Farming
How About Them Apples ?
We find out what it takes to produce some of New Zealand's tastiest apples by heading inside Plant & Food Research where they help Prevar create new apple and pear varieties Audio
'Back to the land': Commune still going strong after 50 years
Rainbow Valley is located on regenerating whenua at the end of a gravel road near Takaka. Several families share the land and help run a small farm for the benefit of the whole community. Audio
Rural News Wrap for 7 March 2025
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector Audio
Country Life Friday 7 March 2025
This week Country Life takes a look at the process of breeding new varieties of apples, gets an update on the grape harvest and visits a commune in Golden Bay. Audio
Grape picking starts soon at organic Waipara Valley vineyard
A pre-harvest update from Greystone Wines, host recently to the inaugural Underground soil, food and farming festival, with viticulturalist and farming advisor, Nick Gill.
Why is New Zealand garlic so expensive?
Someone once said shallots are for babies, garlic is for heroes, but you may have to pay heroic prices for the home grown stuff. Audio
Concerns immigration policies eroding RSE workers' rights - unions
There were close to 9000 workers in Aotearoa under the RSE scheme. Audio
A kangaroo 'crash' is coming - should they be shot before millions starve?
A regular population boom and bust cycle causes millions of kangaroos to starve, but while some urge proactive culling as the solution animal rights groups have condemned the "barbaric" practice.
Could small-scale farms be the best way to feed the country?
Alison Bentley is a small-scale farmer with big ideas on how smaller farms can help solve the growing problem of food insecurity in New Zealand.
Country Life: Conditions on the farm
Grapes are being picked in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, Taranaki's in drought and the hop harvest is about to start in Tasman. Audio
Could small-scale farms be the best way to feed the country?
Seven hectares can produce a "magnificent" amount of food. So says small-scale farmer and Kellogg scholar Alison Bentley who's done just that, growing beef cattle, hazelnuts and a wide range of fruit… Audio
Farmer rapt with edible bale netting
Plastic free paddocks have become a reality thanks to Grant Lightfoot. The Orepuke deer farmer, who invented a non-polluting baleage wrap that animals can eat, has just received his first shipment of… Audio
Wairarapa town hosts annual Golden Shears competition
Golden Shears President Trish Stevens shares her love of the wool industry and which heats the one to watch at this year's shearing and woolhandling championship event in Masterton. Audio
On the Farm - a wrap of conditions around the country
A round-up of conditions on farms and orchards around the country. Audio
