Spotted something in our weekly e-diary newsletters and need to refer to it again?
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.
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See elsewhere on our website for other e-diary info:
This week’s notices:
B+LNZ Central South Island Farmer Development Scholarship – applications now open
Applications are open for the B+LNZ Central South Island Farmer Development Scholarship, offering up to $7,500 to support ambitious sheep and beef farmers who are committed to strengthening their farm business and contributing to the wider sector. It's open to applicants aged 20 years and over who are actively involved or employed in the sheep and beef sector and based in Otago or South Canterbury with a minimum of two years’ industry experience. Apply here or call Dean Sinnamon on 027 433 9336. Completed applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 26 June 2026.
You’re invited to the 2026 B+LNZ Awards
Join us at the 2026 B+LNZ Awards Dinner at Te Pae Conference Centre, Christchurch, on Wednesday 20 May. Enjoy an exceptional meal by B+LNZ Ambassador Chef Rex Morgan while celebrating the sector and our finalists, with winners announced across eight award categories. The dinner is part of Out the Gate 2026, brining three major sector events together across two and a half days. Purchase your tickets today.
How do you manage parasites? B+LNZ wants to know
Parasites and drench resistance are getting harder to control, so B+LNZ is ramping up support through research, on‑farm trials, farmer learning groups, and Wormwise. We’re running a short, anonymous survey to help us focus our work where it will make the biggest difference. Your responses, alongside insights from our Livestock Parasite Management groups, will show what’s working and where more support is needed. It takes just five minutes, and your input directly shapes the tools, resources, and research we invest in. Take the survey here.
Have your say on health and safety obligations
WorkSafe is currently consulting on Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) for Agriculture. These are the Roles and responsibilities in agriculture and Safe farm vehicle operation. Farmers should engage in this consultation as these ACOPs set out guidelines for farmers’ obligations under the Health and Safety Act and it’s critical you have your say. We need to make sure these are sensible, practical, and reflect on-farm realities. More information on the consultation including the draft ACOPs can be found on the WorkSafe website here.
Our priorities for the incoming Government
Watch out on Wednesday 29 April for the release of our 2026 Election Manifesto for the red meat sector. B+LNZ has joined with the Meat Industry Association to set out nine priorities for the Government that will be elected on 7 November. We want to work with the incoming Government to support farmers and processors, and to build a prosperous NZ for all Kiwis. Further info in next week’s e-diaries.
See outstanding farm operations in action
Regional Supreme Winners in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are hosting open days on their properties across the country through late April and May. Five of the 11 Regional Supreme Winners were beef and sheep operations (Auckland, Waikato, East Coast, Canterbury and Southland). Details of the open days in each region are on the Awards website (note Taranaki’s event was held shortly after the awards in March). If you’re planning to attend an event, please register here. B+LNZ is a national awards sponsor.
Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes
Primary ITO is delivering a wide range of Level 3–5 livestock and farm systems training across NZ from April 2026 through to early 2027. Courses cover key sheep and beef topics including:
- Animal health and biosecurity
- Reproduction, mating and birthing
- Feeding, pasture, soils and feed supply
- Livestock performance, benchmarking and farm reporting
Farm environment planning and production management.
Training is available regionally (face-to-face) and online, with multiple dates offered across most programmes. View the full course schedule for dates, locations, delivery mode and regional contacts in your area.