Timing is everything

Ask anyone who knows a thing or two about a good crop, and they’ll tell you timing is everything. Ruralco’s Seed Team don’t just know a thing or two, they’re your independent grain and seed experts, and they’re very conscious of timing. In fact, they like nothing better than to be involved early—to ensure the best beginnings. WORDS BY BRETT HALDANE. IMAGES BY ANNIE STUDHOLME

John Scott, Seed Sales Manager, has worked for Ruralco for seven years, exclusively providing service to the cropping sector. John’s the real deal, growing up in South Canterbury on a mixed cropping farm, before heading to Lincoln University to study Agricultural Science. One way or another he’s farmed for twenty years himself, so just ‘gets it’, whether that’s seed, grain, crops, your farm, and its yields. Recently joining the team is Kate Waddell. After tertiary study, Kate quickly moved into rural sales before coming onboard as the Seed Sales Co-ordinator. Kate’s an Ashburton local, also raised on a mixed cropping farm, so she has a real empathy for member’s needs. The team at Ruralco are your go-to for all things agronomy, and they’re keen to start discussions well ahead of spring. “Every year we run a winter planning programme with our members, in conjunction with the On-Farm Account Managers to ensure everyone is ready for the growing season ahead” says John. This year, with continued uncertainty surrounding the Covid pandemic, it’s even more important to be planning your crop early. As your independent seed suppliers, the team at Ruralco competitively, and locally, source seed from many of New Zealand’s leading brands, allowing them to find the best available options for your farm’s productivity, land and the environment. There’s a wide range of products available, including permanent pastures, Italians, herbs, brassicas, cereals, and fodder beet. The team can also make expert recommendations on fertilisers and agrichemicals. Ruralco also has great tools in place to make selecting pasture seed simpler for you with its ultimate Pasture Packs; these are ready to sow, proven premium seeds, geared to give you the results and pastures you’re looking for. There are several pasture packs available, with the Ultimate Pasture Pack Guide providing a detailed overview of ingredients, benefits, and suitability for use, ask the seed team for a guide or find it on the Ruralco website.

While the guides available are helpful tools, John explains “With seed there’s always new varieties, or specialities and no matter what it is, we’re often going the extra mile to source specific seed selections, and custom mixes, for our farms”. It’s no different for those farms looking for fodder beet or brassica, with Ruralco having access to all the top performing varieties. Each spring the co-operative produces a guide relating to both beets and brassica, with each publication offering an annual summary of the most popular varieties that can be sourced for cropping farms. As well as providing expect advice and seed varieties, Ruralco is also very active, as a buyer and seller in the New Zealand grain market, allowing members to benefit from access to markets, growers, and other farmers, with guarantee of quality products and payment. The whole process is managed by the Seed Team “we broker trade between farmers, and into the industry, we also trade in the common variety, offering contracts on Nui Ryegrass and Huia White Clover as well” says John. Ruralco provides members with updates on the local and international grain markets through its monthly Grain Report, available via email and on the Ruralco website. So, whether it’s products, information or advice, John and Kate are ready to help you get the most out of your crop—and now’s the time to start that conversation.

LEFT: The Ruralco team can make expert recommendations on seed, fertilisers and agrichemicals BELOW: Whether it’s products, information or advice, John and Kate are ready to help you get the most out of your crop