This episode features Allan Blood, Executive Director, Victorian Hydrogen discussing a proposed $3 billion Southland lignite-to-fertiliser plant and the growing debate around fertiliser security, emissions and environmental impacts.


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.

This episode features Allan Blood, Executive Director, Victorian Hydrogen discussing a proposed $3 billion Southland lignite-to-fertiliser plant and the growing debate around fertiliser security, emissions and environmental impacts.
 CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson &amp; Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit <a href="http://country-wide.co.nz">country-wide.co.nz</a> on how to watch / listen.

CountryWide CONNECT is the latest innovative daily livestreamed rural video/radio show broadcast at lunchtime 11am – 1pm Monday-Friday from Christchurch, New Zealand.


The show is hosted by respected award-winning agribusiness broadcasters, Sarah Perriam-Lampp (formerly Sarah’s Country & Rural Exchange) and Andy Thompson (formerly The Rural Round-Up).


Over two hours, Sarah & Andy cover the latest in New Zealand rural news, views, politics but most importantly in-depth technical farming advice to help improve farmers bottom lines!

For more information & to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz

CountryWide CONNECT is the latest innovative daily livestreamed rural video/radio show broadcast at lunchtime 11am &ndash; 1pm Monday-Friday from Christchurch, New Zealand.
 The show is hosted by respected award-winning agribusiness broadcasters, Sarah Perriam-Lampp (formerly Sarah&rsquo;s Country &amp; Rural Exchange) and Andy Thompson (formerly The Rural Round-Up).
 Over two hours, Sarah &amp; Andy cover the latest in New Zealand rural news, views, politics but most importantly in-depth technical farming advice to help improve farmers bottom lines!
For more information &amp; to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz

CountryWide CONNECT

$3 billion urea plant planned for Southland // Allan Blood, Executive Director, Victorian Hydrogen

Government opens door to private nature and carbon market investment
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards celebrate rising talent


Yili's NZ operations post record revenue and profit

 

Rural News is in partnership with Farmlands as part of CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp - our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.

 

Government opens door to private nature and carbon market investment

Farmers and landowners could soon have new income options under a Government framework designed to grow New Zealand's voluntary nature and carbon markets.

Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says private money is needed to fund restoration work the public purse can't cover — projects like wetland restoration, native planting, habitat protection and carbon sequestration. The new framework gives that market a credibility structure, with an accreditation system he describes as a warrant of fitness for investors and landowners.

Two pathways are available. Internationally accredited schemes are recognised immediately, while a domestic endorsement pathway — assessed against New Zealand's market integrity principles — opens within six months.

Public conservation land will also be opened to privately funded nature and climate projects, provided they deliver outcomes beyond what the Crown already funds and meet Department of Conservation requirements.

For landowners, the practical upside is a clearer, lower-cost way to identify reputable operators and access a growing pool of investors willing to pay for verified environmental outcomes on private land.

 

New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards celebrate rising talent

New Zealand's top dairy talent has been recognised at the 2026 Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua on Saturday, with more than six-hundred people gathering to celebrate the best in the business.

Scott and Stacey Mackereth from Southland took out Share Farmers of the Year, contract milking fourteen-hundred cows on four-hundred-and-sixty-four hectares at Edendale. Head judge Robert Ervine says the couple make a dynamic team — Scott data-driven and managing thirteen staff, Stacey the grounding force holding it all together.

Lauren McConnachie from Canterbury/North Otago was named Dairy Manager of the Year, managing twenty-one-hundred-and-seventy cows across five-hundred-and-sixty-three hectares. Judges praised her ability to convert complex farming decisions into clear, simple steps for her team.

West Coast's Mark Ready won Dairy Trainee of the Year — already buying his first line of cows and on track for herd ownership at just 23 years old.

dairyindustryawards.co.nz has more information on the awards and winners.

