Read CountryWide Summer 2026 online here. CountryWide is New Zealand’s only dedicated farmers and growers magazine, available on subscription.

She left Germany for a one–year working holiday in New Zealand, expecting to simply travel, work a little and then head home to resume university. Instead, within a week of arriving at a sheep and beef station, her plans changed completely. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Photos Stan McDowall.

In this episode, Mike White, Chief Science Officer at Ravensdown, explains how Hawkeye Pro, the cooperative’s precision nutrient management platform, is helping New Zealand farmers apply the right nutrients in the right place at the right time. Drawing on years of research, soil science, and advanced technology, Mike outlines how Hawkeye Pro combines soil testing, remote sensing, farm-specific data, and AI to deliver measurable value while being considerate of the environment.

In this episode, Jeremy McPhail, Chair of Environment Southland and seventh-generation Southland farmer, discusses the region’s community-led review of local government and what it could mean for the future of regional governance.

In this episode, Conan Moynihan, farm consultant at Force of Nature and host of the From the Soil Up podcast, reflects on what it means to be part of the next generation shaping New Zealand agriculture.

Tough times hit Mick and Kirsten O’Connor’s equity growth plans at a perilous time, but they powered through thanks to great systems and supportive farm owners who want their farms to grow farmers too.
Words Anne Lee, Photos Holly Lee.

Where do you focus to set yourself up for success in a sharefarming arrangement? Jordain Beattie from NZAB and Louise Gibson from the Sharefarming Consultants have teamed up to share insights from both the financial and practical sides of the equation. Words Louise Gibson & Jordain Beattie.

Once in charge of US$1 billion daily in international currency markets, Charlotte Aitken swapped the rat race for milking cows on the West Coast. Words Anne Hardie, Photos Jules Anderson.

From employees to farm owners, a South Canterbury couple say their biggest return on investment has come from great relationships and a dedicated approach to what they call financial hygiene. Words Anne Lee, Photos Holly Lee.

Latest DairyBase data shows that pasture and crop harvested remain one of the strongest drivers of operating profit per hectare nationwide for both owner-operators and sharemilkers. Words Jodie Goudswaard, DairyBase Manager, DairyNZ.