Rising Fuel and Fertiliser Costs Hit NZ Farmers, ANZ Report Finds
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
ANZ has taken out CANSTAR's Best Agribusiness Bank award for 2015 – the fourth consecutive year it has won the award.
The award goes to the institution that provides the best combination of products and services to agribusiness customers.
CANSTAR New Zealand general manager Jose George says ANZ continues to strengthen its relevance to the agri sector.
"We were really impressed with how ANZ engages with its agri community through free educational seminars and customer workshops. We also like the fact that ANZ has dedicated agri managers in every part of the country," he says.
"ANZ stands out with their rural finance offerings ranging from a Farm Start-up Package through to their Supply Chain Finance. Taking home the award for the fourth year in a row is a considerable achievement; one that ANZ should be very proud of."
Graham Turley, ANZ's managing director commercial & agri says that winning the award recognises the depth of the expertise and quality of the products the bank offers.
"Our business term loans, credit cards and cash management accounts were stand-out features that helped secure this award."
"We were also recognised for our disaster relief support, environmental loans and work in the community," he says.
Turley says the award is a tremendous reflection of the hard work and commitment of everyone in the sector who provides support for the New Zealand agribusiness industry.
Silver Fern Farms has announced a major capital investment valued at over $100 million to redevelop freezing, cold storage, and automation facilities at its Finegand Site near Balclutha.
A firm belief in the agricultural sector has kept the PGG Wrightson business going for 175 years, says chief executive Stephen Guerin.
The country'a largest A&P Show - Canterbury - will be "back where it belongs" this year, running from the Wednesday through Friday of Christchurch's iconic Cup Week, after a two-year experiment of running Thursday to Saturday instead.
Wet autumn weather is posing challenges for aerial topdressing operators and farmers are being urged not to put pressure on pilots to fly in borderline conditions where safety could be at risk.
Now it's signed, make it work.
State farmer Pāmu says a programme it's running to help skilled operators into farm ownership is paying dividends.