Blue Shed Diary

Staples in our frozen veggie aisles - Watties and McCain - have announced they're closing up shop in New Zealand. Watties is closing factories in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin and their frozen packing lines in Hastings. McCain's is also exiting Hastings by the end of this year. Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost, but the repercussions of these closures will be felt far wider. What do these closures mean for the growers supplies these companies and their rural communities? Will this be a fundamental change for the sector? Will Kiwis be able to find homegrown veggies on their shelves at the supermarket? Joining the conversation is Matt Thorn, Business Manager for Process Vegetables and Antony Heywood, former Vegetables NZ Chief Executive.

The repercussions of military action in Iran continues to be felt globally. From the cost-of-living pressures, to rising petrol and diesel prices and stock shortages, everyone is feeling the pinch. But for rural communities, the impacts are more than just stress on the wallet. Joining the conversation is farmer and Rural Women New Zealand member, Emma Burke, who has tips on watching the wallet and keeping connected.

Blue Shed Diary host, Milton Munro, and his colleague Shane McDowall, have seen the future of farming. Back from their whirlwind tour of the USA—including a visit to Microsoft in Seattle, Washington and the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco, California—Milton and Shane have peered into the crystal ball and gotten insight into what innovations and technology are on the horizon for New Zealand's farmers and growers. Joining the conversation is Agritrade National Manager, Shane McDowall.

With the last of the fruit leaving the vine in Kerikeri, what should growers be doing next to ready their kiwifruit orchards for winter? Post-harvest advice from Technical Horticulture Representative Louise Shepherd.

While the Ag Sector has been on an upswing, one primary sector is still feeling the pinch: Arable Farmers. What's behind the struggle? Why are some looking to leave the sector in search of greener pastures? What impact will the Watties and McCain's frozen veggie closures have on the sector? And what can we do to support the industry? Joining the conversation to answer these questions and more is Federated Farmer's Arable Group Chairperson and arable farmer based out of Leeston, David Birkett.

For over 40 years, IHC has raised money to support people with intellectual disabilities and their whānau in rural communities through the calf & rural scheme. Farmers donate livestock (and virtual calves, too) to IHC who use the proceeds from their sale to raise vital funds. As a principal sponsor, PGG Wrightson wants to make sure everyone gets involved with Pink Week! Joining the conversation to tell us how you can make a difference is IHC NZ National Fundraising Manager Greg Millar. For more information about IHC, visit: IHC Calf & Rural Scheme | PGG WrightsonFor more information about Pink Week, visit: IHC Calf & Rural Scheme | PGG Wrightson

Vocational, hands-on, work-based practical training is essential for bringing new farmers, growers, and workers to the industry. One of the major organisations behind this kind of training is Primary ITO, however government reforms could significantly change the way we deliver work-based education in New Zealand. What does this system look like in the future and can you have your say? Joining the conversation is Primary ITO CEO Ginny Vincent. For more information about Primary ITO, visit: Home | Primary ITO

Autumn fertiliser can be one of your largest annual input costs, but with the price of fertiliser on the rise, how can you make sure you are maximising your investment while getting the best results for your crop? Joining April's Tech Talk is PGG Wrightson Technical Specialist for Soil Science, Dr Jay Howes.

As the war in Iran continues, the impacts to the global economy cut deeper. Petrol and diesel costs are up along with price of inputs and commodities. Is this a short-term or long-term problem? And what does this mean for New Zealand's economy, particularly our farmers and growers?Joining the conversation is Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub.

In life, there are few things in which we can all agree. The Resource Management Act (RMA) may be an exception with most New Zealanders agreeing it's in dire need of overhaul. The 25-year-old legislation governs nearly everything about NZ—our land, air, water—and what we can do with them. A lot has changed since it was enacted, and several governments have tinkered with fixes over the years. The most recent overhaul proposal introduced at the end of last year has some in the primary industry nervous about the impact on our farmers and growers. So, what is in the reform proposals and what does it mean for our industry?Joining the conversation is Fox Meyer, Political Reporter for Newsrooms who covers this issue.

Back in the day, the go-to approach for pest control was to use insecticide to kill anything moving in the crop. Not only was that not the most effective control method, but it also led to a rise in resistance. The new way is Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. This method moves beyond a chemical-only solution and employs a multi-faceted approach. It is a valuable tool for farmers and growers. March's Tech Talk is all about adopting IPM into your system. Joining the conversation is PGG Wrightson Technical Specialist Chris Lambert.

