Trade balance with the US a saving grace
New Zealand is so far escaping the unpredictable vagaries of President Donald Trump's trade policies by the skin of its teeth.
The market downturn in dairy is among foremost concerns for Rabobank dairy research director Hayley Moynihan as she steps into the newly created role of the bank’s general manager Country Banking.
She is sure the bank has the right support systems in place for dairy farmers in its 33 branches, but a first priority will be to ensure the bank stay aligned to farmers needs in all sectors.
Moynihan told Rural News the new role of general manager Country Banking had been created in recognition of the size of the New Zealand business now.
She grew up on a dairy farm in Karamea on the West Coast and has spent her entire career in banking and agricultural markets, the last 10 years as an agricultural economist. She worked in the food and agribusiness research and advisory division, most recently as director of dairy research, New Zealand and Asia.
Moynihan, B.Appl.Ec., Massey University, and M.Sc (Agr.) University of London/Imperial College, worked in banking while studying extramurally.
Before joining Rabobank’s research team in New Zealand she led Rabobank’s London food and agribusiness corporate credit team. Her previous nine years were as a rural and retail banker at Westpac and Trustbank in New Zealand.
Moynihan says the new role is a return to banking and the finance side of the business which she looks forward to.
“The current challenges facing dairy notwithstanding, New Zealand has one of the world’s most dynamic and successful agricultural industries, with a positive and exciting long term outlook in the global markets,” she says.
Subject to regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Moynihan will start in the role from July 2.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.