Move To Expand Seed Trade

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32018, 19 June 1969, Page 28

Move To Expand Seed Trade

The growing of small seeds on contract for overseas firms will be investigated by the Dominion agriculture section of Federated Fanners. Moving a remit to this effect at the section’s annual conference in Tirnaru yesterday, the vice-chairman (Mr J. Simpson, of Rangitikei) said this would be a form of diversification.

, "If we can grow this seed for overseas customers on contract, we are growing varieties they want,” he said. “Aberystwyth' ryegrass is already being grown in Australia and Canada, and I have heard it said that it is sur-

prising New Zealand growers have not got in on this. “Merchants are opposed to this, mainly because with seed grown on contract, they would be acting only as brokers.” Mr W. V. Hadfield, deputy superintendent of advisory services for the Department of Agriculture, said this proposal had been put to the department some years ago. It considered the scheme could be fitted in with the certification scheme. Mr Hadfield said that seed grown on contract could not be marketed under the label under which it had been imported. Any sale would depend bn an arrangement with the plant breeder concerned in

the country of origin and getting him to agree to certification under this country’s scheme. Otherwise, it would be uncertified seed. The growing of overseas varieties on contract was the first of two measures discussed with a view to expanding the small seed trade. The other concerned the testing of several overseas varieties which, if found suitable, would be released to farmers in New Zealand. After a letter had been read from the Director-Gen-eral of Agriculture (Dr A. T. Johns) saying that specified seeds from the United Kingdom were to be tested, and a list of accepted varieties compiled, Mr Hadfield said this was a result of representations from the agricultural adviser to the British Government in New Zealand. All the British Government bad sought was a liberalisation of New Zealand policy on pasture seeds. This would bring more trade, but it would not lead to imports of economic significance. At present. New Zealand exported about 5000 tons of seed to the United Kingdom each -year but imported-as-little as 14 tons.

“We. have previously prohibited the import of herbage seeds, but the winds of change are breathing strongly,” Mr Hadfield said. In the meantime certain varieties would be imported for testing. These included strains of Aberystwyth ryegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot and Timothy.