Country Life

The team brings you stories from the rodeo world, a Christmas tree farm turned maize-maze, and an old rural homestead which has been turned into a luxurious retreat. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:50:34

Teens ride high in the world of rodeo

The rodeo season is underway and Lylah and Riley Wood, two home-schooled teenagers, are in an arena in Waikato practising barrel racing and breakaway roping, rodeo sports which have taken them to the US with a national youth team this year. Photos and more info here Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:17:26

Chef couple finds new home on the range

Wallingford Homestead in Central Hawke's Bay was once a bustling base for the local farming community. These days it's helping bridge the urban-rural divide. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:12:18

The Christmas tree whisperer moves into mazes

Thousands of perfectly shaped trees are harvested in the lead-up to the festive season at Andrew McAllister's Needle Fresh Christmas tree farm Swannanoa. Photos and more info here Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:09:16

On the Farm for 20 December 2024

The final round-up of the week's agricultural news for 2024. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:08:25

FULL SHOW: Country Life for 13 December 2024

We meet a farming family in Golden Bay who sell farm-to-fork meats, see what foreign investment can do for Hawke's Bay horticulture and meet a motocross rider taking on the family farm. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:51:04

Off-grid farming family focus on farm-to-fork meat sales

Sustainability, animal welfare and forging a connection between producer and consumer is at the core of how things are done at Ellis Creek Farm in Golden Bay. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:22:14

Freestyle to farmstyle, taking one day at a time

Trent Garton, a former champion freestyle motocross rider, and his wife Tiki have bought the family farm. It's been a difficult road but they take it one day at a time. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:11:19

Overseas investment helping grow Hawke's Bay's horticulture

Shane Flynn from Craigmore Sustainables shows off a new orchard the investment agency is redeveloping in Hawke's Bay. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:09:47

Rural News Wrap for 13 December 2024

A round-up of the week's agricultural news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:06:05

FULL SHOW: Country Life for 6 December 2024

There are cheese and eggs on Country Life's menu this week 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 methane emissions. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:50:17

'Defend the shed' - how the poultry industry has been preparing for a bird flu outbreak

Avian flu has been found on an Otago chicken farm for the first time. It's something the poultry industry has spent months preparing for and we take you inside a North Island chicken farm to understand what biosecurity measures are in place. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:17:29

Milking goats and making cheese all in a day's work

Thanks to goat's milk, Andrea Gauland son's eczema cleared up within two weeks. It was the excuse she needed to start farming dairy goats 25 years ago and she's still loving the whey of life. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:13:05

A future farm toolkit for curbing methane?

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. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Duration:00:17:49

FULL SHOW: Country Life for 29 November 2024

This week Country Life's learning about the art of making garden trugs and growing heirloom tomatoes, also the benefits of biochar on a farm growing trees, sheep and beef in the Far North.

Duration:00:51:03

Turning forestry slash into something good for the planet

Could biochar be the black gold for integrated forestry and farming operations like Pārengarenga Incorporation in NZ's Far North?

Duration:00:16:09

A curious approach to tomato growing by attracting more bugs

Meet Anthony and Angela Tringham, of Curious Croppers, the couple growing heirloom tomatoes using agroecology principles.

Duration:00:11:47

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.

Duration:00:14:18

On the Farm for 29 November 2024