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Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard.
OPINION: Unsurprisingly farmer confidence is the lowest it has been since Federated Farmers began twice-a-year surveys in 2009.
The lobby's January survey results show farmers - already concerned about a looming avalanche of Labour Government-sponsored legislation - are dealing with Omicron and rising costs, partly due to a war halfway around the world.
Of responses from nearly 1,000 farmers from around the country, a net 7.8% considered current economic conditions to be good, a 10.1 point decline from the July 2021 Federated Farmers Farm Confidence Survey, when 17.9% considered conditions to be good.
The survey shows farmers don't expect things to improve anytime soon. Looking forward, a net 64% of farmers believed general economic conditions would worsen over the next 12 months, a 25-point deterioration from the 39% in the July survey. Sentiment about general economic conditions is at the lowest level since the Feds surveys began in July 2009, surpassing the previous low in July 2020.
Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says the results are even more disturbing when you consider farmers were answering the survey before the surge of Omicron cases in New Zealand and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both of which will weigh on economic growth.
While a net 61.1% of farmers reported making a profit, a 5.5 point increase on July 2021, a net 11.2% expected their profitability would decline in the year ahead, 16 points down on six months earlier when a net 4.4% expected profitability would improve. Farmers are enjoying strong returns on meat and dairy right now thanks to high global demand and food security concerns, but clearly they expect a lot of that revenue to go back out again with higher fuel and fertiliser prices, rising labour costs, and inflation.
The survey showed a net 52.7% of respondents expected their spending to increase over the next 12 months (up from 32.6% six months ago).
The survey also shows that staff shortage is also playing on the minds of farmers. This vindicates the dairy sector seeking more overseas workers.
Asked to list their greatest concerns, those farmers who completed the January survey chose climate change policy and ETS (18.7% of respondents), followed by regulation and compliance costs (13.1%), and freshwater policy (9.5%). This result is unchanged from the July 2021 survey and shows farmers concerns are deep-rooted and not going away anytime soon.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities Party, labelled by some as the 'LinkedIn Greens' for their corporate spin on Green-esque 'tax the rich' policies.
OPINION: Mike Chapman, former chief executive of levy-funded HortNZ, has thrown out a challenge to farmers and growers to put their levy-funded industry organisations under the same scrutiny as fertiliser, electricity, labour and freight.
A team effort that is paying dividends for the wider New Zealand economy.
A strong sense of community involvement is what propelled the Federated Farmers' North Canterbury president Bex Green to the honoured title of the Feds' Advocate of the Year 2026.
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
Power Farming has launched a joint venture in Southland.
Food rescue charity Meet the Need has released its 2025/26 Impact Report, revealing a record year of growth alongside a stark warning: demand for food support across New Zealand is rising faster than supply can keep up.
As we move into the second half of 2026, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that Year-to-Date figures ending June 30 saw new tractor deliveries hitting 1,386 units or 10.7% ahead of the same period in 2025.
The avocado sector is entering the new season with a larger crop and positive market opportunities.
New Zealand growers have always adapted to changing conditions, but one challenge is steadily gaining ground across the horticulture sector: resistance.
