Farmer confidence has risen for the third consecutive quarter, according to according to Rabobank s latest rural confidence survey.
Dairy farmers have been buoyed by continued strong Chinese demand for Oceania-origin dairy imports, Rabobank says.
Photo: RNZ / Carol Stiles
The survey has net farmer confidence sitting in positive territory at +13 percent, up from +10 percent in the previous quarter. In March last year the Covid pandemic pushed confidence down to -44 percent.
Rabobank New Zealand chief executive Todd Charteris said rising commodity prices were the key reason for optimism cited by farmers with a positive outlook for the agricultural economy.
Charteris said pricing for New Zealand s key agricultural exports had held up well over recent months and prices were expected to remain strong moving into the second half of the year.
Pricing for New Zealand’s key agricultural exports had held up well over recent months and were expected to remain strong moving into the second half of the year, he said. Charteris cited elevated dairy prices, an improved outlook for beef prices, firm sheep meat export markets, and robust demand for horticulture products.
Robyn Edie/Stuff
Abe de Wolde is seeking three more people to work on his dairy farms in 2ic positions but cannot find Kiwis to do the job. The survey found farmers’ expectations for their own farm business performance were up on the previous quarter. Some 32 per cent of farmers were expecting their own farm business performance to improve in the next 12 months, up from 26 per cent, while 16 per cent were expecting conditions to worsen, down from 19 per cent.
Rural leaders pin hopes on Fieldays return to ag event calendar stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rabobank Best of The Country - May 15, 2021
14 May, 2021 04:59 PM
2 minutes to read
The Country
This week on The Best of The Country, Jamie Mackay caught up with Rabobank chief executive Todd Charteris, to take a look at the bank s latest Agribusiness Monthly Report.
This week s top interviews were:
Hunter McGregor:
The Kiwi selling New Zealand venison in Shanghai explained why the collapse of the daigou (trade) channel had played a major role in the demise of A2 Milk.
Advertisement
Jim Hopkins:
The rural raconteur and Waitaki District Councillor questioned the true cost of carbon farming and suggested planting trees could be bad for the planet!