January 14, 2026 • 8 mins
Dan Brier of Beef and Lamb NZ looks at what can expected in the next year regarding the sheep and beef sectors.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
The Muster Events Diary brought to you by Beef and
Lamb New Zealand. Go to Beef and lambensaid dot com.
Dan Bryer, as general Manager of Farming Excellence for Beef
and Lamb New Zealand, and joins us this afternoon on
the Muster. Good afternoon, Dan, Good, how you're doing. We're
straight back into the farming year. I suppose it hasn't
(00:25):
really stopped the truth knowing, but when it comes down
to Beef and Lamb's perspective, you're planning for the next
twelve months.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, absolutely right. So this is going to be a
really big year for us. It's an exciting year. It's
good that farmers have got You're having a pretty good season,
had a great season last year. Farmer sentiments really high.
So yeah, we're very excited about it coming.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
In, especially when you look at prices arguably on an
all time high. But the concern out there is we
don't need it to plateau dow. We want to stay
at a happy medium place.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, absolutely right. I sold a few a few kettle
just last week up here in the Whitecadow, and the
money it's sort of feels unreal to be honest, So
you completely agree. We want it to stay at a
reasonable rate so that people can make money, so the
breeders can make money, so the finishers can make money,
and so the processes can make money too.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Importantly, would you say there's a lot of confidence throughout
the industry that this can be achieved.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, absolutely right. So the fundamentals, particularly on the B
side of this, the fundamentals worldwide are really strong. So
certainly for the next three or four years, it looks
good with that rebuild that needs to happen in the US.
Simon Quilty is a guy you might have heard of.
His analyst from around the world, and he's coming to
out the Gate event that we're having in May. He's
coming back that he came last year, he's coming back
(01:35):
again this year. He's got some really interesting insights into
what's happening around the world and why our prices are
what they are and how they should stay. So, yeah,
sheep and beef are both pretty strong for the next
little while, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I spoke to Simon probably about August last year, and
it was fascinating his insight the arguments there. What he quoted,
I think everything's gone above and beyond as well, so
he's a very interesting guy to get a perspective from.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Yeah, absolutely right, So it's really all that we can
get them back again for the outdate event that's in
christ Church and I think twentieth and May, so pental
ad into your diary. It's going to be great. We'll
have Simon, we'll have some other really good speakers and
interesting for speakers for farmers there too. But yeah, I'm
while Simon keeps talking the price up, I'm going to
keep listening to them.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So the General Manager of Farming Excellence just go into
a bit of detail about what that's about, all right.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So essentially I look after what we do behind the
farm gates and very broad term. So we've got research
teams working on things like parasites or facial exma, trying
to find some solutions for farmers. Obviously, our genetics team
based in Darnedan is really important underpinning that sheep sector
and also working really hard on beef and dairy beef
as well. And then we have the extension team, so
(02:42):
we figure things out, turn them into tools farmers can use,
and then our extension teams are in the field helping
farmers pick up those skills, learn new things, connect with
each other and drive their help support them drive in
their farm businesses.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
So like so the' where them wise where its shops?
For example? A continue?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah one, right, So when was this such an important,
such an important asset to the sect that really has
been around for twenty years. Jenny de Dunsky does such
a great job of driving that for us and be
for them. We're really proud to sponsor that, or not
sponsor it, we fund it, and we're really proud that
we make that happen because it's such a massive problem
for farmers that parasite resistance.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
As far as trench resistance. So do you think the
issue is just it just keeps getting worse. Unfortunately, Well,
it's not going to go away.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
There's no doubt about that. And I'm just squirting more
drenchs that the problem isn't the solution. We know that.
So you know, there's a really important work that Geny's doing.
There's also a lot of work that we're doing with
some of our partners, like the Old Aggression now the
Bioscience Economy CSRO in Australia on some of the more
fundamental research that we need to do to help farmers.
(03:51):
There's a farm system solution here, There's there's diagnostics, there's
all sorts of things that go into how we deal
with this. But it's certainly a massive issue for farmers
that only give bigger. We're starting to see more of
it in the cattle side of the sector too now.
