Ballance Farm Environment Awards entries open, B+LNZ submission on Climate Change Commission’s advice on emissions budget
This page contains this week’s e-diary national notices.
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This week’s notices:
Ballance Farm Environment Awards entries open
Entries for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are now open! It’s a great opportunity for farmers to share the meaningful difference they're making for land, water and community. Run annually by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the BFEA programme highlights outstanding farming systems, showcases great practice, and shares real-world stories of environmental sustainability and innovation across Aotearoa. Find more information and entry forms on the BFEA website. Entries close for the Greater Wellington region on 23 September and for other regions on 31 October. B+LNZ is a proud sponsor of the Awards – offering the B+LNZ Livestock Farm Award in each region.
B+LNZ submission on Climate Change Commission’s advice on emissions budget
We recently provided a submission outlining our views on the Climate Change Commission’s update of their recommended emissions reduction pathways as part of their advice on Emissions Budget 4 (2036-2040) or EB4. We argued the Commission should change its EB4 so that it is in line with the updated methane targets (which are now 14-24 percent below 2017 levels by 2050) and does not go beyond those. We said its associated advice should explicitly assess emissions leakage risks, prioritise the resilience of food production, avoid excessive reliance on afforestation, and ensure modelling assumptions around technology adoption, land-use change and production impacts reflect real-world conditions. You can access our submission on our website here.
Nominate bulls for Beef Progeny Test
B+LNZ is calling for bull nominations for the 2026 mating of the across-breed Beef Progeny Test. This is an opportunity for stud breeders to be part of the Informing NZ Beef programme and gain valuable insights into their bulls' progeny performance. Open to Angus and Hereford breeds. Nominations close 30 August. Find out more here.
NZMB farmer consultation on industry-good funding
The New Zealand Meat Board is seeking farmer feedback on providing up to $1.3 million industry-good funding from reserves to support B+LNZ’s NextGen Insights and Data Platform project. The project aims to modernise core data infrastructure and systems that support B+LNZ's Sheep and Beef Farm Survey and wider insights capability for the benefit of farmers and the wider red meat sector. The total project investment is approximately $4.5 million over seven years. B+LNZ will provide the remainder of funding for capital build and operating costs. NZMB emailed the proposal to farmers on B+LNZ's electoral roll on 20 July. Supporting information, including an online link to the consultation feedback form, can be found on NZMB’s website here. Submissions close 7 August 2026.
Want to feature in our 2027 Parasite Management Calendar?
We are looking for beautiful images showcasing you, your animals and your farm that tell a story about the Wormwise principles F.A.R.M.ED (Feeding, Avoid the worms, Refugia, Monitoring, Effective Drenching). Winners get a copy of the calendar, a gift card and bragging rights, and you also go in the running for the ‘People’s Choice Award’. Email your image in the original size to [email protected] by 25 July. Please include your name, photo title and farm location with your submission.
New podcast: 100 years of NZ meat exports to North America
Listen to a new B+LNZ podcast celebrating the centenary of New Zealand red meat exports to North America. Ali Spencer and Mick Calder – the authors of Trusted, Lean and Long-Game, the history of our trade with North America – discuss how the relationship has evolved since 1926 to become one of the red meat sector’s most strategically significant long-term markets.