Rural
Rural News Wrap
This year's annual Canterbury A&P show has been canned, while there's mixed results at the meatworks where venison sales have bounced back but lamb prices remain at historical lows, and new research… Audio
Country Life for Friday April 19 2024
This week Country Life is out with a mountain ranger foraging and checking traps on the slopes of Mt Taranaki and meets the farmer behind a champion milker. Also, a Massey University research project… Audio
Salmon farm goes green with tuk-tuks
A salmon farm says using electric tuk-tuks on its canals has been so successful, they are going to get more.
One of the world's most invasive weeds discovered on Waikato farms
Velvetleaf can grow up to 2.5 metres tall, it has large, heart-shaped leaves with pointy tips and velvety hairs, and small, buttery yellow flowers.
Low lamb prices could see more farmers planting trees
"Hardly any" sheep and beef farmers are breaking even and many will be looking for other uses for their land, agricultural consultant says.
Bird flu: what is it, and why has it been found in US dairy cows?
There are few places in the world the high pathogenicity bird flu has not yet reached, and scientists say the world is in an animal pandemic.
Rural Riders spins farmers' wheels - 'I smile a lot here'
Rural Riders is a chance for farmers to get off the farm on a bike, spin some yarns and focus on the dips and the jumps rather than the weather and the milk price. Audio
Rural News Wrap
A round-up of the week's agricultural news with RNZ rural news reporter Sally Murphy. Audio
Eric Fa'anoi - a view from both sides of the fence
Eric Fa'anoi has gone from helping farmers protect the environment to being a farmer himself. A visit to his ancestral village in Samoa also helped this young man from Porirua unearth his interest in… Audio
Country Life for Friday 12 April 2024
This week on Country Life, farmers and growers around the country have been getting together to hear about research which might help New Zealand agriculture adapt to future challenges. The team also… Audio
Jump in productive land being used for urban development
Fruit and vegetable prices could rise by 58 percent because of of a drop in productive land, Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ research suggests.
Farmers have 'fingers crossed' for rain after driest summer on record
Rain forecast for Thursday cannot come soon enough for drought-stricken South Island farmers.
Imam dairy farmer fined $200,000 over migrant exploitation
One of the workers raised the alarm with MBIE.
NZ Post to end rural parcel and newspaper deliveries on weekends
NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main said Saturday services to rural areas were not commercially viable.
From techie to market gardener - 'Getting made redundant really pushed me'
Morgan Kane moved back home when she lost her job at a tech start up. It was the start of her move, with her husband, into market gardening. She and her parents welcome the advantages of… Audio
Sheds and cupboards cleaned out for Banks Peninsula fundraiser
Every year on Easter Saturday, unwanted bric-a-brac goes under the hammer at a huge Paddy's Market and White Elephant in Akaroa. It's run by the Akaroa and Bays Lions Club, which raises thousands of… Audio
Brothers turn rivals as they compete for top farmer title
Brothers Callum and Archie Woodhouse have been named the top two finalists in this year's East Coast Young Farmer of the Year competition. We catch up with the siblings as they prepare for the next… Audio
On the Farm - a wrap of conditions around the country
Rain is still needed in many parts of the country. Hay and baleage is being trucked around to ensure stock get the feed they need. The grape harvest is well through in Central Otago with good yields… Audio
Country Life for Friday 5 April 2024
This week Country Life meets a young woman who lost her job in the tech industry and turned things around by getting her hands in the soil and starting up a market garden. The team also heads to Banks… Audio
Sheep race set to be a traffic-stopper in Te Kuiti
The popular Running of the Sheep is returning to Te Kuiti's main street on Saturday.