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Your voice needed on forestry limits legislation

Legislation to limit farm conversions to forestry is currently being consulted on by Parliament’s Environment Committee. We’ve made it easy for farmers to make a submission within the very short timeframe allowed, with a pre-written template. Submissions close at 9am, Monday 7 July.

Use our prewritten submission template now

image of pine tree plantation on Castlepoint farm

Featured

image of two ewes grazing on hill country pastures

Striking it right with set-stocking rates

What are the correct set-stocking rates for ewes at lambing? Vet and Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski strives to answer this question but says, like so many farm system questions, it is not straightforward.

Upcoming Pāmu Open Farm Days

A new series of Pāmu Open Farm Days, being held later this year and early next, will focus on running profitable and efficient farming businesses as well as providing an opportunity to build connections and learn about initiatives and insights across the sector.

image of three B+LNZ staff members at National fieldays in Hamilton looking at phone and laughinh

E-diary notices: 27 June 2025

RMA consultation info for farmers, Help shape the fight against facial eczema, Good genetic decisions just a click away, Last chance to nominate your bulls

image of two farmers with their surfboards on beach

B+LNZ’s ongoing support for Surfing for Farmers

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is proud to continue its support for Surfing for Farmers, now as a Grassroots Sponsor to reflect our long-standing commitment to this fantastic initiative helping farmers connect, unwind, and prioritise their mental wellbeing.

image of Wairarapa field day with attendees on farm

B+LNZ field day focuses on game-changing technologies

Technologies such as virtual fences, drones and parasite-controlling fertiliser have the potential to be game-changers for sheep and beef farmers and were the focus of a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand field day.

Unpacking the Waikato PC1 decision

The Environment Court has released its long-awaited interim decision on Waikato Plan Change 1. The decision, likely to be finalised by the end of the year, will have implications for all farms in the Waikato and Waipā catchments.

Wairarapa farmers explore opportunities in dairy beef

Farmers from across the lower North Island recently gathered for a first-of-its-kind workshop focused on unlocking the potential of dairy beef.

B+LNZ update on environment policy advocacy June

This email was sent to farmers on 25 June 2025.

Good genetic decisions just a click away

For too long, the New Zealand beef sector has lagged behind its sheep and dairy counterparts in harnessing the power of genetics to drive productivity. That’s changing -- and it’s changing because the industry is pulling in the same direction.

image of B+LNZ staff at Ladies' Long Lunch in Gore

E-diary notices: 20 June 2025

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

RMA consultation info for farmers

The Government is consulting on changes to a range of national direction instruments, which will ultimately affect farmers through regional council plans and other rules. B+LNZ will be providing farmers with more info and will make a submission informed by farmer input.

image of sheep in the shed waiting to get shorn

Farmer input needed on code of welfare consultation

Farmer input is crucial for our consultation submission on proposed changes to the code of welfare for sheep and beef cattle. Find out more about how we’re getting input and how you can make your own consultation submission.

Celebrating Māori Agribusiness this Matariki

This Matariki, the Māori New Year, is a perfect opportunity to reflect, celebrate, share, and plan for the future. Matariki is a time to honour the past, enjoy the present, and plan for the future.

image of Ladies' Long lunch event in Gore

Empowering rural women in Gore

A total of 480 women from across the Southern South Island recently gathered in Gore for B+LNZ’s Ladies Long Lunch for a day of inspiration, connection, and celebration. The event, backed by an impressive lineup of sponsors, sold out in just 15 minutes.

Image of cows moving next to forage crops

Building on good wintering practices

Changes in livestock wintering practices over recent years have resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback from Regional Councils and regulators. Now farmers grazing forage crops this winter are being encouraged to build on the good work

E-diary notices: 13 June 2025

Help shape the fight against facial eczema, Other Fieldays announcements

image of nz native trees and plantings next to stream running through farm

B+LNZ says biodiversity credits announcement will help recognise farmers’ contributions

Beef + Lamb New Zealand says the Government’s announcement of a trial of a voluntary nature credits market framework could provide important recognition of the work sheep and beef farmers do to protect and enhance indigenous biodiversity on their farms.

Northland shines at the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy ceremony

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) congratulates Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, winners of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy for sheep and beef, and Coby Warmington, who took home the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award.

Milestone agreement signed on Foot and Mouth Disease

Leaders from across the livestock sector have come together with the Government to sign a new agreement on how to prepare and respond in the unlikely event of a foot and mouth disease outbreak.

image of Kate Acland others at field days

Resilient Pastures programme launched

DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown and B+LNZ Chair Kate Acland today welcomed the announcement by Agriculture Minister Todd McClay of a $17 million, seven-year collaborative science and research programme – Resilient Pastures – which seeks to solve one of New Zealand agriculture’s most pressing and important challenges.

Farm conversions to forestry not slowing down, with increasing sales of productive land

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has released updated independent research showing whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming, continue at an alarming rate. Of particular concern is a significant shift in the type of land being sold.

nProve Beef proving popular

Since its launch, the on-line bull buying tool nProve Beef has proved popular, with Beef + Lamb New Zealand recording 589 user sessions per week between March and May.

image of rolling hills and sheep behind fence

Lower on-farm inflation good news for sheep and beef farmers

Prices for farm inputs fell by 0.6 percent in the year to March 2025 reports Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ).

image of field day attendees at Tararua field day

A multi-pronged approach to tackling drench resistance

Triple drench resistance is fast being a reality on many sheep and beef farms, and Tararua farmers Nick and Lesley Coppell are taking a multi-pronged approach to tackling the problem.

Help shape the fight against facial eczema

Take part in a national survey exploring the social impacts of facial eczema. It’s easy, completely confidential, and takes just 15 minutes to complete. For every response, $10 will be donated to the Rural Support Trust. Complete the survey before 18 July.

Complete survey here

Find events in your region

Events in your region

All events

B+LNZ webinars on the Government’s RMA national direction consultation

National Tue 8 - Thu 10 Jul

B+LNZ National Webinar Series: Grow Your Own People, Grow your Farm

National Fri 11 Jul

image of group learning looking at drenching in a yard

B+LNZ Central Otago Parasite Integrated Management Group: Expressions of interest

Otago Fri 11 Jul