This episode features Chris Gourley, CEO, Fern Energy discussing the latest fuel update and what's happening with prices.

 

WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

 

Apple:https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881

Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&hl=en_NZ

This episode features Chris Gourley, CEO, Fern Energy discussing the latest fuel update and what's happening with prices.
&nbsp;
WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>

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

CountryWide CONNECT is an 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 an 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

Chris Gourley - Fuel budgeting: Don’t try to play the market

Beef cattle numbers rise as sheep flock continues long-term decline


a2 Milk posts strong full year result on broad-based growth


Northland bull killing renews push for dedicated rural crime response

 

WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

 

Apple:https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881

Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&hl=en_NZ

 

Beef cattle numbers rise as sheep flock continues long-term decline

New Zealand's livestock mix is continuing to shift toward beef cattle, with numbers rising three-point-three percent to three-point-nine-six million head in the year to June — while the sheep flock fell two percent to twenty-two-point-seven-eight million.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland says strong returns, good feed availability and farmer preference for trading and finishing cattle are driving the beef increase. Southland recorded the largest regional gain at six-point-seven percent, followed by Taranaki-Manawatū in the North Island, up six percent.

Despite fewer sheep, the lamb crop is forecast to be broadly stable at nineteen-point-seven-five million head — down just point-three percent — supported by a strong lambing percentage.

Acland says total sheep numbers have fallen forty-six percent since 2000, reflecting cumulative land-use change including forestry, dairy conversion and retirement of grazed land.

 

a2 Milk posts strong full year result on broad-based growth

a2 Milk has delivered a strong full-year result, with group revenue up twelve-point-four percent to one-point-nine-seven billion dollars and net profit after tax of two-hundred-and-seven-point-five million dollars.

Growth was broad-based — infant formula sales grew five percent in a flat Chinese market, other nutritionals surged forty-two percent through innovation in kids, seniors and supplements, and liquid milk revenue jumped twenty-two percent through market share gains in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

The company declared a three-hundred million dollar special dividend earlier this year following Chinese regulatory approval for its Pokeno facility registrations, and has also lifted full-year ordinary dividends from twenty to twenty-one cents per share.

Looking ahead, a2 Milk is forecasting mid single-digit revenue growth in 2027 with approximately fifteen percent earnings margin, supported by significant new product launches planned for the first half of next year.

 

Northland bull killing renews push for dedicated rural crime response

The killing and attempted butchering of a ten-thousand dollar breeding bull in Northland has prompted ACT to renew its push for a dedicated rural crime response.

ACT agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says whoever carried out the attack was brazen enough to enter a farm with a firearm and begin cutting up a nine-hundred kilogram bull in its paddock.

Hoggard points to Federated Farmers' latest rural crime survey, which found sixty-seven percent of farmers had experienced crime — up from forty-one percent in 2016.

ACT's rural crime policy includes funding one-hundred-thousand extra Police patrol hours in rural areas annually, establishing a dedicated rural crime unit, and strengthening penalties for livestock rustling and armed poaching.

<ul>
<li>
Beef cattle numbers rise as sheep flock continues long-term decline
</li>
<li>
a2 Milk posts strong full year result on broad-based growth
</li>
<li>
Northland bull killing renews push for dedicated rural crime response
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>
&nbsp;
Beef cattle numbers rise as sheep flock continues long-term decline
New Zealand's livestock mix is continuing to shift toward beef cattle, with numbers rising three-point-three percent to three-point-nine-six million head in the year to June &mdash; while the sheep flock fell two percent to twenty-two-point-seven-eight million.
Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland says strong returns, good feed availability and farmer preference for trading and finishing cattle are driving the beef increase. Southland recorded the largest regional gain at six-point-seven percent, followed by Taranaki-Manawatū in the North Island, up six percent.
Despite fewer sheep, the lamb crop is forecast to be broadly stable at nineteen-point-seven-five million head &mdash; down just point-three percent &mdash; supported by a strong lambing percentage.
Acland says total sheep numbers have fallen forty-six percent since 2000, reflecting cumulative land-use change including forestry, dairy conversion and retirement of grazed land.
&nbsp;
a2 Milk posts strong full year result on broad-based growth
a2 Milk has delivered a strong full-year result, with group revenue up twelve-point-four percent to one-point-nine-seven billion dollars and net profit after tax of two-hundred-and-seven-point-five million dollars.
Growth was broad-based &mdash; infant formula sales grew five percent in a flat Chinese market, other nutritionals surged forty-two percent through innovation in kids, seniors and supplements, and liquid milk revenue jumped twenty-two percent through market share gains in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
The company declared a three-hundred million dollar special dividend earlier this year following Chinese regulatory approval for its Pokeno facility registrations, and has also lifted full-year ordinary dividends from twenty to twenty-one cents per share.
Looking ahead, a2 Milk is forecasting mid single-digit revenue growth in 2027 with approximately fifteen percent earnings margin, supported by significant new product launches planned for the first half of next year.
&nbsp;
Northland bull killing renews push for dedicated rural crime response
The killing and attempted butchering of a ten-thousand dollar breeding bull in Northland has prompted ACT to renew its push for a dedicated rural crime response.
ACT agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says whoever carried out the attack was brazen enough to enter a farm with a firearm and begin cutting up a nine-hundred kilogram bull in its paddock.
Hoggard points to Federated Farmers' latest rural crime survey, which found sixty-seven percent of farmers had experienced crime &mdash; up from forty-one percent in 2016.
ACT's rural crime policy includes funding one-hundred-thousand extra Police patrol hours in rural areas annually, establishing a dedicated rural crime unit, and strengthening penalties for livestock rustling and armed poaching.

17th August 2026 // Rural News

This episode features Tony Trewinnard, Blue Skies Weather discussing the latest weather situation update.

 

WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

 

Apple:https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881

Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&hl=en_NZ

This episode features Tony Trewinnard, Blue Skies Weather discussing the latest weather situation update.
&nbsp;
WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>

Tony Trewinnard - West Coast and Southland wet while the east dries out

This episode features Rhys Tamanui, Pact Packaging Young Butcher of the Year discusses carving up the competition to take out the title.

 

WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

 

Apple:https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881

Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&hl=en_NZ

This episode features Rhys Tamanui, Pact Packaging Young Butcher of the Year discusses carving up the competition to take out the title.
&nbsp;
WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>

Chris Gourley - Fuel budgeting: Don’t try to play the market

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