REX

On today's show we look at water quality in NZ. Water Policy Advisor from the Upper Clutha Water Group Mandy Bell joins us. Ag Proud NZ have started 'Tractor Talk' on social media - we talk tractors with Gore farmer Bernadette Hunt. Lee-Ann Masters from Beef & Lamb NZ is on the show, as are regular contributors Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett and weatherman Richard Green.

Tatua CEO Brendhan Greaney on the Waikato co-op's bumper milk price and group earnings, the great Sir David Fagan re-joins the show to talk Hynds, National's Agriculture Minister Todd Muller is on 'Yes Minister', Queensland farmer David Foote talks with us, as does Gus Rowley on the 'Character of the Country' segment.

Sam Broomhall from Think Water Canterbury joins us, as does Kylie Leonard, finalist in the rural section for this year's Women Of Influence Award. Newshub's Angie Skerrett on the latest rural news, Maegen Blom talks Mussels, and Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers Vice-President joins us.

Celebrity chef Al Brown talks on his social media campaign to give credit to NZ farmers. John Rawcliffe of the Manuka Honey Appellation Society on the current stoush regarding Manuka. Platinum Primary Producers Group Chairman Shane McManaway joins us, as does Rural Advocacy Network Chairman Jamie McFadden. Plus regular guests weatherman Richard Green and Rural Today host Dominic George are on the show too.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw on 'Yes Minister' talking emissions and Climate Change, Federated Farmers President Katie Milne talks on the state of Fonterra and the latest Rural Confidence Survey, TracMap National Sales Manager Gus Hewitt is on the show, as are regular contributors weatherman Richard Green and Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett (Kim Blair in for Hamish McKay).

Tangaroa Walker from popular Facebook page 'Farm 4 Life' on the urban/rural divide, Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor joins us for 'Yes Minister', Jo Balfour of Pioneer Seeds joins us in studio, David Downs of NZ Trade & Enterprise talks the NZ Agritech Story, plus we are joined by regular guests weatherman Richard Green and Rural Today host Dominic George.

Sir David Fagan talks on the passing of shearing commentator and personality Koro Mullins. Chanelle O'Sullivan (better known as @justafarmerswife on social media) talks on the effect social media is having on the farm. Founder of the Agri-Women's Development Trust Lindy Nelson is on the show. We are also joined by regular contributors weatherman Richard Green and Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett.

We look at the Women Of Influence Awards next month with NZ Young Farmers Board Chair Ash-Leigh Campbell. National's Todd Mueller is on 'Yes Minister' and former Queensland Origin winner Marty Bella gives a rural update from Australia. Doug Laing of Shearing Sports NZ is this week's 'Character of the Country', and we're are also joined by Rural Today host Dominic George and weatherman Richard Green.

It's the 200th Rural Exchange show! Dairy Women's Network CEO Jules Benton talks on a new website that has been launched to promote a greater understanding of dairy farming. Mid Canterbury farmer Craig Wiggins is on 'Character of the Country'. Wayne McEntee of Heartland Bank joins us, as do regular guests weatherman Richard Green and Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark joins us to talk on wanting people to vote YES on the Marijuana referendum. Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor talks the fresh waterways proposal and Fonterra's pay freeze on 'Yes Minister'. Chairman of the Rural Innovation Lab Mat Hocken is on the show, as are regular contributors weatherman Richard Green and Rural Today host Dominic George 

Fed Farmers Sharemilkers Chairperson Richard McIntyre discusses the pay freeze at Fonterra. 'Pulse of the Country' today is South Taranaki dairy farmer Damian Roper. New research shows quad bike accidents in NZ are still increasing - David Crawford, CEO of the Motor Industry Association, joins us. Also joining us today are regulars Angie Skerrett, Newshub Rural editor, and weatherman Richard Green.

Jon Pemberton of Ag Proud NZ talks on rural people's mental health. Grant Jones, Otago Manager of JJ Limited, discusses looking after your machinery. Fed Farmers Water Spokesman Chris Allen talks on freshwater management in NZ. Regular guests Angie Skerrett and weatherman Richard Green join the show.