 

Yili's NZ operations post record revenue and profit

China's Yili Group has delivered record results from its New Zealand dairy operations, with revenue hitting one-point-five-eight billion dollars in 2025 — up fourteen percent — and pre-tax profit jumping more than three-fold to fifty-eight-point-four million dollars.

The Yili Oceania Group credited a strategic shift away from volume toward higher-value products for the strong result.

Chief executive Alex Turnbull says the West Coast operation remains an economic cornerstone of the region, and the results will support continued investment in the business and workforce.

Expansion is continuing at Hokitika, with a third butter line boosting Westgold output and a second lactoferrin plant now commissioned — making the site one of the largest lactoferrin production facilities in the world.

<ul>
<li>Government opens door to private nature and carbon market investment</li>
<li>New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards celebrate rising talent</li>
<li>
Yili's NZ operations post record revenue and profit
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Rural News is in partnership with Farmlands as part of CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson &amp; Sarah Perriam-Lampp - our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen.
&nbsp;
Government opens door to private nature and carbon market investment
Farmers and landowners could soon have new income options under a Government framework designed to grow New Zealand's voluntary nature and carbon markets.
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says private money is needed to fund restoration work the public purse can't cover &mdash; projects like wetland restoration, native planting, habitat protection and carbon sequestration. The new framework gives that market a credibility structure, with an accreditation system he describes as a warrant of fitness for investors and landowners.
Two pathways are available. Internationally accredited schemes are recognised immediately, while a domestic endorsement pathway &mdash; assessed against New Zealand's market integrity principles &mdash; opens within six months.
Public conservation land will also be opened to privately funded nature and climate projects, provided they deliver outcomes beyond what the Crown already funds and meet Department of Conservation requirements.
For landowners, the practical upside is a clearer, lower-cost way to identify reputable operators and access a growing pool of investors willing to pay for verified environmental outcomes on private land.
&nbsp;
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards celebrate rising talent
New Zealand's top dairy talent has been recognised at the 2026 Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua on Saturday, with more than six-hundred people gathering to celebrate the best in the business.
Scott and Stacey Mackereth from Southland took out Share Farmers of the Year, contract milking fourteen-hundred cows on four-hundred-and-sixty-four hectares at Edendale. Head judge Robert Ervine says the couple make a dynamic team &mdash; Scott data-driven and managing thirteen staff, Stacey the grounding force holding it all together.
Lauren McConnachie from Canterbury/North Otago was named Dairy Manager of the Year, managing twenty-one-hundred-and-seventy cows across five-hundred-and-sixty-three hectares. Judges praised her ability to convert complex farming decisions into clear, simple steps for her team.
West Coast's Mark Ready won Dairy Trainee of the Year &mdash; already buying his first line of cows and on track for herd ownership at just 23 years old.
<a href="dairyindustryawards.co.nz">dairyindustryawards.co.nz</a> has more information on the awards and winners.
&nbsp;
Yili's NZ operations post record revenue and profit
China's Yili Group has delivered record results from its New Zealand dairy operations, with revenue hitting one-point-five-eight billion dollars in 2025 &mdash; up fourteen percent &mdash; and pre-tax profit jumping more than three-fold to fifty-eight-point-four million dollars.
The Yili Oceania Group credited a strategic shift away from volume toward higher-value products for the strong result.
Chief executive Alex Turnbull says the West Coast operation remains an economic cornerstone of the region, and the results will support continued investment in the business and workforce.
Expansion is continuing at Hokitika, with a third butter line boosting Westgold output and a second lactoferrin plant now commissioned &mdash; making the site one of the largest lactoferrin production facilities in the world.

11th May 2026 // Rural News in partnership with Farmlands

CountryWide Connect – Show Summary


(Working backwards from 1pm to 11am)


We finish at 12:48 with Geoff Ross from CarbonCrop discussing the Government’s Nature and Carbon Markets announcement, the future of environmental markets and whether farmers can generate meaningful income from natural capital and carbon systems.


