B+LNZ’s Extension team, alongside Farmer Councils, is well underway developing Regional Delivery Plans (RDPs) that will guide extension activity from October this year.
Set to be finalised and shared with farmers in October, these plans will shape B+LNZ’s extension programme for 2026/27, ensuring levy investment is directed where it will have the most impact for farmers in each region.
Ian Tarbotton, B+LNZ Head of Extension, has attended workshops across the country as plans take shape.
“These plans start and end with farmers. By grounding them in regional priorities, we can make sure levy investment is delivering practical, on-farm value and supporting farmers to respond to the challenges and opportunities in front of them.”
You can access the current 2025/26 RDPs here.
A regionally focused approach
Each of B+LNZ’s seven Farmer Councils, working alongside their regional Extension Manager, develops an annual RDP tailored to local farming systems, opportunities and pressures.
This approach ensures extension delivery is targeted, relevant and grounded in real farm systems.
Backed by data
As part of this year’s process, every Farmer Councillor was asked to engage with at least two farmers, particularly those not already involved in B+LNZ programmes, to hear directly what they want to see more of in their region and what would encourage them to get involved.
This farmer feedback is being combined with targeted regional data and from B+LNZ’s Insights team, giving each Farmer Council an up-to-date view of their region.
The regional data shared shows the relationship between meat production per hectare and farm profitability, helping identify where local extension activity could have the greatest impact.
Julian Ashby, B+LNZ GM Insights and Strategic Planning, says combining farmer feedback with regional data gives Farmer Councils a stronger basis for deciding where to focus.
“Farmer feedback tells us what matters on the ground, while the data helps us understand the scale of the opportunity and test where effort is most likely to make a difference. Bringing those two things together means regional plans are not just responsive, they are targeted at the areas where B+LNZ can help farmers shift performance in practical, locally relevant ways.”
Ian adds, “When you combine what farmers are telling us with what the data is showing, you get a much stronger plan. It gives us confidence we are focusing on the areas that will genuinely shift the dial.”
Workshops bring ideas together
RDP workshops were held across the country throughout June, bringing together Farmer Councils and Extension teams to work through priorities and shape each region’s plan.
These sessions challenge thinking, test ideas and turn insights into clear, practical actions for the year ahead.
Julian attended the Western North Island meeting and says, “There was a real depth of experience in the room and a strong focus on getting good outcomes for farmers. People were prepared to challenge each other constructively, which is exactly what you want.”
A significant amount of work goes into these workshops, with discussions translated into focused extension priorities and activities.
Already seeing ideas in action
Some ideas are already being put into practice.
In the Northern South Island (NSI), seasonal conditions, particularly the potential impacts of El Niño, were a key discussion point. In response, the NSI Farmer Council has launched a series of fortnightly farmer-led updates, sharing what they’re seeing on-farm and how they’re responding.
These updates will be shared across the Northern South Island B+LNZ Facebook page including this video from Nelson farmer Rueben Moore.
Making the most of farmers’ time
When Farmer Councils come together, they also take the opportunity to build their own knowledge and connections.
For example, the Western North Island group extended their Regional Delivery Plan meeting with a visit to a pet food manufacturer to better understand processing, market opportunities and compliance requirements linked to value-added products.
Extension Manager for the region, Christine Christensen, says the visit provided useful insights.
“It gave our Farmer Council a clearer picture of what’s involved beyond the farm gate, particularly around market requirements and compliance. That kind of exposure can prompt new thinking about opportunities and how on-farm decisions link through the wider value chain.”
Next steps
Following the workshops, the Extension team is now working to refine and formalise each region’s plan.
Once complete, the RDPs will clearly outline priorities, events and activities for the coming year, giving farmers visibility of what to expect and how they can get involved.
Keep a lookout in your e-diary for your RDP this October.