Business Rural Autumn 2021

74 | Shipping in a Covid world a challenge for Smith Seeds’ agronomists provide guidance to the company’s growers during all stages of the crop production cycle. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » Smith Seeds GluyasMotorGroup .co.nz Kermode Street, Ashburton Call us on 03 307 5800 or Email sales@gluyasgroup.co.nz Gluyas Motor Group is a professional, Service orientated dealership that will go the extra mile to ensure you, the client, receive great Service and the right New or Used quality Vehicle for your needs. Proud to be associated with Smith Seeds LEESTON SEEDS LIMITED For all your seed cleaning, treatment & storage requirements - Dressing all grasses and clovers - Brassicas, grain and peas - Seed treatments - Storage - Seed mixing Station Street, Leeston Phone: 03 324-3806 Email: leestonseeds@xtra.co.nz Proud to support Smith Seeds G ood people and a good reputation for produc- ing high quality seeds stands New Zealand’s seed production market in good stead for a viable future, and Ashburton’s Smith Seeds is now multiplying and exporting high quality vegetable seeds to all corners of the globe. Currently in the middle of harvest time, which will be finished by mid-April, Smith Seeds will then be cleaning seeds and arranging shipments to custom- ers who are mostly based in Europe, USA Asia, and Australia. Normally a straightforward process, with Smith Seeds working closely with its shipping agent who does a great job, shipping in the Covid environ- ment is a very different beast. Smith Seeds general manager Dayle Jemmett says last year’s lockdown happened right in the middle of cleaning, and trying to arrange shipments at that time was a concern. “As a primary industry company we were able to continue business, but we were two to three weeks later than usual as we were working with fewer staff and fewer hours. We expected delays with shipping, and we had one big hold up last year of a line which had left our shores in very good quality, but was held up for more than a month when it landed in Asia. It was diverted to Denmark, tested again, and germination had dropped by 20%. Our client had to dump it and still pay us as well, so that side of transportation in the current environment is pretty negative.” There is still a very positive side to New Zealand seed production, however. “We’ve got good people here in New Zealand, and that starts right at the grass roots of growing, through to excellent seed cleaning facilities, and the supply of a high quality product,” Dayle says. “New Zealand has a great global image as far as seed producers go, we’ve got good farmers, good soils, a good climate, and we supply a good product.” The benefits to Smith Seeds’ international customers of producing seed in New Zealand, aside from fantastic quality seeds, is the out-of-season production which gives them two harvests in one year. Smith Seeds customers are able to produce a nice vegetable in their own weather conditions, while New Zealand’s temperate climate provides a superior seed product. Smith Seeds’ agronomists provide guidance to the company’s growers during all stages of the crop production cycle. The grower/agronomist relation- ship is crucial to ensuring a successful outcome. “Before planting any crop, we have to make sure the previous field history is suitable. Strict isolation requirements must be followed and this ensures that no cross pollination occurs between similar crops as they can become unsaleable if they are not true to type. An internet based sophisticated program allows crops to be entered into the system prior to planting to check no conflicts are occurring with other planned plantings in that area.” With staff based in both the North and South Islands, there is added flexibility to produce a wide range of seeds due to their climatic requirements. Smith Seeds is producing vegetable seeds such as peas, radish, kale, pakchoi, mustard, celery, beet- root, chard, carrot, onion, spinach, chives, parsnip, kohlrabi, mibuna, and mizuna. Its customers send the planting seeds of their own varieties to Smith Seeds. The company’s farmer clients multiply them here in New Zealand then the resultant harvested and processed seeds are shipped back to the customers. “Yes we’re dealing with Covid, but we have to box on.” “We’ve got good people here in New Zealand, and that starts right at the grass roots of growing, through to excellent seed cleaning facilities, and the supply of a high quality product. New Zealand has a great global image as far as seed producers go, we’ve got good farmers, good soils, a good climate, and we supply a good product.”