Out the Gate 2026 brought together around 700 farmers and rural professionals in Christchurch last week, making it B+LNZ’s biggest event yet.
Out the Gate 2026 brought together around 700 farmers and rural professionals in Christchurch last week, making it Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) biggest event yet.
Across two and a half days, farmers came together to share ideas, challenge thinking and focus on what’s next for the sector. The programme made the most of time off-farm, combining the Sheep Breeder Forum, B+LNZ’s annual Farmer Council and Kāhui Conference, the flagship Out the Gate sessions, and the prestigious B+LNZ Awards Dinner.
The theme ‘A future fit for tomorrow, today’ ran strongly throughout, with a clear focus on backing the fundamentals while lifting performance for the future.
A bright future for our sector
A consistent thread across the programme was confidence in the sector’s future, with farmers well placed to capitalise on demand.
B+LNZ Chair Kate Acland set the tone in her opening. She said, “It is such an exciting time to be a sheep and beef farmer in New Zealand. The fundamentals are strong, and we’re well placed as a country to meet growing global demand for high-quality red meat.”
Global market insights reinforced that confidence. Global Agritrends analyst Simon Quilty told attendees that strong demand and tightening global supply are creating favourable conditions for New Zealand red meat, with “the stars aligned” for sheep and beef producers for at least the next year. He highlighted sustained global demand for protein and constrained supply in key producing countries as key drivers – positioning New Zealand well to capture value in the years ahead. He noted that the advent of diet drugs that require people to prioritize nutrient dense food could be a game changer in terms of the value consumers place on products like red meat.
Speakers built on this outlook, pointing to strong global demand, improving farm performance, and growing opportunities through trade. At the same time, they challenged the sector to keep moving by lifting productivity, making better use of data and technology, and making smart decisions now to stay competitive.
Opportunities for collaboration
Out the Gate included several speakers from Australia, including Bonnie Skinner (Sheep Producers Australia CEO), Will Evans (Cattle Association Australia CEO) and Simon Quilty (Global Agritrends), creating opportunities to compare markets and explore shared opportunities.
Skinner highlighted that New Zealand and Australia face many of the same challenges and that both industries are adapting in real time. She pointed to a clear opportunity to work more closely together and learn from each other as both sectors evolve.
Politicians make their pitch this election year
Four MPs from across the political spectrum took to the stage to make their pitch to farmers – Labour’s Jo Luxton (Spokesperson for Agriculture), ACT’s Hon Andrew Hoggard (Associate Minister for Agriculture), National’s Todd McClay (Minister of Agriculture) and the Green Party’s Steve Abel (Agriculture spokesperson).
The panel covered a range of priorities shaping the sector, from regulatory reform and environmental policy through to growth and profitability.
The discussion provided a valuable opportunity for farmers to hear directly from decision-makers and reinforced the importance of ongoing engagement between the sector and policymakers.
Watch interviews with speakers
Countrywide broadcasted live from the event, capturing conversations across the two-and-a-half-days. Watch the interviews below:
- Kate Acland, B+LNZ Chair
- Alan Thompson, B+LNZ CEO
- Simon Quilty, Global Agritrends
- Bonnie Skinner, Sheep Producers Australia CEO
- Will Evans, Cattle Association Australia CEO
- Dr Jason Archer, Head of B+LNZ Genetics
- Dr Cara Brosnahan, B+LNZ Principal Scientist, Animal Health Research
Celebrating our world-leading sector
The B+LNZ Awards Dinner, held 20 May, recognised farmers and rural professionals leading the way in innovation, performance and impact across the sector. Congratulations to all finalists and winners.
View your 2026 winners and judges’ comments on B+LNZ’s website.
More takeaways coming soon
Over the coming weeks, we’ll break down key takeaways from Out the Gate speakers. Keep an eye on your weekly e-diary.
Photos from Out the Gate
Check out B+LNZ’s Facebook Albums for photos from Out the Gate and the B+LNZ Awards.
