Displaying items by tag: westpac

Farmers in South Canterbury and North Otago will feel the financial crunch of the drought-like conditions shortly, with Westpac gearing up to assist its hardest hit customers in the regions.

THE COMMERCE Commission is negotiating with Westpac and ASB after having reached a $19 million settlement with ANZ over the marketing of interest rate swaps.

Fonterra is being tipped to raise its forecast payout for the 2013-14 season.

Strong leadership, good networks and being change-ready are the key ingredients to running resilient farming operations, says Westpac managing director of private wealth and insurance, Simon Power.

Westpac and Meridian Energy are giving farmers easier access to solar energy, with potential savings on power bills in the thousands each year.

Federated Farmers adverse effects spokeswoman Katie Milne says she is amazed that Westpac economists believe the drought may have no effect on the economy because of rising dairy prices.

Total milk production could drop for the first time in five years, according to Westpac's most recent forecasts.

Westpac economists are forecasting global dairy and beef prices to rise on the back of drought in the US and elsewhere.

AN EXTENSIVE trial run by DairyNZ to find the dairy cows which are the most efficient converters of feed to milk is progressing well.

EXPORT COMMODITY prices, already down 9% on a mid-2011 peak, are tipped to slip further in the coming months as Europe deteriorates and Asian growth slows, says Westpac's latest economic outlook report.