April 2, 2020
Few people are as well-known and as well respected in the Farm Systems Science space as Tom Fraser of Fraser Pastoral (formerly AgResearch and DSIR). A very popular speaker at Beef + Lamb New Zealand events, Tom joins us to discuss options for managing times when feed supply is tight on farm be it through drought, flood or lack of processing capacity.
To find the B+LNZ resources Tom refers to, check out our website.
Feed planning
Body condition scoring
Extreme Dry Management
![Lanercost and OverseerFM: making informed business decisions on Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Future Farm]()
March 30, 2020
B+LNZ’s 1st Future Farm is Lanercost, a 1310ha property in the hills near Cheviot. One of the key tools the Future Farm uses to help its planning is OverseerFM.
On this podcast we talk with Kirsti Lovie, Future Farms Insight Manager at B+LNZ and Alastair Taylor, Business Development Manager for Overseer Ltd, about how the model has grown from its early use to do soil fertility recommendations, and how Lanercost now use it to assess stocking decisions.
We discuss how they use it to provide information that can be used for programmes such as NZ Farm Assurance Programme and Taste Pure Nature, and how it is used in conjunction with other farm software such as Farmax and FarmIQ to make proactive farming decisions, while at the same time addressing regulatory requirements. We also discuss new uses of the tool, such as assessing and planning carbon sequestration.
For more information on the Future Farm, visit https://www.futurefarm.co.nz
For more on OverseerFM go to https://www.overseer.org.nz/
And visit B+LNZ’s YouTube channel for some background videos on OverseerFM https://www.youtube.com/user/beeflambnz/playlists
March 26, 2020
‘Breakfeeds’ are short podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Richmond Beetham, a consultant for BakerAg talks with Beef + Lamb New Zealand Extension Manager Mark Harris and Wairarapa farmer Sam Johnston about how best to tackle a drought.
They discuss the key principles of drought management from managing the people side of the business to the everyday farm management decisions that need to be made, such as de-stocking or supplementary feeding. The overall theme is making a plan so have a listen and then sit down and decide what you can do now in your business to minimise stress on you, your staff and your stock.
You can read more of Richmond’s advice here: https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/once-it-rains
February 4, 2020
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is working alongside DairyNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as part of the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme. As at 29 January, 120 beef properties have tested positive for M. bovis. While we are confident M. bovis is not widespread in the beef industry, MPI is carrying out a National Beef Survey to ensure this is indeed the case. Testing is being carried out on a sample of farms when they undergo TB testing. To discuss the survey, we’re joined on this podcast by MPI’s Alex Crosbie (Beef & Drystock Programme Manager), Amy Burroughs (Milk Surveillance Programme Manager) and Mark Neill (Principle Advisor, Epidemiology). For more information: https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/mbovis-beef-herd-survey
January 30, 2020
We talk with Daniel Eb of Dirt Road Comms, the founder of Open Farms, about the need to bridge the urban-rural divide. This podcast was recorded ahead of the first Open Farm day in New Zealand on Sunday 1 March 2020 which proved extremely successful. The next Open Farms Day is on 21 February 2021. Like Open Farms, B+LNZ believes that providing New Zealanders with the opportunity to have a genuine on-farm experience is hugely important for our industry and country. Daniel discusses why this is important and valuable for farmers as well as visitors. We encourage farmers to register to host an Open Farms event on Sunday 21 February here: https://www.openfarms.co.nz/
December 19, 2019
Eugene and Pania King farm Kiriroa Station, Gisborne, and are the 2019 winners of the Ahuwhenua Trophy. For 12 years they farmed in a whānau partnership, who all had one goal in common, to one day all own their own farms. The whānau knew that with hard work, commitment, and determination their goal would be reached – this is the story of that journey, the lessons learned along the way, and their business and whanau. For more information on the Kings and the Ahuwhenua Trophy: click here.