A rebound in the rural sector has seen stronger returns and bigger payouts for our farmers and growers. Its great news after several tough years. As confidence in the sector grows, so too does the interest in the rural property market. So, is it a good time to buy a farm? What operations are generating the most interest? Joining the conversation to answer these questions and more is PGG Wrightson's General Manager for Real Estate and Livestock, Peter Newbold.

For six decades, Country Calendar has marked the lives of New Zealand's farmers, growers, and rural communities. More than half a million people, both rural and urban audiences, tune-in to watch our longest-running television show. If anything is an institution in our cultural landscape, it is TVNZ's Country Calendar. Joining the conversation is the voice behind the show, and its producer, Dan Henry.

It all started with 888-acres of retired farmland in East Taranaki when Miranda Wells, her partner Daryl Egarr, and brother Bjorn Doherty purchased this land in 2013 as a weekend hunting spot.But the discovery of wild kiwi changed the trajectory of their lives and this land. Together, they formed the 800-Trust which has an ambitious mission to restore a dying forest and create a biodiversity corridor for some of our rarest indigenous species. The introduction of AI-powered technology, Hark, is revolutionising how they are accomplishing this mission, and could make a huge difference to conservation efforts in the future. Joining the conversation is Miranda Wells of the 800 Trust. Read more about the 800 Trust in our latest edition of Rural Diary.Learn more about Hark and the 800 Trust, visit here.

This month's On the Vine episode asks what happens when you have too many grapes? In this case, more is not always more. Turns out, in the world of viticulture, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. Last year, an estimated 100,000 tonnes, or approximately a fifth of the crop, was left on the vine. The 2026 season is shaping up to have a lot of excess grapes, too. So, what's behind the supply hangover? What are the options for New Zealand's vineyards? Is this the new normal?Joining the conversation to answer these questions, and more, is Jon Peet, Fruitfed Technical Specialist.

The greatest friend and worst enemy of every farmer and grower is Mother Nature. It's either too dry or too wet, too hot or too cold. Considering New Zealand is famous for having four seasons in a single day, predicting Mother Nature's whims can be a game changer. So, as we enter autumn after a no-summer summer, we decided to get insight into what the good mother has instore for us over the season. Joining the conversation is Chris Brandolino, Meteorologist and Principal Scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand, formally known as NIWA.

Farmers and growers like to have a yarn about the how their crops are doing, but not necessarily how their mental health and wellbeing are doing. We know farming isn't a predictable 9-to-5 job. It can be incredibly challenging and stressful, but help is available! One group giving farmers the tools to cope with the ups and downs of the job is Farmstrong. They are on a mission to improve the wellbeing of our farmers, growers, and rural communities. Joining the conversation is Farmstrong Chief Executive Gerard Vaughan. You can power up your support for Farmstrong throughout the month of March with PGG Wrightson. There is a great online deal for our customers: buy a Speedrite S500 Solar Energizer and $50 goes directly to Farmstrong. Find out more here! Also, visit Farmstrong for more information.

Spraying out your old crop before re-grassing or planting new crop is standard operating procedure. But what goesinto your spray out matters. Depending on what's happening in your paddock, you may need more than a single herbicide to do the job. Is there something you can do to 'spike' theweed competition in the field?Joining the conversation is PGG Wrightson Technical Specialist for Agronomy Gary Bosley. He has some great tech tips for getting good results from your spray-out. You can read more about this in March's Rural Diary. Your PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative is also an excellent resource to help you maximise your spray-out. Be sure to contact your local PGW TFR, today!

On the last day of February, the United States and Israel launched a joint strike against Iran—beginning a new war in the Middle East. Iran's retaliatory strikes against its neighbours including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, have all but closed shipping and travel to and from the region. So, what does a war, half a world away, have to do with New Zealand and New Zealand Farmers?Well, trade with the region equates to millions of dollars for the New Zealand economy, particularly agriculture. While much is still up in the air, we can get some insight into the impact this could have on New Zealand. Joining the conversation is Charles Finny. Charles is a partner at Saunders Unsworth, a former trade negotiator and diplomat, and now, Chair of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. For more information about Blue Shed Diary, visit our website.

Women have always been the backbone of rural communities, and the ones people turn to in times of need. For these women, when they are in need, there is one organisation for them to turn to: Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ). Since 1925, its mission is to give support, connection, and voice to rural women, their families, and communities. Now, as the organisation enters its second century, how is their mission evolving?Joining the conversation is the organisation's new CEO, Sandra Kirby.

