Sheep
Wool, sweat and shears - Golden Shears underway in Masterton
The Golden Shears is underway in Masterton, and from early Thursday the War Memorial Stadium has been buzzing to the sound of shears, woolhandlers' brooms and the cranking of wool presses. Video, Audio
I'm a wee bit addicted to doing farm trials says Waipara farmer
Former ag scientist, Ian Knowles, likes to lead from the front when it comes to sheep and plant trials and comparative experiments on his diverse hill country farm. Audio
Summer Series: Country Life for January 12
Stories from the 2023 archive: Cosmo's at a high country station in the far south, Leah checks in on a toy treasure trove in Te Puke and Sally's off grid with a former Wellington mayor. Audio
'It's the most sustainable fibre in the world'
Sheep farming and wool innovation took centre stage at the New Zealand Agricultural Show. The new Wool Zone section showcased the versatility of sheep and educated visitors on the myriad uses for… Audio
AgShow turns 160, shows off sheep milking for first time
It's Cup and Show week in Christchurch and this year attendees of the New Zealand Agricultural Show will be able to see sheep milking in action. The three-day event, which kicks off tomorrow, is also… Audio
Soldiering on: 'There's no way that farm could have run without her'
Rhoda McWhannell ran her Waikato farm almost single-handedly when her husband went to war during WWII. She wrote a journal of her daily struggles, weaving in her wry observations about war and love of… Audio
School leavers grow into hardy shepherds on high-country cadet farm
A two-year farm cadet programme is turning fresh-faced school leavers in hardy, no-nonsense shepherds on a high-country station in Canterbury. Audio
A year on the farm: Lambing is in full swing on the Bird's hill block
The newborn lambs hide amongst gorse to escape the chilly winds and Alistair plants poplar poles on erosion-prone hill country. Audio
Must Love Dogs
Kelsie Meads and her sidekick heading dog Sass are one of 12 duos taking part in this year's Trans-Tasman Cobber Dog Challenge. Small in stature but not in attitude, Sass is vying for the top spot. Audio
Fears future of sheep possibly brought to NZ by Captain Cook
One of the first ever breed of sheep introduced to New Zealand is facing a very uncertain future. Arapawa sheep are thought to have been introduced to Arapaoa Island (formerly Arapawa Island) in the… Audio
A year on the farm: 'The young bull's semen is not that active'
In this episode Alistair and Genna have empty heifers to deal with after their new bull delivers low pregnancy rates. Audio
The Week in Detail: Wool woes, parental leave, and political polls
The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Coming up
The woes of wool
Wool was once the backbone of our agriculture industry, but now farmers are struggling to make a buck from it. What happened? Audio
Rural News Wrap
RNZ's rural news reporter, Sally Murphy, takes a look at the week's agricultural news. Audio
A year on the farm: A tractor on crutches and a Wi-Fi drenching gun
The replacement heifer calves are drenched and weighed, mating gets underway in the sheep paddocks and the tractor needs urgent repairs. Audio
A year on the farm: Stoked to win four good practice farming awards
Genna says the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust Biodiversity Award acknowledges the couple's focus on protecting the 200 hectares of native bush on the property. Audio
Ambitious farming sisters develop fashion and food hub
The shearers' quarters at Davaar Station are a popular stop-off for locals and tourists on the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway. Inside, Anna Macdonald tickles their taste buds with sweets while her older… Audio
Grapes on track at estate-grown winery
The unique limestone hills of the Waipara Valley are home to Greystone's 50-hectare organic vineyard. General manager and founding viticulturist Nick Gill says that despite a lack of direct sunlight… Audio
Suspected stolen sheep found in vehicle in Ashburton
Canterbury police are trying to find the rightful owner of sheep they suspect were stolen.
New shearing record set by 19 year old
It's a big week for the sport of lamb shearing. On Tuesday 19 year old Reuben Alabaster, raised in Taihape, beat a decade-long world record of 744 lambs in eight hours by Irish shearer Ivan Scott at… Audio