On the Farm

Hot temperatures have seen pasture growth bolt away over much of the North Island. In the South it's been warm too. Farmers in Canterbury have been planting kale for grazing next winter and hopefully… Read more Audio

In Bay of Plenty pasture's been bolting away and the good quality feed's been putting weight on cattle and lambs. Dairy farmers have finally put their silage wagons away in Canterbury and yearling… Read more Audio

In Waikato asparagus production is down significantly because of cooler wetter conditions this spring. Apple orchards in the Nelson/Motueka region are coming to the end of flowering. There has been… Read more Audio

In Northland it has been an exceptional week in terms of pasture growth on the back of some good rain. Canterbury has had another variable week of weather with only a couple of good days in which to… Read more Audio

Warm wet weather in the North Island will give grass growth a boost and the West Coast of the South Island could do the chance to dry out! Read more Audio

This week unsettled spring weather included damaging hail in Hawkes Bay, hard frosts in Marlborough and it's been wetter than wet on the West Coast.  Read more Audio

Blustery winds, spring chills, a touch of frost and for some a little too much rain. It's been a mixed bag, in other words typical spring weather, around the country this week. Read more Audio

The West Coast had a good dollop or rain this week but generally there's been fine spring weather around the country which has got grass pulsing and helped lamb survival rates. With buds bursting on… Read more Audio

Gisborne has had the rain it's been waiting for. Hoggets have been going through the shearing sheds in Central Otago. Lambing is underway and a minus seven degree frost on Monday had the babies… Read more Audio

Rain has been welcomed in Hawkes Bay and in Otago farmers would like ewes to hold onto their lambs until the threat of snow passes. Read more Audio

Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers are finishing off winter pruning and having the end of season tidy up. With good weather across Canterbury and winter feed crops mostly finished, tractors have been… Read more Audio

Vegetable crops are on a bit of a go-slow in the Pukekohe district because it's been so wet and in Southland farmers are doing the rounds to check for cast ewes... Read more Audio

In Waikato a dairy consultant says it's been the best winter he can remember. A good week of weather in Canterbury has allowed cropping farmers to get on with planting spring barley. Read more Audio

It's been wet and warm in northern parts of the North Island. Lambs are appearing in Canterbury and calving is in full swing on dairy farms. Read more Audio

Pukekohe has had near perfect winter growing conditions and vegetables are in heavy supply. Pruning is in full swing in Marlborough's vineyards while on high country properties merinos are on winter… Read more Audio

King Country farmers are spreading out ewes into lambing paddocks and are innoculating them before lambing. Agricultural work has ground to a halt this week while farmers wait for things to dry out in… Read more Audio

The Pukekohe district in Auckland's south has had an unsettled week with rain and showers. Temperatures have been higher than expected in mid-July which means that crops are growing steadily. Central… Read more Audio

Bay of Plenty farmers have had a kind winter, it is not too wet and they have very good pasture covers. Calving should begin in earnest next week. It has been another stunning week in Canterbury with… Read more Audio

Farmers in Northland are in good spirits because they've hardly had to put on their wet weather gear. Canterbury's had another amazing weather week with the temperature gauge nudging 20 degrees on… Read more Audio

Gisborne has had good weather for picking mandarins but the frosty starts have growers nervous. Wintering stock is going well in Canterbury with no mud and great utilisation of feed. Read more Audio

Frosts have catapulted the central North Island into winter. In Southland farmers are putting sheep onto crops but crutching has been held up by rain. Read more Audio

A selection of farmers tell us about conditions in their part of the country and how they feel about farming. Waikato, King Country, Taupo, Canterbury, West Coast, Central Otago. Read more Audio

Wet muddy conditions have halted work on some market gardens near Pukekohe and in the South Island, the West Coast's had its first winter frost. Read more Audio

Rain in Waikato has been just what the doctor ordered. Pasture is growing but moisture is really needed to wet up the subsoil. It has been another stunning week in Canterbury with warm and mostly dry… Read more Audio

Waikato dairy farms and cows are looking a lot better now than they were a month ago, and West Coast dairy cows are getting feed supplements to keep them topped up. Read more Audio

High winds in Manawatu have seen debris blown all over farms and, in the South Island, RSE workers are busy pruning grapevines. Read more Audio

The kumara harvest is 95 percent complete and growers have had a dream run. In the South Island pasture growth in Marlborough is up 30 to 40 percent on usual for the time of year. Read more Audio

Taranaki has had cold southerly winds and heaps of rain. Dairy farmers are mainly still milking but will dry off earlier than they had hoped. Pasture growth remains higher than normal in Canterbury… Read more Audio

Confident sheep and beef farmers are paying top money and have out-bid foresters for land on the North Island's East Coast. In the South Island apple harvesting's almost finished in the Nelson Motueka… Read more Audio

It's been a marvellous week for harvesting kiwifruit in Bay of Plenty. On Marlborough hill farms calf weaning has finished and ewes are on a fast rotation while the ram is out. Read more Audio