increase font size
More than a quarter of NZ’s dairy farmers have debt to equity ratios of more than 70%.
Some have as little as 4% equity in their properties.
These facts are contained in the latest Ministry for Primary Industries situation and outlook report. It warns that with such high debt levels, owners of these farms may not be able to meet the challenges and changes which lie in store for the sector.
The report paints a generally rosy outlook for the sector as a whole. It expects dairy export revenue to rise and a combination of factors likely to lead to high farmgate milk prices and robust profitability for the coming season. However, the report devotes an entire section on the debt issue.
It notes that over the last two decades, conversions and profitability have resulted in a 20% increase in the country’s dairy platform, a 25% increase in the size of the dairy herd and 58% increase in total milksolids production. But this, the report says, has come at a price with dairy farm debt increasing by 267% since 2003 – resulting in total dairy sector debt now standing at $41.4 billion.
In a section headed ‘financial vulnerability in the dairy sector’; the MPI report notes that while the use of debt to fund business and industry growth can play an important role in economic success. But says it appears that with this expansion, the risk level has in the dairy sector has increased significantly.
The report notes, for example, that the average debt per hectare on dairy farms now stands at $23.6k – three times what it was 20 years ago. It also points out that despite low interest rates in recent years, the annual cost of servicing debt from production has risen 11 cents to the present $1.22/kgMS.
 |
|---|
|
The average debt per hectare on dairy farms is now three times what it was 20 years ago. |
It adds that this sets the stage for problems in the future for those farming operations that are heavily indebted to meet the suite of environmental requirements that are already in place or have been signalled by the government.
These include the ability to invest in technology and infrastructure to reduce the sector's impact on freshwater quality and climate change. Consequently, MPI is predicting limited intensification and a reduction in the size of the national milking and herd size.
To add to the woes of some farmers, news that most banks are pulling back from the sector and requiring the active repayment of loans will also have consequences.
The Reserve Bank’s announcement just before Christmas requiring banks to hold more capital is set to put a squeeze on credit to farmers.
The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
An initiative by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to connect farmers with scientists is taking off judging by the response at recent regional field days.
Scientists from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are part of an international team working to develop a low-cost diagnostic tool that could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.
A company growing and processing seaweed with known methane-busting properties at a facility in Bluff is expanding internationally but New Zealand cattle farmers won't be getting the product anytime soon.
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…
