Around 80 farmers, trustees and rural professionals came together for the first B+LNZ Pukepoto Trust Hub Farm field day near Taumarunui, hosted at Eadys Woolshed.
The Pukepoto Trust farm joined the B+LNZ Hub Farm Programme in October 2025 and is now in its first year. The field day shared early learnings from the programme, with a focus on practical ideas and what’s working on-farm so far.
B+LNZ’s Hub Farm Programme follows a farm business over several years to help farmers see what change looks like over time, in a real system.
After a mihi whakatau welcomed attendees onto the whenua (land), the group heard an overview of Pukepoto Trust Farm, including its history, whakapapa (connections) and the people behind the operation. This provided important context and highlighted the Trust’s long-term approach to lifting farm performance.
Darren McNae from AgFirst facilitated the day, saying it was about setting the scene for the programme and giving farmers a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges on the property.
“This was a great starting point for the Hub Farm. It gave people a feel for the farm, what’s been done so far, and where the opportunities are going forward.”
While it is still early in the programme and there isn’t a lot of hard data yet, attendees gained a better understanding of the farm system, its constraints, and where gains could be made over time.
Technology changes and genetic gains top of the to-do list
Key focus areas for the farm include integrating technology, making better land use decisions, and lifting performance through genetics. This includes recent land use change into forestry, and a stronger focus on using tools like Heifer Select to drive faster genetic gain and improve decision-making.
Sessions throughout the day covered farm benchmarking, on-farm technology, and livestock genetics, with a focus on what’s working in practice. Farm benchmarking was presented by ANZ, who have been working with the Pukepoto Trust farm over the past decade, providing insights into performance and identifying opportunities for improvement.
“The focus throughout was on what’s working in a real farming system, not theory, and what others can take away and apply on their own farms,” Darren says.
Discussion was strong throughout the day, particularly around technology, genetics and how different systems work in practice.
Attendees also heard about Heifer Select and a related programme run through Corrections farm operations, which generated interest for both breeding outcomes and how they approach staff training and development.
Farm tour covers land-use changes and virtual fencing
After lunch, attendees headed out on a guided tour, starting at the airstrip to get an overview of the property’s contour and land types.
Committee member Doug Macreadie spoke about the farm’s forestry planting plan and land use decisions.
The group also visited a site where Gallagher’s eShepherd virtual fencing collars had been fitted to cows just 24 hours earlier, showing how quickly stock adapt and how the system works in practice.
The visit sparked discussion on the wider role of virtual fencing, with farmers sharing their own experiences and the benefits they’ve seen.
Darren says understanding the real-world impact is key, particularly on a farm with staff and managers where time efficiency matters.
“There’s a lot said about the benefits of these systems, but we want to understand what that really looks like in practice.”
He says it’s also important to understand how easy the technology is to use and the time required to make it work well.
About B+LNZ’s Hub Farm programme
The Pukepoto Trust farm is part of B+LNZ’s Hub Farm programme, a key part of its extension focus.
Hub Farms follow a single farm’s journey over two to three years, giving farmers the opportunity to see changes as they happen. Rather than a one-off event, the programme builds a picture over time of what works, what doesn’t, and what could be applied in other farming systems.
Typically, there are three to four events each year, with local farmers involved throughout.
The day wrapped up with a closing karakia, followed by a BBQ and time to connect.
Attendees left with practical ideas, new connections, and a clearer sense of what could work on their own farms.
Looking ahead
If you’re interested in visiting a Hub Farm or getting involved, contact your local B+LNZ Extension Manager and & Mātanga Whenua Māori to find out what’s happening in your region.
Thank you to our sponsors
B+LNZ would like to thank event sponsors ANZ and Gallagher, as well as PGG Wrightson and Crusader Meats for supplying the BBQ.
