Rural
'Defend the shed' - how the poultry industry has been preparing
Avian flu has been found on an Otago chicken farm for the first time in New Zealand's history. It's something the poultry industry has spent months preparing for and we take you inside a North Island… Audio
Milking goats and making cheese, all in a days work
Thanks to goat's milk, Andrea Gauland son's eczema cleared up within two weeks. This was the excuse she needed to start farming dairy goats 25 years ago and she's still loving the whey of life. Audio
What could be in the farm toolkit for curbing methane emissions
A cow pill, vaccines, and specially treated grass-seed are among products it's hoped will be in farmers' methane-busting toolkits in the not-too-distant future. Audio
Country Life for 6 December 2024
This week, there's cheese and eggs on the menu with visits to poultry and goat farms. The team also takes a closer look at what's in the pipeline for farmers to help lower emissions. Audio
Milking does and making cheese, all in a day's work
"We do the whole process here on the farm because it preserves the quality of the milk. It's only traveling from the barn to my cheese kitchen."
Farmer ordered to pay $180k wonders how he'll survive
Tony Pascoe didn't want his land taken for a bypass after working hard his whole life, only be left with no home.
Māori, rural children at greater risk of severe paediatric appendicitis
Rural kids suffer severe appendicitis four times the rate of those in urban areas, and Māori children double the rate than non-Māori. Audio
Bird flu: No known connection between first and second farm
Officials have not yet found any links between a second chicken farm that has been isolated, and a poultry farm where bird flu has been identified. Audio
Government announces sweeping changes to limit forestry conversions
Farming groups and rural communities have been raising concerns over forestry conversions for years.
Midday Rural News for 4 December 2024
Second farm is being investigated in the bird flu outbreak. Audio
Culling of chickens infected with bird flu to begin Wednesday
The culling of chickens with bird flu at a free-range Otago farm, will begin on Wednesday. The Poultry Industry Association and the Egg Producers Federation executive director Michael Brooks spoke to… Audio
Morning Report Essentials for Tuesday 3 December 2024
On today's episode, the Prime Minister says unemployment is still expected to increase before it comes down and more work needs to be done if the government is going to meet its target to reduce the… Audio
Bird flu outbreak spreads to second shed
With the cull of 80,000 birdflu infected chickens soon to get underway officials are working to confirm it hasn't spread anywhere else before Chicken exports can start again. Reporter Tess Brunton… Audio
Professor of infectious disease on bird flu outbreak
A professor of infectious disease says if bird flu on the infected Otago farm has been identified early, there's a good chance the outbreak can be contained. Professor Nigel French from Massey… Audio
80,000 chickens to be culled after bird flu found on farm
The culling of 80,000 birds on a commercial free-range Otago egg farm in Moreaki is due will begin on Tuesday. MPI's chief veterinary officer Dr Mary van Andel spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Bird flu found on farm in North Otago
Farmers are on high alert after high pathogenic avian influenza - otherwise known as bird flu - was found on a free range chicken farm in North Otago. Otago Federated Farmers' provincial president… Audio
Could biochar be the wonder product for forestry and farming?
A large farm and forestry operation in the Far North is keen to turn its slash from upcoming harvests into something that benefits the land, climate and stock.
Trug-making almost a lost art
Tony Hitchcock has been crafting trugs - wooden garden baskets - for several years using untreated willow or hazel and poplar sourced locally from around Golden Bay.
Turning forestry slash into something good for the planet
A large forestry and sheep and beef farm near the very top of the North Island has been experimenting with biochar from the slash from its pine trees to improve its soils and reduce carbon emissions Audio