Tech Talk is our brand-new segment where we answer your questions and get technical or seasonal advice from PGG Wrightson's Technical Team and Field Reps. Joining the Conversation is Pete McKnight, PGG Wrightson Technical Specialist for Agronomy based in Otago. He has sage advice on dealing with Diamondback moths in your brassicas. Have a question you want answered? Send us an email at [email protected]

Once upon a time, not too long ago, if you had pests in your crop or paddock, the go-to approach was a blanket-use of insecticides. If it was crawling, kill it. But it turns out, that is not such a great method for control; and it led to a rise in resistance. Integrated Pest Management or IPM takes a multi-faceted approach to pest management that doesn't solely rely on chemical options. Joining the conversation for this month's Tech Talk is PGG Wrightson Technical Specialist Chris Lambert.

On the Vine -- our brand-new segment takes a deep-dive into the horticulture sector. Kiwifruit is New Zealand's largest horticultural export -- nearly $4 billion last year. Given its role in our economy, it seems only fitting that we start our inaugural On the Vine segment with a focus on Kiwis. Joining the conversation is Dr Matt Glenn, CEO of the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre in Te Puke.

Introducing our brand-new segment: Tech Talk. We answer your questions and give technical or seasonal advice from PGG Wrightson's own Technical Team and Field & Hort Reps. Joining the conversation the first Tech Talk is Gary Speers, PGG Wrightson Technical Horticultural Representative based in Hastings. He gives us an update on the apple growing season.

Each summer, PGG Wrightson has a selection of university students join us for a 10-week paid internship. We pair them with mentors, provide hands-on experience in field trials, put them in our stores, send them off with our livestock and wool teams, or have them join our Research & Development teams. At the end of the internship – we want them walking away with a better understanding of the primary sector. For the very first time, and because our host, Milton Munro runs the programme, our interns have an additional test – aconversation on the podcast.Meet the future of the primary sector:Bruno MasonCameron WalkerJesica AcharyaLily ShortusLachlan Walter

The ocean is not generally the first thing you think of when you think of farming in New Zealand, but one organisation is looking to change that. Surfing for Farmers is all about helping farmers find the perfect break—to get away from the hard work of farm life and have a bit of fun on a surfboard with their fellow farmers, rural families, and industry professionals. Joining the conversation for the inaugural From the Field segment is Dom Huxley, General Manager of Surfing for Farmers.

Glyphosate, or 'Round Up' as it commonly known, is one of the world's most widely used herbicides. It’s been approved for use in New Zealand since the 1970's, but in recent years its safety has been called into question here and abroad. Six months ago, the New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the authority charged with looking into the safety and efficacy of our agrichemicals, declined to review the approval of Glyphosate saying there are no grounds ornew evidence for a review. Joining the conversation to discuss this decision and the safety of Glyphosate is the EPA's manager for Hazardous Substances Reassessments, Dr Shaun Presow.

Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for farmers and growers. Not only do you have a lot of jobs on the farm, but you also may want to squeeze in some time for relaxing, too! So, it is understandable if you're tempted to cut a few corners to get the job done.But accidents have consequences—from lost revenue to lost lives—so prevention is key! Working to improve health and safety in the primary sector is Safer Farms. Joining the conversation now is Safer Farms Chair, Lindy Nelson.

Feral cats are taking a toll on New Zealand farms by killing native wildlife and spreading disease. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that needs a cat's intestines to complete its life cycle and contaminates the soil and water. It can infect people, livestock, even dolphins. With millions of feral cats roaming New Zealand, the threat is everywhere -- and our farmers are feeling the pain. What can we do about it?Joining the conversation is Richard Dawkins. He is the National Meet & Wool Chairman for the Federated Farmers and runs a sheep, beef, and viticulture farm in Marlborough.

By the end of March 2026, the nation's 3G network will be gone. Bit by bit, region by region, One NZ, Spark, and 2Degrees are shutting down their networks. While few in the urban centres will even notice, many rural communities will feel the pain. Joining the conversation to discuss 3G's demise and how to prepare for it is CEO of TUANZ (Tech Users Association of NZ) Craig Young.

For stories for and about New Zealand women who work the land, look no further than Shepherdess magazine. Each season, the publication delves into the lives of provincial women who play a unique role on their farms and in their communities. Six years ago, Kristy McGregor started the Shepherdess Instagram page to bridge the isolation gap that many in the primary sector feel. Now, 24-editions later, the magazine is celebrating its 5th anniversary and is fully entrenched in the urban and rural landscape. Joining the conversation is its creator, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief Kristy McGregor. She lives with her partner and three children on a dairy farm in Manakau. Besides being a busy mum, magazine publisher, and more -- Kristy is also finalising the plans for The Shepherdess Muster. The three-day festival dedicated to celebrating the lives of rural women coming this March.

