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Country headlines with summaries.
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Caution urged for dairy farmers set for earnings boost
'Spend it wisely' Fonterra farmer shareholders told, after improved dividend values released, as many grapple with drought and low production, while global economic uncertainty looms.
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Farmer jailed for wilful ill-treatment of lambs and sheep
12 Mar 2025A Rangitikei farmer has been jailed for more than two years and disqualified from being in charge of animals indefinitely over the preventable deaths of lambs and sheep.
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Drought conditions see groundwater and dams used for livestock run dry
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay classified the conditions as a medium-scale adverse event, with the drought declaration opening up funding support and tax relief for farmers and growers.
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'Back to the land': Commune still going strong after 50 years
8 Mar 2025Rainbow Valley is located on regenerating whenua at the end of a gravel road near Tākaka. Several families share the land and help run a small farm for the benefit of the whole community.
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Essential water use only as Northland drought conditions worsen
13 Mar 2025Under level 4 restrictions introduced this week in Dargaville, town supply water may be used only for drinking, cooking, washing clothes and showering.
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Teen makes historic tractor-pull win
12 Mar 2025Ella Martin is the first woman to win the competition in it's almost 40-year history.
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'Short and sharp': Feijoa season in full swing
While volumes are down slightly, the quality of fruit is good, a grower says.
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How about them apples? The team behind New Zealand's future apples and pears
8 Mar 2025We find out what it takes to produce some of New Zealand's tastiest apples by heading inside Plant & Food Research where they help Prevar create new apple and pear varieties.
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Grape picking starts soon at organic Waipara Valley vineyard
7 Mar 2025A pre-harvest update from Greystone Wines, host recently to the inaugural Underground soil, food and farming festival, with viticulturalist and farming advisor, Nick Gill.
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Top axeman preparing for NZ Rural Games
7 Mar 2025King Country woodchopper Jack Jordan achieved the sport's first ever three-peat at last year's Timbersports World Trophy in Italy.
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Sheep farmers suspended after animal welfare investigation
6 Mar 2025Two farmers have been temporarily suspended as part of a New Zealand Merino Company investigation into allegations around animal welfare at some of its supplier's farms.
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Farmer's edible bale netting gets overseas attention
Since Grant Lightfoot shared his story on Country Life last week, he's received dozens of calls and even more emails from farmers interested in his product.
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New reservoir planned for Hawke's Bay
6 Mar 2025Hawke's Bay Regional Council is exploring the feasibility of a new water storage facility near Whanawhana in Hawke's Bay.
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Concerns immigration policies eroding RSE workers' rights - unions
4 Mar 2025There were close to 9000 workers in Aotearoa under the RSE scheme. Audio
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Farmers relieved at government's drought declaration
8 Mar 2025Some are milking once-a-day and sending stock to the works early.
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Pāmu reports half-year net profit of $62 million
Pāmu - formerly Landcorp - is the country's largest pastoral farmer, managing about 360,000 hectares across 112 farms.
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Farming coops can get a bad environmental rap, but they can also be a force for good
28 Feb 2025Large-scale sustainable transformation rests on finding ways to orchestrate the efforts of many individuals and organisations towards a common goal, writes Stefan Korber.
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Drought declared in Taranaki amid 'desperate conditions'
Hot dry conditions and below average rainfall have affected pasture growth and farmers have had to feed-out or sell livestock earlier.
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Rural areas to carry NZ economy until lower interst rates filter through
27 Feb 2025There are tentative signs of recovery in rural areas lifted by strong commodity prices, according to latest data.
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Kiwifruit rebound post-cyclone drives Seeka's $8m annual profit
27 Feb 2025Seeka says kiwifruit crop yields have rebounded in 2024.
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Toa Henderson wins Golden Shears Open
2 Mar 2025The Northland shearer has become the first debut finalist to win the Golden Shears Open in 15 years.
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Could small-scale farms be the best way to feed the country?
28 Feb 2025Alison Bentley is a small-scale farmer with big ideas on how smaller farms can help solve the growing problem of food insecurity in New Zealand.
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Country Life: Conditions on the farm
28 Feb 2025Grapes are being picked in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, Taranaki's in drought and the hop harvest is about to start in Tasman. Audio
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'No one else is doing it': Farmer rapt with edible bale netting
28 Feb 2025Paddocks free of plastic wrapping waste are becoming a reality thanks to Grant Lightfoot.
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