Farming Conditions

Farmers In Waikato say they don't want any more rain for some time as July had double the usual amount. Calving is well underway In Southland and cows are munching their way through beet and swede… Audio

Dairy farmers near Tauranga say their paddocks are drying off nicely during drier weather this week and in Southland ewes are being moved onto crops before lambing next month. Audio

Around Taumaranui it's been time to get firewood stacked in the shed between showers. Scanning's done and lambing starts about mid August so the ewes are being moved to their set paddocks. Calving is… Audio

Wet rules around the country, with good dumpings of snow on higher altitude South Island properties. Audio

Sheep and beef farmers In Northland are dealing with sodden ground and surface water up to seven centimetres high. Southland farmers say they missed the worst of this week's bad weather and some early… Audio

Northland soils are extremely wet so dairy farmers are continuing to stand cows off pastures where possible. Central Otago farmers are shifting breaks and feeding out stock and shearing is underway on… Audio

A farmer on the East Coast has just finished pregnancy scanning ewes, while some of the very early flocks are starting to lamb. Cows in Southland have settled on winter crops and sheep are break… Audio

Many farms in the North Island are drenched after all the rain and heavy money's being paid at Canterbury bull sales. Audio

Ewe pregnancy scanning results are down in King Country but well up in Wairarapa and some farmers have stopped looking at the rain gauge in the Nelson region, it's been so wet. Audio

Hawke's Bay had a 23 degree day on June the first and Balclutha farmers have been reaching for their stubbies - it's been very warm there too. Audio

There's been a bit of badly needed rain in King Country and it has warmed up again after a very cold week last week. Farmers are getting into winter mode in Canterbury with stock starting on winter… Audio

The citrus harvest continues in Gisborne and finally rain has fallen in Waikato. Audio

Frosty temperatures nipped the heels of many North Island regions this week while in the South Island much needed rain fell in Marlborough and Canterbury. Audio

In Hawkes Bay a lamb finisher currently has 27,000 labms on his farm, about 5,000 more than last year, because there's so much feed. Audio

It's been another great week in Canterbury with weather as good as you could expect for the time of year. Conditions are excellent for newly establishing seed and grain crops. Audio

Gisborne vegetable growers are sick of being blamed for food price hikes which means people are chosing less healthy food options, and grass growth in mid and south Canterbury is exceptional for this… Audio

Little has changed inside Gilchrist's Store in Oturehua since it first opened in 1902. New goods share the old shelves with retail collectables dating back to the turn of the century. Helen and John… Audio

The East Coast suffered more slips and roading damage from former Cyclone Fili, but nearly all other regions of New Zealand would rather welcome some rain - just not too much. Audio

It's been a bit of a slow start for the early green kiwifruit harvest in Bay of Plenty with warm nights and mornings and some Southland dairy farmers are drying their herds off well over a month early… Audio

Stock are getting through broken fences on sodden farms in the North Island and gobbling feed normally shut up for the lean winter months while in Southland and parts of Otago no substantial rain has… Audio