John Hodge: Imports worry for growers

We need to support our maize industry.

Although I'm an optimist I am becoming more aware that maize growers are exceptionally nervous about the future of the industry in New Zealand.

I see problems arising in the future for us and, optimist or not, I have to admit things are not looking rosy.

Having farmed my way through ups and downs for the past 60 years, my optimism has always got me through.

So my advice to other growers is to do the same because when we can hope things will come right it makes it bearable.

The drop in payout to dairy farmers has had an immediate effect on their demand for maize silage and maize grain and that, combined with the drought over the past three years, has been hard going.

With dairy farmers looking for cheaper options to feed their herds it's understandable that maize farmers are feeling nervous.

The main reason for nervousness is probably attributable to the amount of maize being imported.

With the world having one of the highest grain yields this year we are seeing a lot of countries exporting their surplus. My understanding is that so far this year 160,000 tonnes have come into New Zealand compared with the usual 35,000, with about $100 difference between the imported maize and that locally grown.

At present New Zealand growers are getting less for maize than in 1981.

We need to support our maize industry or there will be no grain when we most need it, if grain farmers throw in the towel. Maize grain is the glue for so many of the products we produce.

Maize grain has many uses. It is more than just a supplementary feed for livestock. South of Auckland is a plant that produces many different products from maize grain.

Among them is cornflour, maize germ, glue, cereal and baking products. And a lot of the icecream produced in New Zealand is sweetened with glucose that comes from maize.

One of the largest users of maize grain because of affordability, is the chicken industry.

And the dairy goat industry and deer industry are increasingly using maize as a supplementary feed.

We are cutting edge in New Zealand when it comes to producing world-leading yields of maize.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), to which growers pay a levy, is doing an incredible amount of research into maize at their Tamahere site.

Lately FAR has increased its research area to include variety trials to compare yields of different hybrids from opposition seed producers.

They are also working with regulatory authorities to obtain guideline figures on fertiliser inputs.

FAR's research also shows that maize is actually a good nitrogen conserving plant.

The plant is very deep-rooted and can take up nitrogen from a considerable depth, so if planted in paddocks that have nitrogen left over from other crops you would see a great reduction in soil nitrogen levels and a decreased risk of leaching.

We have had good rain along with the reasonably warm temperatures and that is helping grass growth and replenishing the groundwater table.

The maize silage crop is all harvested with the average yield being an impressive 18 tonnes a hectare. Maize grain harvesting is also progressing well when the weather allows, and although PGG Wrightson has unsold maize in their silos from last year they still have enough storage for this year's harvest.

New Zealand Federated Farmers Grain and Seed Industry Group is changing its name Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group.

This will be ratified at the annual meeting on July 1, which will be held in conjunction with the Federation's annual conference in Wellington.

The first day includes a meeting of the Arable Industry Group where I'm sure there'll be some astute questions for Primary Industries minister Nathan Guy.

The maize grower's voice will be heard. So keep your heads up, because if you haven't got optimism you can't do the job.

* John Hodge is Waikato Federated Farmers vice-president.