Farmer confidence dips slightly, but positivity still dominates
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Rabobank's regional manager for Australia and New Zealand, Mark Wiessing, is joining the bank's NZ board.
He replaces Lara Yocarini, who is stepping down after more than three years on the Rabobank New Zealand board.
Subject to regulatory approval, Yocarini has taken up a new role as chief executive officer of Rabobank's global asset finance subsidiary De Lage Landen (DLL). She will also be a member of Rabobank's managing board. Wiessing had more than 30 years' international experience in the financial sector, including postings in South America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
He joined Rabobank in 2006 and was regional manager South America and chief executive officer for Brazil for eight years prior to his appointment as regional manager for Rabobank Australia and New Zealand in May 2023.
Before joining Rabobank, Wiessing held roles with other leading financial institutions, including Standard Bank of South Africa, Citibank and ING.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.
Bill and Michelle Burgess had an eye-opening realisation when they produced the same with fewer cows.
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying. Decades later, it's her passion for the industry keeping her there, supporting, and inspiring farmers across the region.

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