Duncan Smith

Good rain helped ease the dry in the north and South Canterbury farmers woke up to two frosts this week. Audio

Waikato is trucking steadily into a drought and Marlborough has seen one of its earliest picks for pinot noir bubbles. Audio

Over much of New Zealand pasture quality is dropping in the heat but stock are generally doing well. There are some sensational Hawkes Bay nectarines in shops. Audio

Bay of Plenty kiwfruit growers are being kept awake at night over the worker shortage and calves are being weaned, drenched and vaccinated in South Otago. Audio

An isolated bout of hail hit some maize crops in Waikato this week, while in the South Island the Marlborough region is looking a picture. Audio

Pasture is bursting forth around the country in "dream" spring conditions, ag contractors are all out making silage, the summer fuit harvest is underway and in the vineyard, workers are tidying vine… Audio

Grass is climbing out of the ground around the North Island and Otago has had a 26 degree day and a frost this week. Audio

There's been welcome rain and warmth in the north and clear patches for sowing and silage-making but too much rain on the West Coast is not helping the mating season. Audio

Avocados are coming off trees thick and fast and retirees are putting their hands up for seasonal work in Central Otago. Audio

Farmers in the north who were getting a bit twitchy with the lack of rain are pleased they can now almost see the grass growing after a good few millimetres in the gauge this week. Trading stock are… Audio

Northland's farmers are reluctant to buy in stock and the sheep farmers in the southern South Island seem to have made it through this week's weather bomb with fewer than expected lamb deaths. Find… Audio

It's been a kind spring so far with good lamb survival rates and a pleasing bud break in Hawke's Bay orchards but a lot more rain is needed around the country except in Southland and on the West… Audio

Docking's started in blustery weather in the North and in Te Waipounamu it was a wild week for many on both sides of the main divide. Audio

There's been perfect lambing weather in the North Island and calves are arriving early in Otago. Audio

Big, beautiful calves are arriving a couple of weeks early in some parts of the country and for many South Island regions spring is in the air. Audio

Waikato and Taranaki dairy farms have never looked better at this time of year, and it's been relatively balmy in the deep south... Audio