Our horticulture industry reached a new milestone this year - nearly $8.5 BILLION in exports. An impressive feat considering a decade ago the sector had a major problem on its hands. Resistance. The sector's response? Lean in. With consumers wanting sustainably grown food free from as many ag-chem products as possible, and willing to pay a premium, the industry decided collaboration would be a better idea. Working across horticulture, arable and wine, a new programme was created to support growers as they shifted away from agri-chemicals to biologicals and integrated pest management. Together, they created 'A Lighter Touch' programme - a seven-year, $27 million programme funded by government and industry. Now, five years in, A Lighter Touch is seeing incredible results. Joining the conversation is Programme Director Livia Esterhazy.

An orchard in Otago is doing things a little differently by ditching the diesel vehicles and machinery, installing solar panels, and adding an adopt-a-tree programme. Forest Lodge Orchard near Cromwell is better known by the name, Electric Cherry - a name inspired by their journey to become New Zealand's first certified fossil free cherry orchard. For Mike Casey, his wife Rebecca and partners Euan and Rachel White, this has been an incredible adventure. Together, they have gone from knowing nothing about growing cherries to having over 9,000 trees in the ground and a determination to show others that going electric is better for the bottom line and environment.

Many farmers and growers, looking to diversify their income, are exploring agritourism. From sleeping huts and hunting to walking trails and cheese making, more and more in the primary sector are seeing how they can introduce tourism into their operation. But is getting into agritourism as simple as throwing up a sleeping hut on the back blocks and putting up a website?In a word: No. One woman is helping our primary producers unlock their tourism potential: Marijke Dunselman, leader of the industry body Agritourism New Zealand joins the conversation.

In April 2025, the government undertook a review into how our farm plastics are recycled, and Environment Minister Penny Simmonds walked us through the proposal to merge the existing voluntary schemes, Agrecovery and Plasback, into a single national system. Now, after industry feedback, the national system has the green light, and the Minister joins the Blue Shed Diary once again to give us all the details.

In July, the EPA aka Environmental Protection Authority announced a ban on the insecticide – chlorpyrifos. It has been the primary weapon against pests like grass grub, nysius, and Argentine Stem weevil but it was also dangerous to everything and everyone around it. So, what can farmers and growers do for pest control now that Chlorpyrifos is banned. For those answers we turn toPGG Wrightson Technical Specialist for Agronomy Joseph Watts.

PGG Wrightson has a long-standing commitment to Research & Development. We run some 70 scientific trials around the country each year. So, when a very unique plot of land – the Geelan Family Trust Research Station in Hastings – becameavailable, we leapt at the opportunity to have our very own dedicated R&D site. Joining the conversation is the man running the new PGG Wrightson Research & Development Station, Extension Advisor Marcus Fitzsimmons.

Let's talk about poo. Specifically, sheep poo and why our next guest is asking farmers to send it in the mail. Why?Facial Eczema. To get an understanding of how FE impacts New Zealand, the woman behind this study is principal scientist at Beef & Lamb NZ, Dr Cara Brosnahan.

It’s not often we talk about bug guts or meet people interested in getting squashed flies and bug splatters through the mail, but Richard and Aimme want to know all about it. University of Auckland Geneticists, Dr Aimee van der Reis and Dr Richard O’Rorke, are using the dead bugs left on your license plate to unlock clues about insect biodiversity inAotearoa New Zealand. This citizen scientist project relies on Kiwis driving about the motu and the dead bugs they collect on their licence plates.

Nearly half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture – methane and nitrous oxide. On a strictly per capita basis, we have the highest methane emissions in the world. In 2019, as part of the zero-carbon act, targets were set to reduce these biogenic methane emissions by 24 to 27 percent by the year 2050, but now the Government has announced a reduction in those targets to 14 to 24 percent. Many from the primary industry welcomed this change, while others say these new lower targets will make it harder for New Zealand to meet its climate change obligations andpotentially affect the sector’s trading viability internationally.  Given the impact these decisions have on the primary sector, the Blue Shed Diary is getting perspectives from two different professors.Joining the conversation is James Renwick, Professor of Physical Geography at Victoria University Wellington and Climate Change Commissioner from 2019 to 2024. Heis one of the voices raising concerns about the Government's latest move.

