Rural
Country Life: Discovering a sweet spot for grapevines in the Bay of Islands
Old grape vines clambering over a tumbledown shed were the start of Jake Dromgool's wine-growing venture. He's grown a dizzying array of varieties on the volcanic soils outside Kerikeri.
Timaru meatworks to close, affecting 600 jobs
Hundreds of workers at Alliance Group's Smithfield meatworks in Timaru have lost their jobs under a proposal to close the processing plant. The 600 staff were called into a surprise meeting at 11am… Audio
Timaru meatworkers worried their jobs to go
Employees of the Alliance Group's Smithfield meatworks in Timaru are worried they could lose their jobs in a restructure or full closure of the plant. Meatworkers Union national secretary Daryl Carran… Audio
From selling shoes in China to sprouting microgreens in Te Puke
Kali sold shoes in China before coming to NZ. She discovered her green fingers just out of Te Puke where she has joined forces with her daughter to grow microgreens. Audio
Catch crops help prevent nitrogen from leaching into waterways
Trials on a North Canterbury dairy farm have found that early sown oats and Italian ryegrass are taking up excess urine deposited by winter grazing cows. Audio
Kerry Worsnop on a better approach to policy
Nuffield scholar and former Gisborne District Councillor Kerry Worsnop on how policymakers can better work with those on the land. Audio
Country Life Friday 20 September 2024
This week Country Life meets a mother and daughter duo who's microgreens business is going from strength to strength and they head to a North Canterbury dairy farm which is using crops to mop up… Audio
Reducing splash-back and soaking up the nasties from dairy cows' pee
An "eye-opening" farm trial could help clean up New Zealand's rivers and streams.
From selling shoes in China to a microgreens farm in rural NZ
Yu Kali and Yu Jiang's microgreens venture is sprouting almost as fast as the tiny veggies themselves.
Midday Rural News for 18 September 2024
Synlait's hoping farmers will stay with the company. Audio
Pain relief during tailing is worth the money - New Zealand Merino Company
It will be mandatory for its suppliers from next year.
Sheepmeat sector told to target NZ consumers, diversify exports - Rabobank report
Sheepmeat export values dropped dramatically in the 2023-2024 season after two years of strong export returns.
How NZ exporters can navigate choppy seas in China
Mark Tanner knows what people in New Zealand's largest market are consuming. He's the founder of China Skinny, a market research company based in Shanghai.
A cut above - couple making 'one of a kind' knives with deer antlers
Jacinda and Richy Sheridan have carved out a niche for themselves, making hunting and farm knives using deer antlers.
A cut above Couple making 'one of a kind' knives
Jacinda and Richy Sheridan have carved out a niche for themselves, making hunting and farm knives using deer antlers. Audio
Milk high fliers move into hops and plant proteins
Maury Leyland and her husband John Penno have developed a food supplement based on a protein extracted from green leaves. They've also established North Canterbury's first commercial hop gardens at… Audio
The inside skinny on China's consumers from Mark Tanner
Mark Tanner knows what people in China are consuming. He's the founder of China Skinny, a market research company based in Shanghai, and talks to Country Life about trends in NZ's largest market. Audio
