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Meet Bella – your B+LNZ Knowledge Hub assistant

Like any good heading dog, Bella (Beef + Lamb Assistant) will listen to your commands – tell her what you want to know and she’ll round up an answer from the Knowledge Hub in no time.

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E-diary notices: 12 September 2025

Spotted something in our weekly e-diary newsletters and need to refer to it again?

Nitrogen applications boost spring growth

Farmers facing a feed pinch this spring could consider applying nitrogen to help boost pasture growth.

Update on our freshwater farm plans work

B+LNZ continues to push for a simpler freshwater farm plans system, reflecting the extensive nature of many sheep and beef farming operations. Find out more about our policy positions and the work we’re doing on farmers’ behalf.

FE risk: lessons from sheep poo

Recently B+LNZ hosted a webinar giving farmers an update on findings from the Sheep Poo study, featuring Dr Cara Brosnahan and vet Ginny Dodunski. This study, which is entering its final year, is a key part of the Eliminating Facial Eczema (FE) Impacts programme and is helping build a clearer picture of how FE affects farms nationwide. There is still time for farmers interested in getting involved as the third season starts soon.

image of Steve with his dog infront of the river

Farmers driving environmental change in Tukituki

For more than 30 years, Steve Treseder has quietly transformed the landscape of the Nisbett Taumata Estate in the Mangamahaki sub-catchment at Oueroa. His work is just one example of the farmer-led environmental stewardship happening across Aotearoa.

image of ewe and lamb infront of Mount Taranaki

B+LNZ New Season Outlook highlights high values for sheep and beef but risk of headwinds on the horizon

New Zealand red meat prices are at record levels and are forecast to remain strong throughout the coming year, according to the New Season Outlook for 2025–2026 from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ).

E-diary notices: 5 September 2025

Join B+LNZ's TB Plan Review webinar, New tethering rules include exceptions for working dogs, Update for farmers on Waikato Plan Change 1

image of Bella the AI assistant dog and ask Bella web address

Beef + Lamb New Zealand launches game-changing AI-powered assistant

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.

Update for farmers on Waikato Plan Change 1

The following was emailed to farmers in districts that are included in PC1 on 2 September 2025.

Planning for a successful yearling heifer mating programme

Planning, feeding, a robust animal health programme and the right genetics are the critical factors in a successful heifer mating programme.

image of beef lamb event with two speakers

Technologies showcased at B+LNZ’s Tech over Tucker Dinner

Remain curious and go for it. This is what Sir Ian Taylor told a packed audience at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Tech over Tucker dinner held in Timaru last week.

New scholarship for young Otago and South Canterbury farmers

Young farmers in Otago and South Canterbury are being encouraged to apply for a new scholarship designed to support their growth and development in the sheep and beef sector.

E-diary notices: 29 August 2025

Spotted something in our weekly e-diary newsletters and need to refer to it again?

Tararua farmers open paradise to public

Tararua sheep and beef farmers Marty and Debbie Hull have given access to the public to their “magical” waterfall for the entire 20 years they have owned the farm.

Primary Purpose research on public views around emissions

At a time when NZ’s emissions policies are under scrutiny and consumers increasingly look for low-carbon products, public confidence in farming’s emissions reduction progress is critical. A new survey shows what the public thinks.

Showcasing innovation in Taranaki farming

Each year, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) hosts three events across the Taranaki region to spotlight innovative farming practices and businesses as part of the B+LNZ Farming for Profit initiative. The final event for the past two years has been held at TET Stadium in Inglewood. Here's a summary of the 2025 series.

image of herd of cows ready for drenching

Do cattle need a drench coming out of the winter?

Cattle coming out of the winter often get a drench in the springtime, but this may not be necessary for all animals. Wormwise Vet Mary Bowron outlines factors to consider.

Christine Lewis at Food and Fibre Awards

Showcasing B+LNZ at Lincoln University’s Food and Fibre Awards

Beef + Lamb New Zealand took the opportunity to showcase the careers available within the organisation and the red meat sector at Lincoln University’s recent Food and Fibre Awards.

Indoor lambing system continues to deliver

On a cold, wet July day, 200 single or triplet-bearing ewes were tucked up in the Dawkins family’s warm, dry lambing shed waiting on the impending arrival of their lambs.

E-diary notices: 22 August 2025

More GFF trainers needed, Wairarapa Livestock Parasite Management Group Field Day

image of Stacey Waka looking back with a rugby ball

B+LNZ backs women’s rugby

B+LNZ is continuing its support for New Zealand athletes by partnering with Sky’s broadcast of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off 22 August.