DairyNZ Chairman Jim Van Der Poel talks health and safety on the farm. Cavalier CEO Paul Alston talks on Cavalier teaming up with the NZ Merino Company. Craig Smith, General Manager of Devold Wool Direct, is on 'Pulse of the Country'. Regular guests Angie Skerrett from Newshub Rural, Rural Today host Dominic George and weatherman Richard Green all join us.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw talks winter grazing and the Zero Carbon Bill, Federated Farmers CEO Terry Copeland on a new scheme set to see farmers get prescription medicines delivered to them, Richard Dawkins is our 'Character of the Country' this week, plus we are joined by regular guests weatherman Richard Green and Rural Today host Dominic George.

Beef prices continue to rise - talking on this issue are ASB Senior Rural Economist Nathan Penny and Heartland Bank Head of Livestock Wayne McEntee. Massey Young Farmers Key Event Organizer Ben McColgan is on the show today, as are regular contributors weatherman Richard Green and Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett.

Agriculture Minister Damein O'Connor talks on the Government announcing plans to protect prime food-growing land, especially in Auckland. Michelle Sands from Horticulture NZ talks on this as well. 2019 Dairy Woman of the Year Trish Rankin joins us, as does Duncan Coull from Fonterra.

The practice of winter grazing has people talking - we talk with environmentalist Angus Robson, as well as Southland farmer Jason Herrick - he took exception to people taking photographs of his land and herd to highlight concerns about winter grazing. National's Todd Muller makes his debut on REX, and we're joined by regular guests weatherman Richard Green and Angie Skerrett, Newshub Rural Editor.

Jeff Latch from Spark Sport joins us over fears rural areas won't be able to stream the Rugby World Cup. Mark Harris from Beef & Lamb NZ joins us. Patrick Gower talks on his news story about Beauden Barrett's downsyndrome sister Zara. Regular guest weatherman Richard Green looks at the week's weather ahead, and the 'Character of the Country' for this week is the first-ever woman to referee a Ranfurly Shield game - Wairarapa Bush farmer Rebecca Mahoney.

Julia Jones, Head of Analytics at NZX, has just returned home from China. What did she learn, and how are NZ-China relations? We hear from Jeff Latch, Head of Spark Sport, about concerns that rural Kiwi's won't be able to watch the Rugby World Cup. Regular contributors weatherman Richard Green and Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett also re-join the show.

Outgoing MP Nathan Guy and National Party leader Simon Bridges share their thoughts on Nathan Guy retiring from politics. We talk with author Ruth Entwistle Low on her new book 'The Shearers: New Zealand Legends'. ANZ Agri Economist Susan Kilsby updates log, meat and dairy prices, plus we are joined by regulars Dominic George of Rural Today and weatherman Richard Green.

Giveaway time! Thanks to Genesis and their 'For Dairy' campaign we have 5 $200 Genesis vouchers to give away - enter at magic.co.nz. Minister of Agriculture and Biosecurity Damien O'Connor joins us today, as does Greenpeace NZ Senior Campaigner Steve Abel to talk on systemic agricultural failures in NZ.

Horticulture NZ CEO Mike Chapman talks crop protection products, National's Nathan Guy returns on 'Yes Minister', Richard Green looks at the weather ahead for the next week, Aussie rural correspondent Stu Hodgson joins the show, and on 'Character of the Country' we talk with Heidi Sixtus from Hopkins Farming Group Ltd in Palmerston North.

Dr. Tim Mackle talks the new M.Bovis levy for farmers and calls for an achievable methane target. Young Farmer of the Year 2019 James Robertson joins us, as does Chris Allen, National Board Member for Federated Farmers. Richard Green and the AFFCO Sports Chat return as well.

Green Party co-leader and Minister of Climate Change James Shaw talks greenhouse gas emissions. Ian Hancock talks Fit Farming, and NZ Pork CEO David Baines updates the African Swine Flu situation. Regulars Angie Skerrett and Dominic George are on the show, as is NIWA Principal Scientist Chris Brandolino to look at next week's weather forecast.

Today we focus on the government's announcement around emissions in the rural sector. Dave Frame, Professor of Climate Change at Victoria University, joins us, as does Oxford dairy farmer Cam Henderson. Newshub Rural Editor Angie Skerrett returns, as does Damien O'Connor on 'Yes Minister'.

Peter Boys joins us after a dog he trained sold for $10,000 at the 63rd annual Ashburton Sheep and Cattle Dog Sale. Newshub Rural Editor joins us to look at the top rural stories of the week, plus she talks with Chris Mason from the Whangarei A&P Society, and Kristy McGregor from The Rural Innovation Lab. We catch up with Queenslander Ben Dobbin after NSW won State Of Origin, and our Character of the Country today is Mandy Bell from Criffel Station in Wanaka.

