Red meat rebound
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has appointed Bayden Barber as an independent board director.
Barber farms Angus cattle on a 100-acre block in Waimārama, Hawke’s Bay, and is chairman of Waimārama Section 3 Block 2 Trust, which consists of forestry and dry stock farming.
He is also a trustee of the Tiakitai Estate, which is leased to Horizon Farms.
A Hastings District councillor, Barber and his wife Myra run a consulting business, Ipurangi Developments Limited.
He is a member of the Hawke’s Bay Rural Advisory Group and a director of Health Hawke’s Bay Limited, a Primary Health Organisation.
Barber is also a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, sits on the board of Te Taura Whiri o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) and is a trustee on the Māori Education Trust, representing the New Zealand Māori Council.
He is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Tahu descent.
B+LNZ chairman Andrew Morrison says he welcomes the appointment.
“Bayden will bring an excellent mix of governance, rural expertise, business acumen and cultural capability to support Beef + Lamb New Zealand to achieve our strategic goals and objectives,” Morrison says.
“I would also like to acknowledge the excellent contribution made by Melissa Clark-Reynolds over her term as an independent director.”
The independent director position is designed to bring independent judgement and outside experience to the board.
B+LNZ’s current board is composed of six farmer-elected directors, who are regionally representative, two meat industry appointees, and an independent director.
Barber commences his role on 1 February 2021.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

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