Agricultural Snapshot: Insights Into Farmers’ Lives

Farmers across New Zealand will soon participate in the
2026 Agricultural Production Survey. This article uses
statistics drawn from several Stats NZ datasets to provide
insights into trends in farmers’ employment, wellbeing,
income, and other measures.

At a
glance:

• 1.8 percent of employed people were
  farmers as their main job in the March 2026
  quarter
• the number of farmers aged 65 and over
  increased 66 percent between 2013 and
  2023
• three-quarters (76 percent) of farmers were
  satisfied or very satisfied with their job in
  2023
• average annual personal disposable income for
  farmers was $67,214 in the year ended June
  2025.

“Farming is a vital part of New
Zealand’s culture and economy, with dairy, meat, and fruit
exports accounting for over half the value of all goods
exported in 2025,” agricultural statistics spokesperson
Tehseen Islam said.

Visit our website to read the
full news story:

• Agricultural
  snapshot: Insights into farmers’ lives
  (https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/agricultural-snapshot-insights-into-farmers-lives/)

© Scoop Media