Duncan Smith

The cherry harvest has started in Hawkes Bay and all North Island regions are feeling a little better after good rain last weekend. At the top of the South Island, the huge forest fire In Marlborough… Audio

Cattle sales are buoyant on the East Coast following good rains while in Bay of Plenty silage is mainly being shut up on run-off blocks because of the dry. In the South Island orcharding regions were… Audio

Whitianga is a beautiful seaside town on the Coromandel peninsula. Geographically it's an isolated, rural community more than an hour's drive from its nearest service centre. And while it may look… Audio

South Otago sheep farmer Ross Agnew, known for his protest song Fart Tax Blues, has published a collection of his poetry in a new book called Farmyard Blues. Audio

The North Island all regions are short on moisture and drying, cool winds have kept growth slow, in the South Island lambs are going for processing in increasing numbers at less than ideal weights. Audio

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Filipino dairy workers are dealing with long delays in getting their visas renewed due to the investigation currently underway into fake documents.

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Peak milk production is approaching in the North Island and in the South Island warmer days and higher soil temperatures have increased pasture and crop growth rates. Audio

The grass is growing in Bay of Plenty and for many dairy herds mating is underway. In the South Island high winds added to the excitement of tailing on farms in the Otago lakes district. Audio

The North Island's East Coast could do with a good lot more rain, while in the South Island lambing is still in full swing. Audio

Spring, in the few North Island regions where it had tentatively started, came to a halt this week, while in the South Island, lambing and calving is in full swing. Audio

Manawatu is awash and farmers have had enough. Southland farmers are also looking longingly for the sun. Audio

Houses will soon be sprawling over vegetable producing land around Pukekohe, banks in Northland are advising some dairy farmers to sell up, while in the South Island frosts are keeping soil… Audio

Around the country North Island farms are generally pretty short of pasture after a more typical, colder winter, while in the south lambing and calving is underway. Audio

Nationwide dairy farmers are coping with the dairy payout drop while in the North Island many regions are saturated and water is ponding. In the South Island snow's expected as pre lamb shearing… Audio

In the North Island calves are arriving thick and fast but in Southland, cows are still coming home from winter grazing. Audio

Mairead Fox has won the national women's gumboot throwing title and is off to compete in Italy. Audio

In the North Island there have been some welcome frosts and fine days - they've helped to dry out the ground. In the South, Otago pasture growth is slow due to cold and wet conditions. Audio

Temperatures have warmed up, and some welcome rain's arrived in the North Island, although flood affected Whanganui, Taranaki and Manawatu farmers are still carrying the burden of a huge clean up… Audio