REX

You’d be hard-placed to find someone who’s been more intertwined with the Merino wool industry over the years, than John Brakenridge… He’s been involved with the NZ Merino Company since it was set up by growers in 1996 - known then as Merino New Zealand… John’s lived through the McKinsey Report of 2001 and the dissolution of the NZ Wool Board… He’s seen the highs and lows but kept his focus, and won the KPMG Outstanding Contribution to International Business Award, in 2013… He’s now close to stepping down as CEO of the NZ Merino Company, but we understand, he’s still got some pots on the boil in NZ businesses.

Mel Brookes is head of a farmer-owned cooperative… Nope, it’s not a meat company… Rather she’s the CEO of an irrigation cooperative, known as MHV Water… Based on the Hinds plains, it has two hundred farms involved, covering 50,000 hectares across Mid-Canterbury.

Time to head to Canterbury to find out what life is like for the man off the big farm, Carter’s Brand Ambassador, Richard Loe.

Ed Marfell has been in the livestock game for 40 years… Based in Canterbury, he’s the General Manager of Livestock for Hazlett. Being at the epi-centre of Canterbury lamb, that golden pinnacle of tastiness, we thought he’d be a good person to discuss all things lamb, in particular, what’s the ideal store lamb out there, to make a buck over winter, and deliver to export markets by spring… And, for our urban listeners, a store lamb is one that is still too light to be suitable for the table.

Stuart Smith is the MP for the Kaikoura Electorate and the National Party Spokesperson for Energy, Viticulture, and the Earthquake Commission… He’s based in Blenheim and used to run a vineyard and winery and was Chair of NZ Winegrowers, before entering politics. Even further back, he was a sheep and beef farmer in Methven.

Professor Derrick Moot is known by many as the Lucerne Guru… It all started after he revived interest in this luscious legume, through preaching the benefits of direct grazing… Patches of green lucerne are all over dryland NZ and he has his own text service to farmers on how to manage lucerne… But he’s not a one-trick pony… Prof Moot is a lecturer in Agricultural Sciences at Lincoln University and is heavily involved in on-farm research… One of his more recent projects has been the Hill Country Futures programme - an eight-million dollar programme focused on future-proofing the profitability, sustainability and well-being of New Zealand's hill country… He joins us today, to tell us more about it. And maybe mention that L word.

Right, get your horse saddled, we’re off for a trek down the South Island with Katie Herries… Katie has just completed a 940-km journey from the top to the bottom of the South Island… She’s worked as a shepherd, hunter, shearer, and a horse packie - learning the ropes in Canada… Now she’s recovering back in Hawarden, in North Canterbury, where we catch up with her

For those farmers out there, it’s pretty likely you started your farming career with a bit of help from the Lincoln University Farm Budget & Technical Manuals… These ‘bibles’ of agribusiness have been around since the 1960s… In the next few months, the updated Farm Budget manual is due to come out… Rob Reynish is the man behind them - he’s an agribusiness consultant in his own right, but also works as Business Manager for the Agribusiness and Commerce Faculty, at Lincoln… He joins us on REX.

On the corner of Soldiers Settlement Road in the small Hawkes Bay town of Rissington stands tall a hand-carved ANZAC sculpture that was made with a dying redwood tree. Bronwyn Farquharson was one of the local masterminds behind the development of the carving, and joins Dom George on REX Today to look back on the town's long connections to both World Wars, and how they will be commemorating this year's ANZAC day.

The only membership association representing New Zealand veterinarians is hitting a century soon, and to talk about the purpose of the NZVA and more, their President Dr. Kate Hill joined us on the show. And Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines Managing Director Boris Breau has been in the country to celebrate the company’s recent purchase of the 52-hectare Akarua Estate in Bannockburn, including the brand, winery, and 34.5-ha vineyard. He joined Dom George ahead of his return to the EDRH head office in Bordeaux.

Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines Managing Director Boris Breau has been in the country to celebrate the company’s recent purchase of the 52-hectare Akarua Estate in Bannockburn, including the brand, winery, and 34.5-ha vineyard. He joined Dom George ahead of his return to the EDRH head office in Bordeaux.

