Watch NZH Local Focus: Government to pay pea weevil shortfall

The paddocks on Karen Williams' farm used to be full of peas - but not this season, and definitely not the next.

It's just over a year since the pea weevil was discovered in a Masterton seed processing plant - after a consignment of peas came in from the US.

"It was pretty devastating for growers, it came as a complete surprise," Mrs Williams says.

Mrs Williams is one of many growers affected by the incursion, she is also the Arable Industry Representative on the Ministry for Primary Industries Governance group dealing with the pea weevil.

Like all growers in the Wairarapa, Mrs Williams and her husband are about to mark the halfway point of a two-year ban enforced on growing peas - to try and eradicate the insect which relies on the pea plant's flower to survive.

"Farmers are very adaptable people because they're constantly challenged by whether it's weather or markets, whether it's regulations or rules, whether it's biosecurity incursions, so they've always had to adapt and think what else can they do."

And they have adapted - growing alternative crops - and keeping livestock.

But these activities aren't necessarily as profitable as the pea crops they are banned from growing.

"Peas were sort of one of the small shining lights really, so it was a hard hit for growers."

"There's been a slip up at the border which is MPI's area of control so they needed to recognise that," Mrs Williams says.

She says there have been ongoing positive discussions between MPI and growers since the pea weevil's discovery.

MPI Pea Weevil Response Manager John Appleby says Cabinet has just approved the use of ex-gratia payments to meet any shortfall due to the planting of alternative crops to peas during the two-year ban.

He says the mechanism for making payments is a Crown responsibility and MPI is still finalising the mechanics of how the payment process will work.

"Once finalised, MPI will communicate directly with affected pea farmers, providing full information and a form to apply to access the payments."

Mr Appleby says it is likely a workshop for farmers will follow.

One thing that has come out of the incursion is that fumigation at the border is now mandatory and Wairarapa farmers are more resilient, Mrs Williams says.

But she also wants seed companies to take ownership.

"If you're a seed company importing seed and you know there's an element of risk for an insect, then think about the consequences of that, maybe take it upon yourself to undertake that mandatory fumigation."

Alternative cropping may also open doors to other markets.

"Maybe your Sanitarium and your Hubbards, they import a lot of their grain as well, whether that's an opportunity for us, so we are really keen as a local grower group to explore some of those options."

Mrs Williams is confident farmers haven't grown peas - but what she isn't so sure of is whether back-yard gardeners have been as vigilant.

It won't be until the ban ends next year that they can be sure the pea weevil is gone for good.

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