Federated Farmers Grain & Seed
Representing New Zealand's arable farmers
Federated Farmers Grain & Seed Industry Group represents the interests of arable sector farmers.
Information gathering has been particularly important for growers over the past year with high fluctuations in pricing causing concern for the Grain & Seed farmers on how to achieve the best price for their product.
Many Federated Farmers provinces have a Grain & Seed chairperson who leads a local group of growers.
In North and Mid-Canterbury these groups meet on a monthly basis. In North Canterbury and the Waikato the maize section meets as and when required.
These groups tend to deal with local issues such as stubble burning regulations, Resource Management Act compliance and local product contracts. They also feed information back into the national network.
Federated Farmers Grain & Seed represents the interests of New Zealand's arable farmers through the Grain & Seed industry group council.
For more information please contact Federated Farmers Grain & Seed Policy Advisor Nick Hanson at nhanson@fedfarm.org.nz.
Federated Farmers 2011 Manifesto: Grain & Seed Issues
From an international perspective New Zealand's arable industry could be viewed as small, with 2,500 farmers and revenue of approximately $5billion. However, the industry contributes extensively to the New Zealand economy.
Latest statistics highlight export revenue of $70 million from herbage seeds, such as clover and ryegrass, $85 million from vegetable seeds and $130 million from grain based products. The industry is a leader in seed multiplication, especially carrot and clover seed of which New Zealand is the primary world producer. Every day our products feed 6 million dairy cows and 30 million sheep. Currently, a Southland farmer holds the world record for wheat production and we also have the highest maize yields in the world.
One of arable farmers' key concerns is biosecurity. The fact we are able to be world leaders in seed multiplication is mainly due to our weed, pest and disease free status. It is of paramount importance we maintain a biosecurity system that ensures harmful pests and diseases are kept out of New Zealand.
A biosecurity breach of significant magnitude in the arable industry would seriously impede our ability to remain a productive part of the New Zealand economy. Market access could be lost if just one significant weed is found in our seed exports. The recent change to the Importation of Grains/Seeds for Consumption, Feed or Processing Import Health Standard,allowing a tolerance level for contaminant grains/seeds of up to 0.1 percent in weight is something we did not support and do not want repeated.
Another key issue for arable farmers is reducing the confusion surrounding the transport regulations for agricultural vehicles. Arable farmers use a wide range of vehicles for their cropping operations, some of which are driven on the road. To be able to do so legally and safely, a separate agricultural vehicles transport schedule is needed where the requirements are clearly stated.
Key challenges and campaigns
Key challenges facing the arable industry are issues around pricing, biosecurity, use and sourcing of supplementary stock feed and ensuring that growers are kept up-to-date with a flow of information.
New Zealand Seed Crop Isolation Distance Mapping Scheme - Cruciferous forage and vegetable seed production has increased significantly over the last 10 years. The market in 2008 was worth over 40 million dollars to the New Zealand economy. Most seed produced is for the export market.
Increasing the production area for this market will depend on the ability to utilise the available land resources. The availability of clean seed production land has come under enormous pressure from alternative uses such as dairying and more recently the worldwide interest in biofuel production.
The SCID scheme was developed to replace a manual isolation checking process, developed by a group of merchants involved in the production of high value Cruciferous forage and vegetable seed crops. The checking process was developed in 1998 to optimise pollination isolation distances between crops for varietal purity and minimise potential crop loss through cross pollination.
The SCID scheme was developed through a MAF Sustainable Farming Fund project under the direction of, and with co-funding from, the Foundation for Arable Research.
It is a web-based system, which utilises AgriBase software. (AgriBase is a rural mapping programme, which is owned by AsureQuality and is used for rural emergency applications).
Operators log onto the website and input crop sites. The system performs an automated isolation check and returns a conflict notice if or when other cross-pollinating crops have or are entered onto the system and fall within that crops entered isolation distance. An automated Email notification is sent to the merchants of the conflicting crops to alert them of the conflict and allow them to discuss a resolution to the conflict. The system also performs an automated paddock history check.
Keeping you informed
Federated Farmers Grain & Seeds produces a newsletter for members called the Arable Bulletin.
Contracts and agreements
Federated Farmers has specialised contracts available for purchase. These include agreements to grow for silage and grains. Members receive a substantial discount on contracts, click here to purchase.
