LITTLE ENTHUSIASM FOR BIRDSEED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 7

LITTLE ENTHUSIASM FOR BIRDSEED

; There seem to be few advocates for a birdseed-grow-ing industry in Canterbury. Recently, considerable interest was aroused in Central Otago where a crop of canary seed of good quality was harvested and this is being I packaged for retail sale. I There are three main seeds imported for feeding birds These are white French millet, panicum—a type of millet, and canary seed which is a species of Phalaris. Australia is the main source. Last year a drought in Australia caused a serious shortage and prices rose steeply but. according to several merchants, bird seeds are a commodity which has frequently shown violent price fluctuations. Canary seed has varied from 45s to 120 s a hundredweight and millet and panicum from £lB to £45 a ton.

The seeds could probably be grown satisfactorily in Canterbury, but there are

many factors which could make them a riskier crop than the more conventional lines.

Seasonal conditions play a big part in determining yields and there could be heavy losses if the weather at harvesting was broken. A good season for the New Zealand grower which coincided with a good Australian season could well result in low and uneconomic prices.

Bird damage in Canterbury could be a real problem. Already there are widespread complaints of bird damage to cereal crops. With the extensive cropping today the bird damage is fairly well spread, but the odd crop of bird seed would seem a likely target for the birds •when the grain crops began to ripen and the birds left them.

One merchant said .that there was nothing new in the proposal. Birdseed-growing had been tried several times before without success.