December 12, 2019
The story of Brexit continues to evolve, and with it the implications for NZ’s beef and sheepmeat industry. Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Manager – International Trade is Esther Guy-Meakin and she joins us for an update on the news the Brexit deal has been delayed to January 2020 while the United Kingdom holds a general election, and what it all means for the UK, the EU and the rest of the world, in particular NZ farming. For the latest Brexit news from B+LNZ, check out our website.To keep up with our trade team’s work, you can visit their webpage and follow Esther on Twitter: @eguymeakin
December 6, 2019
Beef + Lamb New Zealand have released a new report to strengthen New Zealand’s red meat sector by understanding the potential disruption that could occur in future as a consequence of long term consumer trends and technological change. The report also suggests how we can minimise or mitigate that disruption. We’re joined by Hugh Good, Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Global Market Intelligence and Research Manager to talk about the report, why it was commissioned and what it recommends. Some fascinating insights and ideas, including the opportunities for enhancing health benefits from NZ’s red meat, whether NZ has a ‘food culture’ we can export rather than just ingredients, and even whether the products we market have to be grown in NZ. You can find the report and a summary of it on our website https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/shaping-future-red-meat-sector-report as well as Hugh’s contact details if you have questions or feedback.
November 7, 2019
Jack Cocks lives and farms on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, and Joanne Stevenson is a Principal Consultant at Resilient Organisations while farming in North Canterbury. In 2013 Jack experienced an unforeseen and life-changing medical event, which gave him and his family some marked insight to preparing a business to deal with change, both large and small. They discuss what resilience is, and what farm businesses and farming families can do to prepare for the future even though they can’t change it.
October 31, 2019
Mike Petersen has a lot of hats – company director, farmer-elected Director and Chair of SheepCo, Meat and Wool New Zealand and Beef + Lamb New Zealand amongst others. First and foremost however he is a farmer, and as NZ’s Special Agriculture Trade Envoy it was his role as a farmer to speak with other nations’ farmers and representatives about the opportunities in trade. With just a few months left in the role, he joins us to discuss what he’s seen in his time, ‘Black Swan’ events like African Swine Fever in China, and why NZ’s relatively small agricultural economy has such a big leadership role to play. Make sure to follow him on Twitter, he’s always got an interesting take on events @tepunamike
October 24, 2019
Julia Jones is Head of Analytics at NZX and a former KPMG farm enterprise specialist. We caught up with her at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Southern South Island winter seminar, and talked about change, threats and opportunities for NZ agriculture. Is change really more significant for farming now than ever before, or does it just feel that way? What can (and should) we do about it? Plus, if she won Lotto, would she buy a farm, and if so, what sort? Check out B+LNZ’s information on alternative protein: https://beeflambnz.com/news-views/alternative-proteins-research-published And follow Julia’s views of the world on Twitter @juliajones110
October 17, 2019
The Levy Oration is one of NZGA’s highest honours, and commemorates the lifetime efforts of agricultural science pioneer, Sir E. Bruce Levy, in developing and communicating grassland science at the old Plant Research Bureau, later DSIR's Grasslands Division, and currently part of AgResearch in Palmerston North. It allows an invited speaker time to speak on the topic of their choosing. Prof Stephen Goldson has worked for 30 years on long-term projects focused mainly on the biological suppression of New Zealand’s worst exotic pasture pest species. This is an area he continues to contribute to.
October 3, 2019
This week we wrap up our mini-series on farming bulls for beef. This podcast covers a range of topics, as Richard Plunket of North Otago and Bob Thomson of AgFirst share some top tips, tricks and tools for farming bulls well, making money, looking after the aninals and the farmers, and taking care of the farm environment. For more information on farming bull beef, and beef production in general, check out our Guide to New Zealand Cattle Farming (6.6mb): https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/guide-new-zealand-cattle-farming
September 26, 2019
North Otago bull beef farmer Richard Plunket and AgFirst consultant Bob Thomson talk day to day management of bulls for beef production. Topics covered include: systems; break size and shape; shifting frequency; mob size; matching stocking rate, demand and pasture supply; rotation length; all-grass wintering or crops, and more.
