Carol Stiles

The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre in Palmerston North is funding research into reducing methane emissions from animals. Audio

Many areas of the North Island had thundery heavy down pours this week, while in the South Island, the West Coast has been unseasonably hot and dry and Canterbury's pastoral farmers are smiling. Audio

A group of scientists studying the young animals' behaviour have found that goats can develop their own accents, disproving claims that their voices are entirely genetic. Audio

Export blueberry prices are much stronger at last, but avocados are not doing so well. In the South Island temperatures have been cooler and Southland farmers are still recovering from the drought… Audio

Raglan Area School has a surfing academy which attracts some of the country's top young surfers. Audio

At summer there are plenty of school holiday programmes around - many involve arts and crafts, a trip to the movies, a swim at the local pool, games and maybe a bush walk. Audio

Barbeques are a staple in summer. It's so easy to feed a crowd by slapping on some pieces of steak and some sausage. Audio

New Zealanders tend to think we have barbecuing down to a fine art - but there are others who also pride themselves on their efforts over a hot grill. Audio

It seems the little blueberry is gaining in popularity. Audio

Jill Brandon works in an asparagus pack house during asparagus season and loves travelling around NZ and Australia doing seasonal work with her husband. They're both retired now, which means she has… Audio

The Country Life team finally get to eat Christmas dinner. Audio

More than 12 and a half thousand people turned out to the first ever Equidays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. It showcased the entire equine sector, and was a chance to buy gear, attend clinics run by… Audio

A classic recording from 1951, of a farmer's wife from Wanganui who shares her tale of Christmas on the farm Audio

The Pyes Pa nursery near Tauranga is a family business that grows more than a hundred thousand seedlings a year. It's expanded rapidly from taking up a corner of a dairy farm, to two properties as… Audio

The penultimate adventure of the Country Life team. Audio

The North Island had a hot and sunny end to the week and conditions have been near perfect for hay making in Otago. Audio

The Country Life team continue their epic movie trailer adventure. Audio

Edelweiss Butchery has a weekly stand at the Feilding Farmers' market and it also offers a home kill service. Audio

There has been a lot of rain in the North Island again, holding up docking for some, and in the South Island snow hit the McKenzie country and floods hit Canterbury. Audio

A good dose of sun this week has melted the snow just in time for lambing . Calving's in full swing around the country. Audio