Speedy chair
OPINION: Federated Farmers and its members don’t have much love for regulations-obsessed regional councils.
Farmers are welcoming the broad scope of a parliamentary inquiry into banking competition.
The terms of reference announced last week include looking at the price of banking services, with a particular focus on business and rural lending products and the return on capital from business, rural and residential mortgage lending.
Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says the broad scope of the inquiry will hit the mark for farmers and rural communities.
“We’re pleased to see the Government announce a wide-ranging inquiry that will leave the banks with nowhere to hide,” McIntyre says.
“Farmers have been asking serious questions about the levels of competition, profitability and transparency in rural lending for a long time now – and it looks like they’re about to get answers.
“This inquiry is well placed to shine a bright light on parts of our rural banking system that, until now, have been allowed to operate in the shadows.”
The chair of primary production select committee, Mark Cameron, is urging the rural sector to make their voices heard.
“Anyone on the back of a rural loan, whether you are a horticulture, sheep and beef, arable or dairy farmer, should make sure their voices are heard – be part of the process,” he told Dairy News.
The public submission period runs for six weeks.
The Meat Industry Association (MIA) and Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) say they welcome the announcement that the European Union’s Deforestation-free supply chains Regulation (EUDR) will be delayed by 12 months.
Waikato-based milk processor Tatua has announced a final 2023-24 season payout of $10.50/kgMS for its farmer shareholders, again topping the payout stakes among NZ milk processors.
Tucked away in a remote part of the central North Island, staff at a Pāmu (Landcorp) farm are working hard to solve one of the biggest challenges facing the dairy and beef sectors.
OPINION: Fonterra deserves a pat on the back for delivering another solid set of financial results.
The Government and the agriculture sector are pumping $13.5 million into research of a methane vaccine.
Eight talented secondary students across New Zealand have been awarded Agri Futures scholarships, supporting their tertiary education.
OPINION: Research across the ditch has found that seaweed doesn’t just make a tasty wrap for sushi rolls.
OPINION: As a country we should be celebrating Fonterra’s solid annual results announced last week.