This week, Dr Victoria Hatton talks about premium NZ-made food, Neal Wallace discusses a new Farmers Weekly special report on whether the co-op model is still fit for purpose, and Suz Bremner breaks down record ewe prices and renewed confidence in the sheep sector.

News Wrap | Our co-operative future?
0.02 - Senior reporter Neal Wallace is here to discuss a new special report launched in Farmers Weekly this week. With some of our big co-operative battling for survival in recent years, is the co-op model still fit for purpose? 

Market Insights | Ewe beauty!
07:47 The ewe fair at Stortford Lodge earlier this week saw record prices paid for all ewe classes. AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner says after the steady decline in the sheep flock it’s great to see confidence returning to the sector, on the back of consistently high lamb returns.

Feature | A premium Christmas dinner
15:58 - FoodHQ chief executive Dr Victoria Hatton joins the show to talk about her quest to buy premium, NZ-made food for her family this Christmas. She says quality, sustainability and story were on her shopping list.

FoodHQ chief executive Dr Victoria Hatton joins the show to talk about her quest to buy premium, NZ-made food for her family this Christmas. She says quality, sustainability and story were on her shopping list.

The ewe fair at Stortford Lodge earlier this week saw record prices paid for all ewe classes. AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner says after the steady decline in the sheep flock it’s great to see confidence returning to the sector, on the back of consistently high lamb returns.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace is here to discuss a new special report launched in Farmers Weekly this week. With some of our big co-operative battling for survival in recent years, is the co-op model still fit for purpose? 

From big industry shake-ups to the 2026 outlook, Bryan and the Farmers Weekly-AgriHQ panel break down the year in ag, and Federated Farmers explains how new RMA reforms may finally ease the burden of stalled “zombie” consents on farmers.


Feature | The Year in Ag: 2025’s biggest stories and what’s next
0:42 – Bryan is joined by senior journalists Neal Wallace and Richard Rennie and AgriHQ senior analysts Suz Bremner and Mel Croad, to reflect on the big news stories of 2025. They cover the big company sell-offs, the changing regulatory landscape and what the export and local markets have in store for 2026.


Feds Focus | RMA rethink gets the thumbs up
21:06 – Federated Farmers consenting spokesperson Colin Hurst says the government’s proposed RMA reforms are a positive step forward. He says the decision to pause consent renewals until after the new regime is in place will also ease the concerns of many farmers who were facing a lengthy and expensive process to comply with a “zombie law”. 

Bryan is joined by senior journalists Neal Wallace and Richard Rennie and AgriHQ senior analysts Suz Bremner and Mel Croad, to reflect on the big news stories of 2025. They cover the big company sell-offs, the changing regulatory landscape and what the export and local markets have in store for 2026.

Federated Farmers consenting spokesperson Colin Hurst says the government’s proposed RMA reforms are a positive step forward. He says the decision to pause consent renewals until after the new regime is in place will also ease the concerns of many farmers who were facing a lengthy and expensive process to comply with a “zombie law”.

In this episode, AgriHQ’s Suz Bremner charts the rise of online livestock bidding. Lorin Clarke shares insights from directing a new documentary on her father, satirist John Clarke aka Fred Dagg. And Federated Farmers’ Sandra Faulkner explains why unifying local governance could deliver clearer purpose and greater efficiency nationwide.

Market Insights | The tech takeover at the saleyards
1:38 – Bryan chats with AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner about the path online bidding platforms have taken – from starting out as a “solution without a problem” to becoming the innovation that kept the lights on during the pandemic.
 
Feature | Not Only Fred Dagg: A BTS lens on the life of John Clarke 
10:19 – Palmerston North will host the NZ premiere of a new documentary on the life of John Clarke, the comedian and satirist most famous here for his Fred Dagg character. John’s daughter Lorin Clarke, who directed the film, joins the studio to chat about her life with a famously funny father, and the challenges she faced completing the definitive documentary.

Feds Focus | Local government reform ‘looks like a winner’
32:14 – Federated Farmers local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says the government’s proposal to disestablish regional councils and bring all local governance into one organisation looks like a winner. As a former councillor at one of our only current unitary councils, Sandra says the clarity of purpose and efficiencies gained provide a blueprint for all regions.

Palmerston North will host the NZ premiere of a new documentary on the life of John Clarke, the comedian and satirist most famous here for his Fred Dagg character. Bryan talks to John’s daughter Lorin Clarke, who directed the film, about her life with a famously funny father, and the challenges she faced completing the definitive documentary.

Bryan chats with AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner about the path online bidding platforms have taken – from starting out as a “solution without a problem” to becoming the innovation that kept the lights on during the pandemic.

Federated Farmers local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says the government’s proposal to disestablish regional councils and bring all local governance into one organisation looks like a winner. As a former councillor at one of our only current unitary councils, Sandra says the clarity of purpose and efficiencies gained provide a blueprint for all regions.

