Business Rural Autumn 2021

72 | RURAL SERVICES » South Island Seed Dressing & Storage New warehouse build reflects growing Kelly Deeks S outh Island Seed Dressing and Storage Company’s mission to enhance profitability for New Zealand and worldwide arable farmers is growing the company to the extent it is now in- creasing storage capacity with the build of a brand new 4000sqm warehouse and workshop facility on its Ashburton site. Established in 1991 by founder Rob Clarke, South Island Seed Dressing and Storage brought more capacity and independence for total seed manage- ment to the local market. Initially running two seed cleaning machines, demand for the company’s services has seen the capacity rise to eight seed cleaning lines, two seed treatment application machines, and 50 staff. Company director and Rob’s son Brent Clarke credits the entire staff with the success of South Island Seed Dressing and Storage, saying they in- clude some of the most experienced seed cleaning operators in New Zealand. The new facility will provide the extra storage capacity the company needs, as well as a workshop space and a specialist machinery room for their colour sorter, belt grader, and smaller plot machines which will allow South Island Seed Dressing and Storage to process a more diverse range of products. “We are going to be cleaning more small plot lines, newer bred varieties, seeds which are used in American and European multiplications. They are very time sensitive; we have to clean them quickly and get them back to our clients.” This is proving more difficult in the new Covid environment, where shipping delays, redirections, and cancellations are now commonplace. Brent says some of these time critical seeds will end up being air freighted at huge expense, in order not to miss out on an entire sowing season. Keeping abreast of the latest technology and diversifying into services that meet market demand have also been key to the continued success of South Island Seed Dressing and Storage. “For example, as the scale of dairy farming in the Canterbury region took off in huge leaps, arable growers sought to make better returns of their land as it increased in value, with higher value seed crops like carrot, beet, chard, and radish.” This move led South Island Seed Dressing and Storage to diversify into offering a specialist vegetable seed service. Smaller seed is more chal- lenging to clean and more sensitive equipment was required to ensure it is cleaned effectively. South Island Seed Dressing and Storage runs a Sea Chrome optical colour sorter, equipped with high resolution full colour RGB trichromatic cam- eras and specialised software to allow near human eye vision to precisely sort almost any small shade differences. Indium gallium arsenide, or InGaAs cameras bounce light off the seed, and the different reaction rates indicate the density of the seed to allow for separation. The system’s shape sizing function allows it to sort out elements according to geometric characteristics. Brent says with the investment in this technol- ogy, South Island Seed Dressing and Storage is able to retain a lot more viable seed and enable better returns for its customers. “These sorters are particularly good with veg- etable seeds, and a valuable tool in the stock seed maintenance of linseed, peas, and cereals.” South Island Seed Dressing and Storage contin- ues to invest in technology and equipment, along with recently adding to its transport fleet with a third Container truck delivering to port most days, as well as delivering bulk and palletised product to domestic customers. 197Wills Street, Ashburton Ph: 03 308 6737 Proud to support South Island Seed Dressing & Storage “ Your locally owned & operated tyre experts, trusted for 75 years ” Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers PROUD TO SUPPORT SOUTH ISLAND SEED DRESSING & STORAGE Gabites Limited Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers 54 Cass Street, Ashburton Phone: 03 308 5099 For over 50 years we’ve been committed to delivering innovative , practical , value added advice and services to our clients Proud to support South Island Seed Dressing & Storage Ph. 03 308 8228 www.argylewelsh.co.nz Ashburton - 201 West St, Rolleston - 41 Shelley St SPECIALISEDELECTRICALSERVICES • Industrial electrical contracting • Plant Automation • Control cabinet design and build • PLC Control Systems Proud to be associated with South Island Seed john@sesltd.net.nz 0274329972 John Glendining Photos: Crop receipt and testing at South Island Seed Dressing and Sorage’s Ashburton base; crop storage; machine cleaning and belt grading follow.