Things look up for our farmers

Farmers are feeling less pressure from their banks, they seem to have found some public favour, and worker pay is improving.

The May 2020 survey from Federated Farmers found those feeling “undue pressure” from their banks dropped to 19 per cent from 23 per cent in the November 2019 survey.

Research First surveyed nearly 1400 farmers in the bi-annual survey.

Banks have been encouraged by the Government to support lending during the economic downturn through measures like the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme. The Reserve Bank delayed implementation of its tougher bank capital requirement, to help banks support lending.

The 2020 Federated Farmersrabobank Farm Remuneration Report showed the mean farm employee remuneration package for dairy farm workers rose 9.7 per cent to $57,125 between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Across sheep/beef farm roles it was up 7.6 per cent to $55,568; over grain farms up 3.1 per cent to $58,800.

The data is based on responses to nearly 3000 farm positions.

Also, a UMR opinion poll of primary industries of 1077 New Zealanders in late April found 60 per cent of those surveyed had a positive view of dairy farming versus 51 per cent negative in the previous survey in August last year while 63 per cent were positive about sheep and beef farming versus 54 per cent negative.

“In a time of crisis New Zealanders are more clearly seeing the critical importance of their food-producing sectors,” said Marc Elliott, director of rural research at UMR.