Dairy unity
OPINION: A last-minute compromise ensured that the election of the new Federated Farmers national dairy chair wasn't a repeat of the Super 15 rugby final - Canterbury versus Waikato.
Reports are coming in of some South Island farmers being offered loans with interest rates of 5.7% and 5.8%. Just for context, most farmers are on interest rates over 8%.
Whether the banks are feeling the heat or it's just a public relations exercise remains to be seen.
Federated Farmers says the banks have a long way to go before they earn back the trust of farmers.
A Federated Farmers survey shows that farmers' satisfaction with their banks has dropped to its lowest levels since their surveys began in May 2015. Six years ago, around 80% of farmers were satisfied with their bank, but that number has since plummeted to just 51%.
