Sarah's Country
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Chef-turn-broadcasters-turn-farmers are super passionate about bringing the connection to eaters about where their food comes from, but there's a unique skill in going down a wormhole on the topic of soil and communicating the benefits of it in a way that everyday people can understand. Matthew Evans, https://fatpig.farm/ renowned in Australia for his TV series 'Gourmet Farmer', was a chef by trade and then a restaurant reviewer for the likes of the Sydney Morning Herald before heading to their own farm in Tasmanian to grow their own to find out why certain food tastes better. He persisted when his publisher was unsure of his desire to not write yet another cookbook, but a hymn to the soil. His research for the book explains how healthy soil is connected to our human physiology's ability to instinctively know what food is more nutrient-dense, as it's naturally more flavoursome. Sarah & Matthew catch up at a recent event at Greystone Wines to discuss how close technology is a way for consumers to be able to do the same thing through an app on their phone. Matthew explains this will be a game-changer for food purchasing based on what's both more pleasurable to eat and healthier. Could the time for New Zealand farmers & growers who focus on soil health be rewarded just around the corner? This event was hosted by Eat New Zealand https://www.eatnewzealand.nz/#subscribe and Quorum Sense. https://www.quorumsense.org.nz Links to learn more: SOIL by Matthew Evans (Buy the Book) https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/mathematics-science/earth-sciences-environment/soil-the-incredible-story-of-what-keeps-the-earth-and-us-healthy?gclid=CjwKCAjwhJukBhBPEiwAniIcNbSg95WUIlJHcjlTJauSB9Vq-9CkndzZ6PIwdrfZLG-VoacjhviTABoCJ7MQAvD_BwE Fat Pig Farm - Tasmania https://fatpig.farm/
When your world feels like farming & growing food for the future is just getting a bit too hard, listen to our panel's discussion on what excites them about New Zealand's future. Sarah Perriam-Lampp recently hosted six guests at the Lakeside Memorial Hall at Leeston, Canterbury for a dinner event sponsored by ESAI to discuss how we can grow our farming destiny in the context of what we can control and the opportunities before us. PANEL INCLUDES: Hamish Gow https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamish-gow-8b99933/ - Global Value Chains, Lincoln University Rhys Roberts https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhys-roberts-4a789b9a/ - CEO, Align Farms Gabi & Doug Micheal - Owners, Gladfield Malt Mandy Bell https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-bell-914a735a/ - Chair, Deer Industry NZ & NZFAP+ Farmer Tim Jones https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjonesthegrowgoodguy/ - B-Corp certified consultant, The Grow Good Guy LINKS: Value Chain Innovation Tour https://ruralleaders.co.nz/value-chain-innovation-programme/ (watch this space, another tour coming in 2023/24) with Hamish Gow More about Align Farms https://alignfarms.co.nz/ (Rhys Roberts) More about Gladfield Malt https://www.gladfieldmalt.co.nz/ (Doug & Gabi Michael) More about WAI Wānaka https://waiwanaka.nz/ & Criffel Station (Mandy Bell) More about getting B Corp certified with The Grow Good Guy https://growgood.co/ (Tim Jones) More about ESAI https://esai.co.nz/ - Ellesmere Sustainable Agriculture Inc who hosted the panel at the Lakeside Memorial Hall at Leeston. CONTACT THE SHOW: Email: sarah@sarahscountry.com Website: sarahscountry.com https://studio.podcast.co/perriam-media/sarahs-country/episode/controlling-the-carbon-narrative-with-mike-casey-new-zealand-zero/sarahscountry.com
Food production and not using fossil fuel seem like a headache of a problem to solve, but not for these Kiwi ex-pats who returned home to Central Otago to grow New Zealand's first cherries 100% electric. Mike & Rebecca Casey set up Forest Lodge Orchard as well as co-founded New Zealand Zero, a fossil-free food certification and loves opening his gates near Cromwell and the books to show all types of farmers & growers how they too can control the carbon narrative. LINKS: New Zealand Zero: https://www.nz0.com/ Winning the Green Premium Webinar (as discussed in this episode): https://ourlandandwater.nz/outputs/winning-the-green-premium-beverage-sector-webinar/
Do you need consent? What if I've already put in my crops? Will I be fined? Do my regional council rules or the national government rules apply to me? We have all your questions about regulations coming around intensive winter grazing and freshwater farm plans answered in one place! In the first edition of "How to Keep Farming with Uncertainty" co-hosts Sarah Perriam-Lampp (Sarah's Country), Duncan Humm (NZ Farming) and Rowena Duncum (The Country) host a panel of guests from the Ministry for the Environment, regional councils, farm advisors and farmers from across the country. This is the on-demand episode of a Livestream from Monday 5th December 2022. Special Guests include: Farmer Panel - Dani Darke (King Country), Ben Dooley (Southland), Emma Crutchley (Otago) & Kerry Worsnop (Gisborne) Council & Advisor Panel - Brent Sinclair (Waikato Regional Council), Fiona Young (Environment Southland), Brent Paterson (MyEnviro) & Rebecca Hyde (Hurunui Landcare Group). The freshwater farm plan system is being phased in over several years from 2023 across 16 regional council areas starting with Southland, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay & Otago. Councils will prioritise catchments within their own regions for the introduction and implementation of FW-FP, including a transition from any existing regulated farm environment plans to the new system. The latest information: Intensive Winter Grazing https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/intensive-winter-grazing/ Freshwater Farm Plans https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/ If you have something you’d like answered, please email Ministry for the Environment: freshwaterfarmplans@mfe.govt.nz
