Barley pool optimism

Press, 26 August 1980, Page 7

Barley pool optimism

‘7 can quite appreciate the concern of grain merchants in seeing fanners moving into an area of marketing that has long been the domain of the grain and seed trade,” said the chairman of the South Island export barley pool, Mr G. B. Robertson, commenting on a statement issued by members of a consortium of merchants involved in the export grain trade. This concern, with the hope that the co-operative would fail, had always been the reaction of commercial interests when farmers took an active part in business beyond the farm gate, Mr Robertson said.

“We recognise that the consortium has in the past made a worth-while contribution by exporting barley. Initially, we approached them to see if they would run a pool system in conjunction with their present fixed price contracts. This would have given farmers a choice between the two contracts, but we were told that as

merchants they preferred to retain their traditional method of contracting, “However, we are in changing times and farmers in 1980 see the need to export barley under a different system if they are to achieve a reasonable return from their crop,” Mr Robertson said.

Far from being simply the idea of a few enthusiasts, the pool system of exporting barley had received strong support from a great many farmers, he said. There was now no doubt that in this first year the pool would have enough barley, even after allowance was made for the local trade, to begin successful exporting.

“We have access to the best market intelligence and marketing organisations on a global basis.

“In time I can see the pool system of exporting barley becoming accepted in the same way as the pooling of meat is now accepted in the meat trade,’ 5 said Mr Robertson.