Country Life

Kelly Phelps rescues 100 to 200 battery hens every week. Before the chooks head off to lifestyle blocks, urban sections and dairy farms around the country, she prepares them for 'life on the outside'

The giant willow aphid is infesting willows, apple and pear trees, some native trees and shelterbelts on some kiwifruit orchards. Entomologist Stephanie Sopow is heading to the United States to search for and bring back a tiny wasp known to kill the aphid. The parasitic wasp will undergo two years of testing to see if it is suitable for release in New Zealand.

It's sounding like a broken record, but apart from Hawkes Bay and East Coast, it's still exceedingly wet everywhere in the North Island. The South Island's also very wet apart from South Otago and Southland.

The Icing on the Cake, Free As a Bird, Taking on the Giant,and the Regional Wrap.

James Thomson runs 2,400 Ile de France-cross ewes at Island Farm on 1,300 hectares of extensive, riverbed-type country between Christchurch airport and the Waimakariri River.

Country Life hosts a round table discussion looking at some of the key challenges facing farming in New Zealand. Two people who earn their living as dairy farmers as two people who argue current farming models need changing.

The North Island's still totally over flowing with water and in the South Island, Marlborough farms are well into lambing while those in Southland are just starting.

On Country Life this week four people get around the table and talk about issues affecting farming, disruptive technologies like synthetic meat and milk, the environment and bobby calves. Also, James Thomson farms a large flock of Ile de France-cross sheep on 1300 hectares of extensive, riverbed-type country between Christchurch airport and the Waimakariri River.

Country Life received lots of emails for the draw to win the book "Should Meat be on The Menu" by Australian author David Mason-Jones.

Country Life hosts a round table discussion looking at some of the key challenges facing farming in New Zealand. Two people who earn their living as dairy farmers as two people who argue current farming models need changing.