NZ farmer confidence falls in first quarter on downbeat dairy, sheep farmers

NZ farmer confidence falls in first quarter on downbeat dairy, sheep farmers
Tina Morrison
By Tina Morrison March 31 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand farmer confidence fell in the first quarter, as downbeat dairy, sheep and beef farmers outweighed more optimistic horticulture growers. Some 53 percent of farmers were pessimistic about the outlook for the agricultural economy over the next 12 months, from 30 percent in the previous quarter, according to Rabobank's latest rural confidence survey. Only 11 percent were expecting conditions to improve, down from 24 percent last quarter. That led to a net rural confidence reading for the...