Federated Farmers' president Bruce Wills says farmers are staying positive despite falling commodity prices, a volatile exchange rate and increasing pressure on environmental good practice.
Mr Wills says farmers have been in good spirits at the federation's three-day national conference, which wraps up in Auckland on Friday.
He says there has been a noticeable lack of doom and gloom among farmers as they discuss the issues facing the sector.
Mr Wills says that's because the rural sector has become more resilient to the changing conditions over the past year.
He says it also signals an acceptance among farmers that they must do more to reduce the environmental impacts of farming.