So just a really important area for us to work
on in an area that we want to We're hoping
to carry on doing more and more and more onto
(04:12):
help farmers.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Just around the country at the moment, there's a lot
of different weather events that are occurring one way or
the other. A lot of areas they've got that nice
bowl of porridge in the middle that's nice and warm,
other ones inside the two hot or too cold to
kind of phrase, are we seeing that are We're just
seeing around the country though, Like it's been a decent
growing season from what you're hearing, so yes and no.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I think you're exactly right that it's just sort of
a little bit hot and cold, like even down in
your guys negative woods. I think just in the last
couple of weeks it's sort of just sparted off a
but Hawks Bay has been really hot and to the
risk risk of fires and that sort of thing over there,
and some areas have been quite dry in there, but
also some areas that hadn't had lots of rain. I'm
in the Whitehadow and we're supposed to get sixty mils
(04:54):
of rain today, so we're we're pretty strong on this
side of the country. So yeah, a real mixed bag,
know where that we're really panicking about just at the minute,
but certainly lots of areas where we need to keep
an eye on it, and we're just seeing these big
variations a year a year of what's happening in the
with the weather and the pasty growth. Great thing is
that with store pricing and cattle and sheep pricing being
(05:14):
so strong, farmers got options.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
So when you look back at twenty twenty five, apart
from the prices, what was a really what was the
success story from the beef sheep lamb sector would just
sheep beef sector.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
So for us to beef and lamb, it was a
big year. I guess a couple of things. One that
came through not particularly exciting, but super important is that
policy change around the methane targets. So some of our
guys have been working on that five or six years
to get the policy changed from being unrealistic and not
science based to a more realistic methane target for farming.
(05:48):
So that was it was really important. That big year
for trade last year, so Donald Trump, it was all
the weird stuff that was happening around the world instead
of trade, and so our guys were super busy on that.
And at Christmas time, I think a New Year action
the China Safeguard measure, which means that our beef going
into China is not going to be badly affected by
their decisions over there. It was a real massive win
(06:09):
for us. Lots of good work in the field, so
our extension teams doing good stuff with our farmers. We
went through a bit of a strategic change last year
which we applied and we're really starting to see it
comes through and farmers getting real value out of what
we're providing for them in the field with those field
days and workshops and our focus groups. So yeah, are
(06:31):
really really good year. Lots of highlights.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
As far as the terrorists with Donald Trump, are we
actually seeing much of an effect on Kiwi farmers all.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So what we're seeing at the moment is back to
that Simon cruelty piece, right, because there's such a shortage
of protein and beef in particular in the States. The
answer is not really, so most of that cost has
been passed through to the customer. So yeah, the short
answer is not really. The problem is that it just
creates these these strange flows like the waders it beef
(07:03):
from Brazil go when they change their mind, or the
Argentina and suddenly making decisions about argenta. So it's sort
of the uncertainty that's more of the problem rather than
the impact on pricing just at.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
The minute, and as well the Indian Free Trade agreements
signed up just before Christmas as well, this is something
that's been a long time in the offering.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, absolutely right, So that's great use for a sector
and credit to the government and all of the people
that put in their time and effort to make that happen.
So we know they need a lot of lamb in
India and we've got a lot of lamb, so hopefully
we can make those two things work together. A really
important thing to keep on opening up new new markets
for us. So you full credit to the government for
the good work there.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Now it's an election you're Dan, is there a concern,
though you talked about omissions briefly before, is there a
concern that a change, a possible change of government means
all this just goes out the window and we're back
to square one? I hope not.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I mean, who knows. I don't know, Crystal Ball. If
I did, I'd be a rich man. Hopefully not. You know,
we're working really hard and with all parties as as
the whole sect there, and we're trying to make sure
that these we don't get these knee jerk swings and
any policy really because it just makes it so hard
to farm, as you know, if you don't know what's
going to happen. So we need some certainty and we're
(08:16):
really working hard to make sure that that doesn't happen.
So who knows, but hopefully.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Not at the resting times. Dan Bryer of Beef and Lave,
New Zealand, thanks very much for your time on the
muster Cool.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Thanks, it's great to check it.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Was Dan Bryer of Beef and Lave, New Zealand. Click
beeflaremans it dot com slash events to get the e
Diary into your inbox. On Friday morning, you're listening to
the muster before the end of the year, our residents
sporting guru Nathan Burden. But that next from Real Women
New Zealand Jill Naylor from the House Attention
The Muster Events Diary brought to you by Beef and
Lamb New Zealand. Go to Beef and lambensaid dot com.
