| 49 Reliable team key for new owners Anne Boswell RURAL SERVICES » Darfield Seed For the new owners of Darfield Seed, 2023 was a year of listening, learning, and investing in the basics – and people are the key. “We were fortunate to have inherited a really good team of staff, led by new general manager Troy Collings and office manager Steph Buck,” Darfield Seed Director Gareth Reed says. “The team gives us confidence. They know what they’re doing, they’re reliable and they take pride in their work.” As testament to that, Darfield Seed is one of only a few seed processors accredited to clean up to 25T large herbage seed lots at a time. Having a united shareholder group is also seen as important. All of the shareholders have farming connections, mostly tied to the arable sector. “They all agreed the company was an important asset to our rural community,” Gareth says. The shareholders hold a vision for Darfield Seed to be a successful business serving a successful community. “We want to make sure we are playing our part, servicing growers, and giving seed companies confidence to grow crops in our area knowing there is a reliable processing site here,” Gareth says. Shareholders had bought into the idea of no special treatment. “Before we took over, we agreed as shareholders not to expect any preferential treatment – no priority dressing, pricing or storage,” Gareth says. “We knew it would undermine our credibility with growers, and could disrupt Troy as he plans his dressing schedule.” With a large volume of seed in the market, following two bumper harvests, storage has become an issue across the seed industry. “We’ve tried to be proactive and to play our part,” Gareth says. “We secured the lease on the neighbouring property, improving our storage capacity. “The short term for us is really focusing on efficiency. Arable farming is tough, margins are skinny, and as processors we need to look for ways to minimise cost increases.” To aid with that, Darfield Seed – with some support from Callaghan Innovation – commissioned a processing specialist to come in and review how the site runs. “It is important that the theoretical and the practical are aligned,” Gareth says. “Some changes are low cost and easy, while others require a lot more thought. The feedback from the team is also important.” But it’s not all about the short term. “Our shareholders have challenged the board to shift where we spend our time, from the operational to the strategic,” Gareth says. “Longer term, looking at how can we integrate new technology that can add value to seed, or utilise our site for more than we do today while still doing the basics really well. “Maybe there’s an opportunity to extract value out of by-product. All these options are on the table. That’s why we approached our Board Chair, Nick Pyke; to get someone with those industry connections, who can Proudly associated with Dar eld Seed • Plant Maintenance & Fabrication • Welding • Repairs & Maintenance • Health & Safety Services • TPWWool Press Maintenance & Servicing PROUD TO SUPPORT DARFIELD SEED bbea1@xtra.co.nz 027 933 1049 see around the corner to the opportunities out there and bring them to the Board table. “If we can innovate, and if we can give seed companies a better proposition, then we’d hope that might mean the growers around us can get access to opportunities that don’t exist locally today. That would be a win for the farming community here, something our shareholders are keen to see happen. Darfield Seed – with some support from Callaghan Innovation – commissioned a processing specialist to come in and review how the site runs. We’re just as comfortable in the paddock as we are in the boardroom Tavendale and Partners’ agribusiness team has an unrivalled understanding of New Zealand’s primary industries. We advise on capital structuring, banking and finance, environmental issues, legacy and succession planning, through to Overseas Investment Office matters. Christchurch | Ashburton | Nelson | Auckland tp.co.nz
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