Latest news with #B+LNZ
Agriland
11-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Another 40,000ha of NZ sheep and beef farms sold for forestry
Almost 40,000ha of sheep and beef farms in New Zealand has been sold for conversion to forestry in the past eight months, according to a new report. The independent research released by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) shows that sales of beef and sheep farms, particularly for carbon farming, are continuing 'at an alarming rate'. Of particular concern, the farm organisation said is a significant shift towards productive land being sold. The research by Orme and Associates shows a further 38,921ha has been confirmed as sold since the last report in September 2024. Revised confirmed sales in 2023 now total 29,518ha and in 2024 now 30,483ha – that figure is expected to rise as further sales are confirmed. The report shows that sales through Overseas Investment Office approvals and to carbon-only forestry entities continue to dominate. Forestry The total amount of whole sheep and beef farms sold since January 1, 2017 is now more than 300,000ha. B+LNZ's conservative estimate is that more than two million stock units have been lost to afforestation over the past 8 years. New Zealand's Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay yesterday (Tuesday, June 10) introduced long-awaited legislation that will put a stop to large-scale farm-to-forestry conversions 'For too long, productive sheep and beef farms have been replaced by pine trees in the race for carbon credits. That ends under this government,' McClay said. 'The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme – Forestry Conversions) Amendment Bill will restrict wholesale conversions of farmland to exotic forestry by stopping LUC (Land Use Classification) 1-5 land from entering the ETS and capping new ETS registrations on LUC 6 land. 'It will also protect farmers' ability to diversify – allowing up to 25%of a farm to go into trees, while stopping the kind of blanket ETS planting that's been gutting rural communities in places like the East Coast, Wairarapa, the King Country, and Southland,' the minister added. The bill proposes time-limited transitional exemptions in rare cases for people who were in the process of afforestation prior to these changes originally being announced on December 4, 2024. The legislation is now before parliament and is to come into force October 2025. Farms Kate Acland, B+LNZ chair, said that the updated whole farm sales figures reinforce the need for action. 'While we appreciate the government's announcement this week about legislation being introduced to restrict wholesale conversions based on land use classes, the numbers show whole-farm sales for conversion to forestry for carbon credits are continuing at pace. 'Anecdotally we're still hearing of a significant number of farms being sold this year, despite the government announcing the limits last year. 'We're concerned that some sales are continuing on the basis of intent to purchase land before the limits were announced. We urgently need the government to tighten the criteria around proof of intent to purchase,' she said. Acland also highlighted the trend of land traditionally well-suited for pastoral farming being increasingly purchased for conversion. 'B+LNZ is not anti-forestry. In particular, we strongly support the integration of trees within farms, which we believe is a better approach. 'Farmers know their land and can plant the right trees in the right places, without affecting overall levels of production. 'Instead, we're seeing blanket pines replacing sustainable food production. 'We're also hearing significant concerns from neighbouring farmers about the impacts of a lack of pest and fire risk management around recently converted areas of land,' Acland said.
NZ Herald
03-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Planting for Profit field day at Te Karaka station, north of Gisborne, next week
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is staging a Planting for Profit field day next week for farmers looking to diversify their income stream. 'There's still time to secure your spot,' Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) senior extension manager Mark Harris said. 'This event is a collaboration between B+LNZ and
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Buying better bulls the aim of East Coast workshop
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is running a Better Breeding Workshop at Whangara Angus later this month. Whangara Angus is to host a Better Beef Breeding Workshop organised by Beef + Lamb New Zealand later this month. The workshop will run from 10am to 2.30pm on Thursday, May 22. 'This hands-on workshop is designed to help farmers better understand and interpret the information presented in bull catalogues and learn which structural traits are important when selecting a bull,' a B+LNZ spokesman said. 'Topics to be covered include setting breeding objectives for your herd, explaining EBVs (estimated breeding values) and how they can speed up your genetic gain, structurally assessing bulls, and we will cover the recently released beef nProve selection tool and help attendees understand information being presented in bull sale catalogues.' The workshop will be run by Dave Warburton from Vet Services Hastings.
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Field day at East Coast station Tutumatai on Friday
A field day is being held on Beef + Lamb NZ monitor farm Tutumatai Station near Ruatōria from 10am to 4pm on Friday. Beef + Lamb New Zealand is hosting a field day on hub farm Tutumatai Station near Ruatōria on Friday. The property in Mangaoporo Rd was named as a B+LNZ whenua Māori monitor farm early last year. Promoted, resourced and supported by B+LNZ for a two-year period, with the option of a third year, it follows on from a successful monitor farm programme B+LNZ ran at Waikura Station at Tiniroto for several years. 'B+LNZ Hub Farms are all about bringing farmers together to connect, share ideas and tackle regional challenges,' a B+LNZ spokesman said. 'They provide a unique chance to follow a real farm business as it navigates change, helping you see firsthand how decisions play out over time and translating those insights into practical strategies for your own farm.'
