Wairarapa Times-Age Thursday, September 5, 2024
WAIRARAPA 2024
MAIZE & cropping New Zealand’s unsung heroes Horticulture and arable farming comprise only 5% of Wairarapa’s economy and 2% of its land area, according to Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, but arable farmers are described as the unsung heroes of New Zealand’s primary sector by the Foundation of Arable Research (FAR).
The industry is worth $2.1 billion to the New Zealand economy through the production of grain, seed and other crops. FAR reports that New Zealand’s arable farmers grow more than 40 different grain and seed crops, with some farmers having up to 20 crops on their farm in a single year. Arable and forage crops, between them, are also the driving force behind our $20 billion livestock industry because they are the source of seed for animal pastures, as well as providing fodder, grain and silage for supplementary animal feed.
Highly productive land-use
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) reports that because of our small size, New Zealand’s arable industry is able to “adopt new crops, systems and production methods relatively quickly in response to market signals.” Our innovative crop management systems are said to be the key to the arable industry continuing to be a significant contributor to our local economies. Robert Hickson is a Castlepoint farmer and the acting Chair of Wairarapa Federated Farmers’ Arable Industry Group. He agrees that in New Zealand,
compared to his native Australia, we have “small bits of land and we squeeze everything we can from our land - so there’s less wastage.” MPI says that New Zealand’s arable growers are the most productive in the world, holding the world yield records for both wheat and barley. We’re able to produce such high yields due to our generally favourable climate (rainfall, temperature), good soils, high performing cultivars, effective use of irrigation and extremely skilled growers.
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