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.
