Cosmo Kentish Barnes

Country Life is a weekly programme on RNZ covering issues and stories of particular concern to the rural community - and also of interest to a general audience. Cosmo Kentish-Barnes, Country Life's… Audio

Ecological protection goes hand in hand with farming at a 550 hectare coastal property on Banks Peninsula. Cosmo Kentish-Barnes meets Oashore farm manager Kate Whyte, who has safeguarded the last… Audio, Gallery

Confidence in the beef industry were backed up by prices at the first of the season bull sales in Gisborne this week, while Marlborough farmers jumped for joy receiving a good 70 to 80 millimetres of… Audio

In Waikato feed supplies on dairy farms have dwindled considerably in the past couple of weeks and farmers are feeling the pinch. In the South Island conditions are extremely dry and most available… Audio

The Canterbury A&P Show is an annual event that showcases the very best of New Zealand farming and rural life. The three day event attracted more than 100,000 visitors this year and received over… Audio

High winds have made working outside miserable in much of the country. Audio

A cold blast has hit many North Island areas this week, while in the South the southerly change brought some pockets of hail and temperatures took a dive. Audio

If it's a fine weekend in North Canterbury Leigh Love will be out looking for fossils. His most important find to date was in 2009, when he uncovered the bones of a previously unknown species of… Audio

Cosmo Kentish-Barnes joins a field trip in Canterbury that showcases four Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programmes. The aim of the PGP is to support companies in the primary sector to grow through… Audio

Robert and Robyn Guyton have planted a 'Food Forest' around their house in Riverton, Southland so no lawns need to be mowed and in season, the forest is dripping with organic fruit and nuts. The… Audio

The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust was formed in 2008 in Waitati, Otago and provides support for transition initiatives such as Waitati Edible Gardens, a low oil commuting group and the Blueskin… Audio

A selection of agricultural news from the week. For further rural news go to the Radio New Zealand website. Audio

The North Island is not out of the drought but things are looking more comfortable following smatterings of rain, while in the South grapes are being harvested while the sun shines. Audio

Cosmo Kentish-Barnes visits Beverley Forrester in North Canterbury and checks out a cob cottage that her husband's great great grandparents lived in during the 1890's. Audio

A strong contingent of Irish agricultural equipment firms were at the National Fieldays this year. They talk about their wares. Audio

The North Island has had a frosty week while in the South Island rams have been busy on high country farms. Audio

Two weeks ago 700 people gathered for a gala dinner at Sky City in Auckland, celebrating the success of 36 finalists in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards. The competition gave away over $140,000 worth of… Audio