7 Feb 1986 Less fencing being erected on New Zealand farms in 1986

Less fencing is being done on New Zealand farms and even less will be done next season, according to a survey of farmer intentions and opinions carried out by the Agricultural Economics Research Unit at Lincoln College.

On average farmers will erect 365 metres of permanent fencing on their farms in the 1985-86 season.

This is 43 per cent less than the average 642 metres erected this season.

And this season's 642 metres was 59 per cent down on the 883-metre average of the 1983-84 season.

Full results of the survey will be published by AERU later this year.

Further information from Mr John Pryde, Agricultural Economics Research Unit, Lincoln College 8150, Canterbury, New Zealand