The Country - Sir John Kirwan edition

Sir John Kirwan. Photo / Greg Bowker

Today on The Country we catch up with Sir John Kirwan for some advice for farmers dealing with the pressure of Mycoplasma bovis.

On with the show:

Sir John Kirwan:

With some farmers and rural folk really struggling under the pressure of M.bovis, financial pressure and isolation, we thought we'd enlist the services of man who's been knighted for his services to mental health. [His message to farmers is to talk, don't be afraid to seek help and to get an interest off the farm. The answer is not to just work harder!]

Jacinda Ardern:

The PM ponders the Budget, Bovis, babies and a royal wedding.

Dr Tim Mackle:

The chief executive of Dairy NZ comes up with some strategies to combat and mitigate the challenge of M.bovis.

John Wilson:

Fonterra's Chairman reflects on a challenging year for dairy farmers that's finished strongly with a good autumn, a positive final GDT auction (+1.9%, WMP + 0.2%) for the 2017-18 season, a depreciating currency and the prospect of a good forecast payout for 2018-19.

Michael Lee:

Is an Invercargill-based agribusiness auditing specialist with our accounting partners Crowe Horwath. Today he warns farmers of the perils of moving dairy stock for winter grazing and Gypsy Day plus we talk about a great fundraiser for the Westpac Rescue Chopper in Southland.

Listen below: