We're OK!
OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the White House, farm commodity prices are holding their own.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
Martin, whose company provides financial management tool for farmers, believes many farmers will be concerned about the impact of the tariffs.
However, she points out that farmers who are aware of their margins can make the necessary adjustments to weather the storm.
“While it’s difficult to plan for an uncertain future farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions and this will be no different,” says Martin.
“Farmers are inherently good at adapting, running lean, managing costs or diversifying income on their farm. They know that building resilience as a business is important regardless of what the disruptors are.
“And with the US imposing significant tariffs globally, Kiwi farmers may find themselves well positioned to adapt to the changing export market.”
As part of his ‘Liberation Day’ announcements President Trump slapped baseline tariffs of about 10% on US imports.
He will also be imposing reciprocal tariffs on countries that have treated the US unfairly in terms of tariff and non-tariff barriers. 10% tariffs will be imposed on NZ and Australian goods exports to the US, whereas much higher US tariffs will be imposed on major export markets, including China, Japan, the European Union and much of the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. The US is NZ’s 3rd largest goods export market ($9bn annually), being a key destination for NZ exports of meat, dairy and wine as well as selected non-commodity exports.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.
Lucidome Bio, a New Zealand agricultural biotech company was recently selected as one of fourteen global finalists to pitch at the Animal Health, Nutrition and Technology Innovation USA event in Boston.
Tractor manufacturer and distributor Case IH has announced a new partnership with Meet the Need, the grassroots, farmer-led charity working to tackle food insecurity across New Zealand one meal at a time.
The DairyNZ Farmers Forum is back with three events - in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Among this year’s Primary Industry NZ (PINZ) Awards finalists are rural New Zealanders who advocate for pragmatic regulation and support stressed out farmers.
OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and…
OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the…