A landmark climate deal was struck in 2019 – the bipartisan legislation ‘Climate Change Response Act’ or Zero Carbon Act – which sets a legal framework for New Zealand to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Biogenic methane was the exception – with its targets set for a 24 to 47 percent reduction. In October, the Government announced they are reducing those methane targets to 14 to 24 percent. Federated Farmers and others in the primary industry welcomed the policy, while others say this will not only make it harder for New Zealand to meet its climate change obligations but also threatens the primary sector’s ability to trade internationally. Given the impact these decisions will have on the primary sector, the Blue Shed Diary is getting perspectives from two different professors. Joining the conversation is David Frame, Professor of Physics at the University of Canterbury and former head of the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute.

PGG Wrightson recently published our Sustainability Report and Climate Statement in which we lay out the activities of PGG Wrightson over the last year to become more sustainable and reduce our climate impact. At the helm of this report and PGG Wrightson’s Sustainability Programme is ourSustainability Manager, Michael Anderson. He joins the conversation now.

Agronomists play a huge role in the success of crops for farmers and growers. But what you may not know is there is no qualification requirement for agronomists. None. Meanwhile, overseas anyone calling themselves an agronomist must hold a recognised qualification. PGG Wrightson decided to do something about this and worked with Primary ITO to launch the very first, NZQA-approved programme and qualification. The first tranche of eight students is currently enrolled. Joining the conversation is Fruitfed Supplies Technical Team Specialist for Subtropicals – Elaine Gould.

PGG Wrightson’s history extends all the way back to the 1840's when Nathaniel Levin established Levin & Co in Wellington. Since then, the company we now know has had many names and we would be surprised if there is a single farmer orgrower in New Zealand’s history who has not interacted with some form of PGG Wrightson. Big changes and consolidations in the 1990s set the stage for the PGG Wrightson of today. In 2005, Pyne Gould Guinness merged with Wrightson Ltd to become PGW. This October, we are celebrating our 20th birthday and 20 years of supporting and supplying our primary sectors.Joining the conversation and to help us to celebrate this momentous occasion is PGG Wrightson Chief ExecutiveStephen Guerin.

The future is now. Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, even on our farms and orchards. There is a lot of potential and excitement around incorporating AI practices into the Primary Sector, but also pitfalls. To walk us through the future of the technology, and its role with the Primary Sector we turn to AgriTech New Zealand. Joining the conversation is Agritech's Growth and Transformation Manager Kylie Horomia.

It is September and that means the Cash for Communities programme is open. PGG Wrightson, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, and selected agchem suppliers donate $1 for every tonne of qualifying fertiliser or 10 litres of agchem products between September and November to charity. PGG Wrightson customers nominate their preferred charities, and since the start of the programme in 2011, we have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to rural charities and groups. This year, with your help, we are on track to hit an important milestone: $1 million! These donations make a huge difference to our communities and the work they do. One of the recipients of the Cash for Communities programme is the Rural Support Trust who work with farmers and growers across the country.  Joining the conversation, is Jonathan Bell, Hawkes Bay Area Coordinator for the Rural Support Trust.You can take part in Cash for Communities at PGG Wrightson. from now, until the end of November. For every tonne of qualifying fertiliser or 10 litres of select agchem products purchased, $1 goes to the Cash for Communities programme. If you have a charity you would like to nominate, head to www.cashforcommunities.co.nz for a nomination form and list of qualifying products.

In August, New Zealand crowned the Young Winemaker of the Year. PGG Wrightson's Fruitfed Supplies is a proud sponsor, and winners of the Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker earn a trip to Burgundy, France and whole lot more. The winner this year made four previous attempts at the crown before finding success in 2025. Joining the conversation is Ruby McManaway, who by day is a Production Winemaker for Yealands Estate Winery in Blenheim.

People around the world love to drink our wine. An impressive statistic from New Zealand winegrowers shows just how much: 81 glasses of New Zealand wine were purchased every second last year. Wine is a billion-dollar industry for Aotearoa and is a huge part of our Primary Sector. Advocating for this industry in New Zealand Winegrowers - the national organisation for our country's grape and wine sector. Joining the conversation has been at its helm since its inception 2002, New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan.

Each year, young fruit and vegetable growers from around the country compete for the title of Young Grower of the Year. The competitors are drawn from the winners of the seven regional competitions. This September, after a series of tough challenges, Phoebe Scherer was crowned the 2025 winner. Working full-time at Apata as Technical Lab Manager, and winning the Bay of Plenty regional competition, she won the national title. Joining the conversation is Phoebe Scherer.

Horticulture is a major part of our primary sector. With over 4,000 growers and industry value of over $7.5B, the fruits and vegetables we grow in New Zealand are enjoyed here and around the world. But like the rest of the primary industry, growers face challenges bringing their product tomarket. Joining the conversation is Kate Scott, Horticulture New Zealand CEO who is helping our growers negotiate these challenges.