Scene + Herd: Podcasts From Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Triple Drench Resistance is here, and every month it will affect more farms. Farms without it should do everything they can to prevent it, but if it happens there are still options. We are joined by  Sam Johnston, Hamish Blundell and Mike Cranstone who each farm properties with Triple Drench Resistance. They tell us how it arose, what they are doing about it, and the progress they have made. For more information about drench resistance, head to www.wormwise.co.nz

On this RMPP conference call from 16 November 2016, we discuss facial eczema – its causes, and how farmers of sheep, cattle and deer can avoid, remedy or mitigate its impacts. Robert Carter is Chair of the Facial Eczema Working Group that brings together sheep, beef, deer and dairy industries, and Dr Neale Towers has worked on FE matters for most of his career. As well as detailed discussion of the fungus that causes the problem and the risk factors, we discuss what farmers should be monitoring for pastures and animals, and the methods that are proven to make a beneficial difference.

In 2020, over 3500 people visited a farm on an open day to see what happens behind the gates. In 2021 the Open Farms day is back and will be bigger and better. Founder Daniel Eb talks about why the programme was created and what it achieved in just one year, and talks about what the farmers taking part gain from the experience as well as the value to our industry. For more information and to sign up, check out Open Farms website , and have a listen to our previous podcast on the things attendees got from the day On Farm experiences build support for farming On Farm experiences build support for farming  

Former Beef + Lamb New Zealand innovation farmers Matthew and Shona Tayler farm 5600ha Lorne Peak Station near Garston in Southland.  With a balance of steep hill country and stony flats, Lorne Peak has undergone a transformation to a highly productive breeding and finishing operation.  During their tenure as Innovation Farmers, the couple utilised a combination of Lucerne and annual clovers along with changes to both beef and sheep management to drive levels of beef performance and profitability previously thought to be unattainable on Lorne Peak.  Matthew charts aspects of the journey reflecting on the drivers of change and how a team approach has provided confidence to speed up the process.

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand   Following the 2020 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Progressive Ag Conference join Southern South Island Extension Manager Olivia Ross as she takes a look back at hogget lambing over the past 10 years and how hogget lambing can be part of your farming operation. She is joined by Agribusiness Consultant Deane Carson and Southland farmer Geordie Eade sharing their experiences.     For more information check out B+LNZ’s hogget lambing guidebook  “Hogget Performance: Unlocking the Potential”  

Guest speaker Blair Nelson who, along with his wife Anna, farms 1,100ha of hill country in the King Country.  The couple were Beef + Lamb New Zealand Innovation Farmers and sought to lift profitability on their cultivable land by $200/ha. Focusing on specialist forages, they generated average post-weaning lamb growth rates of 240 g/day.  While primarily used for lambs, this feed was also used for growing out hoggets and had a profound effect on their farm system. They believe that this focus on feeding sets the potential for the life-time performance.

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand Southland farm consultant Graham Butcher was a speaker at the 2020 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Progressive Ag Conference. He discusses some of the practical farming strategies and lessons that can help increase the percentage of lambs finished off ewes at weaning and lift your profitability and productivity. 

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand As farmers and growers, social media is useful to tell our stories and also to interact with the general public and urban counterparts. Following the 2020 Beef + Lamb NZ Progressive Ag Conference Rowena Duncum, Executive Producer of “The Country”  and Southland farmer Ben Dooley discuss how we can use social media to its best effect and the do’s and don’ts to be successful.  

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand  Central Otago farmer Ben Trotter gave a practical overview of profitable bull beef finishing to the 2020 Beef + Lamb NZ Progressive Ag Conference. He discussed how you could make a system like his work for your business

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand Independent forestry consultant Stuart Orme spoke at the 2020 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Progressive Ag Conference. He discusses how multiple uses of plants/trees can add value to a farming operation and reduce overall farm emissions without a negative impact on the normal farm business. For more information check out these resources: https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/trees-farm.pdf  https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/one-billion-trees  

Today we celebrate our 100th Scene + Herd podcast, and soon we will reach 100,000 unique downloads!   Rob Davison, who has been at B+LNZ for over 40 years talks about why the Economic Service was formed back in 1950, how they go about their job and what they provide for our red meat industry. Much of the information from the Farm Survey is available for you to use, free of charge, from our website or on request.   We posted our first podcast back in April 2016, and quickly learned that it is a great way for farmers to tune into interesting topics while keeping busy on-farm.  We’ve covered everything from farm Health and Safety to consumer preferences in China, but hearing from farmers and other experts in farm management is one of the main reasons for the channel. If you’re a new listener or long-term, swipe to check out the most popular interviews.    

