s $3.2b windfall from the sale of its consumer brands, exploring how farmers can invest wisely for long-term resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in the dairy sector.He unpacks potential investment strategies for farmers, including the risks associated with increased production, and Fonterra's competitive advantages in the market.

Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton discusses the co-operative’s annual result, which saw it post a net profit after tax of $2.8 million for the 2025 financial year – up from a loss of $9.3m (restated) in FY24. She says a refreshed strategy and the acquisition of nutrition manufacturer Seales Winslow helped turn things around.

Alex Coddington from AgriHQ discusses the current state of the lamb and cattle markets, highlighting the impact of weather conditions on livestock pricing and availability. She talks us through the softer lamb market in Hawke's Bay, the effects of local buying power, and the strong demand in the cattle market, indicating a seller's market with high confidence in beef prices.

Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst discusses the complexities and costs associated with agricultural regulations. With the RMA currently being reformed by the government, Colin says all consents should be rolled over, rather than forcing farmers to renew them under the outgoing regulatory regime.

In this episode, Richard Rennie previews his trip to China’s markets, Professor Ralph Sims unpacks NZ’s methane targets, and Feds’ Sandra Faulkner marks a milestone in farmer representation.

News Wrap | Meeting the Market: A return to China
1:38 – Senior reporter Richard Rennie outlines his upcoming visit to China, where he will attend one of the world’s biggest food fairs in China, before heading east to the Sichuan province in Western China to see how Zespri is engaging with those growing its SunGold variety of kiwifruit.

Feature | Weighing the impact NZ’s new methane targets
8:02 – Bryan chats with Professor Emeritus Ralph Sims of Massey University about the recently reduced methane reduction targets announced by the government. Sims has helped produce a number of International Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and says the new targets will not go down well with the international community.
Feds Focus | More farmers around the council table

Federated Farmers local government spokesperson 
25:22 – Sandra Faulkner is celebrating news that 69 Feds members have been elected to local bodies around New Zealand. She says farmers and growers are well-suited to local governance as they bring experience from both rural communities and the business world.

The Final Word
30:32 – Europe’s crackdown on nitrate and ammonia pollution from farming could be a sign of things to come here. Food production has exceeded environmental limits in some nations there, and it appears politicians are convinced it is electorally advantageous to turn that around.

Bryan chats with Professor Emeritus Ralph Sims of Massey University about the recently reduced methane reduction targets announced by the government. Sims has helped produce a number of International Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and says the new targets will not go down well with the international community.

Federated Farmers local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner is celebrating news that 69 Feds members have been elected to local bodies around New Zealand. She says farmers and growers are well-suited to local governance as they bring experience from both rural communities and the business world.

(00:00:00) Full Show | October 17
(00:01:33) Navigating the future of dairy in the Netherlands
(00:09:39) Stortford Lodge welcomes new season lambs
(00:15:32) Arable code of conduct on the way
(00:23:14) The Final Word

In this week's Farmers Weekly Podcast we discuss key issues in New Zealand's food and fibre sector. The episode features insights from Neal Wallace on dairy farming innovations in the Netherlands, challenges faced by Dutch farmers, and the impact of weight loss drugs on food consumption.

Suz Bremner also provides an update on the livestock market, particularly the new season lambs, while David Birkett discusses a new code of conduct for the arable sector aimed at preventing disputes. 

The episode concludes with reflections on New Zealand's climate targets and sustainability efforts.
 
News Wrap | Navigating the future of dairy in the Netherlands 
1:35 – Senior reporter Neal Wallace, who is on a Meeting the Market tour, shares insights from his recent visit to the Netherlands, focusing on dairy farming practices, the political landscape surrounding nutrition, and the challenges faced by farmers due to government policies and technological advancements. He tells Bryan the impact of weight loss drugs on food consumption and the evolving preferences for high-quality protein in diets.
 
Market Insights | Stortford Lodge welcomes new season lambs 
9:40 – AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner was at the big sale at Stortford, where the first crop of new season lambs hit the pens. She says vendors left very happy, with last season’s sky-high prices carrying over into this new season.

Feds Focus | Arable code of conduct on the way 
15:33 – Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett gives an update on the new arable code of conduct, which has been developed to give growers and buyers more certainty around dispute resolution. David says the code will lay out who is responsible for each aspect of the process from planting, growing, and harvesting through to storage. 
 
The Final Word
23:15 – The reduction of New Zealand’s methane targets was celebrated by the farming sector, but will the world see it as a win? The reduced targets, a product of the concept of “no additional warming” might be viewed as a lack of ambition by those who buy and consume our food exports.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace, who is on a Meeting the Market tour, shares insights from his recent visit to the Netherlands, focusing on dairy farming practices, the political landscape surrounding nutrition, and the challenges faced by farmers due to government policies and technological advancements. He tells Bryan about the impact of weight loss drugs on food consumption and the evolving preferences for high-quality protein in diets.

AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner was at the big sale at Stortford, where the first crop of new season lambs hit the pens. She says vendors left very happy, with last season’s sky-high prices carrying over into this new season.

Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett updates Bryan on the new arable code of conduct, which has been developed to give growers and buyers more certainty around dispute resolution. David says the code will lay out who is responsible for each aspect of the process from planting, growing, and harvesting through to storage.