Dan Bryer, as general Manager of Farming Excellence for Beef
and Lamb New Zealand, and joins us this afternoon on
the Muster. Good afternoon, Dan, Good, how you're doing. We're
straight back into the farming year. I suppose it hasn't
(00:25):
really stopped the truth knowing, but when it comes down
to Beef and Lamb's perspective, you're planning for the next
twelve months.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, absolutely right. So this is going to be a
really big year for us. It's an exciting year. It's
good that farmers have got You're having a pretty good season,
had a great season last year. Farmer sentiments really high.
So yeah, we're very excited about it coming.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
In, especially when you look at prices arguably on an
all time high. But the concern out there is we
don't need it to plateau dow. We want to stay
at a happy medium place.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, absolutely right. I sold a few a few kettle
just last week up here in the Whitecadow, and the
money it's sort of feels unreal to be honest, So
you completely agree. We want it to stay at a
reasonable rate so that people can make money, so the
breeders can make money, so the finishers can make money,
and so the processes can make money too.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Importantly, would you say there's a lot of confidence throughout
the industry that this can be achieved.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, absolutely right. So the fundamentals, particularly on the B
side of this, the fundamentals worldwide are really strong. So
certainly for the next three or four years, it looks
good with that rebuild that needs to happen in the US.
Simon Quilty is a guy you might have heard of.
His analyst from around the world, and he's coming to
out the Gate event that we're having in May. He's
coming back that he came last year, he's coming back
(01:35):
again this year. He's got some really interesting insights into
what's happening around the world and why our prices are
what they are and how they should stay. So, yeah,
sheep and beef are both pretty strong for the next
little while, hopefully.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
I spoke to Simon probably about August last year, and
it was fascinating his insight the arguments there. What he quoted,
I think everything's gone above and beyond as well, so
he's a very interesting guy to get a perspective from.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Yeah, absolutely right, So it's really all that we can
get them back again for the outdate event that's in
christ Church and I think twentieth and May, so pental
ad into your diary. It's going to be great. We'll
have Simon, we'll have some other really good speakers and
interesting for speakers for farmers there too. But yeah, I'm
while Simon keeps talking the price up, I'm going to
keep listening to them.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So the General Manager of Farming Excellence just go into
a bit of detail about what that's about, all right.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So essentially I look after what we do behind the
farm gates and very broad term. So we've got research
teams working on things like parasites or facial exma, trying
to find some solutions for farmers. Obviously, our genetics team
based in Darnedan is really important underpinning that sheep sector
and also working really hard on beef and dairy beef
as well. And then we have the extension team, so
(02:42):
we figure things out, turn them into tools farmers can use,
and then our extension teams are in the field helping
farmers pick up those skills, learn new things, connect with
each other and drive their help support them drive in
their farm businesses.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
So like so the' where them wise where its shops?
For example? A continue?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah one, right, So when was this such an important,
such an important asset to the sect that really has
been around for twenty years. Jenny de Dunsky does such
a great job of driving that for us and be
for them. We're really proud to sponsor that, or not
sponsor it, we fund it, and we're really proud that
we make that happen because it's such a massive problem
for farmers that parasite resistance.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
As far as trench resistance. So do you think the
issue is just it just keeps getting worse. Unfortunately, Well,
it's not going to go away.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
There's no doubt about that. And I'm just squirting more
drenchs that the problem isn't the solution. We know that.
So you know, there's a really important work that Geny's doing.
There's also a lot of work that we're doing with
some of our partners, like the Old Aggression now the
Bioscience Economy CSRO in Australia on some of the more
fundamental research that we need to do to help farmers.
(03:51):
There's a farm system solution here, There's there's diagnostics, there's
all sorts of things that go into how we deal
with this. But it's certainly a massive issue for farmers
that only give bigger. We're starting to see more of
it in the cattle side of the sector too now.
