Country Life for Friday 25 March 2011

9:05 Intro and Latitude 20 Guest

Per Ivar Vaje works for the Norwegian Mission Society as an advisor in agriculture and the environment in Madagascar.

9:12 Regional Wrap

Northland's having a great start to autumn, and in the South Island there's plenty of grass in Canterbury, while Marlborough is drying off.

9:17 Wandering Willie

Wandering Willie may not wander much longer, following the release this week of a Brazilian beetle intended to target the invasive weed.

9:20 Climate change and weeds

How will climate change affect the spread of exotic weeds? Christine Sheppard.

Left: Not a nikau seedling. Right: nikau and bangalow seedling side by side,occupying the same niche.

9:40 Wagyu Beef

In what's thought to be a world first, a small Hawkes Bay meat company, First Light Foods, is selling well marbled, grass fed, wagyu beef to international customers. The company's transparent payment system for the meat is being hailed by farmers as a dream come true. Jason Ross, Geff Cookson, Bob Thompson

Geff Cookson of Kawakawa.