September 19, 2019
Richard and Andrea Plunket farm 440ha near Oamaru, and run about 300 Friesian bulls as part of their system. Richard was part of the RMPP pilot farm project with Alliance Group, exploring information transfer for farmers, and he had the chance to visit some top performing bull beef farms. In this podcast, he shares some of what he learned, and we discuss bull beef farming with renowned agricultural consultant Bob Thomson, of AgFirst. Topics covered include considering the whole farm system, why bulls are an underutilised option, management systems, and the key points for success.
September 12, 2019
Robyn Dynes (AgResearch) led a panel discussion at Farmsmart 2019 with Dr Judy Lawrence (Senior Resarch Fellow, NZ Climate Change Research Institute) and Peter Ettema (Manager for the International Policy Directorate, MPI). The panel addresses the biggest issues facing our sector – the Zero Carbon Bill, the Emissions Trading Scheme, and climate change. What does all this mean for our red meat producers?
September 5, 2019
Fran O’Sullivan (NZ Herald) talks with John Loughlin (Meat Industry Association), Lindy Nelson (Agri-Women’s Development Trust) and Andrew Morrison (Chair, Beef + Lamb New Zealand) at the conclusion of the 2019 Red Meat Sector Conference. The panel discuss the outlook for red meat and red meat farming. Topics include markets, policies and trends, nutrition, promotion, and the role of each of us in the industry. Check out B+LNZ’s YouTube channel for more presentations from the conference: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9ZU9GuQ1pFbtaMuNtb5DpS_JtZn7m-4q
August 22, 2019
We’re joined by B+LNZ’s Esther Guy-Meakin, Manager – International Trade and Swetta Magan, Trade Policy Advisor to discuss the work their team does on behalf of beef and sheepmeat levypayers, and why trade policy isn’t about winning but rather about strong agreements. We discuss why levies are used to support this work, what has been achieved so far, what the team are currently working on for farmers and what they see as issues for the future. Topics include: CPTPP, tariffs, FTAs, Brexit, quotas, co-operation and collaboration by NZ Inc, deals and no-deals and why calm, stable and predictable trade is good for everyone.
Check out more at https://beeflambnz.com/your-levies-at-work and follow Esther on Twitter: @eguymeakin
August 15, 2019
Rowena is proud to be the producer of The Country, the longest running rural radio show in New Zealand. Along with pushing the buttons to take the show to air at midday each weekday, she also contributes to the show’s direction, hunts down people for interviews and tries to keep the show’s host Jamie Mackay in line – as NZ’s champion cow-pat thrower and the 2nd best gumboot thrower in the world, she’s more than qualified. Rowena shares tips a woman with a passion for a similar career or similar might benefit from, and talks about how farming can use social media better. Follow her on Twitter, her handle is: @rowie_nz
August 8, 2019
High-quality, legume based forages offer sheep and cattle farmers the opportunity to achieve higher liveweight gains from young stock. Based on red and white clover, with plantain and sometimes chicory, they may be especially useful when it can be difficult to maintain high quality and high legume content in grass swards. We’re joined by Paul Kenyon from Massey University to talk about the pros and cons of these specialist forages, when and how to incorporate them into a farm system, and how to get the best out of them.
July 25, 2019
Early weaning of lambs, onto high quality and legume dominant forage, can be a valuable management tool that can advantage both ewes and lambs. We are joined on this podcast by Professor Paul Kenyon of Massey University to discuss when it can be beneficial for sheep farms and how to do it right. For more information, check out our factsheet that Paul wrote: https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/early-weaning or other material on early weaning: https://beeflambnz.com/search?term=early+weaning
July 18, 2019
Louise is a small block owner in Central Southland. Emigrating from the family crop farm in the UK 19 years ago to follow her passion for livestock, she has worked on both dairy and sheep farms before focusing on animal nutrition for the last 5 years. Several events in Louise’s life have led her to focus on resilience and passing that message on to help others. We discuss recommendations she has from others and the key lessons she has learned.
July 16, 2019
B+LNZ’s Chief Insight Officer Jeremy Baker explains the reasoning and science-based approach behind our submission on the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill currently being considered by Parliament.
