REX

On today’s episode… We look at the plight of kiwifruit growers on the back of a very tough season… We look at efforts to get vets to go rural… And we zone in on the importance of wool grading.

Our next guest Mel Sheppard has probably seen it all in her roles in the sheep, beef and forestry industries - recruiting and training people, and helping when things turn tricky! She’s currently Sector Manager for Primary ITO - looking after the training courses on sheep, beef, deer, and pork.

Andrew Vavasour is right in the thick of his ewe pregnancy scanning beat across Gisborne, Wairoa, and the Hawkes Bay at the moment… In his other life, he has a successful landscaping business in Marlborough, but each winter, he gets on his woolly long johns and hat and steps inside the scanning tent!

Simon Adams is a Taranaki dairy farmer and a father. In May he ran four marathons - that’s one every weekend for a month - taking on the pain to raise awareness about water safety after his son Jordy tragically drowned in 2021 aged just 18. Donate to Simon's Give-A-Little here

Kicking things off with a look at the rural print media, and we’re joined by our good mate Tony Leggett from Dairy Exporter and Country Wide.

Time now for this week’s View From the Top Paddock, and we’re joined by the outgoing Vice President of the World Farmers’ Organisation and West Coast dairy farmer Katie Milne.

Well, no real surprises - it's been a tough year for the kiwifruit sector with the final numbers released recently by Zespri… Global revenue and sales volumes were both down on the previous season, while the value of Kiwifruit also took a hit due to quality issues… Throw in some nasty weather events and the 2022/23 season is probably one to forget… To get a grower’s perspective on this, we’re joined now by New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Chief Executive Colin Bond

Marg Ford works for the NZ Wool Classers Association… Her interest in wool started when she was an ag journalist for the Waikato Times… Then she married a shearer and spent lots of time in woolsheds, becoming a wool classer herself… She joins us on REX.

Stuart Bruere is a Veterinarian trainer. He’s based at Massey University and wants to inspire Vets to work in rural clinics, and has some thoughts on how Farmers can help welcome and support young Vets.

It seems meteorologists around the world are facing unprecedented harassment from conspiracy theorists… Weather Watch Chief Executive Phil Duncan says that’s extended to NZ, and he spoke to Dom George about it this week on REX Today.

On today’s episode, we catch up with Groundswell’s Jamie McFadden on their call to boycott farm plans… We find out how Gisborne farmer Alex Campbell managed to farm through two cyclones… And we chat with Wisewool co-founder, fresh off a Country Calendar appearance last week.

On today’s episode, we profile a multi-generational farming family who are all about protecting the land… We look at a new methane reduction product being trialed at Craigmore Farms… And we find out what Carter’s Brand Ambassador Richard Loe has been getting up to!

Harry Urquhart-Hay has had a very busy week after his family wool manufacturing business, WISE WOOL, appeared on Country Calender last Sunday night… He’s head of sales marketing for the business - one that’s been in the wool trade for 130 years… He’s based in Auckland, but his heart is with those sheep farmers trying to make a go out of strong wool!

Jaime McFadden is a farmer in North Canterbury who has become well known for speaking about policies and regulations that affect farming and he is the Environmental Policy Spokesperson for Groundswell.

Just over twelve months ago Andrew Macky won the NZ Dairy Farm Manager Award at the annual shindig - Today we’re heading to Te Awamutu to catch up with him.

Alex and Megan Campbell farm 430 hectares in Hangaroa, Gisborne, a large part of it being the original Awapapa Station. Alex has farmed through two cyclones and tough economic downturns - one that resulted in them having to sell up. But he loves a challenge, now as a Managing Partner he joins us now on REX.

For this week’s View From the Top Paddock, and we head to Horowhenua to catch up with one of the great REX contributors, Nathan Guy.

Craigmore Sustainables is trialing breakthrough technology to reduce methane in a first for the New Zealand dairy industry… To tell us more, we’re joined by Craigmore’s General Manager of Farming Stuart Taylor

Time to welcome onto the show Carter’s Tyres Brand Ambassador, Richard Loe.

175 years ago Cath Baker’s Great-great-great Grandfather arrived as a surveyor into Marlborough, bought some land, and started breeding Merinos - including the famous Bulldog Merino stud… Cath and her husband Paul have changed a few things at Seven Oaks but have carried on the legacy of protecting the land… Cath joins us now on REX.