Country Life
942 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago -Country Life takes you down country roads to meet ordinary people achieving their dreams.
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Episodes
Green food for a green future
March 20, 2020 08:30 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBCountry Life heads to Manawatu and drops in on New Zealand's first spirulina farm which grows the bright green protein-rich superfood from tiny algae. It's hoped the farm's French-style artisan model can be replicated around the country to meet the growing demand for plant protein.
The skies have opened
March 20, 2020 08:07 - 5 minutes - 4.65 MBGreg Jerry's New South Wales farm has finally had rain. After three years of drought the grass is green and up to his knees in places.
Full Episode for Friday March 20 2020
March 20, 2020 08:05 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBCountry Life heads to Manawatu and drops in on New Zealand's first spirulina farm which grows the bright green protein-rich superfood from tiny algae.
It Starts with the Soil
March 13, 2020 08:30 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBGrowing a variety of tall plants with deeper roots and not overgrazing are two key principles for South Otago grazing coach Siobhan Griffin. She is working with Tony and Michelle Pringle who run a farm focused on regenerative agriculture. The Cyldevale dairy farmers needed a hand to develop plans for mob grazing and stock density and so far, with Siobhan's help, they're pleased with the results.
The finishing farm for lambs
March 13, 2020 08:28 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBMatapiro Station farm manager Michael Lowther is on a shopping spree - he's just bought the first of 30,000 lambs that will spend just a few months on the station.
The 90s File
March 13, 2020 08:16 - 3 minutes - 2.9 MBKonagh Garrett is a PhD student at Lincoln University. She has a particular interest in nutritional ecology and is looking at how a diverse, varied diet for animals can positively affect welfare and environmental impact, while maintaining or increasing animal production.
Kiwifruit harvest gets underway
March 13, 2020 08:07 - 4 minutes - 3.96 MBThe harvest of New Zealand's largest horticultural export crop has just begun. Nikki Johnson from NZKGI says, with Covid-19 restricting travel, growers are hoping there will be enough backpackers already in New Zealand to help get the fruit off the vines.
Full Episode for Friday March 13 2020
March 13, 2020 08:04 - 50 minutes - 46 MBIt Starts with the Soil, A finishing farm for lambs, The 90s File, Kiwifruit harvest gets underway and the Regional Wrap.
Teat Spray and Tackles
March 06, 2020 08:40 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBEach year 17 Taranaki rugby clubs receive cheques from the Taranaki Community Rugby Trust thanks to a successful dairy farming operation. The Trust runs two dairy farms and a run off and all the profits are poured into grass-roots rugby. This year the Trust will distribute $100,000 and says it's all about keeping kids active and removing barriers to participating in the game.
One year since the Christchurch Mosque Attacks
March 06, 2020 08:30 - 10 minutes - 9.66 MBReza-Abdul Jabbar owns a 349-hectare dairy farm in Southland and is Imam of the world's southernmost mosque in Invercargill. Last March, when he featured on RNZ's Country Life programme, he talked about the work he was doing to support the victims families in the wake of the Christchurch shootings. This week, Cosmo meets up with Reza again to find out how the families are coping and what he plans to do to honour those who lost their lives.
Young farmers proud to be part of Open Farms event
March 06, 2020 08:20 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBRuby Mulinder and Sean Nixon bought their first farm two and a half months ago and jumped at the chance to welcome the public and show them where their food comes from.
Dairy farm sales plummet and prices fall
March 06, 2020 08:14 - 6 minutes - 5.87 MBThe Real Estate Institute says large dairy farms are now extremely difficult to sell and some banks are demanding much higher equity from potential buyers.
Full Episode for Friday March 6 2020
March 06, 2020 08:04 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBTeat Spray and Tackles, One year since the Christchurch Mosque Attacks, Young farmers proud to be part of Open Farms event, Dairy farm sales plummet and the Regional Wrap. [audio_play]
Fixing up farms after the flooding
February 28, 2020 08:28 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBThe clean-up continues for farmers whose land was flooded by the Mataura River in Southland. Jon Pemberton had 20 hectares of land under water at Brydone. When it receded he was left with a metre of gravel and sand. The detritus has since been cleared by diggers but it's going to take a while before the grass recovers.
Sixty Years of The Golden Shears
February 28, 2020 08:23 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBNew Zealand's premier shearing competition, The Golden Shears, is gearing up for its 60th birthday bash next week. Despite scepticism at the start and declining demand for wool, The Golden Shears is now one of the oldest volunteer-run events in the country. With help from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, Country Life looks back over its rich history.
View from the Vines: Nets On
February 28, 2020 08:13 - 7 minutes - 6.67 MBIt's nearing the end of veraison - a significant time in the vineyard when the berries start to change colour, developing flavour ready for harvest. We've been following John Douglas as he works his five hectare Te Hera vineyard east of Martinborough and earlier this month it was time to put the nets on.
