N.Z. to fore in seed export

Press, 20 November 1981, Page 18

N.Z. to fore in seed export

More than 200 delegates and visitors attended the 1981 annual conference of the New Zealand Agricultural Merchants' - Federation in Nelson early in the month. Mr Don McLeay. of Gisborne. the president of the federation, urged members to stand up and take a bow and in opening the conference the Minister of Agriculture. Mr Maclntyre, referred to the merchants as the unsung heroes of the farming sector. "It is essential that our farmers get the best technical advice possible and it would be a mistake to believe that the task should be left to the Ministry alone.” he said. “Your excellent back-up service helps to ensure that our grain and seed exports continue to attain high quality standards. With many millions of dollars in foreign earnings resting on continued quality, it is important that standards do not lapse." The same point of seed quality was taken up by Mr J. C. Paterson. of Christchurch. New Zealand’s representative on the council of the International Seed Federation, when he addressed members about overseas trade. He drew attention to the enviable reputation earned by New Zealand's seeds overseas, which had brought this country to fourth equal in the world as an exporter of herbage seeds (1978 figures) and first in the world in terms of OECD

certification. The OECD figures, just released for the year 1979-80. related to the weight of seed certified under the OECD Herbage and Oil Seed Scheme, which covered purity requirements, isolation of seed crops and inspection, of seed crops. "This achievement reflects great credit on the ability of New Zealand growers and on merchants’ processing and performance standards." said Mr Paterson. “New Zealand has a very high reputation for deliveries and for the honouring of contracts. This is of tremendous value in international trade and to our farming clients. With due respect, which other country in the Southern Hemisphere has a better seed trade than ours?" he said. Later in the conference Mr M. J. Mellon, senior lecturer in marketing and economics at Lincoln College, addressed the meeting on marketing. Mr Mellon distinguished the difference between marketing and mere trading and. referring to seed, said "little need be said as you are already familiar with the growing technical demands. You will be pleased to know that you are already well into marketing." Officers elected for the ensuing year were Mr Ross Smith, of Christchurch, as president; Mr John Reese, of Feilding. vice-president: and Messrs Don McLeay (Gisborne). Brian Freeman (Auckland). Brian Bradford (Wanganui). Bob Mather (Christchurch) and Clive Paine (Invercargill) as members of the executive council.