Country-Wide

Country-Wide CountryWide is your premium agribusiness magazine, podcast & daily live show providing advice and insight for every season!

Watch or Listen to CountryWide CONNECT from Monday to Friday, 11am-1pm via our app or website. Country-Wide is New Zealand’s only dedicated pastoral and arable farming magazine, available on subscription. It is a trusted farm management publication, delivering content on red meat, wool and arable farming topics. Each issue gives you independent, credible and often exclusive information to help run your farm business better.

21/08/2026

Biological pesticides now make up 10 to 15% of pesticides used worldwide, but New Zealand’s regulatory system, built for chemicals, has slowed their uptake here. Lincoln Agritech Ltd chief executive Professor Travis Glare says work is underway to shorten that timeframe.

“If your regulation process takes too long, companies can’t afford to register because they’re not making any money until it’s registered,” he says.
He compares it to Brazil, which now runs at 50% biological pest control after cutting registration to one to two years.

This episode featured as part of the Agritech segment in partnership with Allflex and SenseHub NZ.

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

20/08/2026

Southland rural property sales reached about $1 billion last year, more than double the usual $400 to $450 million. Bayleys Country salesperson Shay Moseby says dairy drove the lift, with about 50 dairy farms changing hands.

“The supply-demand curve’s out of whack,” he says.
“Everyone wants quality.”

Tier-one dairy farms are hitting the early $50,000’s per hectare.

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

This episode featured as part of the Real Estate segment in partnership with Bayleys Country – your rural and lifestyle property specialists.

Tractor sales have recovered strongly this year, with growth concentrated in the 150 horsepower and above category. Trac...
20/08/2026

Tractor sales have recovered strongly this year, with growth concentrated in the 150 horsepower and above category. Tractor and Machinery Association president Jaiden Drought says contractors are moving to bigger gear to cover more hectares with fewer staff.

“ The machines might do fewer hours per year, but they are actually getting the same amount of productivity,” he says.

He says roading rules for oversized contracting machines remain unresolved heading into the season, and are pushing alongside the Contractors Association for permitting changes.

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

This episode featured as part of the Machinery segment in partnership with Carrfields Machinery.

Farm businesses building an advisory board should first take stock of who is already around the table, says Laura Abbiss...
19/08/2026

Farm businesses building an advisory board should first take stock of who is already around the table, says Laura Abbiss, chair of the Institute of Rural Professionals.

“You actually might be able to pull some gems out of what you’ve already got there, and then just fill the gaps with what you don’t,” she says.

She says an independent director is administratively heavy, so a looser structure often works better.
“It’s actually probably more important to have the right person than the right structure."

Watch/listen to the full interview with Laura via the link below ⬇️

19/08/2026

Synlait’s denial that it is in takeover talks with A2 Milk or Fonterra shows the company itself is not part of any deal, says Chief Executive of the New Zealand Shareholders Association Oliver Mander.

“Any leak would have forced their hand in terms of saying, yes, we are involved. Yes, we know about this. They haven’t done that,” he says.

He says Bright Dairy holds 65%, and a sell-down remains possible.

This episode featured as part of the Agribusiness segment in partnership with BNZ.

Watch/listen to our full interview on CountryWide CONNECT here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01j2nj0

18/08/2026

Introducing: Dairy Country Spring '26! 🐮 🌷

Twice a year in Spring & Autumn, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Perriam-Lampp, senior journalist Anne Lee, and a team of industry professionals bring you seasonal stories, expert advice and technical insights to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of modern dairying.

In this year's Spring edition, travel to Waikato and meet Hugh and Anna Edwards, whose cost-focused sharemilking beginnings grew into a two-dairy system; then down in Southland, we've interviewed New Zealand Sharefarmers of the Year, Scott and Stacy Mackereth.

Next up, read about Braden and Biddy Barnes' journey to buying their first farm and NZ Dairy Industry Award winners Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblanche, who've traded burnout for balance.

Keep an eye on your letterboxes for your magazine delivery or read online now: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01hWlM0

18/08/2026

The MPs behind National’s failed leadership challenge are mostly members in safe seats, political commentator and Politik editor Richard Harman says.

“You’ve got a group down the bottom of the caucus who know that their careers are going nowhere,” Harman says. “They don’t care too much if they cause a bit of damage.”

He says the turmoil has left the government looking divided heading into the November 7 election, with National expected to fall to about 25%.

“The only thing that can save the centre-right now, I think, is ACT and New Zealand First.”

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

18/08/2026

The Environmental Protection Agency has halved the number of agrichemical applications awaiting assessment since July 2024, Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg MP says, giving farmers and growers faster access to new crop protection products.

“It was probably the number one topic of feedback I got in my years in opposition,” she says.

Some agrichemical companies withdrew from the market.

“We have to work to provide a framework for companies to come here to develop and to innovate specific to the New Zealand environment.”

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

Hawke’s Bay butcher Rhys Tamanui has been crowned 2026 New Zealand Young Butcher of the Year.The Waipawa Butchery - Prem...
17/08/2026

Hawke’s Bay butcher Rhys Tamanui has been crowned 2026 New Zealand Young Butcher of the Year.

The Waipawa Butchery - Premium Beef, Lamb, Pork, Chicken & Ready Meals butcher credits hard work, a massive amount of support from many people, sponsors, his workplace and crew here.

He placed third in the apprentice category at last year’s World Butchers’ Challenge in Paris.

“I was more nervous on Thursday than I was on the world stage,” says Tamanui.

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

Agritech has shifted from a discussion about shiny things to becoming part of standard practice, AgriTech chief executiv...
17/08/2026

Agritech has shifted from a discussion about shiny things to becoming part of standard practice, AgriTech chief executive Brendan O’Connell says.

“They’re not testing technology to see what it can do,” he says. “They’re fundamentally structured around technology enabling the changes that are required.” Technologies are now being deployed at scale rather than trialled.

This episode featured as part of the Agritech segment in partnership with Allflex and SenseHub NZ by MSD.

Watch/listen to the full interview on CountryWide CONNECT via the link below ⬇️

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