Tackling facial eczema takes all of us, Update on Waikato Plan Change 1 Final Decision, Wormwise launches fine wool resource, Funding announcements in line with red meat sector’s manifesto calls
This page contains this week’s e-diary national notices.
If there’s something you want to know specific to your region, contact your local extension manager – find their details here.
To sign up to e-diaries, create/login to a B+LNZ online account, go to ‘Account settings’ and select the e-diary box – you’ll be asked to pick which region/s you want to receive e-diaries for.
See elsewhere on our website for other e-diary info:
This week’s notices:
Tackling facial eczema takes all of us
Seeing FE on your farm this season? Let’s build the full picture. What you’re noticing on-farm matters. The more farmers who share their FE insights, the clearer the national view, and the better the tools we can develop to manage risk. Add your input here. It’s quick, and it makes a real difference.
Update on Waikato Plan Change 1 Final Decision
The Environment Court issued its Final Decision on Waikato Plan Change 1 this week. It will take some time to get the full picture because the decision is more than 200 pages and Waikato Regional Council has 30 days to provide the final Plan Change wording. It’s also unclear how soon the Plan Change will become operative. B+LNZ did not get all the changes we strongly advocated for but PC1 is better than it was and the Final Decision represents a big step towards certainty. We’ve emailed an update to farmers in the Waikato and Waipā catchments (who will face changes to how they operate, and new costs to many farming businesses) and will continue to support them through these changes as much as we can. B+LNZ has invested significant resources in this process due to the national precedents it has set.
Wormwise launches fine wool resource
Check out a new resource from B+NZ’s Wormwise team, Wormwise for fine wool lambs. It's a practical guide encompassing Wormwise principles of F.A.R.M.ED for managing parasites in fine wool lambs for their first year of life. This resource is a summary of the important points from the updated Wormwise Handbook, adapted for fine wool systems as well as inputs from fine wool farmers and their veterinarians.
Help bring B+LNZ research to life
Do you enjoy learning through pictures, videos, or seeing things in action? Or know someone who does? We’re looking for a small group of farmers to help us create practical, easy-to-follow visual material about animal health challenges like FE and the science behind them. Your input will help us reach a wider audience. Keen to be involved? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]m
Funding announcements in line with red meat sector’s manifesto calls
In B+LNZ and MIA’s election manifesto, we asked for additional funding across a range of areas to support farmers to continue their environmental progress on-farm. This week saw announcements addressing two of those areas. The Government says it will invest $40.5 million over the next four years through MPI to continue backing rural catchment groups and collectives. This announcement provides more certainty and will enable groups to get on with planning. The National Party also announced it will double QEII National Trust funding from $4.2m to $8.5m annually if re-elected. Around half of covenants are on sheep and beef farms, and demand from farmers currently exceeds QEII’s capacity, so we’re pleased to see our manifesto call reflected in the party’s policy platforms and will encourage other parties to follow suit.
Changes in B+LNZ’s Farming Excellence team
Dan Brier, B+LNZ’s General Manager for Farming Excellence, will be finishing with B+LNZ this week after nearly seven years with the organisation to take up a role at Cobb Vantress. We thank Dan for his service and the significant contribution he has made to building a strong Farming Excellence and Extension team, and wish him all the best. While we work through the new leadership arrangements, day-to-day contact for most enquiries won’t change – contact your local Extension Manager, or chat to your local Farmer Council and Kāhui member.
Government approves new plan to eliminate bovine TB
The Government, in partnership with B+LNZ, DairyNZ and Deer Industry New Zealand, has approved a new plan to target tuberculosis (TB)-infected possums in certain ‘hot spot’ parts of the country to protect herds. An independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB recommended that TB-infected possums must be cleared from a few areas of the central North Island, Hawke's Bay and Otago before NZ’s livestock can be permanently protected from the disease. The Government has accepted the review team’s proposals. Funding will stay at $60 million a year for the next five years, with farmers paying 60 percent and the Government 40 percent. To ensure sustainability of the programme after 2031, a review of progress against the plan and ongoing term funding requirements has been agreed. OSPRI, which administers the TBfree Plan, is making operational changes to support it, including switching from blanket TB testing to a more focused approach in surveillance areas.
New Zealand Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Annual Conference
Anyone with an interest in beef production is invited to attend this one-day conference at the Russley Golf Club in Christchurch from 8.30am–3pm on Friday 3 July. Hear what the Red Meat Sustainability Report means for beef and perspectives from across the beef value chain. There will also be an opportunity for discussion. Register here.