Feds, banks lock horns
Major rural lenders are welcoming a call by farmers for the Commerce Commission to investigate their net-zero emissions target.
ANZ says it is ready to support its customers impacted by the recent severe weather on the East Coast.
“It’s been a tough few days for those impacted by the severe weather events, our thoughts are with those dealing with damage and destruction to the community and their businesses, and their family homes,” says Lorraine Mapu, ANZ managing director of business and agri.
“We want to reassure our business, farming and personal customers the bank is here to work with them in the days and months ahead,” Mapu told Rural News.
Targeted assistance is available for business and farming customers such as temporary overdraft facilities and the ability to defer loan repayments or move to interest only to help ease some financial pressure.
“Our team are reaching out to farmers and our small and medium-sized business customers to see what else is needed,” Mapu says.
“We encourage personal and home loan customers to talk to us if they need to relieve pressure on their financial situation,” she says. “There may be a range of ways we could help, such as restructuring their home loan repayments or providing access to an overdraft facility.”
Business and Agri customers should speak to their relationship manager to discuss the impact on their business and their funding requirements.
All other ANZ customers should call 0800 269 296.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that events over the last few weeks have highlighted the importance of a strong biosecurity system.
In its submission on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act, DairyNZ says its levy-paying members invested more than $60 million across the biosecurity system last year, through multiple biosecurity levies across several entities and legislative frameworks to collect this funding.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has received 136 submissions on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act.
Nick Beeby has been appointed as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Global beef supply will contract this year for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Rabobank.
Changes to migrant visa settings announced last month should take a lot of pressure off farmers in the new season, says Federated Farmers immigration spokesman Richard McIntyre.
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