We know there’s a lot of concern among farmers about current and potential impacts of the Iran conflict and fuel shortages. We’ve compiled FAQs for farmers about what we know to date.
We’ll provide further updates as information becomes available – keep an eye on e-diaries and social media.
What is B+LNZ doing in response to the situation?
We’re in close contact with the Government, feeding in information about farmers’ fuel needs to ensure you’re able to keep operating now and throughout each of the four phases of the Government’s fuel response.
This work is being informed by what we’re hearing from farmers and detailed data about on-farm fuel use collected by B+LNZ’s Sheep & Beef Farm Survey. We’re also in contact with other industry groups who are providing information on farmers’ fuel needs.
For example, we’ve highlighted examples where farmers are only receiving one week’s fuel supply, instead of their usual monthly supply. This should not be happening as the Government maintains that New Zealand’s fuel supply is currently stable and our stocks remain sufficient. The Government has informed us they’re working to resolve this issue.
The Government is building its plan for how fuel will be distributed in the event of tighter supply to ensure fuel gets to where it is needed most.
The important point for farmers to know is that primary production is in the ‘economically important services’ category which is the second most important group after ‘life-supporting services’, which includes hospitals and emergency services.
Our advice to the Government is clear:
- Reliable access to fuel is essential to maintain animal welfare, winter feed management, on‑farm operations, and continuity of food supply for New Zealanders and exports.
- It’s also critical that essential services which support farming are able to operate, such as transport to processing, vets, fertiliser, farm workers and access to other farm supplies. There are a lot of lessons that can be drawn from the Covid-19 response.
We have a team working on this issue and will continue to monitor developments.
What can farmers do right now?
Key actions farmers can take include:
- Stay in close contact with key suppliers, including fuel suppliers, fertiliser co-ops, transport providers, and meat processors. Many are providing regular updates but if you haven’t heard from them, make contact.
- Review fuel usage on‑farm and identify critical vs non‑essential activities.
- Where possible, bring forward essential work (such as winter preparation, body condition scoring) to avoid tight timeframes later.
- Ensure animal welfare‑critical activities are prioritised in any contingency planning.
- Avoid panic purchasing or unnecessary stockpiling.
Should I be stockpiling fuel?
B+LNZ is not recommending stockpiling of fuel. Uncoordinated stockpiling can:
- increase pressure on supply chains
- create inequitable access
- potentially increase safety risks on farm.
Farmers should instead have conversations with their fuel suppliers about continuity of supply and realistic planning scenarios.
What’s happening with B+LNZ events?
At this stage, face-to-face events are continuing as planned.
As the phases of the Government’s fuel response develop, we’ll reassess some B+LNZ operations and may move events online.
Where can I find out more?
This situation is evolving rapidly but we’ll keep you updated through our usual channels – e-diaries, social media etc as soon as information is available.
Existing resources for planning ahead
- Feed planning
- Budgets and beyond: recap of Sow, Grow, Thrive webinar series
- FeedSmart app
- Ewe body condition scoring
- Winter grazing
- Feed management checklist for farmers
- Supplementary feed guide
Ask Bella, our AI-powered assistant, for tailored answers to your questions – pulling verified information straight from B+LNZ’s Knowledge Hub and thousands of practical resources like the above. Access Bella at www.askbella.co.nz