We're talking calving - Olivia Ross from Beef & Lamb NZ joins us, as does Warren Tanner of AgriVantage and Jamie Taplin from Crystalyx. We're also joined by Chris Brown of Seales Winslow and Waikato dairy farmer Marc Gasgoine. 

Agritech NZ Executive Director Peter Wren-Hilton joins us, as does Danny Templeman from OSPRI. Damien O'Connor is on 'Yes Minister', and regular guests weatherman Richard Green, Aussie correspondent Ben Dobbin and Rural Today host Dominic George are all on the show. Today's 'Character of the Country' is Laura Douglas of the Southern Girl Finishing School.

Katie Milne from Federated Farmers re-joins us. NZ's leading Police Shearer Blair Duffy is on the show, as is Hadleigh Smith from the NZ Merino Company. We get a rural market update with Wayne McEntee of Heartland Bank, a weather update with Richard Green, and the Super Rugby final is upon us - the boys talk Rugby in the AFFCO Sports Chat.

Philip Lindberg of OMF updates local farm gate prices. Karen Kos, Chief Executive of Apiculture NZ, talks on the NZ Honey industry as prices rise. NZ First MP Shane Jones joins us, as does National's Nathan Guy. Plus we are joined by regulars weatherman Richard Green and Rural Today host Dominic George.

How will Spark deliver the Rugby World Cup 2019? We talk to Spark's Head of Sport Jeff Latch. Doug Laing talks on the NZ Sheep Shearing and Wool handling championships for 2019, Holly Steger from Norwood joins us, as does weatherman Richard Green and Rural Today host Dominic George. Newshub's Angie Skerrett updates rural news, and today's AFFCO Sports Chat looks at the Cricket World Cup 2019 so far.

Greens MP Gareth Hughes joins REX for the first time. We talk with Julia Jones, Head of Analytics at NZX, as well as Emma Higgins, Dairy Analyst for Rabobank. Nathan Guy joins us on 'Yes Minister', plus we catch up with Chris Brandolino from NIWA to talk weather, and Australian rural correspondent Ben Dobbin previews tonight's State of Origin 2 from Perth.

We look back at the success of Fieldays 2019. Cam Heggie from PGG Wrighton joins us, as does Damien Smyth, Marketing Manager for Honda NZ. Hayden Dillon talks farm mediation, and Willy Scur from Cardrona Valley Farms is on 'Pulse of the Country'. Chris Brandolino looks back at the week of weather, and Newshub's Angie Skerrett talks on the most popular rural stories of the week.

We continue our Fieldays 2019 special. Today we talk with National leader Simon Bridges, Head of Fieldays Peter Nation, Beef & Lamb NZ CEO Andrew Morrison joins us, as does All Black Sam Whitelock, Tim Mackle from Dairy NZ, Hyundai New Zealand General Manager Andy Sinclair and Pete Roberts from DVS.

Live from Fieldays 2019! Hamish McKay and Richard Loe have been recording interviews all week for this weekend's Rural Exchange. Today we are joined by Campbell Parker, CEO of Waikato Milking Systems, John Mulvaney of Crysatlex, Al McCone of Worksafe, Phil Jackson of Carters Tyre Service, Mark Dawe of Bayleys Waikato, and Katie Milne of Federated Farmers.

Nathan Guy talks the Budget and NAIT re-registration on 'Yes Minister', we talk on NAIT re-registration with Chris Lewis from Fonterra, Jerome Wenzlick is turning milk bottles into fence posts, and Courtney Davies is off to Brazil to represent NZ at the 2019 Bayer Youth Ag Summit in Brazil. Plus we talk with regulars Dominic George and weatherman Richard Green.

What was in the Budget for Farmers? We ask Damien O'Connor, Minister of Agriculture & Biosecurity. Dairy NZ Senior Economist Matthew Newman talks costs, we look at Gypsy Day with Darion Embling from the Waikato Regional Council, and regular segments with weatherman Richard Green and Angie Skerrett return, as does the AFFCO Sports Chat - go the Black Caps!

Tony Watson from Worksafe talks safety and working myths on the farm, Shane McManaway on the 'Excellence in Agri' conference in Australia, Garry Watt from Norwood is back, Damien O'Connor on 'Yes Minister' talking Shane Jones having a go at farmers, plus regulars Angie Skerrett, Richard Green and Dominic George join the show.

