Feds welcomes health and safety resets
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
OPINION: Federated Farmers' latest Farm Confidence survey brings little comfort to the farming sector.
The survey of 1400 dairy, sheep, beef and arable farmers shows confidence remains stuck in historically low territory.
Farmers have been facing challenging times in recent years – trying hard to earn a living amid high interest rates, low commodity prices and sky-high input costs.
The last term of the Labour Government brought no respite, as an avalanche of regulations was dropped on them from winter grazing to pricing methane emissions.
The Coalition Government provided some relief by unwinding some of Labour’s unfair regulations – like repealing some draconian aspects of winter grazing regulations and promising to keep agriculture out of an emissions trading scheme for the time being.
So, it’s incredibly frustrating to see farmer confidence still sitting at these stubbornly low levels.
The Government have done a lot of work repealing and rewriting some of the most unworkable regulations, but there’s still so much more to be done. But the six-monthly survey clearly shows it’s not only regulation that’s eroding farmer confidence.
There are a whole range of other issues that are also having an impact – including concerns about banking, high interest rates, soft farm-gate prices, the ability to find staff, and the general economic outlook for the country.
The survey also paints a bleak picture of what’s happening with farm profitability - just over a third of farmers are making a loss right now, while only 27% say they’re making a profit and 39% breaking even. If that’s not bad enough, more than half of farmers expect their profitability to decline over the next 12 months.
Feds want to see farmers thriving and feeling confident, not lying in bed stressing about how to pay their bills and keep the lights on.
Because they know that when farmers lose confidence, they cut their spending and shave costs from their business, and that has major flow-on effects for the wider economy.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand's trade interests are best served in a world where trade flows freely.
New Zealand's red meat sector says it is disappointed by the United States' decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand exports.
OPINION: Farmers nationwide will be rubbing their hands with glee at the latest news from the Government about the RMA reforms.
Holstein Friesian NZ and Link Livestock have agreed on a strategic partnership to provide HFNZ members with comprehensive services from one of New Zealand's most respected dairy men.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
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OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.