Sarah's Country has your into E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit speaker lineup at https://etipu.boma.global/the highly anticipated June 2022 event is set to catalyse the future of Aotearoa’s primary industries and you could get on the guest list towhen you enter the draw to Sarah Perriam sits down with three of the E Tipu 2022 keynote speakers ahead of the event which gives you a preview of the insightful, thought-provoking discussions you need to be a part of in Christchurch on 21-22 June 2022. Sarah discusses topics ranging from the changing world of the director responsibilities and how it’s led to as he describes ‘gun-shy, arse-protecting governance’ halting progress from one of our country's most esteemed and influential professional directors, how we can bolster mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori in our agricultural science with a young AgResearch scientist, and how New Zealand agritech business needs greater ambition with an expat US-based vertical farming CEO. __ __ CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN E TIPU 2022 TICKETS & DINNER WITH SARAH! https://share.hsforms.com/1v0k13TeWQLm9PGCrZJoZug42x76 ABOUT E TIPU 2022 E Tipu 2022 features two days of talks from global and local leaders in food and fibre, plus interactive workshops, expert panels and special Q&As, innovative exhibits, valuable cross-sector networking and more. Designed for changemakers from across the food and fibre sector, the summit tackles major questions around how we can be more innovative, collaborative, sustainable and profitable — now and into the future. E Tipu 2022 is a truly hybrid event — offering an in-person summit at Christchurch Town Hall and a virtual experience for attendees from around the world. In-Person and Virtual Early Bird Tickets are available now at etipu.boma.global https://bit.ly/3KXUmJr
In an environment where farmers & growers may be thinking it's all coming at them, Becks Smith can see the light at the end of the tunnel when we condense the overwhelm and see the challenges through a more holistic approach. New Zealand farmers naturally have an inter-generational view of stewardship of their land, but sometimes need support to bring the right expertise together when they are on the next level of their sustainability journey. Becks Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/becks-smith-a205439a/ discusses with Sarah Perriam, host of Sarah's Country, how her career journey as a vet in Central Otago, alongside farming with her husband's family, is evolving into the social enterprise The Whole Story https://www.thewholestory.co.nz/. She shares her insights into how to take small steps towards change and how important to pull an advisory board around our farmers that are all on the same page.
Did you know that globally agriculture is one of the last industries to digitise? And for those farmers that will embrace the market access requirement to prove the provenance and verify the farm practices will ultimately win. But imagine if technology as a tool actually made you a better farmer? Perhaps more tolerant to climatic conditions, faster decision making in risky situations and free up time to actually do the thing you enjoy... farming... or boating/golf/fishing! As the Farmax annual conference wraps up, Sarah Perriam catches up with the two CEOs on the merger of Farmax, the predictive modelling farm software and Farm IQ, the farm management software - Will Noble & Gavin McEwan. LINKS Learn more about Farm IQ https://farmiq.co.nz/ Learn more about Farmax https://www.farmax.co.nz/
In a special episode for 'Shaping our Future' on Sarah's Country released on 2022 International Woman's Day http://www.internationalwomensday.com/, Sarah Perriam discovers where women's role has come, the current is and can to in the New Zealand primary sector with female empowerment leader in rural New Zealand, Lindy Nelson https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindy-nelson-mnzm-54aa6228/?originalSubdomain=nz. Lindy is a woman on a mission farming with her husband David, is the Chair of Safer Farms https://saferfarms.org.nz/ and founded the Agri-Women's Development Trust https://www.awdt.org.nz/ which has unleashed the confidence and talents of over 4,000 women who have found leadership roles that are shaping our future. In this episode, Lindy provides her wisdom to all listeners on the tipping point of women's contribution to agriculture at a time of great importance from social division to climate change.
