Today on The Country, Jamie Mackay spoke to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor about the Government's decision to ban live animal exports.
On with the show:
Jacinda Ardern:
The PM pondered live cattle exports, expanding the travel bubble and MIQ spaces for much-needed horticulture workers and whether knitting in Parliament is acceptable.
Damien O'Connor:
The Minister of Agriculture defended the government's decision to phase out the live animal export trade saying it "won't hurt our economy".
Dr Jacqueline Rowarth:
One of New Zealand's leading farming academics aired her forthright opinions on the demise of the live animal export trade and why we should dismiss the use of agri-chemicals at our peril.
Andy Thompson and Craig Wiggins:
Today's panel chewed the farming fat over the issues of the day - live cattle export, declining West Coast population and the big dry across the Alps in Canterbury.
Listen below:
An ambitious project to rid Southland of pests has been put on hold amid financial issues.