Issue 34 / Summer / December 2012

Hi #subname#

Welcome to the December edition of Specialty Seed's SeedData Newsletter.

Well that's it. I give up. These years are now passing at such a rapid rate I'm going to stop counting! This year has, for me, been a difficult one. However most of our clients have enjoyed what will be looked back on as an above average year and one where the weather has been favourable in most seasons. Let's hope this good luck continues.

In this month's SeedData newsletter I would like to update you with the Seed Supply outlook for the coming season, talk about our operating hours over the Christmas period, and our new investment. We will also take a look back at my favourite story of the past year, and if you click on the link to your right here I will refresh your memory on the best time to harvest Whole Crop Cereal silage.

Seed Supply update
Christmas Operating Hours
Reinvesting into our business
Favourite story of the year

Seed Supply update

As I write this e-mail most parts of the country are receiving a very good rain.

An older client once told me many years ago that 'an inch before Christmas is a very good Christmas present!

This has stuck with me for years because he was dead right. The rain we receive now will have a very positive effect on the crop yields from our arable clients and very much set up potential yield of these crops.

While it's always a bit early to say how the harvest will go we are very hopeful that it will be earlier and easier than last season and most of the major seed companies I have been talking to over the last week or two are confident that the products they are sold out of currently will be available in time for this coming season.

As always, the later a ryegrass cultivar flowers, the later the crop of it is harvested. Most years (last year in particular) this can cause issues which can often result a delay in their release onto the market, once again we are hopeful this won't be as big of an issue as over the last two - three years technology in both seed testing and seed cleaning has allowed for a faster turnaround after harvest.

Download: Click here to download the Using ryegrass heading dates on farm

Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds for any millet or sorghum advice.

Back to top

Christmas Operating Hours

On behalf of all the team and their families at Specialty Seed's we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our clients and their families a very merry and safe Christmas and a happy New Year!

We all look forward to working with you in 2013 to help you achieve all of your farming goals.

Kind Regards

Stephen Finch & David Percival
Specialty Seeds - New Zealand

Please see our Christmas operating hours below:

Mon 24th Dec:	OPEN : 830 - 1pm
Tues 25th Dec:	Closed
Wed 26th Dec:	Closed
Thurs 27th Dec:	OPEN : 830 - 1pm
Fri 28th Dec:	OPEN : 830 - 1pm
Mon 31st Jan:	OPEN : 830 - 1pm
Tues 1st Jan:	Closed
Wed 2nd Jan:	Closed
Thurs 3rd Jan:	OPEN : 830 - 5pm
Fri 4th Jan:	OPEN : 830 - 5pm

Reinvesting into our business

Following a very very busy Spring it became clear to us that we needed to improve our output to keep up with both our own high expectations of service and the expectations of our clients.

We are happy announce that during the next few weeks we will be installing a new seed mixer to go with the two we currently have.

The new mixer will be able to mix just over two tonne per mix which will double our current output. We are also looking at our seed treating options as a lot of our seed is being treated with insectides and we see this as a continuing trend.

Our store at times this season has been too small and we cannot discount the fact we may have to find bigger premises. We are currently looking at the different options we have and will keep you informed with progress.

So as you can see outside of the nuts and bolts of our business we will be very busy with the above projects. However as mentioned we have our own high expectations on customer service that we are not prepared to compromise. We also feel it is important for us to look at our client's requirements not only just over the next 1 or 2 years but also 10 to 15 years into the future.

My Favourite Story of the Year

A clear winner for me had to be the story we ran in June called: 'Improving a farmer's lot in Nepal'.

This told a story about about farmers in Nepal and how some great work done by Keith Armstrong and others made huge changes to their lot.

Keith has since moved on from Plant and Food, to breed oats and we wish him all the best in his new venture.

If you have got time please click on the link below to hear more about this heart warming story. I am sureit will put a smile on your face as it did mine.

Website Link: Improving a farmer's lot in Nepal

Back to top

As always, we hope this issue has been of some value to you. If you have a comment on this newsletter or anything on our website, please give us a call on our Freephone: 0800 727 8873, send us an email at: mail@specseed.co.nz.

Kind Regards

Stephen Finch / David Percival

Stephen Finch & David Percival
Specialty Seeds - New Zealand



This was another informative "SeedData Newsletter" - brought to you by Specialty Seeds NZ
Website: www.specseed.co.nz \| Email: mail@specseed.co.nz \| Phone: 0800 727 8873 \| Fax: 0800 365 6663

If you are having trouble viewing this email, .
If you would like to be removed from this newsletter please click here to