Fall Armyworm in NZ Maize: Four Years of Research
Four years since it was first detected in New Zealand, researchers and growers now know much more about management of maize pest fall armyworm (FAW).
Profitability issues facing arable farmers are the same across the world, says NZ Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Hamish Marr, an arable farmer himself.
The arable industry is facing "the perfect storm", the main issue being gross margin.
"There is simply not enough money being generated."
Yield has the biggest positive influence on cost of production and this needs to increase to produce more on less land. Hence some growers are considering dairy, hort or sheep as alternatives.
He also reckons the sector needs better advocacy in Wellington: "Onions NZ have a $200 million export market and have several people in Wellington, and they brief me before trade delegations. No one rings me from arable."
