Irrigation
New direction for traditional farm
With fields of crops, shimmering solar panels and several hundred Wagyu beef cattle, young farmer Ryan Cockburn is changing the landscape on his grandparents' coastal property. Audio
New direction for traditional farm
From regenerative agriculture and Japanese beef cattle to solar panels that run the irrigation pumps, Ryan Cockburn is changing the farming landscape on his grandparents farm near Ashburton. Audio
Cropping's in the blood for Canterbury farmers
The running of a mid-Canterbury cropping farm has transitioned from father to son, but it's still hard for Syd Worsfold to step back and watch Earl take over the reins of the family's Greendale… Audio
Banking on water from the Opuha Dam
A farmer-owned earth dam near Fairlie provides reliable irrigation for 16,000 hectares of farmland in South Canterbury. It also has a seven megawatt power station that contributes to the local… Audio
Why aren't we encouraging more rain water harvesting?
With water restrictions being placed on Auckland and Northland due to drought, should urban dwellers be storing rainwater for irrigation and non-potable use when the weather gets dry? Audio
Canterbury pea growers pleased with crop
Peas are an important part of the Christmas day meal for many New Zealanders. We grow a lot of them too, about 60,000 tonnes a year and most of them are grown in Canterbury. Lincoln arable farmer… Audio, Gallery
Undercover Cows
Mid-Canterbury arable farmer Tim Cookson has recently returned from a trip to the US where he was following his son's under-16 school rugby tour. During a break in the schedule he visited a large… Audio
Multiple income streams flow from hill country farm
Diversification is the keyword for Mt Somers Station owners David and Kate Acland. As well as farming cross-bred sheep, beef cattle and deer on the 3800-hectare South Canterbury hill property, the… Audio
Solving NZ's freshwater crisis
Looking at freshwater as a silo rather than part of an interconnected and complex environment is preventing us from tackling the grave degradation of our environment form an industrial farming model… Audio
Forage Herbs for Farms
Ruapuna farmers Grant and Jan Early are working with Dairy NZ on a six-year research project to reduce nitrate leaching from soil and degrading water quality. Audio
Lait of the Land
Canterbury dairy farmers Wendy and Lance Main are former 'townies'. After working their way up the share-milking ladder, the couple now produce premium milk on their own 250 hectares near Oxford. Audio
"Suck it and see" avo water consents a worry
Northland is poised to become the avocado capital of New Zealand after growers north of Kaitaia received the green light for irrigation. But DOC is considering challenging them in the Environment… Audio
Irrigation body confident of big projects despite govt cuts
Irrigation New Zealand is confident that an end to government subsidies will not spell the end of large-scale irrigation projects.
Irrigation NZ confident despite end of subsidies
The irrigation industry is confident an end to government subsidies will not spell the end of large scale projects. Irrigation New Zealand is holding its biennial conference this week and looking at… Audio
Too late for world renowned fresh water springs?
It's feared a proposed conservation order to protect Golden Bay's world-renowned freshwater springs won't come quickly enough to stop local farmers taking more water from the aquifer that feeds it… Audio
Plea for govt to keep irrigation subsidies
The new government is being urged not to follow through on its promise to cancel any new loans to irrigation schemes. Conon Young reports. Audio
Petition on mass irrigation presented to government
Almost 70,000 people have signed a petition calling for the government not to back away from its commitment to reduce mass irrigation.
Scrapping irrigation subsidies 'shortsighted'
The new policies announced by the incoming government this week are a mixed bag for the rural sector, Federated Farmers says.
Pleased to meat you
Farming couple Duncan Smith and Annabel Tapley-Smith took over the butcher's shop in the central Hawkes Bay town of Waipawa this July. They're selling beef and lamb from their farm just down the road… Audio
North Otago water scheme expansion finally turned on
The $57 million pipeline expansion of the North Otago Irrigation Company's project has been turned on this week, a year later than planned.