The only membership association representing New Zealand veterinarians is hitting a century soon, and to talk about the purpose of the NZVA and more, their President Dr. Kate Hill joined us on REX Today.

Hamish McKay is in the chair today, he gets a GDT update from NZX's Amy Castleton, and Rabobank Agribusiness Manager Paul Brough joins the show to discuss his work in bringing a group of Mongolian Shearers to the country after seeing them using shear with scissors whilst on a trip to the East Asian country...

Rabobank Agribusiness Manager Paul Brough joins the show to discuss his work in bringing a group of Mongolian Shearers to the country after seeing them 'shear' with scissors whilst on a trip to the East Asian country...

Hamish McKay is in the chair today, he gets a GDT update from NZX's Amy Castleton.

Lincoln Universities Prof. Derrick Moot is keen to squash out misinformation surrounding our food and is using Science to point to the truth. Dom picked his brain to find out how Derrick is looking to bring back some balance to the keyboard warriors. And popular Auckland Chef Brent Martin joins Dom to put a spotlight on the work of KiwiHarvest - an organisation that reduces the negative impacts of food waste on our environment by redistributing excess food; helping to create lasting positive social change by nourishing those in need.

Popular Auckland Chef Brent Martin joins Dom to put a spotlight on the work of KiwiHarvest - an organisation that reduces the negative impacts of food waste on our environment by redistributing excess food; helping to create lasting positive social change by nourishing those in need.

Lincoln University Prof. Derrick Moot is keen to squash out misinformation surrounding our food and is using Science to point to the truth. Dom picked his brain to find out how Derrick is looking to bring back some balance to the fold.

Is the NZ red meat industry under threat from the changes in meat consumption around the globe? To find out more we're joined by the CEO of MIA, Sirma Karapeeva. Over the weekend Peter O'Connor took out the Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year award and heads to the Grand Finals in Timaru in July. He joins Dom after Pete's win locks in a Grand Final appearance against Nick O'Connor; Tasmans FMG Young Farmer of the Year and Pete's younger brother. And with the financial end-of-year approaching for many farm businesses, We thought it appropriate to have a charted accountant with a strong rural background to pass on some valuable insight and advice, So Dom had a chat with Accountant and Director at BDO, Alex Barton.

With the financial end-of-year approaching for many farm businesses, We thought it appropriate to have a charted accountant with a strong rural background to pass on some valuable insight and advice, So Dom had a chat with Accountant and Director at BDO, Alex Barton.

Over the weekend Peter O'Connor took out the Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year award and heads to the Grand Finals in Timaru in July. He joins Dom after Pete's win locks in a Grand Final appearance against Nick O'Connor; Tasmans FMG Young Farmer of the Year and Pete's younger brother.

Is the NZ red meat industry under threat from the changes in meat consumption around the globe? To find out more we're joined by the CEO of MIA, Sirma Karapeeva.

On today’s episode We touch base with our good mate Professor Hugh Campbell from Otago University… This week’s Yes Minister features local government minister Kieran McAnulty… And we find out how wool carpet manufacturer Bremworth is navigating the aftermath of flood damage.

On today’s episode; It’s a bit of a REX OE! We catch up with the irrepressible Katie Milne following her latest Roman sojourn… We find out what a Kiwi cattle breeder discovered on a recent trip to visit Angus studs and cattle ranches in the United States… And we find out what a Central Otago farmer learned on a recent trip to a Hereford Conference in Europe.

It’s that time of the year when people start to think about Moving Day and taking up new contracts… One of the things you need to sort is power, and to tell us more about what you need to know, we’re joined now by Genesis Territory Business manager, Jadene Irvine.

Alright time to head over to the West Coast for this week’s View From the Top Paddock, where we’re joined by the jet-setting Vice-President of the World Farmers’ Organisation, Katie Milne.

