Northland's farmers are reluctant to buy in stock and the sheep farmers in the southern South Island seem to have made it through this week's weather bomb with fewer than expected lamb deaths. Find out what's happening on the farms and orchards of New Zealand.

If you're squeamish don't listen to Country Life this week! No ... do! We learn about farming leeches and go hunting with a possum trapper in the Marlborough Sounds.

Dana Thompson and her family are living off the land in South Otago and helping others who want to do the same. She shares what she has learned in a weekly blog and a vlog. She's also penned several books ranging from raising meat rabbits to growing a food forest in a temperate climate, that sell on Amazon.

Construction of a new 'centre of excellence' for horticulture is expected to begin in Katikati early next year. The education hub will be based at Katikati College and will bring together training providers to equip people for a career in horticulture.

Plant and Food Research would like to empower the development of a much larger bumblebee industry in New Zealand. It has developed the technology to successfully breed bumblebees, now it wants beekeepers to run with it.

It's been a kind spring so far with good lamb survival rates and a pleasing bud break in Hawke's Bay orchards but a lot more rain is needed around the country except in Southland and on the West Coast. They've had plenty!

This week on Country Life, Dana Thompson and her family are living off the land in South Otago and helping others who want to do the same. She shares what she has learned in a weekly blog and a vlog. She's also penned several books ranging from raising meat rabbits to growing a food forest in a temperate climate, that sell on Amazon.

Tapanui farmer Mark Tiller came across the Speckle Park cattle breed several years ago while managing a dairy farm. Now he's breeding the cattle full time under the Aniwaniwa Stud name. Speckle Park is an eye-catching Canadian breed developed from three British breeds: Teeswater Shorthorn, Aberdeen Angus and a British white. Three years ago Mark visited some breeders in Canada to select some different bloodlines and brought back 24 embryos. Since then, he's purchased two cows in Canada that are flushed every year for eggs. Mark has been gradually building up his Speckle Park herd and plans to have his first on-farm purebred cattle auction next year.

Charlie Davis wants to protect the old Kelso Dairy Factory in West Otago. "Leave it here, it's history," says the retired farmer and local historian. He's leading a community project to repair the roof and strengthen the walls of the neglected concrete building. The factory was established in 1913 and produced mainly butter and cheese until it closed in 1945. After that it was used for storing wool and farm machinery, until the township was abandoned when the Pomahaka River flooded in 1982. The land was claimed by nearby farmers and is still prone to flooding.

Docking's started in blustery weather in the North and in Te Waipounamu it was a wild week for many on both sides of the main divide.