How do those tasked with implementing environmental policy best engage with farmers to come up with solutions that are best for the land and are fit for purpose? Ministry for the Environment https://environment.govt.nz/has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers. In this third and final episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke /articles/saraclarkemfe, meets Rangitikei Rivers Catchment Collective https://beeflambnz.com/catchment-groups/groups/rangitikei-rivers-catchment-collective Chair and three-generation farmer, Roger Dalrymple https://www.thrivingsouthland.co.nz/blog/post/59555/roger-dalrymple-to-speak-at-strong-catchment-groups-strong-communities-events/ along with dairy farmer, Greg Maughan https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-maughan-36580957/?originalSubdomain=nz. Sara is joined by her colleague, Gin Loughnan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-loughnan-332526126/?originalSubdomain=nz Manager of the Climate & Water Agriculture team at the Ministry for the Environment who is keen to work together with catchment groups to ensure that freshwater farm plans are workable and avoid duplication. TOP 10 things in THIS EPISODE Sara Clarke & Gin Loughnan https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-loughnan-332526126/?originalSubdomain=nz sits down with the Rangitikei farmers to discuss: 1. Over 300 farmers have joined the sub-catchment groups of the Rangitikei Rivers Catchment Collective "which will tell you that if you give farmers the challenge they will be empowered to create the solutions" 2. Farmers need environmental policy guidance that is apolitical and doesn't change between government terms where the pathway doesn't change on them. 3. The narrative that New Zealand farmers are doing it all wrong and portraying our practices as third-world when dairy farmer, Greg Maughan was working in Indonesia and reading this message looking at polluted waterways. 4. Gin asks how the government can support the community ownership of the solution around freshwater quality. 5. Roger's experience with dealing with a spectrum of farmers to bring them along and to educate them on where the changes need to happen takes time, more collaborative science and improved connectivity. 6. Can freshwater farm plans be justifying what farmers are already doing and change the conversation around proving the good work than it being led as a government, box-ticking exercise? 7. Roger & Greg explain that community catchments only work for 3-6 months of the year for farmers as calving, lambing, shearing, harvesting and weaning takes their focus and therefore the milestones to achieve outcomes need to be set at a time that works with the farming calendar. 8. Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) under Horizon District Council cost between $12-$14,000/per farm that was funded by Horizon for erosion control and soil mapping are great management tools. 9. Roger advises against the integrated environmental farm plan being digital-only due to internet accessibility and the digital literacy of farmers but may lead to catchment support to help all farmers to get farm environment plans. 10. Gin & Sara want to know what role industry bodies are playing in supporting farmers. Roger points out that the industry groups don't have the time to bring farmers along on the journey because the government's policy consultation timeframes are too tight. links Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/ /articles/win-farmax /articles/win-farmax
Ministry for the Environment https://environment.govt.nz/has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers. In this first episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke /articles/saraclarkemfe, to meet Grant Charteris /articles/post/environmental-award-celebrates-continuous-improvement-among-deer-community-i-grant-charteris at Forest Road Farm, farming with his wife Sally in the Ruahine foothills at the top of the Tukituki River catchment https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/449044/damning-report-of-overseer-programme-prompts-hawke-s-bay-to-change-approach. After a farm tour of the work the Charteris' have done that saw them win the 2021 Elworthy Award https://www.deernz.org/home/our-stories/hawkes-bay-farmers-win-premier-deer-environmental-award/#:~:text=The%20winners%20of%20the%202021,in%20Invercargill%20earlier%20this%20month. for the premier environmental accolade for deer farmers, Sara meets also with local young farmer Hugh Abbiss at Foley Farming Enterprises to sit down for this episode. TOP 10 THINGS IN THIS EPISODE Sara Clarke sits down with Hawke's Bay farmers, Grant Charteris & Hugh Abbiss to discuss: 1. How will or won't Overseer continue to play into the proposed freshwater farm plans https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/ and what about measuring outcomes versus the move to regulating input controls & farming practices? 2. The Tukituki catchment are already working within Farm Environment Management Plans under Plan Change 6 with Hawke's Bay Regional Council https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/environment/farmers-hub/farm-plans/, so how is more layers of rules from the national policy statement going to make a difference to the path they are on? 3. The frustration of getting clear direction from their local regional council who aren't getting clear direction from the central government so it stifles farmers appetite in investing in environmental work with a lack of security of the direction. 