The Country Today - farming and footy edition

It's the whole show in one go! Jamie Mackay is flying solo today as Dom has skived off again. Our host is using this opportunity to play a few New Zealand hits from 1988 while he tries not to pass out with excitement about the rugby this weekend.

On with the show: Lisa Murray is up first with her Met Service Weather report. Winter is on the way and the big dry in North Canterbury is not going away.

Mark Townshend is one of New Zealand's leading dairy farmers and a former Chiefs board member so Jamie takes the opportunity to talk farming and footy with him.

It's the final round of Super Rugby tomorrow so Jamie catches up with Joe Wheeler and Damian McKenzie to talk nicknames and product placement.

Former president of the New Zealand Federation of Wool Merchants Jim Paterson goes in to bat for old golfers!

Politics with Barry Soper. Our political correspondent ponders the horror in Nice, a new PM across the English Channel, Joe Biden's visit and John Key jumping the gun on chilled meat to China.

Finally Grant Nisbett has the $100 TAB sports bet of the week which sees us backing both the Chiefs and Highlanders, 7 and under or the draw, the proceeds of which are going to the IHC Calf Scheme.

Have a listen to The Country in the Soundcloud embed below: