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While we need to manage the impacts of farming activities on freshwater quality, including sediment and E. coli , the way this is currently being done has significant issues and will have massive implications for our sector.   … Last updated October 2024 Many regional councils around New Zealand are notifying water plans to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM).   The Government has pushed out the date that regional councils can notify a freshwater plan …

A report from the University of Canterbury has revealed that 24 per cent of New Zealand’s native vegetation (approximately 2.8 million hectares) is estimated to be on sheep and beef farms. This is the largest amount of native vegetation present outside of public conservation land. … Download the summary report:  Native Vegetation on Sheep and Beef Farms (PDF, 2 MB) Download the full report:  Desk-top Assessment of Native Vegetation on New Zealand Sheep and Beef Farms (PDF, 3.5 MB) The report …

The aim of this study was to provide an understanding of introducing refugia into a lamb finishing operation that had a triple drench resistance issue. Refugia, introduced through lambs with susceptible parasites, was compared to the more conventional practice of quarantine drenching. … Background Resistance of parasites, or worms, to all classes of drench is a major concern in New Zealand farming systems. Intensive finishing and hogget grazing systems are at high risk of developing triple …

Follow this Safe Work Procedure when operating Motorbikes, Quad Bikes and Side X Sides. All operators must follow this procedure and be familiar with the operator’s manual prior to operating the machine. … What are the minimum operator requirements? Operator must be under direct supervision until assessed as competent by person in charge of the workplace If riding on a public road, operator must hold a Class 1 Driver License (car license) Machine with engine capacity over 90cc is not to be …

Direct contact between a healthy animal and an infected animal is the most common way for pests and diseases to spread, therefore managing livestock movements and the introduction of new animals is particularly important. … NAIT and traceability The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme links people, property and livestock in New Zealand. The scheme provides traceability for individual animals, enhancing New Zealand's ability to respond quickly if there is a biosecurity …

Previous research has shown that sowing a catch crop can reduce nitrate leaching losses by as much as 40%, as well as improving nitrogen use efficiency and farmers’ profitability. This project aimed to upscale this previous applied research into working winter crop rotations in Canterbury and Southland and adapt it to the various soil and climatic conditions. … Background The use of catch crops is recognised as a potential tool to help reduce farmers’ nitrate leaching losses but without good …

If only we didn’t have to collect poo, but we do!!! Faecal egg counts can be done on individual samples or on a bulk sample (composite samples). Learn about when you might use one or the other. … A faecal egg count (FEC) is a measure of the number of egg-laying adult worms in an animal’s gut. It mostly doesn’t show what species of worms are there.   Faecal egg counts can be used to help assess:  Whether sick sheep or young cattle are sick because of worms. How quickly young animals are becoming …

The more you know about how worms live and breed, the easier it is to mitigate the harm they cause. Here we look at the stages of the worm life cycle – there are ways our management can interrupt this cycle to reduce worm challenge to susceptible stock.  … Animals eat worm larvae with pasture. Larvae like to live close to the base of the pasture, in moisture and away from sunlight. After a larva is eaten, its takes about 21 days to become an adult worm that can lay eggs and continue the cycle. …

There are a range of approaches being followed by countries to reduce agricultural emissions.   Our farmers are committed to the environment and are making substantial investments and progress. While we acknowledge there’s an expectation that further progress needs to be made in reducing agricultural emissions, B+LNZ is concerned about many of New Zealand’s current climate change policies.   There is currently a narrative in New Zealand that agriculture was ‘let off the hook’ by excluding …

Winter is here. It’s time to think about protecting your paddocks over the coming months. … 9 practical tips around winter grazing: Plan early. When choosing paddocks for next year’s winter feed crop, think about how you can improve your management of critical source areas and waterways. Careful management is needed when winter grazing on steep slopes to reduce environmental losses. Exclude stock from waterways. Create an ungrazed buffer zone between the livestock and the waterway. Ideally, at …