In a region where plenty of productive farmland has disappeared into pine trees, two farming couples are doing something uncommon – turning a forestry block back into a working farm.

Sam and Gemma Hain, and Matt and Kate Long, have just taken ownership of a 400ha property planted almost entirely in young pines. 

In this episode, Sam explains why they took on the challenge, how they plan to pull it off, and why sending cattle back onto the land was one of the best days of his life. 

Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode.  

In a region where plenty of productive farmland has disappeared into pine trees, two farming couples are doing something uncommon – turning a forestry block back into a working farm.Sam and Gemma Hain, and Matt and Kate Long, have just taken ownership of a 400ha property planted almost entirely in young pines. In this episode, Sam explains why they took on the challenge, how they plan to pull it off, and why sending cattle back onto the land was one of the best days of his life. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2299257/fan_mail/new">Got a podcast idea for us? Let us know, and give us your feedback on this episode. </a>

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

Gisborne farmers turning pines into pasture | EP 98

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.

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

When a friend asked Logan Wait to provide some meat for an event post-Covid, he realised there was a problem: he had the animals, but no easy way to get meat from the farm to the people who wanted it. That question led him to found Earth First, New Zealand’s first certified mobile abattoir of its kind. His big idea is simple: what if the meatworks came to the farm, instead of the animal going to the meatworks?

Logan joins us to talk about leaving a corporate job in Auckland, returning to the family farm and building a new way for farmers to process and sell their meat. His vision is for Kiwis to have easier, more affordable access to high-quality meat, while helping farmers keep more of the value rather than losing it along the supply chain.

Links


www.earthfirst.org.nz/contact

When a friend asked Logan Wait to provide some meat for an event post-Covid, he realised there was a problem: he had the animals, but no easy way to get meat from the farm to the people who wanted it.&nbsp;That question led him to found Earth First, New Zealand&rsquo;s first certified mobile abattoir of its kind. His big idea is simple: what if the meatworks came to the farm, instead of the animal going to the meatworks?
Logan joins us to talk about leaving a corporate job in Auckland, returning to the family farm and building a new way for farmers to process and sell their meat. His vision is for Kiwis to have easier, more affordable access to high-quality meat, while helping farmers keep more of the value rather than losing it along the supply chain.
Links <a href="https://www.earthfirst.org.nz"></a>
<a href="https://www.earthfirst.org.nz/contact">www.earthfirst.org.nz/contact</a>

What if the meatworks came to the farm? | EP 106

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6bc3af0d-105d-4602-8b78-b4cc007f7ac4/transcript

South Canterbury farmer Lesley Roy has taken more than 1,500 wallabies and 40 pigs off her farm this year – but despite that huge effort, the numbers are barely changing. With pigs destroying pasture and eating lambs, and wallabies continually damaging fences and fowling paddocks, Lesley says pest control has become an endless battle. And her experience highlights a much bigger problem facing farmers across New Zealand.

In this episode, Lesley and Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Richard Dawkins discuss the scale of the pest problem, why farmers feel like they’re fighting the same battle year after year, and what needs to change if New Zealand is serious about getting on top of it.

See the Federated Farmers 2026 Pest Survey Report

South Canterbury farmer Lesley Roy has taken more than 1,500 wallabies and 40 pigs off her farm this year &ndash; but despite that huge effort, the numbers are barely changing. With pigs destroying pasture and eating lambs, and wallabies continually damaging fences and fowling paddocks, Lesley says pest control has become an endless battle. And her experience highlights a much bigger problem facing farmers across New Zealand.
In this episode, Lesley and Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Richard Dawkins discuss the scale of the pest problem, why farmers feel like they&rsquo;re fighting the same battle year after year, and what needs to change if New Zealand is serious about getting on top of it. <a href="https://www.fedfarm.org.nz/Web/Web/Resources/National-Pests-Survey.aspx?hkey=4fe0cac6-4ae6-49a9-a072-cee49cb83e51">See the Federated Farmers 2026 Pest Survey Report</a>

Why our pest problem is bigger than hunting | EP 105

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0355046e-742c-4a52-b39a-b4c401571d76/transcript

Gisborne farmers turning pines into pasture | EP 98

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