Beef + Lamb New Zealand podcasts

Listen to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s latest Scene + Herd podcast to hear about our 2026–27 New Season Outlook. B+LNZ are forecasting continued strong returns for New Zealand sheep and beef farmers. Although farmgate prices are likely to ease from last season’s record highs, they will remain historically strong. However, rising costs, potential El Niño conditions and global market risks are expected to put pressure on profitability. Read the reports and find the one page summary here: Economic reports Interactive tools *Beef + Lamb New Zealand Limited, its employees and Directors shall not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any person relying on the information contained in this podcast, whatever the cause of such loss or damage.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Rural Advancement Scholarship recipient and Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme graduate Di Roadley shares insights from her research project, The Craft of Setting the Table Well. Exploring the role of effective governance in catchment groups, Di discusses how strong leadership, collaboration, and clear direction can help turn community aspirations into meaningful action and lasting impact. Read more here:  Rural Leadership Advancement Scholarship. The Craft of Setting the Table Well.  

Being awarded a 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Rural Advancement Scholarship challenged Tessa Miller and Sam Mann to think differently about their farming businesses. In this episode, they share key insights and "aha" moments from the New Zealand Rural Leaders Value Chain Innovation Programme, and discuss how a better understanding of the value chain is shaping their thinking back on farm. Read more here: Rural Leadership Advancement Scholarship. 

As a Beef + Lamb New Zealand Rural Advancement Scholarship recipient, Julia Hardwick-Smith shares how the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme challenged her thinking and is influencing decisions on her family farm. She also discusses the surprising findings from her research into triplet lamb survivability and what they could mean for sheep farmers. Read more here: Rural Leadership Advancement Scholarship. Julia's full report.

100 years since New Zealand began exporting red meat to North America. It’s a relationship that’s gone from tentative early shipments to one of our most important and enduring trade partnerships. To unpack that story and what it means for the future, we're joined by Ali Spencer and Mick Calder, who helped document this journey in Trusted, Lean and Long Game, (PDF, 4.12MB).

With scanning results arriving across the country, this podcast provides practical advice for farmers with high numbers of twin and triplet-bearing ewes. Senior Scientist from Bio Economy Science Institute (BSI) David Stevens combines the science with practical farming systems, while North Otago Farmer Julian Prices share what's happening on-farm and the questions himself and the South Canterbury Lamb Survivability Focus Group are asking. Recorded 20 July 2026.

The red meat sector is a cornerstone of Aotearoa New Zealand. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and Meat Industry Association (MIA) have just released new research that offers a robust, evidence-based assessment of the economic and social contribution of the sector, including production, processing and exporting. It is the first full measure of the sector’s economic and social contribution since 2020. Project Lead Connor McIndoe from Business and Economic Research (BERL) joins us to make sense of it all. Read the full report here: Research shows New Zealand’s red meat sector drives nearly $50 billion in annual spending across the economy.  

In this episode of Scene + Herd, B+LNZ’s Policy Staff demystify the submission process and show farmers how to turn everyday experience into compelling evidence. They outline five steps for writing clear, relevant submissions. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by consultation documents, this is your go‑to guide. How to write a submission: farmer guide.    

The Government has released draft legislation to replace the Resource Management Act, listen to Beef + Lamb New Zealand's General Manager of Policy and Communications Rowena Hume and Head of Environment Policy Paul Le Miere as they explain the reform and key areas for farmers to know about. 

We’re joined by Bill Garland who farms at Maungatautari in the Waikato and Dr Katherine Tozer, Senior Scientist at AgResearch, to talk deferred grazing. Around for many decades in different forms, it’s gaining more popularity as a way to transfer feed from spring to autumn/early winter, to regenerate pastures and to cut down on diesel, seed and cropping/regrassing costs.  Could it have a place in your system? For more details, check out the deferred grazing information on B+LNZ’s Factsheet, DairyNZ’s Deferred Grazing page and AgResearch’s guide book. This research was supported by AgResearch, DairyNZ, MPI, Ellett Trust, Ballance Agri-nutrients, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and especially the many farmers who contributed their time, paddocks and expertise. 

Tools, tech and tactics to make every blade count – Industry-renowned beef expert Bob Thomson (AgFirst) and farmers Ben Trotter (Luggate) and Matt Tayler (Garston) share practical tools, proven tactics, and tech insights to boost efficiency and profit in beef systems—including a look ahead at the role of wearables in the future of farming.  Recorded on the B+LNZ Central Otago Farming for Profit “Grass to Gold” webinar, 16 June 2025

Breeding hoggets can be a smart way to lift overall lamb numbers - but only if it’s done right. In episode two of Optimising Lamb Survival, a podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, we’re diving into hogget lambing. The Country’s Rowena Duncum sits down with Professor Paul Kenyon, Head of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University and Riverton farmer Geordie Eade, to talk feed planning through lactation, scanning strategies, health considerations, and the long-term impacts of breeding ewe hoggets. Whether you're already breeding hoggets or just considering it, this episode is packed with practical advice to help make the right decisions on-farm.

Pregnancy scanning offers more than just lamb counts - it’s a powerful management tool that can lift lamb survival and save on feed. In episode 3 of Optimising Lamb Survival, a podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Associate Professor Rene Corner-Thomas from Massey University.  They explore how to make the most of scanning - from identifying ewes needing extra support, to improving feeding strategies and pinpointing lambing dates. If you want to turn scanning results into real productivity gains, this episode is for you.

Getting more lambs on the ground, and through to weaning, takes more than just good luck. Optimising Lamb Survival, a new podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, shares practical tips and proven strategies to lift lamb survival and productivity. In part one, The Country’s Rowena Duncum chats with Dr David Stevens from AgResearch about feed planning, ewe nutrition, and the key factors that make or break your lambing success.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In the final episode of our special four-part series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is once again joined by B+LNZ Principal Scientist (Animal Health Research) Dr Cara Brosnahan to look at targeted selective treatment in the fight against drench resistance.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In part three of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by B+LNZ Principal Scientist (Animal Health Research) Dr Cara Brosnahan to look at the B+LNZ Research livestock parasite management groups – launched across the country to promote best practices and improve control strategies.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In part two of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by B+LNZ’s Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski to look at all aspects of the programme – from its conception through to report findings, plus practical messages for farmers.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In part one of a special four-part podcast series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by B+LNZ Head of Science & Research Dr Suzi Keeling to look at new initiatives underway as part of the B+LNZ livestock internal parasite research programme, the reasons why this research is so important, and work underway globally to tackle this issue.

Advice from Erin Riley, North Canterbury Vets talking at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Farming for Profit field day. In particular, she notes sheep are less likely to get their required selenium in oral drenches now. More information in B+LNZ’s Factsheet Trace Element Nutrition of Sheep

Facial Eczema is becoming more widespread in New Zealand, costing NZ’s economy $332 million annually. In the final episode of our special four-part series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is once again joined by B+LNZ Principal Scientist (Animal Health Research) Dr Cara Brosnahan to wrap up the wider conversation by looking at management of facial eczema and why New Zealand needs more tools in tackling the issue.