July 11, 2019
Geordie McCallum, Rural Business Consultant with Wairarapa Property Consultants joins us to discuss the issues and processes of successful Farm Business Succession and Transition. In the third of 3 podcasts, we discuss the last 2 steps – ‘Draft a plan that meets the needs of the family’ and ‘Find a structure that enables the plan’. For more resources on Farm Transition and Succession, visit www.beeflambnz.com and search for Succession, and check out the Red Meat Profit Partnership website https://www.rmpp.co.nz/page/fbo/
July 8, 2019
What if family +farming does not equal complete happiness? Loshni Manikam is Fonterra’ s Dairy Woman of the Year 2018, a former lawyer, a leadership coach and looks after 600 cows and 3 children in Southland with her husband. She joined us at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Southern Ladies Long Lunch to discuss why farming women feel guilty when they think of doing something for themselves and why it is so important to break out of that guilt cycle. You’ll want to find out more, so check out her Thriving Farming Women Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thrivingfarmingwomen/ Break-Feeds are short podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
July 4, 2019
Geordie McCallum, Rural Business Consultant with Wairarapa Property Consultants joins us to discuss the issues and processes of successful Farm Business Succession and Transition. In the second of 3 podcasts, we discuss the next 2 steps – ‘Engage as a family’ and ‘Consider options’. For more resources on Farm Transition and Succession, visit www.beeflambnz.com and search for Succession, and check out the Red Meat Profit Partnership website https://www.rmpp.co.nz/page/fbo/
July 1, 2019
Break-Feeds are short podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand. This week, we catch up with Kate Meads, formerly known as the Nappy Lady for her modern take on the cloth nappy, now travelling the country working with 49 District and Regional Councils to help people reduce the amount of waste they produce, and recycle more efficiently. To find out more, check out her website www.katemeads.co.nz and her videos at www.wasted.co.nz
June 27, 2019
Geordie McCallum, Rural Business Consultant with Wairarapa Property Consultants joins us to discuss the issues and processes of successful Farm Business Succession and Transition. In the first of 3 podcasts, we discuss the first 2 steps – ‘Establish the end game’, and ‘What will your business allow you to do’. For more resources on Farm Transition and Succession, visit www.beeflambnz.com and search for Succession, and check out the Red Meat Profit Partnership website https://www.rmpp.co.nz/page/fbo/
June 13, 2019
Catchment groups form to take actions to achieve a long-term vision based on a healthy environment (from water quality to biodiversity goals) and a thriving community. On this Beef + Lamb New Zealand Scene + Herd podcast we are joined by Roger Dalrymple who farms Waitatapia Station near Bulls and is Chair of the Rangitikei Rivers Community Collective Incorporated, as well as Richard Parkes, Environment Capability Manager (North Island) for B+LNZ. Hear about the value catchment community groups can add to our environment and our businesses, whatever the industry, as well as the benefits to farmers and non-farmers. Roger share’s his first-hand experience of the need for the groups, and how to get them going successfully.
For more information, check out our webpage: https://beeflambnz.com/catchments
June 6, 2019
David Stevens is a Senior Scientist, Farm Systems & Environment at AgResearch, and well known to those in New Zealand farming industries for his years’ of research and extension. In 2017 he was President of the New Zealand Grassland Association, and in his Presidential Address discussed the future of applied research in agriculture.
