Beef + Lamb New Zealand directors presented at a series of farmer meetings across the country during July and August, giving levy payers the opportunity be updated on their organisation’s activities and provide feedback.
Senior staff were also on hand to answer questions.
Attendees were updated on work underway in extension, genetics, on-farm research, environment (including farm plans and RMA reform) and heard market updates and outlooks.
There was strong positive feedback from farmers to B+LNZ’s increased focus behind the farm gate, particularly on lifting productivity and profitability. Over the last year, B+LNZ has increased its staff around the country to lift its extension work to introduce focus groups and hub farms.
There was also a lot of discussion around the impact of the emissions trading settings and subsequent conversion of sheep and beef land to trees.
Questions from farmers ranged from local issues (conversion of farms to trees, farm plans and extension events) to national issues such the impact of tariffs, meat industry reform, global outlooks and climate change.
One of the highlights of the Director Roadshow meetings was a presentation by industry commentator Simon Quilty from Global AgriTrends.
He said the future looked outstanding for NZ sheep and beef farmers, with tight supplies and strong global demand for red meat.
NZ beef producers were benefiting from the lack of beef exports from Brazil into the US due to high tariffs.
This meant the US was looking to Australia and NZ to supply lean beef and fill the void left by Brazil. He predicts that tariffs placed on NZ beef will be passed forward, rather than back.
Quilty says Australian and NZ were backfilling the void in global beef markets left by US as they rebuild their national beef herd. These markets include Japan, Korea and China.
The news is just as good for NZ lamb producers with tight supplies coming out of Australia.
Global prices for sheep meat are firm and look likely to remain firm, with prices peaking in the middle of next year.
“Tighter supplies and strong global demand points to very good livestock prices into 2027.”