The Farm Debt Mediation Bill will go far in helping farmers deal with farm debt, claims Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.

Farmers are urging banks to take a long term view of their businesses, now under growing pressure to improve their balance sheets.

Many dairy farmers are taking advantage of this season’s better payout to regain some of the equity they lost in their farms during the previous two bad years.

As dairy and other farmers dramatically cut back their expenses to the bare bones, in Wellington the country's public servants live the life of Riley.

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

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

Rabobank New Zealand Ltd (RNZL) continued to build its rural banking business in 2011, recording net lending growth of $724 million, despite a contraction in the total rural debt market over the same period.