15 Feb 2018

Farmers low on confidence

From Afternoons, 1:24 pm on 15 February 2018
Federated Farmers vice president Andrew Hoggard

Federated Farmers vice president Andrew Hoggard Photo: Radio NZ / Jemma Brackebush

Concerns about finding the right staff, struggles with drought and other issues like the spreading of the cattle disease mycoplasma bovis are all factors giving farmers a bleak view of the year to come.

Federated Farmers has released its Mid-Season Farm Confidence Survey and the organisation's vice president Andrew Hoggard says compared to last year, optimism has dropped 23 percent and that doubles when farmers are asked to look forward over 2018.