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Episode 71 – What is a fully connected farm?

We improved horsepower by fuelling it with diesel rather than hay. We mechanised blade-shearing and hand-milking with electricity in the woolshed and milking shed. Every advancement in farming history has resulted in a productivity gain from a new source. The next shift is fully connected farms.

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp talks with Melissa Andrews from Connected Farms and Craig Young from TUANZ about bridging rural connectivity gaps. Melissa shares practical on-farm tech solutions, while Craig unpacks the 3G shutdown, fibre limits, and why local, wireless networks are key to keeping farmers connected and future-ready across New Zealand’s rural communities.

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Episode 70 – 2025 FMG New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp chats with 2025 FMG Young Farmer of the Year, Hugh Jackson about the preparation, support and motivation behind his winning campaign - and what’s next for the fourth-generation farmer at home on the farm at Te Akau.

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Episode 69 – Pushing the boundaries of catch crops

Imagine if a crop could be both productive and improve environmental outcomes in a cold and wet climate? Plant & Food Research have been working with several Canterbury catchment groups to ground the science to see how winter forage oats can reduce nitrate leaching losses even in the toughest conditions.

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Episode 68 – Returning to his rural roots

James Kellow has taken an unconventional path into farming with the purchase of Lighthouse Station on the Āwhitu Peninsula in 2017 for a deep connection to his rural roots and a desire to create something enduring.

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with James Kellow about transforming Lighthouse Station Farm from a former dairy farm into a regenerative beef and gamebird estate.

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2024 Nuffield Report – Putting the success back into succession

In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with 2024 Nuffield Scholar Peter Templeton about alternative pathways to farm ownership and succession.

Drawing on global models, Peter explores solutions like lease-to-buy and equity partnerships to help young farmers overcome rising land costs and secure New Zealand’s farming future.

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Special Report – Time to rethink your pre-lamb

Are your ewes performance ready this season?

In this must-listen vodcast, NZVA Sheep & Beef Cattle Branch president Alex Meban of VetEast joins Sarah to unpack everything trace elements pre-lamb — why they matter, how they help, and the benefits he’s seen from supplementing with trace elements like Multimin ® Plus Copper for Sheep.

Tune in for a practical, expert-led discussion to help you set your flock up for a successful, productive lambing season.

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Firearms and mental health: A Balancing Act

Firearms and mental health are a serious topic and attitudes around them can be emotional and polarising. Words Kathryn Wright.

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A warming Winter crumble

The secret to a good winter-warming pudding is to have something already prepared; so when that cold weather seeps in, all you have to do is reach into the freezer and grab something delicious. Words Philippa Cameron.

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Keep the Sheep!

Steven Bolt is a farmer from Corrigin, in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia. He runs a mixed farming enterprise of merino sheep stud and cropping. He is the President of the Western Australian Stud Merino Breeders’ Association. In addition, he sits on the board of the Live Export Advisory Group.

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A quarter of our annual rainfall in 36 hours

Brent Fisher is a third-generation farmer based outside of Christchurch at Motukarara (1,000-acre hill block rising to 350m) and Greenpark (1,275 acres 2m above sea level). He farms with his wife Anna and children and operates the Silverstream Charolais and Hereford stud.

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