The Institute of Rural Professionals are closing out their conference for 2026 today, with processors, financiers and rural media among attendees, well beyond only the farm consultants it began with, says chief executive Jo Finer.

Last year’s name change opened that door.

“Every year I get feedback, wow, you’ve gone up another bar,” she says.

“This tops the pops.”

The conference ended with a dragon’s den of four AI-based rural technologies pitching live to farmers.

“We are seeing really, really practical AI that is on its way out into the sector now.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.