Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
The quarter two Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, released last week, shows farmers across all sectors looking favourably at the 12 months ahead.
The latest Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Situation Outlook Report predicting. export returns for the year will be almost $60 billion – 12% up on last year – and that these will hit $65.8 billion by 2029. Leading the charge is dairy which is picked to be a record $27 billion (up 16%).
And banks, often seen in a bad light by farmers for charging high interest rates, are getting back in farmers’ good books. In a Federated Farmers survey, 61% of farmers rated their bank’s communication as good or very good – the best result since 2020.
Just on 18% of farmers said they were feeling undue bank pressure, down from 24% six months earlier and the lowest rating recorded since 2018.
Rabobank’s report shows farmer confidence in the broader agri economy was unchanged at a net reading of +44%. Alongside last quarter, this is the second-highest net reading recorded across the past decade, with only quarter two 2017 higher (at +52%).
The latest survey, completed early this month, found 48% of farmers were now expecting the performance of the broader agri economy to improve in the year ahead (down from 52% in the previous quarter).
There’s no doubt that sentiment is high among producers of all our major agri sectors. It’s largely driven by strong commodity prices – led by dairy.
However, the world markets are beyond the control of farmers. Geopolitical shocks can easily overtake the current positive.
But for now, the agri sector’s mojo is back. Let’s hope no one spoils our party.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content…