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Issue 63 / Autumn / May 2015
Hi #subname#
Welcome to the May edition of Specialty Seed's SeedData Newsletter.
The last few weeks have been quite strange weather wise. I got home the other day and the inside of my house was recording 33 degrees!
For me, days like that and the strong winds we have had make it feel more like spring time than the start of our winter.
Most farmers I've been talking to are welcoming these conditions and are recording good pasture growth. Hopefully we are in for a mild winter.
In this edition I'd like to talk about fodder beet seed supply, a great deal for maize growers and how to care for your Lucerne over winter.
Please browse the topics below:
Fodder beet supply
There is no need for me to inform you of the rapid growth of fodder beet grown on New Zealand farms over the last five years.
There are two main points of interest for me in this market. Apparently New Zealand is now the largest market for fodder beet seed in the world and the area of it grown last season was between 35 and 50 thousand hectares.
For the 2015/2016 season the early indications are that the area will significantly increase again. This is based on fodder beets excellent performance in the dry conditions last summer.
It's low cost for winter dry matter production and the fact the fodder beet area is gathering momentum among North Island farmers. Estimates suggested to me are that there could potentially be between 50 to 85 thousand hectares grown next season.
As you can imagine rapid growth like this can cause almost as many problems as it solves, and I believe that this season we will see the infrastructure around fodder beet creak at the knees as it has done for several years now.
The biggest issue will be seed supply, already we have cases were companies have sold out of some of their cultivars.. it's only May!
All off the fodder beet seed supply companies I've talked to regarding seed supply for this season have told me that the orders they are now taking for fodder beet seed are subject to the success of the coming European fodder beet seed harvest. I've been involved in harvests for over 35 years now so I know this is potentially a very precarious situation to be in. Hopefully the fodder beet harvest in Europe is a good one, I also hope that once harvested the seed cleaning, pelleting and shipping ducks are all in a row as well. Time will be the judge I suppose!
Over the last few years the seed supply companies have worked with merit in terms of getting seed onto the market. However, a favourite saying of mine is that seed isn't like a can of chemical, if supply runs out you cannot simply mix some more up, once it's gone.. it's gone. Therefore we for one will be selling our stocks subject to supply.
While seed supply is the most urgent of the issues around fodder beet there are also other issues to consider i.e. agricultural chemical supply, ensuring contractors are available etc, it's therefore even more important this season to start thinking about your new seasons crop now, if you haven't done so already.
I'm not one to panic and I'm hopeful all will go okay as it has done in previous years. However if you are considering fodder beet for this coming season please feel free to contact us... now's good.
Should you have any questions or would like to talk one on one about any aspect of feeding out your fodder beet crop or winter green feed crop please contact us.
Website Link: Click here to view the Specialty Seeds Fodder beet website page
Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds if you have any questions.
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Lucerne Winter management
June and July are extremely important months for your Lucerne stands. Care and attention to them at this time of year will set up an excellent base for your stand as it comes into what I call its dollar month... the time you make real money from it.
Grazing
Between May and early June and when the first frost stops plant growth get a large mob and hard graze your Lucerne stands.
This helps clean up any carry over aphids. It also removes the leaves which will minimise damage to the stand when you follow up the grazing with your clean up winter spray.
Spraying
10 - 14 days following this hard grazing is a great time to apply your winter weed control chemicals. What to use would take up all this newsletter so for all the information you need please follow the link below.
Should you have any questions on what is the most appropriate chemical to use please feel free to contact us.
Direct Download: Winter weed control in established Lucerne
Fertiliser
We strongly suggest at this time of the year you should get a soil test done.
A good productive Lucerne paddock constantly removes large amounts of fertiliser this loss is very often underestimated.
The two most important nutrients to your Lucerne stand are Potassium and Sulphur. Most fertiliser companies have very good "off the shelve" ready to go Lucerne mixes that will help address these two important nutrients as well as supply you with micro nutrients as well.
Lucerne management help from Beef + Lamb NZ
Don't forget that Beef + Lamb New Zealand run a great service for anybody who has a Lucerne stand.
It is a free text messaging service that sends anyone registered really useful and timely tips about Lucerne management.
You can even ask the experts questions you may have about your stand.
To register give Beef + Lamb a call on 0800 233 352. You will need to provide your phone number and postal address (including postcode) and these messages will be sent to you.
Downloads Link: Click here to view Specialty Seed's Lucerne management downloads.
Website Link: Click here to view the Specialty Seeds Lucerne website page.
Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds if you have any questions.
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Corson Maize deal.
It's not very often that we see a great deal come along in our industry but Corson maize have certainly kicked the season off with what I consider to be a ripper of a deal on their maize seed.
Corson Maize seed was established in 2010 via the PGG Wrightsons Seeds Ltd acquisition of the maize and sweetcorn seed business from Corson Grain Ltd.
The combined strength of both these companies have presented the market with some world class maize and sweetcorn hybrid cultivars and now they have a world class deal to back them up... it's called the early order campaign (EOC)
Put simply the EOC runs from now until the 30th June 2015. Orders taken during this time won't be due for payment until 20th March 2016, a real cash flow benefit.
As well as this, any seed ordered before the end of June will be covered by the 100% replant cover scheme. What does this mean?
- Corson Maize Seed will provide replacement seed for a failed Corson Maize Seed crop (which has been planted in accordance with specifications and usual practices) free of charge if within two months of planting the crop fails and needs to be replanted.
- Please note that there are some simple Terms and Conditions that apply to the replant policy and for a full copy of them please contact us.
Another benefit of ordering early while stocks last is that you will better ensure they receive the hybrid of their choice.
Download Link: Click here to download Corson's 2015 Maize Hybrid brochure
Website Link: To see Corson Maize products please click here.
Contact Link: Contact Specialty Seeds for more information on pasture management.
 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
Specialty Seeds - New Zealand
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