increase font size
The latest Federated Farmers farmer confidence survey showed 47% of farmers survey consider current economic conditions to be bad.
OPINION: The latest Federated Farmers survey of farmer confidence paints a worrying picture.
Of the 1,200 surveyed, 47% consider current economic conditions to be bad — down 55.6 points since January when a net 7.8% considered conditions to be good. A net 80% expect general economic conditions to get worse — up 16.9 points for the same period.
The survey conducted last month showed production expectations have dropped into negative territory for the first time since its inception in 2009.
The message from farmers to the Government is clear, ‘slow down on new regulations’.
The ACT Party rightly points out that the Labour Government has been a non-stop shop of on-farm compliance.
They have set off an avalanche of regulations: freshwater reforms, winter grazing rules, Zero Carbon Act, limiting migrant workers, Significant Natural Areas, taxes on utes…the list goes on.
There’s no doubt that farmers have taken a hammering from this government.
This is reflected by the top concerns in the survey being climate change policy and the ETS, regulation and compliance costs, input costs, debt and interest rates, and biosecurity amid concerns about foot-and-mouth disease.
Federated Farmers national president Andrew Hoggard says the frustration around all the regulation, the uncertainty, the hectic pace and nature of it, is driving the mood as well.
He wants the Government to slow down and work out what they can achieve, not what they want to achieve.
The Government needs to bring people along with them. They must listen to the concerns and ensure that the regulatory push is not all driven by one minister’s wishes.
The survey did have some positives.
Despite the slide in confidence, farmers’ profitability expectations haven’t taken as big a hit as might have been predicted.
A net 55% of respondents said they are currently making a profit – six points down on the January survey. Looking out over the next 12 months, a net 53.1% of respondents expect their profitability to decline, up 11.9% on the January 2022 survey when a net 41.2% expected it to decline.
This is perhaps to be expected given the squeeze from higher input costs and high commodity prices retreating.
But what’s worrying is that for the first time in the survey’s history it has recorded a net negative score for production expectations.
The Government can do its bit to help right now: a clear signal around the regulatory process, to show that they are listening, would be a good start.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
OPINION: Have a plan in place now!
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
