52 | Inta-Ag help farmers meet challenging times Rosa Watson Agronomy experts Inta-Ag are offering solutions that will help meet the growing challenges farmers are facing now and into the future. The company advises on all areas of vegetable production from soil analysis to cultivation. They work with farmers from fertiliser requirements to growing the crop, and then all crop scouting requirements needed to advise on disease, pest and weed control. Its advisers travel the world looking for new solutions to grower problems, and once every four years, the company holds the largest technical horticulture conference in the country with overseas speakers attending. “Getting the growers enthused about growing again. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.” In the last few years, Inta-Ag has started to develop different cover crop mixes in order to help improve soil structure and biodiversity. “At this point, we have shallow and deep-rooted mixes for summer and winter, and growers can have their own mixes.” The company is also promoting non-pesticide products for insect and disease control as well as looking at plant elicitors to better sustain growth during stress periods. It imports specialty fertilisers that are picked to fit specific crop requirements without leaving access behind that could leach. “Inta-Ag is constantly exploring new products and techniques to help its growers.” Shane feels the horticulture industry is facing huge pressure from authorities. “The horticultural industry growing vegetables is an essential part of all New Zealander’s diet, yet it seems to be under constant attack from either central government and local council. “The industry is working hard to improve all its practices and has done so, but unlike a government which can change in three years, farming and nature take a lot longer - and who is paying for this change?” New Zealand’s growers are some of the most efficient in the world and we have some of the strictest regulations in the world, he pointed out. “The industry is currently trying to navigate the changing climate in order for growers to just survive, never mind paying carbon tax and asking for a consent to grow potatoes on their own land. “In recent years we have had several new pests and diseases enter New Zealand, affecting growers income considerably. Inta-Ag and industry bodies are doing their best RURAL SERVICES » Inta-Ag Limited to help growers change by informing them and offering solutions to new and old problems, “but with limited resources in a struggling industry, it’s proving difficult”, Shane says. In the last 20 years the horticulture industry has made great steps that seem to largely go unnoticed by authorities. “We export zero residue produce all over the world, with our competitors in Europe able to have a thousand times higher levels. We have halved our fertiliser usage and are now looking at another 25 per cent reduction in coming years. “The cultivation techniques and restoration of soil with compost has improved so much that our soils are increasing in organic matter - yet growers are set to pay carbon tax.” Making changes in this industry takes years to introduce and not something that could be done overnight. “Farmers are keen as mustard to use less fertiliser and diesel, but they just need more time to develop new methods and technology. Overseas governments cover half these development cost and work with the growers? Inta-Ag, the growers and industry bodies can only do so much with limited resources to help weather the constant storms. “We are all working towards a better world. (Authorities) should be working with farmers because at the end of the day they’re tax payers as well.” His question was: “Do you want to buy food imported from China? because when we have no industry left, that’s where it will be coming from.” • Unique dual-adjuvant delivery system • For fast uptake and translocation to the roots • Consistently reliable in a range of conditions • Rapid rainfastness • Performance backed by Syngenta, a global R&D company • Available in 20 L, 200 L & 1000 L packs Contact the team for more details on: 09 237 0430 Brassicas.
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