4. The leading farmers will pave the way to pull the laggard farmers up but not all farmers are in the financial position to achieve the Ministry's gold standard and it will take a decade of actions to sustainably fund it within the cost structures of farming the way they are. 5. They have recently formed the Mangonuku Catchment Group and have shared goals that every landowner can get in behind and believe it's the best forum for getting useable data for change as well as the support needed. 6. Hugh discusses the changes he's implemented such as direct drilling, catch crops and nutrient management and how to make more from less. 7. What does "fit-for-purpose" really mean when the freshwater farm plans aren't thinking about the whole integrated approach to make it sustainable to work. 8. Grant learns that not everyone from Wellington doesn't listen, and really excels in explaining his farming system and environmental actions actually out on his farm. 9. Better understanding needs to be taken into account through true farmer consultation, not hand-picking a panel based on the outcome you have already 10. If you stifle innovation you won't get the desired outcome all because the government want change to happen too fast, otherwise the leading farmers will sell to pine trees. LINKS Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/ /articles/win-farmax
Not all NZ farmers have their heads in the sand about He Waka Eke Noa as Sarah discovers a group of them have done your homework on the alternative pricing options for you to simply listen and make a submission on our weekly panel, Farmers Mark McCoard (Taihape), Kerry Worsnop (Gisborne) & Graeme Gleeson (Waikato) shed some frank reality with host, Sarah Perriam on what amendments to the farm-level levy could look like to have a fairer emissions reduction and payment scheme. Download the group's flyer & open letter to farmers below. LINKS: DOWNLOAD https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6854802/HWEN%20Open%20Letter%2014th%20Feb%202022.pdf THE GROUP'S OPEN LETTER TO FARMERS (PDF, 120 KB). DOWNLOAD https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6854802/HWEN%20Flyer%20V2%2014th%20February%202022.pdf THE GROUP'S SUGGESTED CHANGES IN THIS FLYER (PDF, 2.2 MB). Learn more about He Waka Eke Noa https://hewakaekenoa.nz/ ATTEND A roadshow throughout February https://beeflambnz.com/emissions-pricing-roadshow on the options developed by the He Waka Eke Noa partnership as alternatives to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). LATEST UPDATE /articles/win-farmax
The level of data now being collected on farms on a daily basis is massive but it's not working together in a collaborative way for farmers to manage the data. It is also useful for brands to verify the environment's regeneration when sourcing their product. NZ Merino https://www.nzmerino.co.nz/ has recently partnered with Silicon Valley technology company, Actual https://www.actualhq.com/ to provide insights into each ZQRX growers’ sustainability credentials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I3FqxPrpwA Guided by science and starting with carbon emissions, this work will include the ability to model mitigations on-farm to guide future investment, arm brands with information to source responsibly manufactured wool, and provide growers with tangible plans to further their positive environmental impact Tim Loftus https://www.linkedin.com/in/timloftuscnz/?originalSubdomain=nz has recently joined NZ Merino as the General Manager of Sales & Marketing at NZ Merino following a career in marketing sustainability with Kathmandu https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/ & icebreaker https://www.icebreaker.com/en-nz/our-story/growers.html. Sarah discusses with Tim the global signals from the consumer and what it truly means to be market-led as well as the importance of farmers data ownership. /articles/win-farmax
Ministry for the Environment https://environment.govt.nz/has partnered with Sarah's Country to hit the road across the lower North Island in late 2021 to get out of Wellington and onto the farm to hear & see directly from farmers in this new series, Table Swap. In this first episode as part of the three-part series, Sarah Perriam takes Director of Policy Implementation & Delivery, Sara Clarke /articles/saraclarkemfe, to meet Grant Charteris /articles/post/environmental-award-celebrates-continuous-improvement-among-deer-community-i-grant-charteris at Forest Road Farm, farming with his wife Sally in the Ruahine foothills at the top of the Tukituki River catchment https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/449044/damning-report-of-overseer-programme-prompts-hawke-s-bay-to-change-approach. After a farm tour of the work the Charteris' have done that saw them win the 2021 Elworthy Award https://www.deernz.org/home/our-stories/hawkes-bay-farmers-win-premier-deer-environmental-award/#:~:text=The%20winners%20of%20the%202021,in%20Invercargill%20earlier%20this%20month. for the premier environmental accolade for deer farmers, Sara meets also with local young farmer Hugh Abbiss at Foley Farming Enterprises to sit down for this episode. TOP 10 THINGS IN THIS EPISODE: Sara Clarke sits down with Hawke's Bay farmers, Grant Charteris & Hugh Abbiss to discuss: 1. How will or won't Overseer continue to play into the proposed freshwater farm plans https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/ and what about measuring outcomes versus the move to regulating input controls & farming practices? 2. The Tukituki catchment are already working within Farm Environment Management Plans under Plan Change 6 with Hawke's Bay Regional Council https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/environment/farmers-hub/farm-plans/, so how is more layers of rules from the national policy statement going to make a difference to the path they are on? 3. The frustration of getting clear direction from their local regional council who aren't getting clear direction from the central government so it stifles farmers appetite in investing in environmental work with a lack of security of the direction. 