Farming Conditions

In Horowhenua a wet and cold period this week has slowed up asparagus production. Good weather in Canterbury has allowed for a range of tasks to be completed including spraying, drilling, dagging… Audio

Farmers around the country have been paying big bickies for Beltex ram lambs. The new breed is a double-muscled, easy care sheep that offers meaty gains. Sheep dags are nourishing the soils of a… Audio

The north of the North Island has had a big dose of rain and West Coasters are looking skyward for sun... Audio

Hawke's Bay apple trees are bursting into blossom and Canterbury farmers are dealing with wind-damaged irrigators. Audio

Gales in Canterbury have toppled trees and taken out power. Avocado growers are having a rocky start to the export season. Audio

Some farms are tight on feed on the East Coast and Southland farmers are having a great run of weather - great timing for lambing and calving. Audio

In Northland dairy farmers seem to be well set up for feed for spring but beef farmers are feeling the pinch a bit. The vines are waking up in Marlborough and sheep are spaced out for lambing in South… Audio

Harvesting of leafy vegetables has continued in unpleasant conditions around Pukekohe and on a Nelson orchard growth is about a week ahead of last year. Audio

It's been cold and miserable in Taranaki where farmers are heads down, tails up calving and farmers would quite like some sunshine in Southland to help lift spirits. Audio

The sap seems to be flowing a little earlier than normal in a Gisborne vineyard and sheep farmers in Central Otago are busy pre-lamb shearing but it's been hard keeping yards dry. Audio

New born lambs in Wairarapa welcomed the sun on their backs at the end of the week after a wet start to the week. In Southland, calves are starting to appear across the countryside. Audio

Orange growers in the Gisborne region are getting good returns and the clean-up continues on inundated farms and vineyards in the South Island. Audio

Hawke's Bay orchards have had the right amount of winter chill this week, pruning and maintenance work is continuing in Marlborough's vineyards and calving's due to start in early August in Southland.

Lettuces are in short supply after frosts and rain in Southland has left farms muddy underfoot. Audio

June was a fabulous month for growth in the North Island. In the South, Marlborough's welcomed 100 millimetres of rain. Audio

In the North Island there's been an awful lot of rain with the whole East Coast receiving a huge downpour, in the South Island South Otago and Southland farmers are having a reasonably kind start to… Audio

Farmers fill us in on their week from the National Agricultural Fieldays; one farmer has his hands very firmly in his pockets having just become a 50/50 sharemilker and an Otago farmer is busy selling… Audio

Some sizable apple developments are going in around Waipawa in Hawke's Bay, but labour is limiting investor enthusiasm, while in the South Island, south Otago farms are dry underfoot and feed… Audio

Taranaki is looking lush and in the South Island kiwifruit vines are being very carefully pruned in Nelson. Audio