Oceania Edition
Seasonal conditions, in part determined by La Nina, have failed to dampen the ‘cautious confidence’ of Tasmanian growers. Many are relying on in-built enterprise flexibility to refocus on-farm decisions in response to a wet spring.
The latest quarterly Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found Tasmanian farmer confidence has improved on the last quarter. Although there remains an expectation for some that agricultural operating conditions could worsen in the next twelve months, this has eased.
The main reasons farmers in the state expect business conditions to improve are strong commodity prices, overseas markets and good seasonal conditions. However, the season has not been without short-term challenges, with 40 percent of the state’s farmers who expected the agricultural economy to worsen citing too much rain as the reason.
The wet conditions have driven delays in planting crops – such as peas, poppies and potatoes – with many growers making the call to not plant these at all.
Source: nationaltribune.com.au
