Country Life visits two farms embracing agritourism - a Bay of Plenty avocado grower and a Hawke's Bay hill country station offering farm walks. The team also steps into an enviro-friendly greenhouse growing year-round lettuces at scale.

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

In this episode:

• 0:30 - Rural News Wrap
• 7:10 - Keeping salad greens on the shelves, 52 weeks of the year
• 13:30 - Spreading the word about avocados
• 31:00 - Hawke's Bay farm's agritourism 'terroir'

With thanks to:

• Billy Stackhouse, Leaderbrand
• Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou
• Ro, Ed, Selby and Harry Palmer, Te Aratipi Station

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Set on the coast of Hawke's Bay, Te Aratipi Station offers walkers on the farm views across the bay, from the Māhia Peninsula right around to Mt Ruapehu on a clear day.

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

You can find more about Te Aratipi Station, here.

With thanks to:

• Ro, Ed, Selby and Harry Palmer

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Tour groups gather under the huge avocado trees belonging to orchardists Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou to learn about the fruit and how its grown. The IT pros are relatively new growers and see agritourism as an important part of the venture.

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

With thanks to:

• Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou

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

Since officially opening last April, Leaderbrand's Future Farms facility has allowed them to grow salad greens all year round.

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

With thanks to:

• Billy Stackhouse, Leaderbrand

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

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

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This week's Country Life is all about tech and science - from cutting edge ag drone, to collecting sheep poo samples to be processed in the lab as part of a national study, and the team helping breed the kiwifruit of tomorrow.

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

In this episode:

• 0:46 - Rural News Wrap
• 5:52 - Farmers' ag drone venture takes flight
• 13:56 - 'Poo hunter': In the name of science
• 26:56 - Inside New Zealand's Kiwifruit Breeding Centre

With thanks to:

• Mitchel Hoare
• Paul Crick, Sarah Riddy and Cara Brosnahan
• Matt Glenn, Amardeep Nath, Megan Wood, and Thomas Paterson

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

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

It takes years to perfect cultivars and to keep New Zealand's kiwifruit industry ahead of the game. Country Life takes a tour of the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre in Te Puke and meets those helping create the fruit of the future.

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

With thanks to:

• Matt Glenn, Amardeep Nath, Megan Wood, and Thomas Paterson

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

Want to chat to us or find out more about RNZ Podcasts? Join the RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions.

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

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

Wairarapa sheep farmer Paul Crick is one of hundreds out collecting poo samples from his flock as part of a national study testing for the presence of spores which cause facial eczema in sheep.

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

You can find more about the study, here.

With thanks to:

• Paul Crick, Sarah Riddy and Cara Brosnahan
  

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

Two King Country farmers have trained up as drone operators to offer on-farm drone spraying services, a side hustle alongside their traditional farming work.

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

With thanks to:

• Mitchel Hoare

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

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

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