increase font size
Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford.
Farmer confidence has fallen despite the new Government repealing and rewriting some contentious regulations.
Federated Farmers' latest Farm Confidence survey of 1400 dairy, sheep, beef and arable farmers shows confidence remains stuck in historically low territory.
The survey results, released this week, shows debt, interest rates and banks causing the greatest concern to Kiwi farmers.
"It's incredibly frustrating to see farmer confidence is still sitting at these stubbornly low levels," Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford says.
"Unfortunately, these survey results are just reflecting how farming families are truly feeling out there now.
"Farmers have really been doing it tough for some time now, with high interest rates, low commodity prices and sky-high input costs making it really hard to earn a living."
Langford says Federated Farmers were were encouraged by a slight lift in farmer confidence shown in its January 2024 survey - but things have since gone backwards.
"Restoring farmer confidence is a huge focus for Federated Farmers. It's what gets me out of bed each morning, feeling motivated to make a difference.
"We clearly have a big job ahead of us, but we're up for the challenge. We'll keep pushing hard to improve the lives of farming families across the country.
"The Government have done a lot of work repealing and rewriting some of the most unworkable regulations, but there's still so much more to be done."
But the six-monthly survey clearly shows it's not only regulation that's eroding farmer confidence, Langford says.
"There are a whole range of other issues that are also having an impact.
"These include concerns about banking, high interest rates, soft farmgate prices, the ability to find staff, and the general economic outlook for the country.
"Farmers will also be watching interest rates closely and desperately for a rate cut later this year to help relieve some of the pressure they're feeling."
Carried out in mid-July, the survey found more farmers consider the current economic climate to be 'bad' compared to January.
This is the second-worst result in the survey's history, with the lowest being July 2023.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Farmers want the Government to scrap controversial freshwater rules that "put river spirits and ideology ahead of practical water use", says Federated Farmers board member Mark Hooper.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through a new initiative designed to make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking easier.
OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…