4. The leading farmers will pave the way to pull the laggard farmers up but not all farmers are in the financial position to achieve the Ministry's gold standard and it will take a decade of actions to sustainably fund it within the cost structures of farming the way they are. 5. They have recently formed the Mangonuku Catchment Group and have shared goals that every landowner can get in behind and believe it's the best forum for getting useable data for change as well as the support needed. 6. Hugh discusses the changes he's implemented such as direct drilling, catch crops and nutrient management and how to make more from less. 7. What does "fit-for-purpose" really mean when the freshwater farm plans aren't thinking about the whole integrated approach to make it sustainable to work. 8. Grant learns that not everyone from Wellington doesn't listen, and really excels in explaining his farming system and environmental actions actually out on his farm. 9. Better understanding needs to be taken into account through true farmer consultation, not hand-picking a panel based on the outcome you have already 10. If you stifle innovation you won't get the desired outcome all because the government want change to happen too fast, otherwise the leading farmers will sell to pine trees. LINKS Learn more about Freshwater Farm Plans https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/freshwater-implementation-guidance/freshwater-farm-plans/ /articles/win-farmax
With so much concern circling around the consultation on the alternative pricing options for New Zealand's greenhouse gas tax/levy (call it what you wish!), we break down the reality of the challenge with our esteemed guests on the first in our weekly panel, Agricultural economist, Phil Journeaux, and rural commentator and former agriculture professor, Keith Woodford, have a candid discussion with host, Sarah Perriam on how pastoral livestock farming would look if its 5% carbon emissions were taxed under the Emissions Trading Scheme. LINKS Learn more about He Waka Eke Noa https://hewakaekenoa.nz/ DOWNLOAD the consultation document https://hewakaekenoa.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Consultation-Document_Final.pdf (PDF, 4.8 MB). ATTEND A roadshow throughout February https://beeflambnz.com/emissions-pricing-roadshow on the options developed by the He Waka Eke Noa partnership as alternatives to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). LATEST UPDATE /articles/win-farmax
High-value crops are often discussed on Sarah's Country as the potential to return more to farmers from fewer inputs. Whilst the industry for hemp seed and oil is becoming more established in New Zealand, the agronomic and market development for fibre has a way to go. In late December 2022, NZ Natural Fibres (co-owned by Carrfields NZ & Hemp NZ) received a $3.2million Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures Fund to develop its hemp growing, processing and marketing capability to“go further, faster” towards taking a global leadership position in the development of industrial and consumer products made from hemp fibre. Carrfields was originally approached by Hemp NZ when they were looking for a factory to process the hemp fibre and the partnership was born with Carrfields contracting history and field experience with growing specialty crops. links Learn more about NZ Natural Fibres https://nznaturalfibres.co.nz/ MPI BACKS PROJECT TO ESTABLISH INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE HEMP SEED PROCESSING PLANT https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/mpi-backs-project-to-establish-internationally-competitive-hemp-seed-processing-plant/ Agricultural firms team up to make wool and hemp blended products https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/123590198/agricultural-firms-team-up-to-make-wool-and-hemp-blended-products
The best way to kick back into gear for 2022 is of course with the chunkiest talking point in smoko rooms, dairy sheds and board tables in the primary sector "WHAT IS HE WAKA EKE NOA AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?" With the stresses in the face of Omicron affecting processing plants, tractors parked up waiting for the deluge of rain to bugger off to harvest crops iT MAY SEEM TOO HARD TO WRAP YOUR HEAD around another complicated pressure. New Zealand's AGRICULTURE EMISSIONS WILL BE IN THE ETS REGARDLESS, but is still up for discussion. However, we are short on time with feedback to the Minister's presented by the partnership in May 2022. THIS IS A MASSIVE DEAL FOR OUR & THE NEXT GENERATION as we determine how New Zealand’s agriculture sector can balance PASTORAL FARMING'S FINANCIAL VIABILITY LET ALONE SURVIVAL IN THE FACE OF PINES towards 2050 whilst paying our fair share for greenhouse gas emissions. IN THIS EPISODE He Waka Eke Noa is a partnership with industry, Māori and Government. It's the largest pan-sector collaboration in history with negotiations spanning 2 years. In this episode, Sarah Perriam breaks this down with: - KELLY FORSTER, Director of He Waka Eke Noa - ANDREW MORRISON, Chair of Beef + Lamb NZ - SIRMA KARAPEEVA, CEO Meat Industry Association - JIM VAN DER POEL, Chair Dairy NZ - INNES MOFFAT, CEO Deer Industry NZ - ANNA HESLOP, Communications Manager, Foundation for Arable Research LINKS Learn more about He Waka Eke Noa https://hewakaekenoa.nz/ DOWNLOAD the consultation document https://hewakaekenoa.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Consultation-Document_Final.pdf (PDF, 4.8 MB). ATTEND A roadshow throughout February https://beeflambnz.com/emissions-pricing-roadshow on the options developed by the He Waka Eke Noa partnership as alternatives to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). LATEST UPDATE
