Clevedon couple Richard and Helen Dorresteyn were the first to farm water buffalo in New Zealand. These giant, burly beasts produce the softest award-winning cheeses.

You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here.

In this episode:

• 0:35 - A history of water buffalo stories
• 3:04 - Meet the Clevedon Buffalo herd
• 6:40 - Helen at the Clevedon Village Farmers Market
• 10:0 - Water buffalo 101
• 11:06 - An introduction to New Zealand
• 13:00 - Nearly 20 years on

With thanks to guests:

• Richard and Helen Dorresteyn, Clevedon Buffalo

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Organic dairy farmer Janet Fleming is in her eighth season of once a day milking, something she credits with helping get her through Taranaki's recent drought. She's also trialing growing a range of new botanicals.

You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here.

You can learn more about Venture Taranaki's Branching Out trial here.

With thanks to:

• Janet Fleming

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Phil Moeke is the manager of Te Kōhaka o Tāne, a commercial nursery in Invercargill that has grown over 800,000 native trees and plants since it opened in 2022.

You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here.

With thanks to:

• Phil Moeke, Te Tapu o Tāne
  

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A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector

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This week on Country Life the team catch up with a Wairarapa farming family that's added sheep dairy to their farming operation, and every day is a hoot for Gloria Harris, who runs a little owl and morepork rescue service near Invercargill.

You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.

In this episode:

• 0:37 - On the Farm
• 9:23 - Dean Martin from Glenlands Farm
• 14:25 - Southland owl rescue centre
• 29:00 - Fernglen Farm's sheep dairy addition

With thanks to guests:

• Dean Martin, from Glenlands Farm
• Gloria Harris
• Jeff and Cameron Ravenwood, from Fernglen Farm

Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening.

Like what you hear? Tell us! Leave us a review on your favourite podcast app or join the RNZ Podcasts Facebook group and join the convo.

Send us your feedback or get in touch at [email protected]

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Fernglen Farm is a family affair helping people learn more about the benefits of sheep milk, while finding new ways to balance the hardships of farming on Wairarapa's coast.

You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here.

In this episode:

• 1:08 - The Ravenwood family's move to sheep dairy
• 3:30 - Set up challenges
• 7:48 - We meet Cameron at the processing plant
• 10:53 - The nutritional benefits of sheep milk
• 13:54 - New products being rolled out
• 16:54 - The future of the industry

With thanks to guests:

• Jeff and Cameron Ravenwood, from Fernglen Farm

Make sure you’re following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don’t miss new episodes every Friday evening.

Like what you hear? Tell us! Leave us a review on your favourite podcast app or join the RNZ Podcasts Facebook group and join the convo.

Send us your feedback or get in touch at [email protected]

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Gloria Harris has been running a ruhu nohinohi little owl and ruru morepork rescue service for 30 years. "I've probably cared for close to 300 birds," she told Country Life proudly.

You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here.

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Dean Martin has carried on the legacy set by his dad and is not afraid to try new things - from shedding sheep to regenerative agriculture practices.

You can find photos and read more about this story on our webpage, here.

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A round-up of conditions on farms and orchards around the country.

You can read more on our webpage, here.

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Country Life this week digs deep into the world of kūmara and finds out about farm training for young people with disabilities.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details