Farmers encouraged to attend B+LNZ Annual Meeting and one-day event

// B+LNZ

Beef + Lamb New Zealand levy payers are being encouraged to attend their organisation’s Annual Meeting in New Plymouth next month to hear how their money is being invested.

Kevin Biggar

The Annual Meeting, which is being held on Thursday 26 March at The Devon Hotel, is part of a full day of activities which will focus on how B+LNZ is responding to the rapidly changing environment farmers are now operating in.

The theme of the day is Positioning the Sector for the Future and B+LNZ’s Chairman, Andrew Morrison says a number of policy changes, along with shifting consumer demands and climatic challenges mean that farmers are having to rapidly adapt their businesses in order to thrive.

“B+LNZ’s focus has been advocating on farmers behalf at both government and market level while developing farm and environmental management tools to support farmers and the rural communities in which they operate.

“This work will be summarised during the course of the day.”

Amongst the highlights will be an update on the roll-out of Taste Pure Nature, NZ’s first red meat country of origin brand, a summary of B+LNZ’s environmental and research investment in the region and a focus on the specific work B+LNZ is doing to support its dairy levy payers.

“Taranaki is renowned for its dairy production and as dairy farmers are an important part of B+LNZ, we would like to see dairy farmers in the region take the opportunity to come along and hear how we using their levy money to add value to the beef component of their businesses.”

An afternoon field trip to the Hocken/Coogan family farm MataRata Downs will give attendees the opportunity to see how the family has balanced productivity with outstanding environmental management while navigating succession and opening their farm gate to school children and local and overseas visitors.

The day with conclude with a fun and inspirational evening run in conjunction with the Taranaki Rural Support Trust. Adventurer Kevin Biggar of TVNZ’s ‘First Crossings’ and ‘Intrepid NZ’ fame will be the keynote speaker talking about wellbeing. A koha at the door and fund-raising auction will be held to raise funds to help support the work of the Rural Support Trust.

Farmers can attend all or part of the day’s activities. Please ensure you register as spaces are limited.