We head to the heart of the Maniototo now here on REX, where Simon Paterson runs merinos on the 2,000-hectare property, Armidale… The Paterson family run 1000 stud ewes, along with a commercial flock of Merinos as well; that makes him well placed to be the judge of other Merinos… And indeed, this was one of his more recent voluntary roles - heading up to Marlborough to judge their Two-tooth competition.

Bremworth’s Napier plant was closed as a result of the February cyclone… Since the catastrophic flood, the carpet maker has had to quickly make plans to keep production flowing… This includes outsourcing some carpet manufacturing - both in NZ and internationally… We caught up with CEO Greg Smith soon after the flood, and now he’s back on the show to give us an update

“I can guarantee that there'll be more mayors that support this proposal than supported the last one”. That’s the call from Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty following the announcement of changes to Three Waters… Among those changes, it’ll no longer be referred to as Three Waters… Kieran McAnulty joins us now to talk about this and other issues.

Well, he’s been such a hit with the fans on REX this year, we’ve decided to get him back for another chat! This time it’s to discuss whether farmers are the original environmentalists... Professor Hugh Campbell, Professor of Sociology at Otago University.

Darren Sutton is a Nelson-raised lad, who now works in the Waikato, as a Farmwise Consultant for LIC… He’s been thinking about the climate in the Waikato recently, and he’s noticed that total rainfall over the past years has been close to average, but the spread has changed… Extremely dry autumns and very wet winters means June can be the fastest growing month for pasture, in Waikato, even more than Feb to April combined… So, he reckons farmers need to adapt to what’s happening.

It’s that time of the year when the Rams go out, so we thought we’d go to one of the best in the business to pick his brains on teaser Rams and tipping. Pete Anderson is a Marlborough-based veterinarian who always wants to get to the bottom of any animal health problem. This has stood him in good stead when throwing off the green overalls and becoming an advisor for StockCare - a job that takes him around the country, usually in his plane, to help farmer clients get the best from their flock.

REX Today host Dom George calls in to REX to look back at the week that was.

Ollie Batelier-Belton founded Carbon Forest Services in 2013… The vision of the business, based in Wellington, is to be the leading advocate of forests as a force for good, and a fit-for-purpose emissions trading scheme. Ollie’s certainly been very busy over the years advising farmers, iwi groups and not-for-profit groups, on carbon forestry.

Gray and Robyn Pannett are Polled Hereford breeders at Limehills, a 4000-hectare property in Roxburgh, Central Otago. It runs up to 900 metres, so a fairly tough environment to farm. Gray is also the President of NZ Herefords and, in this role, travelled to Europe last year to judge and attend the European Hereford conference.

Ben Todhunter has quite a few pots on the boil - he and his wife Donna farm 1,900 hectares on the south side of the Rakaia River, including running a Cleardale SX Fine Wool stud and an Angus stud. Ben is a director of the NZ Merino Company and StockX Ltd… He’s been on a trip to the US recently, visiting Angus studs and cattle ranches, on the hunt for genetics suitable for use back in NZ.

Richard Dawkins is a farmer who is perhaps best known for developing an indoor-lambing system, at his home farm The Pyramid. When he’s not being a mid-wife to 100s of lambs going through the lambing shed, he grows out and leases Jersey bulls. He and his wife Jess, together with his parents Chris and Julia, won the Marlborough Sheep & Beef Farmer of the Year, back in 2021. He’s currently vice President of Marlborough Federated Farmers. You get the picture - he’s pretty motivated… He was also happy to put his hand up, to host the Waihopai Valley catchment group field day, this week, at The Pyramid Woolshed… He joins us on REX.

On the show today: Dr Tim Chambers: Department of Public Health, University of Otago Shane Bird: Former Farmer turned Lifecoach And Hamish McKay on the weekend of sport ahead.

David Burge, DairyNZ's Sustainable Dairy GM & Anna Fisher from Silverstream Farm are on REX Today with Dom George.

WeatherWatchNZ's Phil Duncan and Owner of Canterbury Woodchips Brad Coleman make up today's edition of REX Today.