For 75 years, Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Sheep and Beef Farm Survey has set the gold standard for independent farm performance insights, helping farmers make informed decisions, strengthened the sector’s story, and supported policy shaped by real world evidence.
The survey is a statistically robust, nationally representative picture of more than 9,000 commercial sheep and beef farm businesses. It captures real data from real farms, reflecting the diversity of systems, regions, and business goals across the sector.
“This work is only possible because farmers continue to voluntarily share their information, and B+LNZ acknowledges the trust and commitment shown by those who take part,” says Julian Ashby, General Manager Insights at B+LNZ.
The survey relies on strong relationships between B+LNZ and farmers. B+LNZ works closely with participants, bringing deep farming knowledge and the ability to interpret complex data from a wide range of systems.
Ashby says the survey’s strength lies in how the data is used. “This isn’t just a record of what’s happening on farms, it’s a tool for lifting performance across the sector.
“Farmers use these insights to improve productivity and profitability, identify opportunities, and make decisions with confidence. By understanding long-term trends and what drives top performance we can help lift the ceiling and move the middle so the whole sector benefits.”
The survey underpins a wide range of B+LNZ’s work, from policy and advocacy to science, farm systems analysis, and environmental reporting. It is also widely used by researchers and industry partners.
“High quality, independent data is essential for credible advocacy,” Ashby says. “When we sit at the table on behalf of farmers, this survey gives us the evidence we need to represent the sector accurately and confidently.”
For farmers, the survey provides a trusted benchmarking tool. Participants can compare their performance with others in the same farm class and region, helping guide business decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.
Over the decades, the survey has tracked major shifts in the sector, including steady improvements in sheep productivity, changes in beef supply linked to dairy trends, and evolving farm systems.
Recent additions include greenhouse gas estimates, woody vegetation mapping, and geospatial analysis, which link farm performance with physical factors such as soil type, slope, land use capability and rainfall.
Ashby says the survey will continue to evolve. “We’re already exploring how technology use is changing on farms, from drones to virtual fencing. The sector is moving fast, and the survey needs to keep pace so we can continue providing world-class insights.”
As B+LNZ looks to the next 75 years, the organisation is encouraging more farmers to take part. Ongoing participation keeps the dataset credible, representative, and useful for the whole sector.
To find out more visit beeflambnz.com/sheep-beef-farm-survey