Tuesday, 08 October 2024 15:55

Maize grain imports loom next year

Written by  Peter Burke
Federated Farmers Arable group chair David Birkett. Federated Farmers Arable group chair David Birkett.

The country may have to import maize grain next season unless the issue of having enough gas to dry the local product is resolved.

This is the view of Federated Farmers Arable group chair David Birkett, who says such an option would not be good for farmers or the country.

The issue revolves around the fact that maize grain grown in the North Island and used mainly in the dairy industry must be dried to a moisture level of 14%. All the North Island grain is dried at large special facilities off farm and to do this they use gas which is now in short supply. This is unlike the South Island where growers have their own drying facilities and diesel is used in the drying process.

With uncertainty around the availability of gas and if there is gas its cost, companies who ultimately buy the grain are unwilling to give contracts to farmers to grow the crop because the price is a virtual unknown at this stage.

Birkett says growers are still trying to get contracts, but this is proving difficult.

"North Island growers are particularly apprehensive because last season the grain price collapsed and a lot of growers lost money, so they are nervous about going into a season without a signed contract in front of them. We are not seeing those contracts coming through because of the gas situation so there is a lot of apprehension out there," he says.

Maize grain is used as a supplement in the dairy industry and concerns have been raised that if this is not available what would be the alternatives and at what cost? The issue is seen as big in the dairy industry, but could be a problem for pig and poultry farmers.


 Read More


Birkett says Federated Farmers has taken a leading role on the issue and has been talking to gas suppliers and grain companies to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. He says they have also been talking to government ministers to make them aware of the serious implicatins of the situation and there is a suggestion that the government may import gas.

"There is a small window to get the seed in the ground and time is running out. If the problem can't be resolved it has serious implications for the farmers and country," he says.

 

 

More like this

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

Secure your maize now, don't wait for the scramble

I recently had the pleasure of attending an AgFirst event in Hamilton where the results of the 2024-25 Waikato-Bay of Plenty Dairy Financial Survey were shared. Based on a 136ha farm milking 379 cows, average farm profit before tax was $405,892, an incredible 286% increase on the 23-24 season.

Featured

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best…

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter