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National lamb crop edges higher as ewe performance improves

New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, driven by stronger ewe performance in most regions, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.

Intent behind resource management legislation positive but details will be critical

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) strongly supports the intent of the Government’s proposed reform of the resource management system but the devil will be in the detail.

Voting to take place for one B+LNZ farmer director in 2026

An election will be held for a farmer director role in the Southern South Island (SSI) electoral district as part of the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand annual meeting process. Nominations and a call for remits closed on Friday 5 December.

image of Zowie Ransfield, rochelle white, kate guptill

E-diary notices: 21 November 2025

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

Farmers explore practical tech at Tākaka field day

Farmers from across the top of the south recently gathered in Upper Tākaka for a full day of learning and discussion, focused on practical technologies that can add real value to farm operations.

NZ’s sheep industry – 30 year report card

Since 1995, Beef + Lamb New Zealand has been recording the sheep industry’s genetic progress through its national genetic evaluation and results over the last three decades highlight how impressive this progress has been.

image of person conducting a body condition scoring test

Dry conditions build case for Body Condition Scoring

The dry conditions being experienced along much of the east coast of both Islands build a strong case for Body Condition Scoring ewes at this season’s weaning.

Take a break, try Surfing for Farmers

Surfing for Farmers is back for the summer, running in 25 regions across New Zealand and giving farmers the chance to swap gumboots for a surfboard. The initiative encourages farmers to take a couple of hours off farm each week, connect with others, and learn something new.

Apply for 2026 Next Generation Sheep Farmer Programme

Apply now for the Next Generation Sheep Farmer Programme, scheduled to take place in Adelaide, Australia from 5–10 July 2026 alongside the Australian sheep industry ‘LambEx’ event. Following the Australia visit, participants in the programme will then travel to New Zealand to learn about our sheep industry.

image of councillors at farm carrying basket

E-diary notices: 28 November 2025

Your input into farm safety, Nominations for director role open, Waikato Plan Change 1

RMA reform must be evidence-based and enduring

The Government is expected to introduce RMA legislation by the end of this year. We’re concerned the consultation process will run over the holiday period but will be strongly advocating for adequate time to talk to farmers, and for practical workable outcomes.

image of Olivia Weatherburn and two farm dogs

Apply for B+LNZ’s Agricultural Student Scholarship

Are you planning to study agriculture at tertiary level in 2026? Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is offering a new Agricultural Student Scholarship to support tertiary students passionate about making a difference in New Zealand’s sheep and beef sector.

How do I know if my calf drench is doing its job?

If you’re rearing calves for beef, or as dairy replacements, you’ll likely be treating them at intervals for internal parasites, or worms.

Get to know new B+LNZ WNI Farmer Councillors

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) recently welcomed three new Farmer Councillors to its Western North Island region.

The Nutrition Process helps optimise farm productivity

The newly released Beef + Lamb New Zealand resource The Nutrition Process helps sheep and beef farmers ensure their stock getting the nutrition they need to optimise productivity, irrespective of their farming system.

E-diary notices: 21 November 2025

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

Entries for 2026 B+LNZ Awards close soon

Entries for the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards close in just over two weeks and anyone working in the red meat sector is encouraged to either enter or nominate their industry heroes.

Taste Pure Nature comes to life in Shanghai

New Zealand’s red meat story took a major step forward in Shanghai earlier this month with the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand.

Meet the new B+LNZ Farmer Council Chair

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Billing as National Chair of the Farmer Council, following the formal election held November 12. Dan was elected unopposed from the Chairs and Deputy Chairs from B+LNZ’s seven regional Farmer Councils.

Traceability begins with a date – Christine Angland’s approach

At the foot of Canterbury’s Main Divide sits Mt Algidus Station, where Christine Angland and her husband Peter have been farming for the past 13 years. Their high-country operation spans 4,000 hectares of effective land, calving 1,300 cows annually and wintering around 2,600 cattle and 4,600 sheep.

Reducing the risk of pneumonia at weaning

With weaning soon to get underway, some simple management strategies can help prevent the economic losses associated with pneumonia and pleurisy.

The New Zealand red meat sector welcomes US beef tariff move

The US Government announcement that it will be removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef, is positive says the New Zealand red meat sector.

E-diary notices: 14 November 2025

Final season of Sheep Poo Study – farmers needed nationwide, Celebrating our Rural Women’s Day (15 October), MPI guide to the new Animal Status Declaration, World Iron Awareness Week (13–19 October)

Trade, tariffs and biosecurity top of mind in US visit

B+LNZ’s General Manager Policy and Advocacy, Rowena Hume, joined the recent NZ-US Council business delegation visit to the United States, where tariffs, trade policy and biosecurity were front and centre.