Are you wondering what the recent proposed changes to Otago’s water and waste plans might mean for you? Are you thinking about making a submission?   Join Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Olivia Ross on this podcast to hear from Lauren Philips, B+LNZ Environmental Policy Manager for the South Island about the latest Otago Regional Council Plan Change and what this will be mean for farmers. Two plan changes to the Otago Regional Plan have been notified by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which will affect drystock and dairy farmers in Otago – the Omnibus Plan Change (PC 1 and 8) and Plan Change 7 (Deemed Permits). (The Omnibus Plan Change has two names, with the other name being the Water Quality Plan Change).   Check out our webpage for more information 

Did you know that 50% of accidents on farm happen after 3pm? And that there are 3 simple steps you can take to dramatically reduce the impact of some of the most common accidents? Al McCone is Engagement Lead at Worksafe, and joins us for an update to his earlier podcast (link below). As well as some fascinating stats about when accidents occur and why, he discusses 3 key things Worksafe recommend to give farmers a ‘softer landing’ in the event of an accident: seatbelts, Crush Prevention Devices (CPDs) on quad bikes, and devices that can autonomously send a signal for help. In the longer term, Al suggests we start looking at how we work to see if there are changes we can make to reduce the probability of incidents occurring.   Al’s earlier podcast is here: Farming Health and Safety    Details about ACC’s support for the costs of CPDs is here: Helping to buy crush protection devices for quad bikes at work 

In the third podcast from our Catchment Community Group (CCG) forum Peter Mitchell (North Otago), Mark Adams (Fairlie), Josh Brown (North Canterbury), Roger Dalrymple (Rangitikei), Anna Nelson (King Country) and Rick Burke (Bay of Plenty) tell us about some of the things that can go wrong, how to get the messages out to the community and others, and answer a range of questions from listeners.   For more detail, check out our Catchment Community Group Programme webpage   More background on the farmer speakers and their groups 

Susan Kilsby became ANZ Bank’s Agriculture Economist in late 2018. As NZ arguably faces the toughest economic situation since World War 2, Susan discusses how the primary industry can prepare our businesses to be resilient to economic downfall. She will also touch on trends seen in other sectors and future predictions for the second half of 2020.

Trevor Cook from Totally Vets Manawatu is well-known by farmers around the country for his work in farm consultancy, extension and research.  In this call, Trevor will share his knowledge and insights for fine tuning your animal health plan following the dry autumn and heading into lambing and calving.

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand In the second podcast from our Catchment Community Group (CCG) forum, we get advice, tips and tricks for setting up and operating a Catchment Community Group. Hear from Peter Mitchell (North Otago), Mark Adams (Fairlie), Josh Brown (North Canterbury), Roger Dalrymple (Rangitikei), Anna Nelson (King Country) and Rick Burke (Bay of Plenty)  For more detail, check out our Catchment Community Group Programme webpage More background on the farmer speakers and their groups 

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand In this first podcast from our Catchment Community Group (CCG) forum, we talk with a group of farmers about their groups, why they were formed and what they are doing. Hear how CCGs are about so much more than just water from Peter Mitchell (North Otago), Mark Adams (Fairlie), Josh Brown (North Canterbury), Roger Dalrymple (Rangitikei), Anna Nelson (King Country) and Rick Burke (Bay of Plenty)  For more detail, check out our Catchment Community Group Programme webpage More background on the farmer speakers and their groups 

Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand   Kerry Harmer and her husband Paul farm Castleridge Station in the Ashburton Gorge and were concerned about the economic loss associated with lamb wastage, as well as the animal welfare implications.  Determined to address the issue, the couple have set up a lamb-rearing system – which includes automatic feeders – that minimises lamb losses and generates a profit of $50/head (including labour costs). Kerry was a popular presenter on Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Ladies’ Virtual Muster and joins Regional Associate Briar Huggett to discuss the Harmers’ journey and tips and tricks she has for other lamb rearers.   NZAgBiz Feed guide for calves, lambs and other animals  Artificial lamb rearing - Managing abomasal bloat  Video: Orphan lamb rearing