Richard Loe is in Scotland, we cross to him live. We look at Fonterra's milk price with economist Cameon Bagrie, James Magill from Genesis Energy on their new power deal for Farmers, plus we're joined by regular contributors Angie Skerrett and Richard Green, plus the AFFCO Sports Chat pays tribute to Niki Lauda. 

NZ Pork CEO David Baines on the African Swine virus - how much will it affect NZ Pork? We talk to the two winners of the NZ Young Vegetable Growers of the Year competition, Olives NZ CEO Gayle Sheridan talks on NZ Olive Oils at the World Olive Oil competition, plus we are joined by Nathan Guy on 'Yes Minister' and regulars Angie Skerrett, Richard Green and Dominic George.

Share Farmers of the Year Colin & Isabella Beazley talk with us, as does Michael Morrah with an update on his MPI / M.Bovis story. We get the 'Pulse of the Country' from Matthew Herbert in Tauranga and John Latta in Otago. Regular segments with Angie Skerrett, Richard Green and the AFFCO Sports Chat all return.

Happy Mothers Day! Today we talk 'rural Kiwi women' with Lakes Station mother Sarah Greenslade, and Mandy Bell is our 'Character of the Country'. Is selling Tip-Top a good thing? Julia Jones from NZX gives her thoughts. We're joined by Damien O'Connor on 'Yes Minister' and Geoff Gwyn from MPI to talk on fighting M.Bovis. Regulars Dominic George and Richard Green also return.

Newshub's Michael Morrah shares the latest M.Bovis developments. We look at seed treatment for cereals with Grant Hagerty, Hayden Higgins of Rabobank talks wine and Amy Westland of Westlands Honey talks competition from overseas in the honey market. Plus we're joined by regulars Angie Skerrett and weatherman Richard Green, plus the AFFCO Sports Chat returns.

NZ Dairy Woman of the Year for 2019 Trish Rankin re-joins us to talk on her win. Samantha Stacey of Shoof NZ talks Gypsy Day 2019. We look at Health & Safety during winter with Tony Watson, and thr Ravensdown Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship winner Tom Wilson joins us too. We also announce a cool competition in association with DairyNZ - we are giving away 3 Bose Wireless Speakers! Find the details on the Rural Exchange Facebook page, and enter at magic.co.nz

Today we look at Avocado's with Jen Scoular, CEO of the NZ Avocado Industry Inc. Richard Cosgrove of Fish & Game talks Duck shooting season starting for 2019, plus we look at meat prices with Tim Ritchie of the NZ Meat Industry Association. The AFFCO Sports Chat and weather with Richard Green return. Kim Blair is in for Hamish McKay this weekend. 

Fonterra 2019 'Dairy Woman of the Year' finalists Trish Rankin and Emma Hammond join us today, as does Helen Williamson, who is doing a pioneering study on NZ Sheep Dogs. Our look at Sheep Milk continues with Sam Brown, founder of The White Sheep Co, Damien O'Connor is on 'Yes Minister', and regulars Dominic George and weatherman Richard Green are on the show.

This weekend we talk with all 4 women nominated for Fonterra's 2019 'Dairy Woman of the Year' award - today we speak with Kylie Leonard & Julie Pirie. We get a Rural Market update with Wayne McEntree of Heartland Bank, a weather update with Richard Green, and every Saturday Hamish & Loey talk sport on the AFFCO Sports Chat.

The Kiwifruit industry is still screaming out for more pickers, we talk with Nikki Johnson, CEO of NZ Kiwifruit Growers Industry. Lance Burdett talks Rural Support Trusts, plus we are joined by Rural Today host Dominic George, weatherman Richard Green, Australian rural correspondent Zoe Carter, and Fred Dougherty is this week's 'Character of the Country'.

Fonterra's Miles Anderson joins us to talk on gun laws in NZ changing, Dan Wheeler talks Sheep scanning, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Industry CEO Nikki Johnson on the industry desperately wanting fruit pickers, plus we're joined by regulars Angie Skerrett to look at the latest Rural news, and Richard Green updates the weather around the country.

Simon Limmer of Silver Fern Farms joins the show, as does Julie Jones from NZX. Chief Executive of Horticulture NZ Mike Chapman talks on workplace changes, Ruben Martinez from Glamping Hub joins us, and Damien O'Connor is back for 'Yes Minister'.