Do I need to quarantine drench the calves I'm buying?

Calves have been hot property this spring, but Wormwise’s Programme Support, Mary Bowron, warns that without the right management, bought-in calves are potentially carrying a hidden time-bomb.

B+LNZ leads ground-breaking sheep genomics project

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is leading a ground-breaking genomics project which will help future-proof New Zealand’s sheep industry.

Northland’s Oneriri Station opens its gate for B+LNZ Showcase

Over 225 people took the opportunity to look over the 3,500ha Oneriri Station at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s recent Northland Showcase event.

Meet your new B+LNZ Eastern North Island Farmer Councillors

Each year, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) holds its Farmer Council Annual Meetings across the country to discuss the implementation of their yearly regionalised plan, welcome new members and learn from other farmers.

E-diary notices: 7 November 2025

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

B+LNZ seeking director nominations as part of 2026 Annual Meeting process

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

image of Mark Harris and males around ute

B+LNZ gets behind Movember

Spring’s a busy time on farm and a good time to check in on mental health.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand meets with fellow producers in Brazil

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) chief executive Alan Thomson and Director UK and EU Macaulay Jones have recently returned from the World Meat Congress (WMC) in Brazil, where global meat industry leaders came together to discuss shared challenges on a range of issues from climate change and sustainability to trade access and biosecurity.

East coast farmers encouraged to prepare for drought

B+LNZ is encouraging farmers along the east coast of both Islands to start planning for drought as recent Nor West winds have left soil moisture levels depleted.

image of Stacey Waka looking back with a rugby ball

Women’s Rugby World Cup puts NZ red meat front and centre

B+LNZ’s Women’s Rugby World Cup broadcast partnership reached 1.5 million New Zealanders throughout the competition, connecting beef and lamb to sport, pride, and performance. Learn more about the campaign and other work promoting red meat to New Zealanders.

image of three students and mentor next to ute

Pause before lighting vegetation fires

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is urging farmers in regions affected by the recent windstorms to pause, plan and allow vegetation to fully dry out before setting it alight.

This helps ensure a cleaner and more efficient burn.

image of field day attendees sitting in a group

E-diary notices: 31 October 2025

Final season of Sheep Poo Study – farmers needed nationwide, Celebrating our Rural Women’s Day (15 October), MPI guide to the new Animal Status Declaration, World Iron Awareness Week (13–19 October)

Welcome to Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Meet Bella – your B+LNZ Knowledge Hub assistant

Featured

National lamb crop edges higher as ewe performance improves

Intent behind resource management legislation positive but details will be critical

Voting to take place for one B+LNZ farmer director in 2026

E-diary notices: 21 November 2025

Farmers explore practical tech at Tākaka field day

NZ’s sheep industry – 30 year report card

Dry conditions build case for Body Condition Scoring

Take a break, try Surfing for Farmers

Apply for 2026 Next Generation Sheep Farmer Programme

E-diary notices: 28 November 2025

RMA reform must be evidence-based and enduring

Apply for B+LNZ’s Agricultural Student Scholarship

How do I know if my calf drench is doing its job?

Get to know new B+LNZ WNI Farmer Councillors

The Nutrition Process helps optimise farm productivity

E-diary notices: 21 November 2025

Entries for 2026 B+LNZ Awards close soon

Taste Pure Nature comes to life in Shanghai

Meet the new B+LNZ Farmer Council Chair

Traceability begins with a date – Christine Angland’s approach

Reducing the risk of pneumonia at weaning

The New Zealand red meat sector welcomes US beef tariff move

E-diary notices: 14 November 2025

Trade, tariffs and biosecurity top of mind in US visit

Do I need to quarantine drench the calves I'm buying?

B+LNZ leads ground-breaking sheep genomics project

Northland’s Oneriri Station opens its gate for B+LNZ Showcase

Meet your new B+LNZ Eastern North Island Farmer Councillors

E-diary notices: 7 November 2025

B+LNZ seeking director nominations as part of 2026 Annual Meeting process

B+LNZ gets behind Movember

Beef + Lamb New Zealand meets with fellow producers in Brazil

East coast farmers encouraged to prepare for drought

Women’s Rugby World Cup puts NZ red meat front and centre

Pause before lighting vegetation fires

E-diary notices: 31 October 2025

Find events in your region

Events in your region

B+LNZ Mid-Northern North Island Farmer Council Contribution Scholarship

B+LNZ Sheep Farming for Profit Field Days with Trevor Cook

B+LNZ AgInnovation Conference