Horticulture
"We need help immediately" - Hawkes Bay horticulture giant
One of Hawkes Bay's biggest vegetable and fruit growers says he has grave concerns for the region's food producers if more significant financial help doesn't arrive quickly. Paul Apatu speaks to Susie… Audio
Rural news wrap
RNZ's rural news reporter, Maja Burry, takes a look at the week's agricultural news which is dominated of course by the destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Audio
News Wrap
This new segment looks at some of the major agricultural news of the week with RNZ's rural news team. Reporter Maja Burry chats about dragonfruit, deer milk, rural support for flood-stricken farmers… Audio
Young Horticulturist of the Year crowned
Last night was the Grand Final and Awards Ceremony for the Young Horticulturist of the Year. Regan Judd came away with the big prize, representing the Young Grower of the year from the Horticulture NZ… Audio
Horticulture research firm up for liquidation six years after $8.4m govt funding
A company which received $8.4 million of government funding to develop artificial intelligence for the horticulture sector has been put into liquidation.
Tour through the kiwifruit vines after frost causes devastation
Kiwifruit orchard foreman Dave Trafford takes Leah Tebbutt through the vines on the back of the quad bike, where mere metres apart the vines change from luscious and green, to barren as if they've… Audio
Pioneering UMF: A beekeeper's story
After 25 years, Margaret Bennett is stepping back from an association she spearheaded. But there is still work to be done and she maintains she will be busy as a bee, but in the background. Audio
Mushroom-grower hangs up his cap
Clive Thompson was a curious 16-year-old when he started out growing mushrooms back in the 1960s. More than half a century on, he's now selling his Wairarapa business Parkvale Mushrooms. Video, Audio
High-tech strawberry farm aims high in Foxton
Best of 2022 - Country Life takes a tour of a high-tech strawberry farm in Foxton. Audio
Ginseng - digging new roots in NZ
Glen Chen sees huge potential in New Zealand for growing ginseng, a root which has been harvested for use in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. He grows wild-simulated ginseng… Audio
Changing the tertiary summer break to help fruit growers
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash is looking at ways to get more students into seasonal jobs, including shifting the university year by six weeks. Jesse speaks to a fruit grower about the proposal. Audio
A trifle wet for truffles
Truffles are in hot demand but one grower says the wet season means her harvest is down considerably. Audio
Growing dahlias 'a way to recalibrate your happiness meter'
People swoon when they visit what was once a bare block of land in Hawke's Bay, according to Natalie Tolchard, who launched full tilt into growing dahlias without any experience but plenty of passion… Audio
Hawke's Bay charity saves tonnes of food from landfill
Tons of perfectly good produce from New Zealand farms, orchards and processing plants, once destined for landfill, is being saved and filling fridges, pantries and hungry children's tummies around the… Audio
21 Years making Olive Oil - 'It's New Zealand in a cup'
Country Life joins Lot 8's twenty first olive harvest and talks to the olive oil brand's owners Nalini and Colin Baruch who are among the Wairarapa's pioneering olive oil producers. Video, Audio
A bumper feijoa harvest
On the slopes of Hawke's Bay's Te Mata Peak, many hands have been busy harvesting large plump feijoas. Country Life joins the pickers on a beautiful autumn day to find out more about Heather Smith's… Video, Audio
In pursuit of the perfect peanut
Can New Zealand grow peanuts suitable for peanut butter? Eight varieties are being trialed in Northland and one looks particularly promising... Audio
Choice Cherimoyas
Best of 2022 - Rich and Jose van Alphen say people either love or hate cherimoyas. They've been growing them organically in the Far North for more than 30 years. Audio
A sweet spot on the farm
Beef farmer Bex Trotter has transformed a roadside paddock into a strawberry field at Luggate in Central Otago. Despite a lack of tourists Red Bridge Berries has been well supported in its first… Audio