East Coast farmer Blair Crawshaw has been using drones for eight years, putting them to work mustering stock, finding missing animals and pests, and checking for problems across his steep Motu farm, Tawa Hills Angus. In this episode, we get practical about how farmers can actually use a drone on farm — what it’s good for, what it can’t do, and what you need to know before buying one.

East Coast farmer Blair Crawshaw has&nbsp;been using drones for eight years, putting them to work mustering stock, finding missing animals and pests, and checking for problems across his steep Motu farm, Tawa Hills Angus. In this episode, we get practical about how farmers can actually use a drone on farm &mdash; what it&rsquo;s good for, what it can&rsquo;t do, and what you need to know before buying one.

The Federated Farmers Podcast is your weekly guide to the issues affecting rural New Zealand. Join us as we unpack the policies, challenges and big ideas shaping life on farm. With frank conversations from farmers, advocates and experts, we break down what matters and why, so you can stay informed, prepared and heard. 

Hosted by Ben Chapman-Smith, Federated Farmers' communications manager, who grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Te Akau on Waikato's west coast.  

The Federated Farmers Podcast is your weekly guide to the issues affecting rural New Zealand. Join us as we unpack the policies, challenges and big ideas shaping life on farm. With frank conversations from farmers, advocates and experts, we break down what matters and why, so you can stay informed, prepared and heard. Hosted by Ben Chapman-Smith, Federated Farmers' communications manager, who grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Te Akau on Waikato's west coast. &nbsp;

Federated Farmers Podcast

Farming with drones – are they actually useful? | EP 107

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8a1460b5-a91c-4e7d-8cef-b4d30139432b/transcript

New Zealand politics is shifting, the old party loyalties are under pressure, and the make-up of the next government is far from certain. So, what’s really driving this election and what could it all mean for farmers?

Veteran political journalist Richard Harman joins us to look beyond the campaign headlines at the changing political landscape, the fight for the rural vote, the rise of smaller parties and the big decisions facing the next government.

New Zealand politics is shifting, the old party loyalties are under pressure, and the make-up of the next government is far from certain.&nbsp;So, what&rsquo;s really driving this election and what could it all mean for farmers?
Veteran political journalist Richard Harman joins us to look beyond the campaign headlines at the changing political landscape, the fight for the rural vote, the rise of smaller parties and the big decisions facing the next government.

Richard Harman: New players, new power, new politics | EP 111

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a576b5a8-489f-466d-8448-b4ee00186f0a/transcript

Contract milking has become an important part of the dairy farming progression pathway, yet contract milkers miss out on legal protections available to sharemilkers, even when they’re doing essentially the same job. So, is it time to rewrite the rules?

In this episode, Federated Farmers sharefarmer chair Sam Ebbett and sharefarm owner chair Brendan Attrill unpack what the current gaps mean for both farm owners and operators, and how the rules could be modernised without losing flexibility.

With the election approaching, they explain what Federated Farmers wants the next government to do, why better protections matter when disputes arise, and what’s at stake for the next generation trying to get a foot on the dairy farming ladder.

Contract milking has become an important part of the dairy farming progression pathway, yet contract milkers miss out on legal protections available to sharemilkers, even when they&rsquo;re doing essentially the same job. So, is it time to rewrite the rules?
In this episode, Federated Farmers sharefarmer chair Sam Ebbett and sharefarm owner chair Brendan Attrill unpack what the current gaps mean for both farm owners and operators, and how the rules could be modernised without losing flexibility.
With the election approaching, they explain what Federated Farmers wants the next government to do, why better protections matter when disputes arise, and what&rsquo;s at stake for the next generation trying to get a foot on the dairy farming ladder.

Is it time to rewrite the sharemilking laws? | EP 110

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fbf8ab3c-bde6-4041-9da9-b4e80036aec3/transcript

 

He ditched the city for shearing sheds across New Zealand, a Mexican shearing gang in California, and managing a farm for a Lord in England. Eventually, Alan Chapman-Smith settled on the rugged west coast of Waikato to raise a family and make his living off the land.

In this episode, our host Ben sits down with his dad to hear the story of a life spent farming. Alan, known as 'Chappy', reflects on what drew him from Auckland to shearing and farming, what life was like for a farmer 50-odd years ago, surviving the upheaval of Rogernomics, how farming has changed, and why he eventually decided it was time to leave the land.

There’s a personal reason for this conversation, too. With Alan facing some health challenges, Ben wanted to capture his dad’s story for his own kids, and their kids, to hear one day.

&nbsp;
He ditched the city for shearing sheds across New Zealand, a Mexican shearing gang in California, and managing a farm for a Lord in England. Eventually, Alan Chapman-Smith settled on the rugged west coast of Waikato to raise a family and make his living off the land.
In this episode, our host Ben sits down with his dad to hear the story of a life spent farming. Alan, known as 'Chappy', reflects on what drew him from Auckland to shearing and farming, what life was like for a farmer 50-odd years ago, surviving the upheaval of Rogernomics, how farming has changed, and why he eventually decided it was time to leave the land.
There&rsquo;s a personal reason for this conversation, too. With Alan facing some health challenges, Ben wanted to capture his dad&rsquo;s story for his own kids, and their kids, to hear one day.

My dad – a good keen man | EP 109

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d4ff2a31-513a-4a7f-94c7-b4e100329276/transcript

Farming with drones – are they actually useful? | EP 107

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