In this episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast, senior reporter Neal Wallace explores the impact of declining migration and low birth rates in NZ. AgriHQ analyst Alex Coddington breaks down global beef market volatility. Feature guest Dr Pieter-Willem Hendriks discusses regenerative farming trials with McCain’s, and Wayne Langford outlines the upcoming roadshow with the PM, addressing key concerns over the RMA and local government reforms.

News Wrap | Inside New Zealand’s demographic challenge
1:30 – Senior reporter Neal Wallace explores the significant role of migration in shaping New Zealand's population growth, highlighting the current decline in migration rates and its implications for future demographics. He talks about the challenges of low birth rates and the concentration of the population in urban areas, particularly Auckland, raising concerns for regional development.

Market Insights | Tariffs and turbulence in global beef trade
7:24 – AgriHQ analyst Alex Coddington dials in to discuss the current state of the global beef market, focusing on the impact of tariffs on exports, particularly between the US, New Zealand, and Brazil. She unpacks the volatility in beef prices, the competitive landscape, and future trends in pricing as influenced by domestic and international market dynamics.

Feature | The regen ag project turning farmland into research beds
12.25 – Bryan talks with Lincoln University Department of Agricultural Sciences senior lecturer  Dr Pieter-Willem Hendriks about the university’s partnership with McCain’s to trial regenerative farming practices. The project is turning farmland into research beds for potatoes, carrots and more, using an eight-year rotation and a three-tier farmer system. The goal: collect real-world data, prove economic viability, and open the gates for farmers and students to see regenerative farming in action.

Feds Focus | Driving Change: The PM’s rural roadshow explained
22:05 – In this segment, Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford discusses the upcoming roadshow with the Prime Minister to engage with farmers across New Zealand. The tour aims to address farmers' concerns, particularly regarding the RMA (Resource Management Act) and regional council changes.

Bryan talks with Lincoln University Department of Agricultural Sciences senior lecturer Dr Pieter-Willem Hendriks about the university’s partnership with McCain’s to trial regenerative farming practices. The project is turning farmland into research beds for potatoes, carrots and more, using an eight-year rotation and a three-tier farmer system. The goal: collect real-world data, prove economic viability, and open the gates for farmers and students to see regenerative farming in action.

Senior reporter Neal Wallace explores the significant role of migration in shaping New Zealand's population growth, highlighting the current decline in migration rates and its implications for future demographics. He tells Bryan about the challenges of low birth rates and the concentration of the population in urban areas, particularly Auckland, raising concerns for regional development.

AgriHQ analyst Alex Coddington dials in to discuss the current state of the global beef market, focusing on the impact of tariffs on exports, particularly between the US, New Zealand, and Brazil. She unpacks the volatility in beef prices, the competitive landscape, and future trends in pricing as influenced by domestic and international market dynamics.

In this segment, Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford discusses the upcoming roadshow with the Prime Minister to engage with farmers across New Zealand. The tour aims to address farmers' concerns, particularly regarding the RMA (Resource Management Act) and regional council changes.

In this episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast, AgriHQ’s Mel Croad outlines trends in key export markets, noting returns may dip slightly over Christmas but stay strong.NZ Veterinary Association's Dr Annabel Harris joins the studio as this week's feature guest to discuss how farmers can help curb antimicrobial resistance. And, Federated Farmers’ Colin Hurst reports growing support for a petition to roll over consents during resource law reforms. 

Markets Wrap | Red meat export markets holding strong
1:45 – AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad reports on how our key export markets are tracking, and predicts that while farmgate returns might ease a little over Christmas, farmers will enjoy sustained high returns for a while yet.

Feature | How farmers can help combat antimicrobial resistance
8:24 – NZ Veterinary Association antimicrobial resistance committee chair Dr Annabel Harris tells Bryan how farmers can help combat AMR, and why it is important to ensure the continued efficacy of the antibiotics we rely upon.

Feds Focus | Petition launched to end consenting crisis
22:08 – Federated Farmers vice-president Colin Hurst says farmers are getting behind the petition urging the government to roll over consents while new resource management laws are enacted. He says the time and money spent on consents right now is a waste, considering change is coming to the framework.

The Final Word
28:10 – In his Farmers Weekly column this week Keith Woodford shows that sheep and beef farms have a big challenge ahead of them. Return on capital is stubbornly low, and the options to improve it are limited. Is it time for biodiversity credits to promote native plantings over carbon farming?

NZ Veterinary Association antimicrobial resistance committee chair Dr Annabel Harris tells Bryan how farmers can help combat AMR, and why it is important to ensure the continued efficacy of the antibiotics we rely upon.

AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad reports on how our key export markets are tracking, and predicts that while farmgate returns might ease a little over Christmas, farmers will enjoy sustained high returns for a while yet.

Federated Farmers vice-president Colin Hurst says farmers are getting behind the petition urging the government to roll over consents while new resource management laws are enacted. He says the time and money spent on consents right now is a waste, considering change is coming to the framework.