Senior Farmers Weekly journalist Richard Rennie is subbing in for Bryan this week. 

He talks to Harriet Mellish, general manager for Australia's AgriFutures GrowAG initiative based in Wagga Wagga. Harriet outlines the opportunities GrowAg provides for Kiwi agritech startups to tap into,opening them up to a far wider funding and partnership arena at a time when NZ's own funding environment is tight.

Then, the problem of trying to balance human welfare and animal welfare when it comes to livestock trucking has been highlighted by Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick. He talks to Richard about how the regulations can leave drivers, and their animals, stranded when alloted driving hours have been used up before a mandatory rest is required. Jason outlines the problems this presents, and how some practical, clear-eyed thinking could help solve it.

And, he catches up with fellow senior journalist Neal Wallace on a couple of the stories he has been covering this week. Neal takes a look at the dire shortage of livestock available for processing this winter, what it means for plant shutdowns and markets. He also reports on the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's terse words for environmentalists, calling for solutions not problems when it comes to realistic development to help NZ pay its way in the world.