increase font size
Dave Handley says primary producers are encouraged by how important farming’s role will be in the country’s rebuild.
While most of New Zealand’s economy has taken a hit in the wake of Covid-19, the country’s primary sector has had a resurgence of confidence.
According to a new survey from the Bank of New Zealand – Shift Happens Agribusiness Survey – there has been a significant mindset change among NZ primary producers, with the vast majority excited about the sector’s prospects post Covid.
BNZ general manager agribusiness, Dave Handley, told Rural News the survey found that primary producers are encouraged by how important farming’s role will be in the country’s rebuild.
“A heightened awareness of essential services and food provision has increased understanding of what the primary sector means to New Zealand.”
Handley says the survey, conducted before and during the Covid-19 lockdown, found a huge shift in mindset of New Zealand’s primary producers.
“Their pre-Covid outlook improved from 58% to 89% positive about the sector’s pivotal role in supporting the New Zealand economy.”
The survey also found that less than 30% of primary producers had accessed government support during or after lockdown
“Farmers are excited about shouldering a large part of the responsibility to rebuild the economy and their prospects for the future,” Handley says.
He believes during lockdown many New Zealanders experienced limited options on the supermarket shelves and forced people to reconsider our food system and reconnect with the pasture-to-plate supply chain.
“More Kiwis now understand the important role of the primary sector and how it will steer the economy out of recession.”
Meanwhile, Handley believes New Zealand’s Covid-free status – coupled with its existing reputation for safe, sustainable, high quality food – will offer further opportunities for the primary sector.
“Consumers globally are hunting for health and seeking out items from countries that care for people, their environment and the products they produce,” he adds.
“Globally, New Zealand’s reputation is strong. We’ve beaten the virus, our economy has started up more quickly than others and our reputation for safe, high quality nutrition remains undented.”
Dairy and beef farmers could be eligible for lower interest lending options for financing Halter on their farms, with ANZ, ASB and BNZ now offering a pathway to sustainability loans for New Zealand’s largest virtual fencing provider.
OPINION: Welcome to the second annual NZ Dairy Expo at Matamata – an event created to bring together the best of the New Zealand dairy industry in a focused, grassroots environment where dairy farmers and rural professionals can meet, talk, compare products, and make smart decisions for their farms.
It's a bloody tough year for sheep farmers, but the worst may be over, and the future looks optimistic.
Could there finally be positive news for the red meat sector after a period of challenging economic conditions?
One of the country’s two largest supermarket chains is reporting that for the first time since the disruption of Covid, they have largely full supply on almost all fruit and vegetables grown locally.
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.
