E-diary notices: 28 August 2026

// B+LNZ

Spotted something in our weekly e-diary newsletters and need to refer to it again?

Image of farmers cutting and preparing meat for event

Photography: Rebecca Williams

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: 

Last chance to nominate your bulls

Breeders have until Sunday 30 August to nominate bulls for the 2026 mating of B+LNZ’s across-breed Beef Progeny Test. Participating breeders receive valuable data on progeny performance, including growth, structural assessments, carcase traits (steers), and the maternal performance of daughters. Nominations are open to Angus and Hereford breeds. Find out more here.

B+LNZ says PCE’s ETS report a helpful contribution to discussion

This week the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released a report on the current design of NZ’s Emissions Trading Scheme, particularly the treatment of forestry. It argues the current design is not sustainable over the long term and requires significant reform. B+LNZ has been leading the conversation on wholesale land conversion to forestry as a result of ETS settings since 2019, and we want to be involved in a conversation about addressing the issues raised in the report. For more information see our media release. 

Resources available for lambing in bad weather

Lambing is now underway, and it’s a good idea to have a lambing kit prepared to give your lambs the best possible chance of survival during bad weather. We suggest including waterproof backpack or container containing lamb covers, iodine spray, bearing equipment, dextrose solution and syringe, gloves, veterinary lubricant, a towel and a thermos of warm water. See this news story for advice on assembling a lambing kit, along with a factsheet on reviving newborn lambs.

Complete our sheep genetics survey

B+LNZ’s Genetics team invites farmers, breeders and rural professionals to complete a short survey on the use of genetic tools and information in NZ’s sheep industry. The survey explores awareness, confidence and use of genetic tools such as breeding values, indexes and nProve. Insights will help inform B+LNZ’s genetics programmes and activities. The survey takes 5–10 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous. Take the survey.

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (NNI)

  • Level 3 Pasture Management (US32089) – Whangarei, 15 September
  • Level 3 Livestock Feed Demand (US28920) – Whangarei, 27 October
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Dargaville, 16 September
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Dargaville, 7 October
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Dargaville, 11 November
  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.
  • Contact: mailto:[email protected] or 027 478 3731.

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (MNNI)

  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Morrinsville, 17 September or 23 October.
  • Level 3 (US28972) Mating – Morrinsville, 22 or 28 October.
  • Level 4 (US28857) Mating – Morrinsville, 1 October.
  • Level 3 Livestock Health & Biosecurity (US32009/28978) – Morrinsville, 12 November.
  • Level 4 Farm Environment Planning (US32012) – Morrinsville, TBC November.
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Te Awamutu, 23 September.
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Te Awamutu, 7 October.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Te Awamutu, TBC November.
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Te Kauwhata, 22 September.
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Te Kauwhata, 20 October.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Tirau, TBC November.
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Tokoroa, 22 September.
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Tokoroa, 6 October.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Tokoroa, TBC November.
  • L5 Dairy Livestock Production Management – Tokoroa, TBC February 2027.
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Reporoa, 15 September.
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Reporoa, 29 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Reporoa, TBC December

Zoom courses:

  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027.
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 027 889 5588 (South Auckland, North Waikato, Hauraki); [email protected] or 027 474 5586 (Piako, Tirau, South Waikato, Mangakino, Whakamaru); [email protected] or 027 230 4281 (West Waikato/King Country); [email protected] or 027 236 1931 (Rotorua South, Central Plateau, Taupo).

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (WNI)

  • Level 3 Mating (US28920) – Stratford, 22 September.
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Stratford, 6 October.
  • Level 4 Parturition (US28858) – Hawera, 23 September.
  • Level 4 Mating (US28857) – Hawera, 14 October or 4 November.
  • Level 4 Farm Environment Planning (US32012) – Hawera, TBC November.
  • Level 3 Livestock Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Hawera, 13 October.
  • Level 4 Feeding, Farm Reports & Benchmarking (US28859/28851/28850) – Hawera, TBC February 2027.
  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contact: [email protected] or 027 600 0492 (North & South Taranaki, Whanganui).
 

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (ENI NTH)

  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Whakatane, 16 September.
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Whakatane, 30 September.
  • Level 3 Mating, Parturition and Young Stock (US28871/28872/28873/28980) – Waipukurau, TBC February 2027.
  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 027 236 1931 (Whakatane, Opotiki, BOP, Lakes District); [email protected] or 027 500 9630 (East Coast, Gisborne); [email protected] or 027 220 3642 (Hawke's Bay, Waipukurau).

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (ENI STH)

  • Level 3 US28972 Mating – Masterton, 29 September.
  • Level 3 US28971 Reproduction – Masterton, 13 October.
  • Level 3 Livestock Feed Supply & Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Masterton, 3 November.
  • Level 4 Environment Plan (US32012) – Masterton, TBC February 2027.
  • Level 3 Livestock Health & Biosecurity (US32009/28978) – Masterton, TBC March 2027.
  • Level 4 Feeding, Farm Reports & Benchmarking (US28859/28851/28850) – Masterton, TBC March 2027.
  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contact: [email protected] or 027 704 6855 (includes Masterton).

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (WNI)

  • Level 4 Mating (US28857) – Feilding, 17 September and 1 October.
  • Level 3 Mating (US28972) – Feilding, 22 or 29 September.
  • Level 3 Reproduction (US28971) – Feilding, 6 or 13 October.
  • Level 4 Environment Plan (US32012) – Feilding, TBC November.
  • Level 4 Feeding, Farm Reports & Benchmarking (US28859/28851/28850) – Feilding, TBC December.
  • Level 3 Livestock Feed Supply & Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – Feilding, 1 or 3 December.
  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027.
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 027 225 3953 (Feilding, Manawatu, Horowhenua); [email protected] or 027 220 3642 (Manawatu/Whanganui).

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (NSI)

  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contact: [email protected] or 027 232 7838.

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (NSI)

  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027.
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 027 438 3196 (North Canterbury); [email protected] or 027 232 7838 (West Coast).

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (CSI Nth)

  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 027 230 4397; [email protected] or 027 291 1313.

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (CSI STH)

  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 027 704 9999; [email protected] or 027 603 1665.

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board | Primary ITO programmes (SSI)

  • Level 3 Rearing Young Stock (US28980) – online, 8 or 16 September.
  • Level 3 Feed Supply and Demand (US32090/32092/32089/28920) – online, TBC November. High demand course.
  • Level 4 Production Planning (US29491) – online, 26 November 2026 or TBC April 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 5 Livestock Production Management – online, TBC October 2026 or TBC February 2027
  • Level 4 Health, Mating and Parturition (US28856/28857/28858) – online, TBC February 2027. High demand course.
  • Level 3 Parturition, Mating and Young Stock (US28971/28972/28973/28980) – online, TBC March 2027. High demand course.

Contacts: [email protected] or 029 770 2855; [email protected] or 027 276 8053.

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