Full Episode for Friday February 28 2020
February 28, 2020 08:05 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBFarmers in Southland continue mopping up after the Mataura River flooding, in the View from the Vines series grapes are ripening and birds need to be kept at bay and a look back at the Golden Shears which turns 60 this year.
That's Hentertainment!
February 21, 2020 08:28 - 20 minutes - 19 MB"Hentertainment" is a way of keeping hens laying - and happy - at Henergy, an egg business on the outskirts of Masterton. Henergy founder Graeme Napier was the first egg producer to get the SPCA blue tick for his barn-raised eggs and with more producers piling into cage-free egg production under new regulations, they're trying to stay one step ahead.
Easy Pickings at North Canterbury Orchard
February 21, 2020 08:13 - 10 minutes - 9.63 MBPaul Tapper has lived and farmed in the Rangiora/North Canterbury region for many years and with retirement looming, the PGG rural real estate agent has fulfilled a dream to develop a traditional family orchard.
Full Episode for Friday February 21 2020
February 21, 2020 08:05 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBThats Hentertainment!, Native Nursery Supports Local Farmers, Easy Pickings at North Canterbury Orchard and the Regional Wrap.
Native Nursery Supports Local Farmers
February 21, 2020 07:23 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBA large nursery is flourishing in the old gardens at the back of the meeting house at Takutai o te Titi Marae at Colac Bay in Southland. It was established in 2017 by Riverton man Jade Maguire who works with the community to grow thousands of plants each year, which are then used in local restoration projects.
Canterbury pea growers pleased with crop
December 20, 2019 08:30 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBPeas are an important part of the Christmas day meal for many New Zealanders. We grow a lot of them too, about 60,000 tonnes a year and most of them are grown in Canterbury. Lincoln arable farmer Chris Morrish and his father David are two peas in a pod. They have been supplying peas to the Watties factory, down the road in Hornby, for nearly 50 years.
Dairying's Woman of the Year
December 20, 2019 08:28 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBTaranaki share-milker Trish Rankin is 2019's Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year. She's an active environmentalist, mother of four, teacher, is on the National Executive for the NZ Dairy Awards, is a Kellogg Rural leader and a climate change ambassador as part of the Dairy Action for Climate Change. Two days a week you'll also find her in the milking shed putting the cups on.
Making money from honey
December 20, 2019 08:18 - 8 minutes - 7.89 MBThe Hantz family has been producing honey at Lakeside in Canterbury since 1951. Barry Hantz joined the apiary in 2001 and now, with 13 employees and 3500 hives in operation across the region, he says the business is a hive of activity. The biggest growth over the last 15 years has been in pollination work.
Christmas Fare - Growers report in on the year that's been...
December 20, 2019 08:07 - 9 minutes - 9.06 MBCountry Life's whipping around the country to hear about 'the year that's been' for our food producers.
Full Episode for Friday December 20 2019
December 20, 2019 08:03 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBCanterbury pea growers pleased with crop, Dairy Woman of the Year, Making Money from Honey, and Christmas food producers.
An Apple a Day
December 13, 2019 08:30 - 19 minutes - 18 MBJohn Wilton starts each day with an apple. And he know which ones to choose. John's been a horticultural consultant for 57 years and was MAF's national pipfruit and summer fruit specialist for 15 years. Country Life's Carol Stiles headed out to an orchard with John to hear about the state of the apple industry and the changes growers have seen.
Expert sees apple varieties blossom and fade over time
December 13, 2019 08:30 - 19 minutes - 18 MBJohn Wilton starts each day with an apple. And he knows which ones to choose. John's been a horticultural consultant for 57 years and was MAF's national pipfruit and summer fruit specialist for 15 years. Country Life's Carol Stiles headed out to an orchard with John to hear about the state of the apple industry and the changes growers have seen.
An apple a day
December 13, 2019 08:30 - 19 minutes - 18 MBJohn Wilton starts each day with an apple. And he know which ones to choose. John's been a horticultural consultant for 57 years and was MAF's national pipfruit and summer fruit specialist for 15 years. Country Life's Carol Stiles headed out to an orchard with John to hear about the state of the apple industry and the changes growers have seen.
Growing Fruit Keeps a Family Strong
December 13, 2019 08:28 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBIn the mid-1980s Philip McLennan planted the first and only blueberry farm on the West Coast at Ikamatua. He was always trying something new so planted tayberries as well. The tayberry originated in Scotland and is a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. Late last year Philip was tragically killed in a car accident but his family want to keep his legacy and dream alive. The berry farm is now managed by Philip's sister Carolyn Straker. It's been a huge learning curve for Carolyn who...
Regional Wrap
December 13, 2019 08:09 - 6 minutes - 6.5 MBThere was flooding to all the main alpine fed rivers in Canterbury last weekend while in many parts of the North Island paddocks and orchards are drying out. Some welcome rain elsewhere in the North has given a boost to feed crops.
Fishing for the Future
December 13, 2019 08:07 - 5 minutes - 5.22 MBIt's wild salmon fishing season, and our guest this week, Chief Executive of North Canterbury Fish & Game, Rasmus Gabrielsson, talks about efforts to keep the fishery sustainable.