The angst and noise of 2021 have led to a division in New Zealand's primary sector. However, the division appears to come down to whether farmers & growers are in the camp of a mindset that is optimistic, open-minded to change and unfearful of the future. Or not. As the last Sarah's Country Sister for the year, Dana Muir, Head of Natural Capital at BNZ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-muir-87072472/, explains how the New Zealand farmers & growers focused on the megatrends of our global consumers are well advanced to be successful, future-fit businessmen and women. And there may be more of them than you realise! BNZ's 'Shift Happens' survey https://www.bnz.co.nz/assets/bnz/business-banking/Agribusiness/pdfs/BNZ-Shift-Happens-Agri-Report-2021.pdfshows that 53% of farmers & growers feel that the changing landscape of the primary sector was an Also, 42% of farmers & growers said they but the majority of those surveyed do believe that the pace of regulations pace is too fast. Dana explains that regulations appear to be merely aligned to megatrends globally as well as corporates rising demand of ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) considerations in their decision making of the sourcing of their products in their supply chain. She urges that farm environment plans & emission reduction plans will help our farmers & growers tell a better story of the food & fibre from their farms. Sustainability-linked loans that BNZ pioneered with Southern Pastures can help incentive change and support farmers & growers with the right tools to be more ambitious than regulation. The rise of the conscious investor has seen the global market for sustainable investing in 2021 surge from USD $50 billion in Q1 2021 to USD $150 billion by Q4 2021. BNZ aspires to have $10 billion of sustainability linked loans by 2025. __________________________ "Have a wonderful, well-deserved break! Set your sights on a prosperous 2022 where we can continue to be defiantly hopeful. Let's strive for more than the bare minimum of what is required of us to get ahead of the global signals. Thank you for being a valued member of Sarah's Country's community with record listenership in 2021, and I value your continued support more than you will ever know!! Merry Christmas" - Sarah Perriam
When the directive from global food giants, such as Danone and Nestle pledges to source nearly a quarter of their milk globally from regenerative dairy farms by 2025, you pay attention. Announced this week was a unique partnership between Synlait Milk and Danone, AgResearch and the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund to study soil health between conventional and regenerative practices on 10 farms in Waikato, Canterbury & Otago over five years. This week's Change Maker, Hamish Reid, Head of Sustainability & Brand at Synlait says we will achieve added value by profiting from purpose and regenerative meet our consumer's demands. Thanks to our partners at Farmlands for supporting Sarah's Country this season.
The one thing this current government has given us is a lot to talk about in rural media! Recorded on the Saturday prior to the Groundswell protest, ACT Party Leader David Seymour joined Sarah to discuss a wide range of government policy that is overwhelming the primary sector that has seen them take to the streets in their tractors. They discuss the sector's representation in Wellington, hate speech by politicians towards farmers to Rogernomics. Sarah has an entertaining one-hour chat with the ACT Party leader's stance on the RMA, the Zero Carbon Act through to Mental Health and pine trees. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative https://www.farmlands.co.nz/ for partnering with Sarah's Country this season!
As the COP26 Climate Change Summit has concluded, a serendipitous scientific finding at Lincoln University virtually eliminates the methane emitted from effluent ponds and if uptook by 2030 will half dairy's emmission targets. As this week's Sarah's Country Change Maker, Mike Manning, General Manager Innovation and Strategy at Ravensdown, explains the breakthrough discovery of the EcoPond system to target methane with an additive normally used in the treatment of drinking water. Nearly all dairy farms use effluent ponds and they are the second-largest source of on-farm methane emissions. An average NZ dairy farm of around 400 cows that installed EcoPond could cut total farm methane emissions by about 4 to 5%, depending on the individual farm. They also found that EcoPond reduced the risk of Dissolved Reactive Phosphate loss to water by up to 99% meaning that this essential nutrient can be recycled with reduced risk of water contamination. The EcoPond system also strips out E.coli so that the dairy effluent is much safer to irrigate to pasture. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative https://www.farmlands.co.nz/ for partnering with Sarah's Country this season!
What led me to Sue was a string of fate, and now I want to share her with the world as this week's Sarah's Country Sister. Sue McGaw is a specialist native plant consultant from North Canterbury who works with farmers to design their riparian plantings into biodiversity nodes to ensure 99% success rate, all year round bird feed, resilence from pests, weeds, droughts, and floods and Rongoā Māori, the traditional healing properties. At 63 years old, after 25 years of landscape design, Sue's imposter syndrome that she no one would listen to her without a Master's she embarked on completing in Ecology. Sue's lifelong mission is to pass on her knowledge to catchment groups and farmers to get it right the first time and not just plant what you like the look of! To connect with Sue feel free to email her, gayton.gardens@xtra.co.nz.
