Farmers getting creative with wool, post-Covid careers in the country and a Hawke's Bay 12-year-old documents the drought - these are the top ten features from Country Life.
Making wool great again
West Otago couple Murray and Julie Hellewell were so sick of seeing so much synthetic clothing around they decided to do something about it. A couple of years ago Murray decided to make jerseys from their lambswool.
Julie and Murray wearing their West Ridge jerseys Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
12-year-old photographer brings drought struggles home
The Jowsey family are among many Hawke's Bay farmers struggling with drought. The youngest member of the family, 12-year-old Selby, is documenting their daily grind of feeding and watering stock on parched paddocks.
Photo: Selby Jowsey
Geraldine farmers go to bat for endangered species
When wagyu beef farmers Evan and Clare Chapman went to cut down a row of willows at their property, they discovered a colony of critically endangered long-tailed bats/pekapeka had made the old trees their home.
Evan and Clare Chapman Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
A dog's day out
Every weekday morning two dozen Gisborne dogs wait eagerly for the rumble of a bus at their gate. The dogs are ready for an excursion to a farm, river or beach with Bernice David-Goodwin.
Dogs on a Dog's Day Out, Gisborne Photo: Supplied
Farmer fuelled by flour power
Keen bakers around the country are making muffins with stone-ground flour milled by a cocky from Canterbury.
Farmer Marty Scurr Photo: RNZ
From the cockpit to the tractor cab
Former pilots, cafe workers and salespeople are just some of the New Zealanders looking at a career in agriculture after Covid-19 disrupted their lives.
Former Virgin pilot Simon Giles Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Handsome $100k Angus bull a thrill for new Gisborne owners
Penny Hoogerbrug of Kaharau Angus Stud describes the nerve-wracking moments before she and her partners became the proud new owners of "Lot 8" - setting a record for the highest price paid for a bull at an on-farm sale.
New bull owners Kylie and Ben Johnson (L) and Penny Hoogerbrug with her stud manager Nick Carr (R). The bull's former owner Andrew Powdrell of Turiroa Angus is in the middle. Photo: Supplied
Farmers find niche in wool carding
A small sign on State Highway 8 near Raes Junction on the West Otago/Central Otago border says Wool Carding 1km. The track leads to a sheep farm where Barb and Stuart Peel run their carding business from a large shed.
Barb and Stuart Peel Photo: RNZ/Cosmo Kentish Barnes
That's Hentertainment!
"Hentertainment" is a way of keeping hens laying – and happy – at Henergy, a barn-raised egg business on the outskirts of Masterton.
Henergy chicken keeper Brenda Edmeades with her girls Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
Urbanites upskill for career in dairy
Dairy NZ has launched a publicity campaign to encourage people to consider changing careers and getting into dairy farming. This June, it ran a "farm-ready" entry-level training course.
Farmer Thomas Chatfield Photo: RNZ / Susan Murray
