Farming
Saving seeds, saving stories
There's a story to many of the heritage seedlings which Jemma Ostenfeld grows on a patch of borrowed land in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
A Southlander inside the mega dairies of China and Russia
Berwick Settle has worked on some of the biggest dairy farms in the world, where cows never go outside the barn and must take regular showers to stay cool and keep the milk flowing.
Saving seeds, saving stories
Jemma Ostenfeld collects and germinates seeds on a patch of borrowed land in the eastern Bay of Plenty. She is helping to preserve the genetic memory of plants - each seed a story of survival… Audio
From the Archives - Sheep on the board
In this story for the long-running programme Spectrum, first broadcast in 1972, Jack Perkins joins a Wairarapa shearing gang, on a farm near Masterton. It starts at the beginning of a day's shearing… Audio
A wrap from RNZ's rural news desk
A round-up of the week's news from the primary sector. Audio
A kiwi's life in the world's largest dairy farms
Twenty years ago Berwick Settle was a Southland sharemilker. Since then he's worked in some of the biggest dairy farms in the world, helping set up farms in China and Russia where cows live year round… Audio
Midday Rural News for 7 November 2025
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team. Audio
Farmer urges government to act as consent costs spiral
It has been seven weeks since David Clark went public with his frustration of the resource consent process and its "outrageous costs".
Another price drop threatens farmers' milk payout hopes
The price fall at the Global Dairy Trade auction was the sixth time in a row, down 2.4 percent to its lowest level since September 2024.
Tackling nitrogen's 'gnarly' problems on farm
The government is doubling down on supporting the development of new tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on farm with a new co-investment, following its decision not to price agricultural…
Dozens of animals injured, dead as livestock truck rolls near Martinborough
Martinborough Transport Ltd managing director Josh Hawkins said the driver was very shaken from the accident.
Being 'the keeper of the community's stories'
Eketāhuna Museum is a treasure chest of curiosities which shines a light on the small town's Scandinavian heritage and the challenges of running a country museum.
Breeding the 'wagyu of lamb' for an ever-changing environment
Alastair Reeves has followed in his father's footsteps, using genetics to help farmers solve problems on farm by breeding sheep that make for good eating, are tolerant of facial eczema and emit lower…
