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Farmer confidence dips - not just for dairy

Author
Georgia Nelson,
Publish Date
Wed, 10 Feb 2016, 5:24AM
File photo (Getty Images)
File photo (Getty Images)

Farmer confidence dips - not just for dairy

Author
Georgia Nelson,
Publish Date
Wed, 10 Feb 2016, 5:24AM

It's set to be a tough year ahead for farmers with farm confidence levels plunging to an all time low - but it's not just dairy farmers feeling the pressure.

Sheep and beef prices are also buckling under the weight of a dry summer and Federated Farmers Mid Season Farm Confidence Survey has produced the lowest results since it was started seven years ago.

Federated Farmers CEO Dr William Rolleston said farmers are worried about three main things: "What your income is, what the weather will throw at you and what the government will throw at you in terms of compliance costs."

Rolleston, however, is confident the banks will do the right thing by farmers throughout the tough year.

He said most farmers paid off a lot of debt a few years ago when prices were higher, so they'll be looking to reborrow that money - but he's expecting banks will "stick by most farmers."

"There will always be people around the periphery that struggle and the banks and the farmers need to make tough decisions."

 

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