UK Ag Lender Oxbury Enters New Zealand with Livestock Finance Focus
Specialist agriculture lender Oxbury has entered the New Zealand market, offering livestock finance to farmers.
Heartland Bank has launched a term loan to serve farmers.
The new term loan, named Sheep & Beef Direct, is designed for established farmers looking to buy or refinance a sheep or beef farm and will be available online.
This is the newest of Heartlands’ digital lending products.
“Not all Kiwi farmers are able to spend hours on the phone or schedule multiple meetings with a relationship manager,” said Heartland Bank chief executive officer Chris Flood.
“Sheep & Beef Direct is intended to relieve some of the pressure on those farmers who need to arrange finance for the farm, but struggle to find the time to do so.”
The launch comes at a time when rural lending is on its fastest downturn since 1992, according to data from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
“With rural lending on a steady decline, customers may be looking into other options that better meet their needs,” said Flood.
He says the new Sheep & Beef Direct term loan is a cost-effective alternative for farmers.
The loan offers up to five years interest only or 25-year terms with revolving credit options.
The interest rate is capped at 4.20% per annum for 12 months and the bank says there are no set up fees attached.
What’s been a "rubbish" summer for campers and beachgoers has duck hunters in the lower North Island rubbing their hands together in anticipation of a bumper waterfowl season, which starts this weekend (May 2/3).
New research suggests sheep and beef farmers could improve both profitability and emissions efficiency by increasing lamb weaning weights, with only marginal changes in total greenhouse gas emissions.
Southland farmers are being encouraged to get ahead of the winter grazing season by attending a practical field day in Pukerau next week.
New Zealand communities are being encouraged to participate in Road Safety Week, running from 4 - 10 May, with a nationwide push to raise awareness and reduce road harm.
Penske Australia & New Zealand has appointed Stephen Kelly as the general manager of its Penske NZ operations, effective immediately In this role he will oversee all NZ branch operations, including energy solutions, mining, commercial vehicles, defence, marine, and rail, while continuing to be based at Penske’s Christchurch branch.
According to the latest Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report, released today, farm worker pay growth has levelled off after a post-Covid period of rapid growth.

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