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OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be, despite falling interest rates, and the report still paints a damning picture of rural lending.
Federated Farmers board member and Horowhenua dairy farmer, Richard McIntyre says it’s one of the driest summers his region has experienced for some time.
He says while it’s not time to call it drought, the grass is not growing much at present. He says it’s the same in other parts of the country including the Wairarapa.
But despite the imponderable weather, McIntyre says farmers are more optimistic now than they were.
“The GDT going upwards has helped and the news of another increase in the milk price has reduced some of the stress that dairy farmers have been under and there is wave of optimism that things will get better,” he says.
McIntyre says one of the reasons that farmers have been stressed is their concern over government regulation from the previous administration.
He says famers felt they were bashing their heads against a brick wall trying to get Labour to listen. Farmers, he says, are looking for sensible and cost-effective solutions and are hopeful the new government will deliver on the promises they have made and fix things.
McIntyre says while dairy farmers aren’t facing the challenges that their sheep and beef colleagues are going through, he says some dairy farmers are struggling to make ends meet with the high input costs and higher interest rates.
“A lot of promises have been made but we now need to see some appropriate action to set things right,” he says.
Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.
The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) has launched a new summer checklist for animal owners this year.
The Amuri Basin Future Farming (ABFF) Project in North Canterbury is making considerable strides in improving irrigation efficiency, riparian management, and environmental innovation.
A Farmlands shareholder is questioning the rural trader’s decision to more than double its annual card fee.
The Brandt Hastings team, joined by Rudolph the Red-Nose Rein ‘Deere’, spread holiday cheer this week at the Hawke’s Bay Hospital children’s ward.
There's been a dramatic and larger than expected drop in the number of lambs produced in New Zealand.
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OPINION: A new study, published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adds to some existing evidence about…