High winds in Manawatu have seen debris blown all over farms and, in the South Island, RSE workers are busy pruning grapevines.

Mid-Canterbury arable farmer Tim Cookson has recently returned from a trip to the US where he was following his son's under-16 school rugby tour. During a break in the schedule he visited a large dairy farming operation near Chowchilla in California.

Undy 500 - Colville, Welsh Winners, Undercover Cows and the Regional Wrap.

There's never a dull moment for Waipara Valley farmer, educator and foodie Angela Clifford. She grows 60 varieties of fruit and vegetables and has chickens, turkeys, ducks, sheep, bees, cows and pigs. She also runs 'grow your own' food workshops on the family farm and is the driving force behind Eat New Zealand, a not-for-profit moment that aims to connect people to the land.

With all the near-by pubs now closed, a woolshed is now the informal gathering spot for Manawatu locals on a Friday night. 'Happy Hour On Now For Mental Health' says a sign on the fencepost outside.

In days gone by, Northern Manawatu farmers haven't gone in for group activities, but now a group take social days off the farm together for the mental wellbeing of their community. Locals Jason Gillespie and Murray Curtis tell Country Life they'd probably find it easier now to pick up the phone and give someone a ring if things got tough.

The kumara harvest is 95 percent complete and growers have had a dream run. In the South Island pasture growth in Marlborough is up 30 to 40 percent on usual for the time of year.

Ag Consultant Phil Journeaux says skinny cows take months to recover and will cost farmers next season because they'll be too thin to be productive.

Food for Thought, Pop Up Pub and a Social Day Out, Beefing up Cows and the Regional Wrap.

Former gliding instructor Phil Pearce finds riding his motorbike more relaxing than driving a car and the 89-year-old can't see himself stopping any time soon. Every fortnight or so, Phil takes his classic Kawasaki 650W for a 90-minute ride from Palmerston North to his family land in Rangitikei to check possum bait stations.