Tuesday, 08 October 2024 15:55

Maize grain imports loom next year

Written by  Peter Burke
Federated Farmers Arable group chair David Birkett. Federated Farmers Arable group chair David Birkett.

The country may have to import maize grain next season unless the issue of having enough gas to dry the local product is resolved.

This is the view of Federated Farmers Arable group chair David Birkett, who says such an option would not be good for farmers or the country.

The issue revolves around the fact that maize grain grown in the North Island and used mainly in the dairy industry must be dried to a moisture level of 14%. All the North Island grain is dried at large special facilities off farm and to do this they use gas which is now in short supply. This is unlike the South Island where growers have their own drying facilities and diesel is used in the drying process.

With uncertainty around the availability of gas and if there is gas its cost, companies who ultimately buy the grain are unwilling to give contracts to farmers to grow the crop because the price is a virtual unknown at this stage.

Birkett says growers are still trying to get contracts, but this is proving difficult.

"North Island growers are particularly apprehensive because last season the grain price collapsed and a lot of growers lost money, so they are nervous about going into a season without a signed contract in front of them. We are not seeing those contracts coming through because of the gas situation so there is a lot of apprehension out there," he says.

Maize grain is used as a supplement in the dairy industry and concerns have been raised that if this is not available what would be the alternatives and at what cost? The issue is seen as big in the dairy industry, but could be a problem for pig and poultry farmers.


 Read More


Birkett says Federated Farmers has taken a leading role on the issue and has been talking to gas suppliers and grain companies to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. He says they have also been talking to government ministers to make them aware of the serious implicatins of the situation and there is a suggestion that the government may import gas.

"There is a small window to get the seed in the ground and time is running out. If the problem can't be resolved it has serious implications for the farmers and country," he says.

 

 

More like this

Working with farmers to ensure best outcomes

OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.

Editorial: Nitrate emergency?

OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.

Federated Farmers slam Canterbury nitrate emergency

A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.

Featured

Farmers Lead Sustainability Push: Woodchip bioreactor cuts nitrate runoff in Manawatu

Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.

New methane targets here to stay?

A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Peasants' revolt

OPINION: Media luvvies at Stuff, the Spinoff and the Granny Herald are spending more time than ever navel-gazing about why…

Why so slow?

OPINION: Why does it take Treasury so long to turn around its figures on how the economy is tracking?

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter