Interested in developing new farming technology?

Farming is the backbone of New Zealand and our farms have some of the best, visionary, hard-working people. If you’re looking to take the next step with your beef or lamb farm, Beef+Lamb New Zealand’s Innovation Farm Programme helps farmers identify tools and practices to unlock financial improvements. The programme develops new farming technology by bringing both science and farming experts together for a period of about three years. With up to eight farmers at a time, the focus is on developing new knowledge and delivering results to benefit the wider farming industry. The projects chosen tend to involve new-to-market technologies. 

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards celebrate farmer and grower achievement and showcase good practice. Among 2023's Regional Supreme winners, Steven and Kellie Nichol, were celebrated for their forward-thinking approach. 

Their farm, Auldamor, specialises in sheep breeding and finishing, with 4,500 ewes, 1,500 hoggets, 80 rams, and nearly 300 beef cows grazed each year. The couple were recognised for diversifying their business and considering the environmental impact of their work. By modifying farming practices and emphasising on-farm measuring and monitoring, stock productivity and profitability increased. 

They introduced initiatives including a no-till drilling programme to improve soil health, improving pasture resilience, yields, stock performance, and animal health. They enhanced the farm's biodiversity, planting shelterbelts and forestry stands and fencing native shrubland and waterways. Steven and Kellie won Regional Supreme Award at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards, with the judges commending their high level of knowledge about all aspects of their farm, their farming business and their guardianship of it. 



If you or someone on your farm is an innovator, it might be worthwhile applying to some of the programmes available.