Mid Canterbury arable farmer David Clark says growers are paid $2.80 to $3 a kilogram for grass seed that retails to other farmers at about $15, and are operating at a loss.

“There’s just an unreasonable distribution of that margin, is my view,” Clark says.

Growers cover certification, growing, cleaning and even the bags, and get back to near break-even only by grazing the crop, he says. Virtually every arable farmer he knows is urgently seeking an exit, with machinery prices doubled since 2021.

“This is a financial crisis facing arable growers, both here in New Zealand.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.