Homing in on oilseed options
FAR cultivar and herbicide trials with resurgent crop oilseed rape promise to help growers hone their agronomy on the resurgent crop.
Solid Energy has confirmed the sale of its Biodiesel New Zealand business to Pure Oil New Zealand (PONZ), a consortium owned 30% by vegetable producer Southern Packers, 30% by Midland Seeds, 20% by agronomist Roger Lasham, and 20% by former Biodiesel New Zealand manager and now PONZ managing director, Nick Murney.
The move has been welcomed by growers group chairman Jeremy Talbot. "It takes away a bit of the uncertainty... I wish them every success and hope they will be able to pay good prices for [oilseed rape] going forward."
With feed wheat contracts for 2013/4 crops available at $400/t, delivered Christchurch oilseed rape contracts will "need to have at least an eight in front of them" for next season, says Talbolt.
PONZ says it has taken over all Biodiesel New Zealand's contracts with growers for the current season's crop as part of the deal, and that the wide range of skills and expertise among its shareholders will strengthen the Biodiesel New Zealand business model and ensure the new business reaches its full potential.
"The future of OSR as a crop option in New Zealand looks as bright as its yellow flower," it said in a statement issued this week.
Murney told Rural News the hope is to add value to the oil produced and currently sold into the commercial food industry by developing a premium, probably bottled, culinary oil for the domestic market and beyond.
Yields have improved in the four years since Biodiesel was formed and the crop has the advantage of an early harvest. Company storage and drying facilities mean the crop is moved early off farm, and it is a break crop opportunity to reduce disease and weed pressure in subsequent cereals and grasses.
Murney says PONZ is committed to assisting growers to increase returns and intends to invest in improving yield with additional research and development activities. Technical agronomy support will be ongoing, mainly through Lasham's input who, as a UK ex-pat agronomist, has over 20 years' experience with the crop. Rural News understands another Biodiesel agronomists left the company during the sale process.
Besides producing oil, residual meal from the cold-press process is a high protein, high energy, animal feed used in the pork and dairy industries.
Murney declined to comment on the price paid for the formerly state-owned business.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.