We are excited for you to meet the three emerging food and fibre sector leaders who have been awarded the 2022 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships. This group comes from the most diverse range of backgrounds we have seen in recent times and each of the scholars brings talent, passion, perspective, and a track record of performance. Covid 19 restrictions mean this year’s scholarship recipients’ formal awards ceremony at Parliament, will be delayed until February 2022, when Minister O’Connor will award the scholarships in person. In this episode, you will meet the 2022 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarship recipients along with CEO for the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (NZRLT), Chris Parsons as this week's Change Makers. PARMINDAR SINGH, a Waikato based Dairy Farm Manager, Company Director, and recent master’s graduate. ANTHONY TAUEKI, a horticulturalist from Hawke’s Bay, Tū Te Wana Kaiako at Fruition Horticulture, and a Councillor for the Youth Food and Fibre Network. Completing the trio is Wellington-based LUCIE DOUMA, Principal Adviser for the Ministry for Primary Industries. Lucie is a master’s graduate from Oxford’s Mansfield College and from a Southland farming background along with CEO of Rural Leaders, Chris Parsons. Rural Leaders have made the decision to shift the Value Chain Innovation Programme https://newzealandruralleadershiptrust.cmail19.com/t/t-l-cddyddk-ykjruizdh-n/ date from Mid-January to May next year. For more information on the programme and how to apply: https://ruralleaders.co.nz/value-chain/ Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative https://www.farmlands.co.nz/ for partnering with Sarah's Country this season
Brave leadership has been a fabric of our primary sector for the past century and now is a time to continue that attitude in the face of what many think is just a New Zealand government challenge when our farming cousins around the world are facing the same challenges. Science entrepreneur and agri-business commentator, Anna Campbell https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-campbell-b20a2611, is walking the talk transitioning from AbacusBio, https://abacusbio.com/a highly respected science, and technology firm operating from offices in Dunedin and Rotorua New Zealand, and Edinburgh, United Kingdom, to co-founding natural health business, ZESTT WELLNESS, to support immunity and improve lung health. https://www.zesttwellness.com/ As this week's Sarah's Country Sisters, Anna and Sarah discuss: - Her opinion's on New Zealand food & fibre's science commercialization moving to private equity and offshore capital markets. - Her empathy attending the last farmer protest with her farming mum and her son of agriculturalists turned off a career in the sector along with the international animal scientists saying they feel they will be the last generation, the pressures on the livestock industry is a global challenge. - The opportunities for New Zealand's natural health products from plants are being hindered by our antiquated regulation and international scientific collaboration. - Her advice on women leadership in the sector by men leading that change by opening doors and taking women seriously, as well as women deepening their networks with other women. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative https://www.farmlands.co.nz/ for partnering with Sarah's Country this season.
Brave leadership has been a fabric of our primary sector for the past century and now is a time to continue that attitude in the face of what many think is just a New Zealand government challenge when our farming cousins around the world are facing the same challenges. Science entrepreneur and agri-business commentator, Anna Campbell https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-campbell-b20a2611, is walking the talk transitioning from AbacusBio, https://abacusbio.com/a highly respected science, and technology firm operating from offices in Dunedin and Rotorua New Zealand, and Edinburgh, United Kingdom, to co-founding natural health business, ZESTT WELLNESS, to support immunity and improve lung health. https://www.zesttwellness.com/ As this week's Sarah's Country Sisters, Anna and Sarah discuss: - Her opinion's on New Zealand food & fibre's science commercialization moving to private equity and offshore capital markets. - Her empathy attending the last farmer protest with her farming mum and her son of agriculturalists turned off a career in the sector along with the international animal scientists saying they feel they will be the last generation, the pressures on the livestock industry is a global challenge. - The opportunities for New Zealand's natural health products from plants are being hindered by our antiquated regulation and international scientific collaboration. - Her advice on women leadership in the sector by men leading that change by opening doors and taking women seriously, as well as women deepening their networks with other women. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative https://www.farmlands.co.nz/ for partnering with Sarah's Country this season.
Whatever your thoughts or knowledge are about cannabis, the New Zealand government believes in the future of establishing evidence-based medical cannabis cultivation practices with the awarding of funds to Lincoln University-based, Greenlab. Greenlab aims to generate standard cultivation protocols for a range of New Zealand genetics with the optimized pharmaceutical compounds required by doctors and needed by patients to improve their quality of life. Dr. Rupinder Brar & Dr. Parmjit Randhawa, co-founders of Greenlab join Sarah as this week's Change Maker to explain how the unique research could position New Zealand as the market leader in herbal medicine as the pharmaceutical industry is running out of options for healthcare. Whilst New Zealand farmers and growers won't necessarily be able to capture a slice of the green pie on the ground, there are some excellent messages in the global trend for nutraceuticals - let food be thy medicine - and our agronomic knowledge to apply that. Thanks to our mates at Farmlands for supporting Sarah's Country this season! To contact the show email sarah@sarahscountry.com
The last 5 years for New Zealand's largest rural supply co-operative have been disruptive to ensure they are positioned to support their shareholders into the future. Newly appointed CEO, Tanya Houghton has a fresh approach to leadership that is being well-received across the board. Sarah caught up with Tanya as part of Sarah's Country sisters to discuss how to lead a team in a time of uncertainty, her thoughts on balancing the books of farmers with lower prices and that of the co-operative and her plan to navigate the challenges ahead in her own style of leadership. Following the recent announcement of an $8.1 million net profit before tax and rebates for the 20/21 financial year described by Chair Rob Hewett as a pass mark with a $2.7 billion turnover, Tanya has turned her first efforts to people & culture. Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands https://www.farmlands.co.nz/ for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com
Many farmers across New Zealand fear the future sheep farming faces is the viability of the business model in the face of trees on hill country. The merger of Primary Wool Co-Operative & Wools of New Zealand closes on the 4th of November and maybe the ticket to contracting the fragmented industry to provide more value behind the farm gate. As this week's Change Maker, Sarah catches up with Richard Young, Chair of Primary Wool Co-Operative to discuss what the merger will mean for growers, where the strong wool price needs to be to be sustainable, and how the capitally constrained industry can emerge from the doldrums to capture the value of 'eco-consumerism'. For more information on the merger, visit: https://primarywool.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Information-booklet.pdf Thanks to our mates at Farmlands Co-Operative for partnering with Sarah's Country this season.
