Duncan Smith

Dams are being cleaned out in Northland to improve water storage and at the top of the South Island the hop harvest has been producing good yeilds. Audio

Planting, weeding and making products from essential oil is keeping a couple busy at a lavender farm in lockdown, orchids bloom in Horowhenua, ANZACs remembered in tiny Wimbledon and The Nineties File… Audio

Winter's on its way with a chill in the air and snow in the south but not nearly enough rain to break drought. Farmers are feeding the soil to keep growth going with more stock than normal to feed. Audio

Rural MPs during lockdown, the dentist in Piopio, Norsewood's old dairy factory now humming to new tunes, and a look and growing and farming conditions around the country. Audio

Covid-19 is upsetting the labour supply for some harvests but a dollop of rain in certain drought stricken areas is cheering farmers up, although those in Marlborough are still begging for more. Audio

Growing walnuts, picking grapes, hooking kids up with wool, and the Regional Wrap Audio

It's cooled off a bit in the North Island but farmers are still hanging out for rain, while in the South Island, West Coast and Southland farms are going into autumn with pretty good pasture growth. Audio

In parched Northland, a stock agent in Kaipara district says rain this week was enough to settle the dust, but that's about it. The West Coast has had a week of glorious, fine T-shirt and shorts… Audio

The grape harvest is well underway in Hawkes Bay in what is a very early vintage this year. The biggest challenge for sheep farmers in Marlborough is keeping ewe condition up for the ram. Audio

Each week our Country Life reporters check out the latest from farms and orchards around the country.

South Waikato had thunder rolling around the district at the weekend but the rain was very choosy… Audio

Around Pukekohe, the widespread drought continues to make life difficult for the outdoor vegetable industry. A dairy farmer near Balclutha in South Otago is in flood recovery mode. His farm is… Audio

The big dry continued in Northland this week with not a spot of rain to relieve drought conditions. Flooding in South Otago is starting to subside. A sheep and beef farmer near Balclutha recorded 185… Audio

Waikato's become a bit dry in the past week but good rain, forecast for the weekend, should help set farms up well for summer. A hop grower at Tapawera in the Nelson region says the focus this week… Audio