FARM SEED SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 8

FARM SEED SUPPLY

Scheme For Production In

New Zealand

MEETING VITAL NEED An outline of the scheme for the production and distribution in New Zealand of brassica and similar seeds was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin, last night. The Minister said that the proposed scheme would fill a vital need of the farming community, and would probably lead to the establishment on a permanent basis in this country of the production of such seeds. “The New Zealand farmer has, m the past, largely depended upon Great Britain for the supply of farm seeds, particularly for such crops as turnips, swedes, rape, chou moellier, kale, mangolds and sugar beet,” said the Minister. . . “For some years the Department of Agriculture, in association with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, has been investigating the possibility of producing these seeds locally. It has been ascertained that, while no insurmountable difficulties exist, the task of seed production requires to be under careful supervision, both to control the quality of the seed itself and also to ensure that the supply of seed is regulated to meet the needs of the farming community. Over the last four years the Department of Agriculture has gained considerable experience in these matters through the production of rape seed under certification. Departmental Supervision. “With the existing conditions. in Europe, the export from Great Britain of certain of the seed mentioned is not permitted, and the regular supply of other seeds is uncertain. In order that farmers’ requirements may be safeguarded, it has been found necessary, therefore, to arrange for the production of these seeds locally under the official supervision of the department, and arrangements are already being made for rape, turnip, swede, ahd mangold seeds, and other crops will also be taken under the scheme as circumstances direct. “Briefly, the essentials of this scheme, which has the approval of the New Zealand Grain and Seed Merchants’ Federation, are that the Department of Agriculture will appoint certain mercantile firms to arrange the production on contract of the various seeds to be grown,” continued the Minister. “Each firm will be responsible for the production of a particular section of the seeds required, and will really act on behalf of the seed trade generally as the producer and wholesale distributor of such seed. The complete programme of work from the initial selection of the nucleus seed to the final distribution of the commercial seed will be under the strict supervision of the department, and the seed so produced will be given official recognition and approval. Prices and the allocation of the seed will also come under departmental jurisdiction.”