Country-Wide is New Zealand’s only dedicated pastoral and arable farming magazine. It is a trusted farm management publication, delivering content on red meat, wool and arable farming topics.
Each issue gives independent, credible and often exclusive information to help them run your farm businesses better.
Episode 47 – How do we encourage young people into farming?
Keeping young people engaged in the farming industry is vital to the long term success of our sector. Nurturing and growing the next generation of farmers is something we should all care about. In this episode we look at the programmes that exist to upskill our future farmers, and give them the tools to have a long and rewarding career, such as Growing Future Farmers and the Trades Academy. We also dive into the current property markets around farmland prices, and whether it’s a sellers market yet.
Farming for the future
With an eye to the future, North Canterbury farmers Jock and Pip Foster see NZ Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP) Plus accreditation as an opportunity to access markets and generate a premium for what they produce. Words SandRa Taylor, Photos Kelly Shakespeare.
Enhancing the environment with dung beetles
Are dung beetles your new farm worker? Working round the clock, and paid in dung, dung beetles could be a valuable addition to the toolbox when it comes to improving soil health and water quality on our farms. Words Rebecca Greaves
A wild weed
The rural community are great at stepping up, helping out beyond their farm gate. These five legends are tackling arguably New Zealand’s biggest weed problem – wilding conifers. While some of us throw our hands in the air and call defeat, these farmers, foresters and fighters have taken on the problem and made it their own. As Ket Bradshaw puts it, together we can make a first step on something that is daunting. Words Jo Grigg.
Burps & Bluster
Are farmers doing enough on methane? Methane from Kiwi farms accounts for more than a third of the country’s greenhouse emissions. But exactly how this gas contributes to global warming and to what extent it should reduce is complex. As our methane targets look set to be overhauled, George Driver investigates how the gas heats the planet and how low our emissions should go. Words George Driver.
Making the most of the rain
Water has always been a precious resource for Central Otago farmers Tim and Camilla Rutherford, and they’re keen to ensure they utilise every drop that falls from the sky. Words Rebecca Greaves
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Award Winners 2024
The winners in the 2024 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards were announced at a gala dinner at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton on 10 October.
During the evening, which celebrated the depth of the talent within this country’s red meat industry, the winners of the eight Award categories and B+LNZ Regional Leadership Award were announced.
On the lookout for Listeria
Listeria can present in a number of different ways and one common source of listeria infection in sheep is from feeding silage that hasn’t been well preserved. Vet Sara Sutherland outlines the different symptoms and treatments for listeria, and the importance of involving your vet early.
Collaboration key in sheep industry
Wellington sheep and beef farmer Hamish Best represented New Zealand in the 2024 Global Sheep Forum Next Generation programme earlier this year. Collaboration between countries was a major theme of the forum. Words Hamish Best.
Turning around triple drench resistance
When testing revealed triple drench resistance, station manager Charles Yule knew he had to consider changes to the property’s management strategy.
Words Tony Leggett, Photos John Cowpland, Alphapix Photography.
“Greenie” at heart
Sandra Matthews, Rere, Gisborne, sheep and beef farmer, and winner of the FMG Rural Champion award at the 2022 B+LNZ Awards.
Autumn is my favourite time of year
Anna Munro is a mum, farmer and rural photographer based in Mt Somers, Mid Canterbury.
Back to normal
Ben Dooley, Mimihau, Southland is a fourth-generation farmer, farming in Mimihau, Southland with his wife, Sarah, and two boys.
Stop and smell the roses
Max Tweedie, Tutira, Hawke’s Bay and his wife Lucy run Hallmark Angus Stud.
How to buy the right bull
Being clear on your desired outcome is the first step to ensure you end up with a bull-team well suited to your particular needs.
Rural insurance market insights
An online survey of 518 people was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 with those who work or live on farms to understand their insurance needs, perceptions and behaviours.
Insurance premiums surge as global risk rises and inflation bites
No farm business would have missed the significant increase in the cost of insurance in the past year. Tony Leggett investigates what’s behind the increase and the options for reducing the cost in the future.
When the going gets tough
Sheep and beef farmers are weathering a difficult season so we spoke to industry professionals about their advice for getting through tough times. Words Sandra Taylor.
Capturing the premiums
The Harper’s focus on creating an inter-generational business model, with built-in niche products in partnership with suppliers, has diversified their farming business across many value chains. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Photos Emmily Harmer Photography, Headwaters and Stoney Creek.
Should all your wealth be in your land?
When surplus capital is built up in the farm the instinct is often to buy the neighbouring block when it comes on the market. Words Angus Marks and Andrew Austin, Wealth Management, Jarden Wealth.
MORE
Designing agricultural policy for a future in farming
New Zealand farmers face significant challenges reconciling environmental regulations with economic realities. Kerry Worsnop’s 2023 Nuffield report The mountain we need to climb – designing agricultural policy for a future in farming addresses those in leadership, agricultural policy makers and others with an interest in how we deliver better outcomes for those on the land and for the land itself.
High Performing Teams guaranteed to deliver prosperity and freedoms
Words Chris Coughlan, Partner, Rural Coach.
People at the heart of health and safety
Creating a good health and safety culture, where team members feel safe and valued, starts with good role-modelling from the top down. A positive environment can also have spinoffs for staff engagement and retention. Rebecca Greaves reports.
Money Talks
Farm employers across the sheep and beef and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff. But in a competitive market, employers are warned they cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to staff. Rebecca Greaves reports.
