A cost of $6000 for mediation between an indebted farmer and a bank would be at the lower end of the cost spectrum, says Federated Farmers sharemilkers chairman Richard McIntyre.

Support is growing from farmers all around New Zealand for a petition currently before Parliament for a select committee inquiry into banks’ conduct.

A dairy farmer and mayor of a town hit by a double whammy of bank branch closures says the loss of a bank can change the perception of vibrancy and wealth in a rural town.

With the dairy payout remaining stubbornly low and equity positions becoming more precarious many farmers are seeing more of their bank manager, says Crowe Horwath's head of corporate agribusiness, Hayden Dillon.

Readjust, stick with your banks and keep supporting your dairy company; things will come right.

The banking system is robust to a severe dairy stress test.

The Primary Industries Minister needs to stand up for farmers during tough times rather than rolling over for banks.

A member poll by Federated Farmers shows 11.1% of dairy farmers are now under pressure by banks over their mortgages. 

It depends how bad it gets before banks take drastic action against deeply indebted dairy farmers.

Banks have cut their farmgate milk price forecast after another drop in the GDT price index last week, albeit minor at an overall 1.4%.