Full Episode for Friday 13 December 2019
December 13, 2019 08:03 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBAn Apple a Day, Growing Fruit Keeps a Family Strong, Fishing for the Future, The 90s File and the Regional Wrap.
From dairy farming to hemp cultivation
December 06, 2019 08:38 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBReefton dairy farmers Aaron Silcock and Sarah Gibson think the future lies in hemp. Aaron is a fourth-generation dairy farmer at Larry's Creek but says he'd like to eventually put his herd into retirement on the 307-hectare farm and focus on growing industrial hemp.
View from the Vines: Standing out from the Wine Crowd
December 06, 2019 08:24 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBIn the third of the View from the Vines series, we tidy up the vine canopy with winemaker John Douglas before heading into the barrel room with a hen party who've arrived for a tasting.
Striped dairy cows – a rare breed
December 06, 2019 08:13 - 8 minutes - 7.88 MBOpunake farmer Andy Whitehead milks eight different breeds of cattle. Lakenvelders are his favourite. They hail from the Netherlands and are easy to spot in the dark.
Full Episode for Friday December 6 2019
December 06, 2019 08:03 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBMaking Way for Hemp, Standing out from the Wine Crowd, Lakenvelder cattle and the Regional Wrap.
From Farm Junk to Feel-Good Art
November 29, 2019 08:30 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBA gypsy caravan-maker is among people in Manawatu who are beavering away in their garages and farm sheds turning rusting iron tools, fencing wire and other bits and pieces into works of art for the annual Kimbolton Sculpture Festival.
First Light - the first choice for Californian 'meat geeks'
November 29, 2019 08:25 - 10 minutes - 9.98 MBAmericans are joining a waiting list to belong to a New Zealand meat company's Steak Club. Each month Hawke's Bay-based First Light delivers four, 100 percent grass-fed Wagyu beef steaks to members doorsteps.
New Study shows Profit for Green Dairying
November 29, 2019 08:22 - 3 minutes - 3.21 MBResearchers have found it's possible to produce milk and cheese in a highly environmentally friendly way without losing money.
The Taranaki Trust that keeps on giving
November 29, 2019 08:07 - 6 minutes - 5.88 MBTrusts set up more than 50 years ago by two Taranaki farmers have helped thousands of young people further their careers in agriculture and veterinary science. Profits from two dairy farms boost the Bashford Nicholls Trust's coffers each year and scholarships are given to about 90 students.
Full Episode for Friday November 29 2019
November 29, 2019 08:03 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBWe hear about new research into the profitability of carbon neutral dairying, scholarships for people studying vet science and agriculture and visit a Hawkes Bay meat company that has Californians queuing up for its steak. We're also in the Manawatu town of Kimbolton where people are getting creative with chicken wire in the name of mental health.
The West Coast town in good spirits
November 22, 2019 08:34 - 28 minutes - 26 MBKeeping it local and tapping into Reefton's rich history were two of Patsy Bass's goals when she founded the Reefton Distilling Company two years ago...
On the job with an Artificial Breeding Technician
November 22, 2019 08:19 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBGisela Bach is a Waihi dairy farmer and qualified as a vet in her home country Spain. She's been in New Zealand nine years and spends October and November artificially inseminating cows.
Full Episode for Friday November 22 2019
November 22, 2019 08:03 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBThe West Coast Town in Good Spirits, artificial breeding with technician Gisela Bach and the Regional Wrap.
Off Like a Rockit
November 15, 2019 08:34 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBNew Zealand's tiny Rockit apples are proving a real hit with both consumers and growers. They're returning more than any other apple variety and demand is sky-rocketing in Asia.
Power to the People
November 15, 2019 08:19 - 14 minutes - 13 MBBorn and bred Reefton sparky Greg Topp is part of a team of locals who formed the Reefton Powerhouse Trust in 2011. Their goal is to restore the old hydro scheme on the Inangahua River to its former glory.
Proud to Show
November 15, 2019 08:07 - 7 minutes - 7.38 MBOn the eve of the 2019 New Zealand Agricultural Show dozens of exhibitors are preparing their cattle at the A & P Showgrounds in Christchurch. As well as showing her own cows and calves, agricultural consultant Sarah O'Connell is the youth committee chair at the show and champions the next generation getting into exhibiting.
Full Episode for Friday 15 November 2019
November 15, 2019 08:05 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBCountry Life talks to Sarah O'Connell on the eve of the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch, Reefton sparky Greg Topp is among locals helping to restore the old hydro scheme on the Inangahua River and there's huge demand world-wide for New Zealand's tiny rockit apples.
Farming with the Future in Mind
November 08, 2019 08:34 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBA fourth generation Canterbury dairy farmer is embracing regenerative agriculture. John Legg has been using the approach for three years and says soil health on his Leeston property has improved dramatically since he stopped using synthetic fertilisers.