Tune in to the latest season of Feed for Thought with Wade Bell and Matt Dalley as they sit down with farmers, researchers, agronomists, and nutritionists from New Zealand and abroad and dive into deep-rooted discussions.

Our goal is to keep the information practical and relevant and to prompt thoughts, discussions, and actions that improve the profitability and sustainability of farming. We hope to deliver cutting-edge information, tips, and tricks and leave you with some “Feed for Thought.”

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Season 4 Episodes

Episode 67: The future in arable with David Birkett

How do you keep an arable farming business profitable in an environment of changing markets, tightening regulations, and unpredictable weather? In this episode, Matt and Wade are joined by David Birkett, Canterbury arable farmer, to explore how he uses data, irrigation, and a simplified cropping system to make better decisions and build resilience into his operation. David shares how his rotation balances productivity with practical constraints like harvest timing, soil traffic, and seasonal risk.

The team unpack David’s approach to nutrient management, including organic matter testing, nitrogen mass budgeting, and simple on-farm strip trials to validate decisions. They also dive into precision agriculture, discussing the value of yield monitoring, satellite imagery, and variable rate applications, and why understanding the numbers remains critical for decision-making. David also shares insights from his governance roles with FAR and Federated Farmers, covering seed certification, traceability, biosecurity, research funding, and the future of New Zealand’s arable sector. 

Episode 66: The science behind the seed with Andrew Powell, Head of Portfolio and Research

What goes into developing the maize hybrids and forage products farmers rely on every season? In this episode, Matt and Wade are joined by Andrew Powell, Head of Portfolio & Research, to explore the journey from paddock to portfolio and the years of research, testing, and decision-making behind every bag of Pioneer seed. Drawing on his upbringing on a Taranaki dairy farm and a career spanning forage, sales, marketing, portfolio management, and seed production, Andrew shares how Pioneer develops products for New Zealand farmers.

The team unpack the realities of modern plant breeding, from global germplasm sourcing and predictive breeding technologies through to the extensive testing processes used to identify products suited to New Zealand conditions. They explain how farmer feedback, research, and seed production work together to shape the hybrids and forages available years into the future.

Andrew dives into the challenges of balancing breeding priorities, why genetic trade-offs are unavoidable, and what it takes to deliver products that perform in the paddock. If you've ever wondered how new hybrids make it to market and what the future of seed development looks like, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Episode 65: From vet to farm systems: Introducing Dr Grant Matthews

Dr Grant Matthews, our new Farm Systems Manager for the South Island, joins us in this episode to bring his perspective to a question many dairy farmers are asking: how do we build farm systems that stay productive, simple, and resilient?

Grant shares his background and the shift from large-animal veterinary work into dairy nutrition and farm systems, explaining why focusing on what goes into the cow can change everything downstream. We get specific about the South Island, from Canterbury through to Southland, where maize silage and maize grain are becoming more realistic options thanks to shorter-maturity maize hybrids.

This episode serves as an introduction to Dr Grant Matthews and sets the scene for practical farm systems conversations. If you’re based in the South Island and interested in getting in touch with Grant, you can find his contact details at Find your local Pioneer rep - Pioneer.

Episode 64: High input, low complexity: Building a simple dairy system that performs

How do you run a high‑input dairy system that performs without burning out your people or drowning in feed complexity? In this episode, Matt and Wade are joined by Nic and Kirsty Verhoek to unpack how they’ve kept a high‑input system productive while simplifying the ration, lowering risk, and protecting time. They walk through the numbers behind the change, using Feed Checker to compare diets on ME, protein, and cost, and explain how they’ve built a stable maize‑based ration with flexible protein and energy on top. 

The team explain how lifting pasture and silage quality has helped protect milk production, how wearables and smartphone tools reduce key‑person risk and support better decision‑making, and what “no hungry minutes” really means for cow performance and condition. They also dive into liveweight targets, tightly controlled young stock growth, and the breeding and welfare decisions behind polled genetics and a future without bobby calves. 

Episode 63: Inside Lawwal Holsteins' 1,000 cow free stall barn: Dairy performance, data and detail

What does it take to run a 1,000‑cow free stall barn system in New Zealand while keeping milk solids, cow health, and staff workload on track? Matt and Wade sit down with Arjun Singh of Lawwal Holsteins to unpack the realities of running a large-scale free-stall operation, from feeding and effluent management to staff routines and daily decision-making. Arjun explains to achieve over 800 milk solids per cow from his autumn herd requires attention to detail, tight targets, and good data. 

The conversation covers how maize silage is the backbone of a TMR diet, rations are adjusted using milk dockets, milk urea, and wearable data. We also dive into Lawwal Holsteins' breeding strategy, combining North American genetics with NZ index lines.

Episode 62: From generations to innovation: Inside Stewart Dairylands' high performing dairy system

In the first official episode of Season 4, Matt and Wade sit down with James and Debbie Stewart of Stewart Dairylands, a fifth‑generation family farm that has been operating in Hiwinui (Manawatū-Whanganui region) for more than 120 years. Together the team explore the farm’s evolution from sheep and beef to a high‑performing dairy operation, with a strong focus on environmental stewardship, succession planning, and building a resilient future for the next generation. 

The Stewarts run an 850‑cow herd across linked platforms, utilising grass and silage, targeted in‑shed feeding, and a feed pad, all supported by smart technology such as collar systems, milk quality apps, and real‑time data to guide daily decisions. James and Debbie also share their involvement alongside family, with Hiwinui Country Estate, a boutique lodge offering luxury accommodation, events, and weddings. This episode delivers insights into how the Stewarts are shaping Stewart Dairylands in to forward‑thinking farming business. 

Welcome to season 4!

Season 4 is here, and we’re kicking things off by sharing what’s in store for the year ahead. Wade and Matt reflect on a huge Season 3, including the Rural Roadie - three weeks on the road, north to south, getting on farm and pulling up seats for awesome unplanned chats. This season, we’re leaning into real stories while building stronger synergy across the Feed for Thought podcast and our wider content. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear from you. Hit subscribe, share the podcast with a mate, and join us as we return to the airwaves.