SOE on the block?
OPINION: Did the Prime Minister hint last week that the sale of Landcorp assets could be part of the manifesto for the next election?
OPINION: With things in NZ as tight as they are, your old mate is astounded the coalition Governmnt hasn't yet dumped the eternal underperformer Landcorp and put the $2 billion investment to better use.
Minister for SOEs, Paul Goldsmith, has at least publicly stated that Landcorp isn't running its 110 farms as efficiently or profitably as the private sector would, but he's yet to act, despite National previously questioning Landcorp's poor returns.
ACT's Mark Cameron and his party leader were unequivocal that the farms should be sold off into private hands so owners with skin in the game can realise the farms' potential.
Now that these guys have the power, will they follow through and put Landcorp out to pasture?
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

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