At 12:33, Jo Hendy — Chief Executive, Climate Change Commission — joins us to unpack the Commission’s latest climate risk assessment, why agriculture is identified as a major long-term climate risk, and what adaptation and resilience could realistically look like for the sector by 2050.


At 12:18, Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard joins us to discuss the Government’s Nature and Carbon Markets announcement, balancing environmental outcomes with practical farming realities, and where the Coalition wants to take climate and land-use policy.


At 12:05, Jim van der Poel reflects on receiving special recognition at the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards for more than four decades of service to the dairy sector, including leadership through major industry change and the creation of Fonterra.


At 12:00 it’s Rural News with Farmlands.


At 11:48, Murray Hart — Business Development Manager, Animal Health at Ecolab — discusses calving season biosecurity, hygiene and milk quality, and the practical steps farmers can take to minimise disease pressure and improve outcomes this season.


At 11:33, Matt Watson — Host, ITM Fishing Show — discusses the Fisheries Amendment Bill backlash, public concern around commercial fishing reform, and whether Shane Jones has politically misread mainstream New Zealanders on fisheries management.


At 11:18, Scott and Stacey Mackereth — 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmers of the Year — join us in studio to discuss their journey through the industry, leadership, progression and what success looks like in modern dairying.


We open at 11:05 with Richard Harman for Politics Monday, covering the NZ Herald poll of polls, coalition tensions, local government reform, and the growing debate around trust and culture inside New Zealand media.

CountryWide Connect &ndash; Show Summary
 (Working backwards from 1pm to 11am)
 We finish at 12:48 with Geoff Ross from CarbonCrop discussing the Government&rsquo;s Nature and Carbon Markets announcement, the future of environmental markets and whether farmers can generate meaningful income from natural capital and carbon systems.
 At 12:33, Jo Hendy &mdash; Chief Executive, Climate Change Commission &mdash; joins us to unpack the Commission&rsquo;s latest climate risk assessment, why agriculture is identified as a major long-term climate risk, and what adaptation and resilience could realistically look like for the sector by 2050.
 At 12:18, Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard joins us to discuss the Government&rsquo;s Nature and Carbon Markets announcement, balancing environmental outcomes with practical farming realities, and where the Coalition wants to take climate and land-use policy.
 At 12:05, Jim van der Poel reflects on receiving special recognition at the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards for more than four decades of service to the dairy sector, including leadership through major industry change and the creation of Fonterra.
 At 12:00 it&rsquo;s Rural News with Farmlands.
 At 11:48, Murray Hart &mdash; Business Development Manager, Animal Health at Ecolab &mdash; discusses calving season biosecurity, hygiene and milk quality, and the practical steps farmers can take to minimise disease pressure and improve outcomes this season.
 At 11:33, Matt Watson &mdash; Host, ITM Fishing Show &mdash; discusses the Fisheries Amendment Bill backlash, public concern around commercial fishing reform, and whether Shane Jones has politically misread mainstream New Zealanders on fisheries management.
 At 11:18, Scott and Stacey Mackereth &mdash; 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmers of the Year &mdash; join us in studio to discuss their journey through the industry, leadership, progression and what success looks like in modern dairying.
 We open at 11:05 with Richard Harman for Politics Monday, covering the NZ Herald poll of polls, coalition tensions, local government reform, and the growing debate around trust and culture inside New Zealand media.

FULL SHOW - 11th May 2026

This episode features Anna Gillespie,  President, Federated Farmers Otago discussing farmer confidence, current regional issues and the key challenges facing Otago farmers.


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.

This episode features Anna Gillespie, &nbsp;President, Federated Farmers Otago discussing farmer confidence, current regional issues and the key challenges facing Otago farmers.
 CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson &amp; Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit <a href="http://country-wide.co.nz">country-wide.co.nz</a> on how to watch / listen.

$3 billion urea plant planned for Southland // Allan Blood, Executive Director, Victorian Hydrogen

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