RNZ: Country Life

A selection of agricultural news from the week. For further rural news go to the Radio New Zealand website.

Flatpack Farming CEO, Sophie Green.

The North Island is drying out despite rain a week ago, and in the South Island lambs are heading off farm to get processed.

On November 10th 2012, Waimate North hosted its 170th Pastoral and Industrial Show. Many of the families involved in the first event in 1842 are still in the district and strong supporters of the show.

Cheviot farmer Ian Stevenson is a well-known sheep breeder, wool classer and is president of the New Zealand Sheep Breeders Association.

A selection of agricultural news from the week. For further rural news go to the Radio New Zealand website.

Natasha King is the recipient of a 2013 Nuffield Farming Scholarship.

In the North Island much needed rain fell across most regions while in the South Island cherry picking has started in Marlborough.

The Hororata Highland Games are an initiative of the Hororata Community Trust. The Trust was established to support the community through fundraising activities and help the Mid-Canterbury town rebuild after the September 2010 earthquake left many facilities damaged. The inaugural Highland Games in 2011 was a huge success and this year, Trust director Mark Stewart and dozens of local volunteers have organised another tartan extravaganza.

Ulric Baumberger has three thousand Christmas trees growing on his Matangi property near Hamilton. He, his wife and young twins arrived in New Zealand nearly twenty years ago and he started growing trees nearly straight away. He still gets a real buzz seeing happy faces visiting his property in the yuletide season.

A selection of agricultural news from the week. For further rural news go to the Radio New Zealand website.

CRV Ambreed sire analyst Kevin Hart and David Smith.

The North Island is dry and farmers are weaning lambs early and at lighter weights, while in the South Island the first draft of lambs are going to the works.

In 1962, Taranaki settler, bush clearer and farmer Griffith Williams was interviewed about his early days in the Province. It was a time prior to the turn of last century, when farms were only starting to be carved out of the bush.

Willowbank Farm provides facilities away from Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch for the establishment of breeding programmes in a more private and relaxed environment. With Michael Willis and Sue Meager.