Farmers' satisfaction with their bank relationship continues to slip and more perceive they are under undue pressure, the latest Federated Farmers Banking Survey shows.

Damien O'Connor says the Government is backing two new pasture projects with $4.3 million co-invested with industry through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund looking at soil and grass to help farmers reduce costs, maintain good pastures, and remain a world-leading sustainable producer of high value food.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says New Zealand has important sustainability credentials to uphold and says these hold the country in good stead when it talks trade with overseas countries.

Westpac has launched a new sustainable business loan to support corporate and agribusiness customers to make progress on their sustainability initiatives, whether they are working to improve the environment or achieve positive social outcomes, or both.

Westpac head of agribusiness Tim Henshaw says their new sustainable farm loan will help farmers on their journey to become more resilient food producers.

Methven farmer and former Nuffield scholar Hamish Marr is New Zealand's new Special Agriculture Trade Envoy.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor along with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins launched the SOPI report at Fieldays.

For the much-maligned dairy industry, NZ's primary export returns for 2023 would be looking grim.

It's reported that just over 100,000 people attended this year's four day National Fieldays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. As expected, the number of people attednign the event and exhibitors was well down on pre-Covid numbers and, according to reporter Peter Burke who first attended the event in 1981, this year was quite different.

Farm costs have risen 33% over the past years to top on average $9.17/kgMS last season, according to DairyNZ.

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