We update our strategy every few years to reflect our farmers’ priorities.
In early 2024 we refreshed our strategy.
We worked closely with farmers to identify the most critical priorities B+LNZ should focus on to achieve our vision of thriving sheep and beef farmers, now and into the future.
Our renewed focuses
Based on farmer feedback, the 2024–27 strategy:
- is focused on farm business productivity and profitability
- places more emphasis where farmers have told us it matters most, behind the farm gate, in research, science and extension
- sees greater investment in regional extension driven ‘by farmers, for farmers’
- reflects the need to represent farmer views more strongly to Government
- increases the focus on telling, and celebrating, farmers’ stories about their care of livestock, land and community.
How we’ll achieve our vision
Here’s a snapshot of key work across our priority areas.
Championing farming excellence
Extension
- Partnering with the B+LNZ Farmer Council and enhancing our ‘by farmers, for farmers’ approach in the delivery of regional extension, events and products.
- We are lifting our investment behind the farm gate and will be setting up the following new initiatives:
- Supporting farmers to learn with other farmers adapting and adopting tools, technology and management systems through small group learning in B+LNZ-led Focus and Innovation groups
- Setting up regional ‘Hub’ farms and partnerships, supporting farmer connection and shared learning and addressing local challenges and opportunities.
- We’ll continue to deliver high-quality extension and regional events .
- Continuing our work attracting, growing and supporting young people in our sector.
- Working with Māori farmers and Māori farming entities.
Research and innovation
- Working across the sector and internationally on sheep, beef and dairy-beef genetics research and tools to maintain our world-leading position.
- Highlighting farm system and tech opportunities and showing the value of practical tools and research that will increase profitability and sustainability.
- Working to solve industry-wide animal health issues like facial eczema and internal parasites.
- Working on research into climate adaptation and mitigation and other environmental challenges.
- Working with others to address the challenge of non-replacement dairy calves.
Advocacy
- Using world class data and insights to influence domestic and international policy.
- Ensuring farmer voices are heard on key policy issues that impact on their profitability and reputation, including access to markets, freshwater management, climate change and biosecurity.
- Building farmer-led partnership approaches with other sector groups on regional planning.
Energising the sector
- Building the trust and reputation of, and confidence in, New Zealand farmers.
- Increasing our investment to telling our farmers’ stories, and celebrating your care of livestock and the environment.
- Growing the B+LNZ Awards.
- Producing a ‘future scan’ identifying risks and opportunities that may impact our farm businesses.
- Processing companies will take a leading role in Taste Pure Nature, allowing B+LNZ to reallocate resources behind the farmgate. B+LNZ will remain an active partner in ensuring the link between farmers and consumers is maintained.
How we measure success
We look to maximise our impact on farm productivity and profitability with all our investments and will transparently report back to farmers on progress and achievements.
We’re working through what this reporting looks like and will keep farmers updated.