MP Nathan Guy has spoken to around 100 farmers this afternoon, saying they're doing it tougher than normal so far this year.
At a forum designed to be an open discussion between those working in and running the industry, the Minister for Primary Industries said the Government was committing $800,000 from last year's Budget towards the Farming Systems Change programme.
"While the medium to long-term outlook for the sector remains strong, our dairy farmers are doing it tough this season," says Mr Guy. "Low global prices are having a real impact on cash flows and farmers are rightly focusing on their business decisions and on-farm costs."
The forum, hosted on the Sing Family farm in Morrinsville brought together farmers and others from the rural business community, including MPI, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Rural Support Trusts and the New Zealand Bankers Association, who together launched a new brochure outlining various support available for farmers.
"Along with industry we are co-investing into the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP)," said Mr Guy. "Transforming the Dairy Value Chain is a $170 million PGP programme helping create new dairy products, increase on-farm productivity, reduce environmental impacts and improve agricultural education."
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