Bulls needed for across-breed progeny test

Angus and Hereford stud breeders are being encouraged to nominate sires for use in an innovative beef genetics programme.

Farm interns explore cattle handling in VR

Whangārei A&P Society’s Farm Intern Programme students have been learning how to handle cattle safely without stepping foot on a farm thanks to a new Virtual Reality (VR) module developed by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) in partnership with the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE).

Planning ahead for next year’s winter forage crops

With spring just around the corner, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is encouraging farmers to start planning ahead for next year’s winter forage crops.

Lamb revival

A well-equipped lambing kit can help minimise lamb losses, particularly in bad weather.

Planting productive land in trees is clogging the arteries of our economy

This opinion editorial by B+LNZ Chair Kate Acland was published in the Sunday Star-Times on 10 August 2025.

E-diary notices: 15 August 2025

Spotted something in our weekly e-diary newsletters and need to refer to it again?

Signs of sheep and beef recovery in B+LNZ Stock Number Survey

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has released its annual Stock Number Survey for the year ending 30 June 2025, which shows New Zealand’s total sheep numbers fell modestly by 1.0 percent, in contrast to sharp falls in recent years, while beef cattle numbers rose 4.4 percent.

Failure to fix ETS means wholesale farmland conversions will continue

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says the latest proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) leave the door wide open for the continued wholesale conversion of productive sheep and beef farmland into carbon farms.

Building a sheep and beef business

A can-do attitude, parental support and a drive to create multi-generational opportunities have been instrumental in helping North Canterbury farmers Jim and Kim Burrows build a business in the sheep and beef industry.

image of attendees at field day in woolshed

Showcasing progress at B+LNZ’s WNI Hub Farm

Ohineiti Station, B+LNZ’s Western North Island Hub Farm, is a platform for real-time learning and performance improvement. Farmers are welcomed at field days to share ideas and explore solutions. The most recent event focused on improving lamb survivability, featuring insights from Massey researchers and local farmers.

image of phone using Nprove infront of herd

How collaboration is driving genetic progress in New Zealand Beef

It’s been five months since Beef + Lamb New Zealand launched nProve Beef, a powerful new online genetics tool developed through the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme, and the early response has been very encouraging.

B+LNZ encourages farmers to become GFF trainers

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on sheep and beef farmers to consider becoming farm trainers for the Growing Future Farmers (GFF) programme.

Find events in your region

Events in your region

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Welcome to Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Meet Bella – your B+LNZ Knowledge Hub assistant

Featured

E-diary notices: 12 September 2025

Nitrogen applications boost spring growth

Update on our freshwater farm plans work

FE risk: lessons from sheep poo

Farmers driving environmental change in Tukituki

B+LNZ New Season Outlook highlights high values for sheep and beef but risk of headwinds on the horizon

E-diary notices: 5 September 2025

Beef + Lamb New Zealand launches game-changing AI-powered assistant

Update for farmers on Waikato Plan Change 1

Planning for a successful yearling heifer mating programme

Technologies showcased at B+LNZ’s Tech over Tucker Dinner

New scholarship for young Otago and South Canterbury farmers

E-diary notices: 29 August 2025

Tararua farmers open paradise to public

Primary Purpose research on public views around emissions

Showcasing innovation in Taranaki farming

Do cattle need a drench coming out of the winter?

Showcasing B+LNZ at Lincoln University’s Food and Fibre Awards

Indoor lambing system continues to deliver

E-diary notices: 22 August 2025

B+LNZ backs women’s rugby

Bulls needed for across-breed progeny test

Farm interns explore cattle handling in VR

Planning ahead for next year’s winter forage crops

Lamb revival

Planting productive land in trees is clogging the arteries of our economy

E-diary notices: 15 August 2025

Signs of sheep and beef recovery in B+LNZ Stock Number Survey

Failure to fix ETS means wholesale farmland conversions will continue

Building a sheep and beef business

Showcasing progress at B+LNZ’s WNI Hub Farm

How collaboration is driving genetic progress in New Zealand Beef

B+LNZ encourages farmers to become GFF trainers

Find events in your region

Events in your region

B+LNZ Young Farmer Development Scholarship: applications open

B+LNZ 2025 Director Roadshow

B+LNZ Forage Crops and Pasture in Alpine Conditions Workshop

Do you have a B+LNZ online account?