So just a really important area for us to work
on in an area that we want to We're hoping
to carry on doing more and more and more onto
(04:12):
help farmers.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Just around the country at the moment, there's a lot
of different weather events that are occurring one way or
the other. A lot of areas they've got that nice
bowl of porridge in the middle that's nice and warm,
other ones inside the two hot or too cold to
kind of phrase, are we seeing that are We're just
seeing around the country though, Like it's been a decent
growing season from what you're hearing, so yes and no.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I think you're exactly right that it's just sort of
a little bit hot and cold, like even down in
your guys negative woods. I think just in the last
couple of weeks it's sort of just sparted off a
but Hawks Bay has been really hot and to the
risk risk of fires and that sort of thing over there,
and some areas have been quite dry in there, but
also some areas that hadn't had lots of rain. I'm
in the Whitehadow and we're supposed to get sixty mils
(04:54):
of rain today, so we're we're pretty strong on this
side of the country. So yeah, a real mixed bag,
know where that we're really panicking about just at the minute,
but certainly lots of areas where we need to keep
an eye on it, and we're just seeing these big
variations a year a year of what's happening in the
with the weather and the pasty growth. Great thing is
that with store pricing and cattle and sheep pricing being
(05:14):
so strong, farmers got options.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
So when you look back at twenty twenty five, apart
from the prices, what was a really what was the
success story from the beef sheep lamb sector would just
sheep beef sector.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
So for us to beef and lamb, it was a
big year. I guess a couple of things. One that
came through not particularly exciting, but super important is that
policy change around the methane targets. So some of our
guys have been working on that five or six years
to get the policy changed from being unrealistic and not
science based to a more realistic methane target for farming.
(05:48):
So that was it was really important. That big year
for trade last year, so Donald Trump, it was all
the weird stuff that was happening around the world instead
of trade, and so our guys were super busy on that.
And at Christmas time, I think a New Year action
the China Safeguard measure, which means that our beef going
into China is not going to be badly affected by
their decisions over there. It was a real massive win
(06:09):
for us. Lots of good work in the field, so
our extension teams doing good stuff with our farmers. We
went through a bit of a strategic change last year
which we applied and we're really starting to see it
comes through and farmers getting real value out of what
we're providing for them in the field with those field
days and workshops and our focus groups. So yeah, are
(06:31):
really really good year. Lots of highlights.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
As far as the terrorists with Donald Trump, are we
actually seeing much of an effect on Kiwi farmers all.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So what we're seeing at the moment is back to
that Simon cruelty piece, right, because there's such a shortage
of protein and beef in particular in the States. The
answer is not really, so most of that cost has
been passed through to the customer. So yeah, the short
answer is not really. The problem is that it just
creates these these strange flows like the waders it beef
(07:03):
from Brazil go when they change their mind, or the
Argentina and suddenly making decisions about argenta. So it's sort
of the uncertainty that's more of the problem rather than
the impact on pricing just at.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
The minute, and as well the Indian Free Trade agreements
signed up just before Christmas as well, this is something
that's been a long time in the offering.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, absolutely right, So that's great use for a sector
and credit to the government and all of the people
that put in their time and effort to make that happen.
So we know they need a lot of lamb in
India and we've got a lot of lamb, so hopefully
we can make those two things work together. A really
important thing to keep on opening up new new markets
for us. So you full credit to the government for
the good work there.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Now it's an election you're Dan, is there a concern,
though you talked about omissions briefly before, is there a
concern that a change, a possible change of government means
all this just goes out the window and we're back
to square one? I hope not.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I mean, who knows. I don't know, Crystal Ball. If
I did, I'd be a rich man. Hopefully not. You know,
we're working really hard and with all parties as as
the whole sect there, and we're trying to make sure
that these we don't get these knee jerk swings and
any policy really because it just makes it so hard
to farm, as you know, if you don't know what's
going to happen. So we need some certainty and we're
(08:16):
really working hard to make sure that that doesn't happen.
So who knows, but hopefully.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Not at the resting times. Dan Bryer of Beef and Lave,
New Zealand, thanks very much for your time on the
muster Cool.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Thanks, it's great to check it.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Was Dan Bryer of Beef and Lave, New Zealand. Click
beeflaremans it dot com slash events to get the e
Diary into your inbox. On Friday morning, you're listening to
the muster before the end of the year, our residents
sporting guru Nathan Burden. But that next from Real Women
New Zealand Jill Naylor from the House Attention
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