Country Life

Welcome rain has set farms up for the summer but hail in Hawke's Bay and Pukekohe has caused some fruit damage. It hasn't really warmed up in the far south and grass is struggling to grow.

On the eve of the 2019 New Zealand Agricultural Show dozens of exhibitors are preparing their cattle at the A & P Showgrounds in Christchurch. As well as showing her own cows and calves, agricultural consultant Sarah O'Connell is the youth committee chair at the show and champions the next generation getting into exhibiting.

Country Life talks to Sarah O'Connell on the eve of the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch, Reefton sparky Greg Topp is among locals helping to restore the old hydro scheme on the Inangahua River and there's huge demand world-wide for New Zealand's tiny rockit apples.

A fourth-generation Canterbury dairy farmer is embracing regenerative agriculture. John says soil health on his Leeston property has improved dramatically since he stopped using synthetic fertilisers three years ago.

Steve Matthews loves the wild Wairarapa coast where he's worked on farms most of his life. Intrigued by the deer he used to see munching seaweed on the beach, the pensioner started up his own small business foraging and selling the stuff. Demand is huge but he plans to stay small-scale, unless new regulations put him out of business .

Brandon Dalton moved to Lees Valley in Canterbury from a ranch in eastern Montana and now works alongside 13 other staff to keep the 20 thousand hectare station ticking over.

Hot temperatures have seen pasture growth bolt away over much of the North Island. In the South it's been warm too. Farmers in Canterbury have been planting kale for grazing next winter and hopefully by the end of next week all the tractor work will be done for the season.

Rural doctors, nurses, and business have met with the health minister this week to press home health issues affecting people living in the country side and smaller towns. Our guest this week is a GP from Kaikoura who's with the Rural Health Alliance of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Relieving the Rural Health Crisis, Where the Grass is Greener, Meet the Seaweed Man, Farming with the Future in Mind and The Regional Wrap.

Shepherding is more a lifestyle than a job for Kate White, Lesley Pollock and Kacey Johnson. They're among the youngest all women team of shepherds tin the country.