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Feds President and commerce spokesperson Andrew Hoggard.
Farmer confidence has slumped to its lowest since 2009, according to a new Federated Farmers survey.
Federated Farmers’ July Farm Confidence Survey of 1,725 farmers saw 28.6% of respondents rate current economic conditions as bad, a 53-point drop on the January survey.
58.7% of the farmers who responded expect general economic conditions to worsen over the next 12 months, a 17-point reduction on the survey six months ago.
"Clearly, concern about the global economy is weighing on sentiment,” says Feds President and commerce spokesperson Andrew Hoggard.
Hoggard says the negative expectations are likely due to disruption on trade caused by the pandemic, as well as fears of a lasting global recession, heightened protectionism and trade wars.
“This fall in expectations is echoing the fall in business and consumer confidence, and the fall in the domestic economy from Covid-19," says Hoggard.
All the farming sector groups recorded worsening perceptions about current economic conditions, however meat and wool farmers experienced a 70-point slump compared to January.
The survey report by Research First records farmers’ three greatest concerns as: the economic situation (chosen by 15.6% of respondents), regulation and compliance costs (15.3%), and farmgate and commodity prices (11.1%).
"The government can’t do that much about the first and third of these, with global conditions being the predominant factor. But it can do something about ensuring regulation and compliance costs are sensible and affordable," says Hoggard.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
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National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
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Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
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