NZ dairy farmers repay $1.7 billion in debt as milk price hits $10/kgMS
Dairy farmers are shoring up their balance sheets, with almost $1.7 billion of debt repaid in the six months to March 2025.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
Lorraine Mapu, ANZ managing director of business and agri, says that renewed heavy rain warnings are another blow for local businesses, orchardists and farmers already grappling with widespread damage.
"Many have had homes, land, and businesses flooded, farms damaged and crops destroyed," Mapu says.
"For our farmers, the welfare of their animals is priority, some will be facing stock losses, feed shortages, damage to fencing and disruption," she says.
"We've got staff out in the community and on the road, talking to business owners and visiting farmers in some of the worse affected areas, to get a better idea of the extent of the damage.
"We want to reassure our customers that the bank is here to work with them in the days and months ahead," Mapu says.
ANZ is recommending farmers and business owners talk with their key industry specialists and professional advisors to work out the best way forward.
ANZ is making targeted assistance available for business and farming customers, subject to approval.
This includes temporary overdraft facilities and the ability to defer loan repayments or moving to interest only to help ease some financial pressure.
Business and Agri customers should speak to their relationship manager or phone ANZ's Business Service centre on 0800 269 249 to discuss the impact on their business and their funding requirements.
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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