Rural
Christchurch City Council reveals $5 million deal for A and P show
The Christchurch City Council has revealed the details of a $5 million deal to protect the future of the New Zealand Agricultural Show - an annual fixture on Canterbury's spring calendar. Reporter… Audio
Christchurch City Council confirms deal to save A and P Show
The Christchurch Council has confirmed a multimillion-dollar deal to save the future of its famous agriculture event, the A & P Show. Christchurch Councillor Sam MacDonald spoke to Morning Report. Audio
Forest and Bird takes legal action over hunting agreement
Conservationists are butting heads about the best way to control Fiordland's wapiti elk populations, now the subject of a legal stoush.
New import rules to avoid repeat of hepatitis A outbreak
Frozen berries coming into New Zealand will have to meet new import rules, in a bid to improve food safety.
Farm stays an extra money earner for rural properties
Last week the Global Agritourism Network and AgritourismNZ ran a webinar which included people from 50 countries. One of the presenters was Amber Tyrrell, who owns and operates Valley Views Glamping… Audio
Mandarin prices fall due to soft demand
The quality is high this year but the price growers are being paid is lower, one grower says.
Injuries from ram attack like being hit by a car - animal expert
After two people died this week in an apparent ram attack, New Zealand animal behaviour researcher says male farm animals can be dangerous - especially now, during breeding season.
Mt Taranaki ranger Tāne Houston - 'we let the forest talk for itself'
Country Life takes a walk with mountain ranger Tāne Houston through the forest on the slopes of Mt Taranaki. We head up the volcano along a trap line, resetting bait, foraging and chatting about the… Video, Audio
'She's got everything you want in a cow'
A 40-litres-of-milk-a-day Friesian called Evie has been Supreme Champion Holstein at the New Zealand A&P Agricultural Show for two years in a row. Cosmo Kentish-Barnes meets the farmer behind the cow.
…The diverse experiences of farming
A lot of urban dwellers get their information about farming from supermarkets, new research suggests. A Massey University research project surveyed over 1300 urban and rural people about their views… Audio
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