Country Life

Fencer Fred has spent nearly three decades lugging farm posts and number 8 wire to out of the way spots to build and repair the vital infrastructure needed to keep stock in place on the farm.

Waikato had hail this week and in the South Island, Marlborough farmers are trying to keep weight on ewes ahead of mating.

Of the 35,000 farmers and businesses eligible to access a subsidy for crush protection devices for quad bikes, only 270 have taken it up.

Country Life for 12 March 2021.

At Te Whare Ra vineyard in Marlborough the Flowerdays grow seven different varieties of grape on 11 hectares and some of their vines are the oldest in the region - planted back in the 1970s. Raising two sets of twin girls over the past two decades haven’t held them back reinvigorating the vineyard using organic and biodynamic techniques.

Fraser McGougan is an Eastern Bay of Plenty dairy farmer. He is the new chair of the Dairy NZ backed Climate Change Ambassadors group - 13 dairy farmers from properties throughout New Zealand. They are a mix of farm size and age.

The Aromaunga Baxters Flowers nursery in Heathcote, Christchurch sits right above the point where the earthquake struck on 22 February 2011. The greenhouses on the steep slopes of the Port Hills, as well as a big old villa and other brick buildings were badly damaged. Ten years on co-owner John Baxter says the earthquake damage is still being repaired, but sales have been boosted by a lack of imported flowers due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Northland has received welcome and significant rain while the South Island is still on the hunt for moisture.

On Country Life tonight, a family owned nursery is buoyed by Covid flower sales as earthquake repairs continue at the Port Hills property, two sets of twin girls have not held back two winemakers reinvigorating one of Marlborough's oldest vineyards - Te Whare Ra, and a dairy farmer is embracing climate change.

The 180 Degrees Trust runs youth development programmes for at risk young people in Canterbury. The biggest event on its calendar is the Southern Alps Traverse, a gruelling, character-building adventure for teenagers that starts at a beach near Kumara Junction on the West Coast, and ends several days later at Brighton Beach in Christchurch.