B+LNZ will be introducing Focus Groups into the extension programme. These will be topic focused, and outcomes driven, with an opportunity to learn from other members and subject matter experts. We're keeping the numbers small to ensure everyone gets a chance to share insights and learn from each other.
What is a Focus Group?
A Focus Group is a small group of farmers with a shared interest in a particular topic who meet regularly over a one to two-year period to discover and learn together. They will hear from subject matter experts and commit to making changes in their businesses, exploring what works, and sharing their experiences. Spaces will be limited.
Programme requirements
- Before the first meeting, there will be a small amount of information for you to collect about your farm business. After meeting you will commit to taking relevant actions in your business to implement the newly acquired knowledge.
- This programme is free to all associated levy payers and their employees.
Selection criteria
Actively working on a sheep and beef or drystock property (associated levy payers).
- Willingness to learn new skills and understand the drivers to improving on farm production and profitability of the sheep and beef sector.
- Participants must attend all Focus Group meetings.
Focus Group topics
Financial Management – Budgeting for business results
In this Focus Group participants will improve their knowledge and skills to understand their farm business’s financial performance and improve financial literacy. This group will spend the first year understanding benchmarking and KPIs for improvement, managing budgets and forecast cash flow. At the conclusion of this group, each farm business will have a current budget and be proactively managing their business with confidence.
- Cashflow budgeting
- Financial analysis
- Identifying opportunities
- Financial Benchmarking
Animal production
In this Focus Group participants will better understand key drivers of animal performance and feel confident to make informed decisions in your farming business. The Focus Group will spend the first year being taken on a learning journey that starts with benchmarking your current production performance and identifying opportunities for improvement supported by industry experts. As well as identifying actions that you want to test on their farm and reporting back on your progress and sharing knowledge farmer to farmer. There will be a large emphasis on shifting your animal performance and sharing your learning with the group.
- Drivers of animal performance
- Benchmarking + KPI’S
- Animal health
- Pasture management
- Systems to optimise production
Register for a group
Register your interest for one of the workshops below.
Groups in the BOP and eastern Mid-Northern region will start after October 2025, following the expansion of the delivery team.
| Title | Venue | Date | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal production | Taumarunui | 3 February | Register Now |
| Financial management – budgeting for business results | King Country | 3 February | Register Now |
| Animal production | Waitomo | 3 February | Register Now |
| Animal production | West Waikato | 3 March | Register Now |
| Financial management – budgeting for business results | Mangatangi | 3 March | Register Now |
| Animal production | Glen Murray | 3 March | Register Now |