Farming
Nitrate emergency declared in Canterbury
A nitrate emergency has been declared in Canterbury, after regional councillors voted in favour of a declaration by a narrow majority of two votes. It comes after ECan's recent annual groundwater… Audio
ECan considers declaring nitrate emergency
Environment Canterbury (ECan) is considering whether to declare a "nitrate emergency" at its final meeting Wednesday, as dozens of protesters gather outside the building demanding action. Audio
Dairy farmer rewarded for environmental efforts on Canterbury plains
It's all go in the calving shed, but with tech doing the heavy lifting, dairy farmer Dan Schat has time for a yarn about the cold, the costs, and the season so far.
Treading Lightly - shoelaces made from sheep and salad
Meet Jacob Smith, the 21-year-old turning wool and veggie scraps into fashion-forward biodegradable shoelaces.
A cosmic farewell to the man who makes rural radio sing
For nearly two decades, RNZ producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes has been roaming the South Island countryside on the trail of stories for Country Life.
Tracks Well-Travelled A farewell to Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
After seventeen years of giving voice to rural New Zealand, Country Life's South Island producer is signing off from RNZ. Cosmo's farewell feature is a rich tapestry of voices and stories, woven from… Audio
Flat out calving but the robots are on the job
It's all go in the calving shed, but with tech doing the heavy lifting, dairy farmer Dan Schat has time for a yarn about the cold, the costs, and the season so far. Audio
Treading Lightly - shoelaces made from sheep and salad
Meet Jacob Smith, the 21-year-old turning wool and veggie scraps into fashion-forward biodegradable shoelaces. It started as a university project and has turned into a commercial venture sourcing wool… Audio
Full Episode for Friday 12 September 2025
This week Country Life bids farewell to long-time producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes who shares some of the magic moments he's had covering the South Island beat over nearly two decades. The team's also in… Audio
Agriculture educator shocked by govt's curriculum changes
Kerry Allen says removing agribusiness and horticulture science from 2028 narrows pathways into NZ's primary sector. Audio
Avocados for 19 cents? The bumper crop has arrived
It's a great time for avocado lovers, and not so much for growers.
Morning Rural News for 11 September 2025
News from the rural farming sector.
Applications for the The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority open on 18 September, not close on that date as is stated in the Rural News. Audio
