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'It's getting scary now': Drought-hit farmers face harsh winter
The clock is ticking for drought-stricken farmers in the Central North Island who fear if they don't get rain soon, no grass will grow before winter bites. Audio
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Scientist looks to create unique 'NZ-flavoured' meat flake
27 minutes agoDr Renyu Zhang said it will be similar to traditional Japanese product Katsuobushi, but with a unique Kiwi twist.
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Blueberry boom: Market set to expand as confidence grows
17 Mar 2025Confidence in the future of blueberries as a crop will see the sector expand in coming years according to Blueberries New Zealand.
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'They get an honest answer, whether it's the good, the bad or the ugly'
14 Mar 2025Farmer Bradley Riggs has more than just the sheep to think about. He has high profile guests and celebrities staying at the farm's luxury lodge and enjoys…
Country headlines with summaries.
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'From red tape to red carpet': The new market possibilities in India
14 Mar 2025Geoff Allott, a former Black Cap and co-founder of exporting company Quality NZ, has been in the Indian market for 12 years.
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Southland show at 'the hole in the bush' still going strong after 85 years
16 Mar 2025Tuatapere's picturesque domain is transformed into a sensory celebration of rural life during the annual Waiau A&P Show.
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Meet NZ's national butchery team - the Sharp Blacks
14 Mar 2025The eight-strong team is heading to the World Butchers' Challenge in Paris later this month to represent New Zealand.
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Waikato farmers urged to watch for parasitic noodle-like weed
13 Mar 2025The yellow invasive plant grows in the shape of a messy circle and entwines itself around other plants.
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The women battling for excavator supremacy
13 Mar 2025History could be made at the National Excavator Operator Competition, where contests have had to dunk basketballs, pour tea, and scoop eggs in heavy machinery.
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Kiwi digger arm invention put through its paces
The digger arm for construction, horticultural and tree work will be put to the test at the country's largest rural field days.
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'Paddocks black with ducks' - Farmers call for mallard ducks to be classified as pests
13 Mar 2025An explosion of ducks is causing big problems for farmers as they are munching through crops.
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Hunters donate venison to needy families in Southland
14 Mar 2025Foodbanks in Southland are having kilos of venison delivered for free, along with recipes suggesting how to cook it.
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Caution urged for dairy farmers set for earnings boost
'Spend it wisely' Fonterra farmer shareholders told, after improved dividend values released, as many grapple with drought and low production, while global economic uncertainty looms.
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Farmer jailed for wilful ill-treatment of lambs and sheep
12 Mar 2025A Rangitikei farmer has been jailed for more than two years and disqualified from being in charge of animals indefinitely over the preventable deaths of lambs and sheep.
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Drought conditions see groundwater and dams used for livestock run dry
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay classified the conditions as a medium-scale adverse event, with the drought declaration opening up funding support and tax relief for farmers and growers.
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'Back to the land': Commune still going strong after 50 years
8 Mar 2025Rainbow Valley is located on regenerating whenua at the end of a gravel road near Tākaka. Several families share the land and help run a small farm for the benefit of the whole community.
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Essential water use only as Northland drought conditions worsen
13 Mar 2025Under level 4 restrictions introduced this week in Dargaville, town supply water may be used only for drinking, cooking, washing clothes and showering.
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Teen makes historic tractor-pull win
12 Mar 2025Ella Martin is the first woman to win the competition in it's almost 40-year history.
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'Short and sharp': Feijoa season in full swing
While volumes are down slightly, the quality of fruit is good, a grower says.
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How about them apples? The team behind New Zealand's future apples and pears
8 Mar 2025We 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.
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Grape picking starts soon at organic Waipara Valley vineyard
7 Mar 2025A pre-harvest update from Greystone Wines, host recently to the inaugural Underground soil, food and farming festival, with viticulturalist and farming advisor, Nick Gill.
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Top axeman preparing for NZ Rural Games
7 Mar 2025King Country woodchopper Jack Jordan achieved the sport's first ever three-peat at last year's Timbersports World Trophy in Italy.
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Sheep farmers suspended after animal welfare investigation
6 Mar 2025Two farmers have been temporarily suspended as part of a New Zealand Merino Company investigation into allegations around animal welfare at some of its supplier's farms.
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Farmer's edible bale netting gets overseas attention
Since Grant Lightfoot shared his story on Country Life last week, he's received dozens of calls and even more emails from farmers interested in his product.
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New reservoir planned for Hawke's Bay
6 Mar 2025Hawke's Bay Regional Council is exploring the feasibility of a new water storage facility near Whanawhana in Hawke's Bay.
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Concerns immigration policies eroding RSE workers' rights - unions
4 Mar 2025There were close to 9000 workers in Aotearoa under the RSE scheme. Audio
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Farmers relieved at government's drought declaration
8 Mar 2025Some are milking once-a-day and sending stock to the works early.
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Pāmu reports half-year net profit of $62 million
Pāmu - formerly Landcorp - is the country's largest pastoral farmer, managing about 360,000 hectares across 112 farms.
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