Positive community outcomes are what drive this Central Otago sheep & beef farmer who has found herself supporting the diversity of opinion towards environmental progress. Emma Crutchley, farming with her husband in the Maniototo, has a wide range of experience from a career in agronomy to governance in water management aware that her biggest strength she offers is facilitating challenging conversations. As this week's Sarah's Country Sister, Emma has many pleas for the farming sector to come together around the various strategies to achieve environmental excellence and that outside thinking is needed. Tiaki Maniototo https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/tiaki-maniototo-ambitious-waterway-plan-evolving/BKUF2NIBL6TICTEKB4OBFAWU4U/ is an example of Emma's involvement in sourcing $4.5million in government funding to plant 90,000 native plants, 200km of fencing, preserve the rare native fish and enhance recreational areas for all of the community to access the newly planted areas. Sarah & Emma discuss how projects can bring the wider community together on their shared values bridging the divide so they have a collective sense of achievement and connection to their catchment. CLICK HERE TO READ EMMA'S KELLOGG'S REPORT "WATER SHARING IN A WATER-SHORT CATCHMENT" https://ruralleaders.co.nz/water-sharing-in-a-water-short-catchment-emma-crutchley/ Subscribe to Sarah’s Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com
Did you know that New Zealand farmers in their 40's are having heart attacks? It's time to reframe what it means to be a top farmer. It's not about what people think of you as the stress unbalances the economics of your farm and life. Being a Triple-A farmer is assessing, adapting, and adjusting your farm to have a holistic approach to wellbeing. From the books to the bed, being successful is having your physical, mental, social, and business wellbeing in order right across the board. In this week's Opinion Maker, Sarah discusses the fundamentals of having a balanced life as every aspect is interconnected. Physical pain creates fatigue which leads to poor mental performance and ultimately business performance. Throughout this episode, Sarah talks to others involved in a unique new program, FarmFlex, from a rural accountant, personal trainer, environmental consultant, insurance advisors. In this week's Opinion Maker, Sarah discusses the fundamentals of having a balanced life as every aspect is interconnected. Physical pain creates fatigue which leads to poor mental performance and ultimately business performance. Throughout this episode, Sarah talks to others involved in a unique new program, FarmFlex, from a rural accountant, personal trainer, environmental consultant, insurance advisors. In this episode, we learn about great tips and advice from: - ELLE PERRIAM, founder of Will to Live NZ Charitable Trust, supports farmers with free private phycologists and what she's discovered about the fundamentals of stress. - ERICA VAN REENAN, managing director AgFirst Manawatu, in how she's learned that to achieve good environmental and business outcomes people are at the heart of decision making. - RAHUI CORBETT, partner at rural accountancy, Morrison Creed on how to cashflow forecast in uncertain times. - MATT WELLS, wellness coach at The Rec Room, hits home the importance of physical health on overall performance and reducing fatigue from niggly injuries. - PIERRE SCHROEDER, the principal adviser at Thrive, highlights the value of human resources in your farming operation and how putting yourself & people first can save you money. For more information about FarmFlex launching on 5th November 2021, visit https://www.facebook.com/Farmflex2021 https://www.facebook.com/Farmflex2021/or contact the team at Thrive. https://thrive.kiwi/ Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com
Cherry-picking facts and non or discounted 'accounting' is happening everywhere across the conversation of climate change and food production. One New Zealand scientist wants the narrative to include the full energy analysis of our food production which doesn't look good for plant-based proteins or vertical farming. Craig Anderson's webinar "Is energy the Achilles heel of agriculture" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pugOm3E_5d4 has caught many people's attention and highlighted the opportunity to focus on the full life cycle analysis, instead of just greenhouse gas emissions. As this week's Change Maker, Sarah learns more about the observations Craig is making when we shift our thinking to the energy or calorie profile of food. More resources as explained in the podcast: - Craig's presentation - watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pugOm3E_5d4 - Craig's latest opinion piece on Newsroom 'The energy dilemma of eating' - read here https://www.newsroom.co.nz/pro/the-energy-dilemma-of-eating Subscribe to Sarah’s Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Thank you so much to our mates at Farmlands for supporting us this season! Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com
