Cleland named OSPRI chair
Southland farmer and director Tony Cleland has been named OSPRI New Zealand’s new chair.
The Sheep and Beef On-Farm Inflation 2021-22 report measures the annual changes in farm input prices.
The overall on-farm inflation rate is determined by weighting the changes in prices for individual input categories by their proportion of total farm expenditure.
While on-farm inflation had been comparable with the CPI in recent years, the 2021-22 report shows farmers are now facing significant price increases in all but one of 16 input categories.
“Sheep and beef farm input prices increased by 10.2 percent in the year to March 2022, and when interest rates are excluded, input prices were up by 10.7 percent,” says B+LNZ Economic Service Chief Economist Andrew Burtt.
He says that with a tight labour market and increased import shipping costs, farmers have seen increased prices for contractors, tradespeople, machinery and parts for operating farm infrastructure and vehicles.
“Fuel prices have continued to rise since March 2022, and fertiliser prices are expected to rise this month, too.”
He says the increase in farm input prices is largely due to the rise in cost of three core areas of expenditure: fertiliser, lime and seed (up 23%), interest (up 5.9%) and repairs, maintenance and vehicles (up 10.4%).
“Fertiliser, lime and seed prices are significant for sheep and beef farmers because this area of expenditure comprises 17.5% of total farm expenditure. The prices of almost one third of categories of farm expenditure increased by 10% or more.”
With added financial pressures, which are expected to increase, B+LNZ says it is concerned that increasing regulatory requirements from the Government, such as freshwater and biodiversity rules, will stretch farmers even further.
“There’s a lot of costly regulation coming at farmers at present,” says B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor.
“Given the importance of agriculture in driving our economy’s recovery, it’s critical that the Government get its policy settings right,” he says.
McIvor says many of the increased costs caused by inflation are outside of the Government’s control, but they can ensure policy changes are needed, workable and cost-effective for farmers.
“Farmers are absolutely committed to the protection of the environment, including biodiversity. They actively manage 1.4 million hectares of native vegetation on thousands of farms across the country, so it’s critical that policies are enabling and supportive, rather than simply putting costly barriers in the way.”
