New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
A member poll by Federated Farmers shows 11.1% of dairy farmers are now under pressure by banks over their mortgages.
That's up from 6.6% in August and 7.6% in November.
"So far we've been pleased with the support of banks and their long-term view of the dairy industry, but one in 10 farmers feeling the squeeze is a worrying statistic," says Federated Farmers Dairy chair Andrew Hoggard.
"With prices not expected to recover until next year this increase in pressure from banks means farmers need to be even more proactive in budgeting and planning, and making the most of support available from DairyNZ, accountants and farm advisors."
Hoggard is also calling for action to address the global market conditions affecting NZ dairy farmers.
"Softer demand from China and displaced product [not going to] Russia isn't helping the situation, but the real issue is increased production from Europe driven by the retention of subsidies," he says.
"It's concerning that some European countries want to move backwards to more regulation. Instead they need to keep moving forward to more market orientated structures. The more farmers around the world live with the economic realities of the decisions they make, the more stable a market we will get for all farmers.
"This is something our government needs to take up via direct diplomatic channels and the World Trade Organisation, and if next season is going to be any different from this one they're going to have to move quickly."
The Feds poll was taken early February, sampling 1225 members in all 24 provinces and seven industry groups. It asked a question about mortgage pressure also used in Feds August and November banking surveys with a similar sample size.
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With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
New Zealand must continue to educate Chinese consumers about the unique qualities of its red meat products and how they differ from competitors, says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.
There are opportunities outside the farmgate for young farmers to further develop their skills, says 2025 Primary Industries Emerging Leader Award winner Bridie Virbickas.