For more information on the New Zealand Grassland Association, visit their website https://www.grassland.org.nz/aboutus.php
March 19, 2019
Dr Jason Archer (Abacus Bio) and Max Tweedie (B+LNZ Genetics) chat with the Beef Progeny Test Farm Managers, to discuss what they have found and observed so far, including their thoughts on the value of high genetic worth bulls. The B+LNZ Genetics Beef Progeny Test was launched in 2014 and is generating valuable commercial insights for farmers. The Beef Progeny Test compares bulls under New Zealand commercial farming conditions. The test now involves over 3000 beef and dairy cow matings each year, on five large properties across New Zealand. A mix of both internationally-sourced and New Zealand semen is used. Steers and cull heifers are assessed on their carcase traits, while replacement heifers are tracked for their ongoing maternal characteristics. For more information: https://www.blnzgenetics.com/progeny-tests/beef-progeny-tests
March 4, 2019
On this ‘Scene + Herd’ podcast we’re joined by Jeff Morton, who in previous careers worked on soil science for both AgResearch and Ballance. We discuss the keys to making the most from your fertiliser and lime budget, what farmers should focus on and what they shouldn’t stress over. To find copies of the essential resources on fertiliser, lime, forage cropping and trace elements that Jeff mentions, visit the Fertiliser Association website: http://www.fertiliser.org.nz/Site/resources/booklets.aspx
March 1, 2019
The New Zealand Grassland Association conference is NZ’s premiere pastoral farming science conference. In 2019 it’s in Napier, from Tuesday 5 till Thursday 7 November. Local Organising Committee chair Jeff Morton joins us to discuss the conference programme. A chance to hear the latest grassland research, and discuss it with researchers, industry people and other farmers. Keep an eye on the NZGA website for more detail https://www.grassland.org.nz/
‘Break-Feeds’ are short podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand to let you know about interesting things happening.
September 3, 2018
Tips and tricks on where you can influence your Regional Council decision makers most. Get involved in three key areas: Pre-plan feedback, writing a submission & presenting at the hearing. Hear from Colin Hurst, a farmer who has successfully been through this process and Andrew Fenemor, a hearing commissioner who explains effective methods for being heard. For more information on this matter read this comprehensive fact sheet from B+LNZ’s Environment Team: https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/how-make-council-plans-work-you
July 26, 2018
Sowing a short-term crop after a winter fodder crop may reduce N leaching by 40-50%. On this Beef + Lamb New Zealand ‘Scene + Herd’ podcast, Brendon Malcolm of Plant & Food Research discusses how it works, the issues to consider and how to get the best results. Plus, there is a bonus discussion on some of the basics of N leaching. For more information on the research, visit DairyNZ’s Forages for Reduced Nitrogen Leaching webpage https://www.dairynz.co.nz/about-us/research/forages-for-reduced-nitrate-leaching/
This podcast is a sequel to the episode on good management practice for winter grazing.
July 11, 2018
What will hill country farming in New Zealand look like in 2040? How will farmers respond to demands placed upon them by consumers, environmental and animal welfare regulations and the general public?
Guy Salmon, Environmentalist and Executive Director of Ecologic; Robyn Dynes, AgResearch Science Impact Leader, Farm Systems and Environment; Chris Chamberlain, Banks Peninsula farmer; and Rich McDowell, principal scientist for AgResearch’s Invermay Environment Group discuss what they see as the challenges and opportunities for this country’s hill country farming systems. Panel Discussion facilitated by Richard Green, agribusiness thought-leader and professional Director.
May 28, 2018
Launched in May 2018, the new strategy is a significant milestone for our sheep and beef industry. The strategy has 4 pillars – Cleaner water; Carbon neutral; Thriving biodiversity and Healthy productive soils.
Julia Beijeman, Environment Strategy Manager, joins us to discuss what each means, how they will be measured, how they will be achieved, and why they are our focus.
To download the strategy and implementation plan, visit: https://beeflambnz.com/environment-strategy. To download information about B+LNZ's nutrient allocation principles click here.
Call the team on 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) for more information.
April 10, 2018
Movement of cattle between farms is the highest risk for spread of Mycoplasma bovis, and winter grazing of dairy cattle therefore poses particular challenges.
Richard Laven is Associate Professor in Production Animal Health at Massey University, and was the person who first recognised that Mycoplasma bovis was likely present in New Zealand. He joins us to explain how the disease spreads, the precautions graziers and owners can take to further reduce the low risk of spreading the disease, and what farmers should be doing as good biosecurity management practice anyway.
For more details, click here to download the Beef + Lamb New Zealand/DairyNZ information for graziers factsheet.
