Farmers plan linseed pool

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 2

Farmers plan linseed pool

The agriculture section of Mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers will hold a special meeting in Ashburton on Thursday evening for farmers who grow linseed or who wish to do so to consider forming a pool to handle the growing and marketing of next year's harvest. The action follows an announcement by Fletcher Agriculture that it will not buy any linseed from growers in the coming season. The company has. however, offered to handle the export of linseed grown by larmers on a free-market basis. Last week it reported that 78 farmers in Canterbury and North Otago had indicated their interest in growing about 1450 tonnes but it said that it needed at least 5000 tonnes for an economic shipload. According to the Ashburton office of “The Press”, a telephone survey of a sample of growers in North. Mid. and South Canterbury has clearly shown that there are enough farmers wishing to grow’ linseed in the coming season to make a worthwhile export shipment. Most of them are unhappv about the Fletcher Agricul tore proposal or are not pre pared to grow’ linseed under it but are prepared to grow it for a farmers' pool. To try to get in touch with all growers. Federated Farmers approached Linseed Growers. Ltd. an oganisation set up to represent farmer interests to Fletcher Agriculture, for the use of its mail-j ing list of growers. The mailing list was! promised for last Wednes-i day, but the federation was advised then that the list would not be released until j today. The federation subsequently proceeded to notify growers of the meeting without the help of the mailing list.