March 8, 2018
Getting better calves from your cows involves getting the right breeder, selecting the right bull both on figures and on what you can see, then looking after that bull and making sure he can do his job. Max Tweedie, then National Beef Genetics Manager at Beef + Lamb Genetics, joins us to talk about what the figures mean, how to use them, what to look for in a bull, and how to keep him performing at his best. (Max left B+LNZ in 2019)
To view the B+LNZ Genetics bull selection tools, visit: http://www.blnzgenetics.com/bull-selection-tools
For a hard copy of the booklet containing the information discussed, email resources@beeflambnz.com – or to find out about Better Beef Breeding workshops in your area, contact your local B+LNZ Extension Manager at https://beeflambnz.com/contact-us
November 24, 2017
Beef + Lamb New Zealand provides funding to Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics so that New Zealand ram breeders have the best tools at their disposal, and sheep farmers benefit from rapid and effective genetic gain. On this podcast, National Sheep Genetics Manager, Annie O’Connell, discusses some recent advances in the information available to help choose rams, and how farmers can make the best use of it.
More information on the maternal and terminal indexes we discuss can be found at www.ramindex.co.nz, the ram buyer guide is downloadable at bit.ly/Ram-Buying-Guide and check out the B+LNZ Genetics website here: www.blnzgenetics.com
September 25, 2017
Steve Wyn-Harris is well known in farming circles in New Zealand, with his weekly newspaper column, speaking engagements and radio show. For a change he is the subject of an interview, and we are discussing his thoughts and lessons learned about farming successfully. Steve is an entertaining speaker and writer, and at the same time achieving very high levels of performance and personal satisfaction from running a family farm (a version of the Farm Profit distribution graph Steve refers to can be seen here: http://www.rmpp.co.nz/page/about/)
August 24, 2017
Lambing hoggets can be an effective way to increase flock productivity and profit – if it is done well, and in the right circumstances. Professor Paul Kenyon is Head of the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University and has led research into successful hogget lambing for over 15 years. He joined us on the call to share what he has learned. For more details, check out Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s guide to hogget lambing at www.beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/hogget-performance
August 13, 2017
The majority of New Zealand’s beef has dairy genetics in it, and most of that comes from calves born to dairy cows. Can the industry use improved beef genetics to safely and profitably produce calves from dairy cows, improve dairy farm profit and at the same time produce a fast growing, great eating animal? Doug Lineham and Bob Thomson were part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Dairy Beef Integration Project and join us to talk about why the project was funded and what it found – opportunities for dairy farmers, calf rearers and beef finishers. The full report and a summary factsheet are available on the B+LNZ website.
July 30, 2017
‘Break-Feeds’ are 5 minute podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Lynley and Matt Wyeth are well known for pushing the boundaries with their on-farm trials and running an intensive sheep and beef farm at large scale. This year Matt also nearly died from a leptospirosis infection. They join us to talk about the experience, the symptoms – and the silver lining with Matt forced to spend time working ON the business rather than in it.
For more information on protecting people on farms from leptospirosis, visit http://www.saferfarms.org.nz/guides/prevention-and-control-of-leptospirosis/
For more information on the Wyeth’s Innovation Programme projects, visit www.beeflambnz.com, call 0800 233 352 or email enquiries@beeflambnz.com
July 27, 2017
Neil Aicken is part of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Innovation Farm Programme. In the next couple of years, he is going to trial remote vehicle monitoring (for management and for Health and Safety), virtual fencing cattle via electronic ear-tag, and electric motorbikes. On this ‘Break-Feed’ podcast, he gives a quick overview of each technology and how he hopes to use them.
July 26, 2017
‘Break-Feeds’ are short podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand to let you know about interesting things happening. Scott Linklater is part of the B+LNZ Innovation Farms, and has been looking at using Fodder Beet in sheep and beef systems. He gives us a quick 5-minute overview of the positive results to date of grazing lambs in autumn on Fodder beet. For more information on this project, contact B+LNZ on 0800 233 352 or resources@beeflambnz.com
