How has the 2016/17 Season Been for NZ Flower Growers?

South Island Regional Roundup

 From Mosgiel south of Dunedin John Van Delft [ Greenhouse Florist] reports:-

Growing conditions have been relatively good for this time of the year with increased output and good prices. Trade through the florist shops has been steady to relatively good.

Dunedin UFG reported that they need growers for the following:-Ranunculus: whites, soft pink & burgundy lemons; Anemone: white, plums, blues & purples; Queen Anne’s lace;  Sweet William.

From Ian Kempthorne [K&L Nurseries] from Springston south of Christchurch: -

Hello Everyone

I am reporting from Christchurch area.  Things have been quite interesting from this part of the country since the takeover by UFG.

Firstly, lots of stories started floating around about this and that and flooding of North island product on the Christchurch Auction floors but at this stage it has failed to come about, most likely because there isn’t a lot of product to shift around in these colder months. When volumes pick up then we will see what will happen and if Christchurch can step up and be able to move some product. The first few weeks after the complete changeover, i.e. when we went to UFG style auction and computer system, buyers found it quite hard  especially as we were so used to the visual display of line, price, bud count, etc. These were important to bid on when using the finger up style of bidding. It meant for some extra bidding and confusion which led to some stronger prices for a start. Changing from letter buying codes to a numbered system also caused a few issues with the wrong volume or wrong buyer but the system seems to be working better now and we have some screens to view and buyers getting used to it.

One of the bigger suppliers of roses in the area chose not to supply the auction flower which has meant a big short fall of roses on the floor. The follow on effect of this is imports.

It means imports are getting sold via Wholesalers and auction due to local supply shortening up. This import supply has been happening in winter for a few years now and it has affected winter rose prices for local growers who have to pay for expensive heating or you get nothing until spring, so it was time to get something different.

At K&L Nurseries we have had short supply of roses also as we are trying to get predator mites established and also starting replant of new varieties of roses which should be on line in spring.

Volumes of product are low at the moment with Lilies being the bulk of the floor but spring flowers are starting to increase also.

NZFGA is having the AGM in Christchurch this year so I hope to see lots of growers make the effort as lots of decisions have to be made for the future.

Regards Ian Kempthorne,  K&L Nurseries.

From Nelson Richard Mangin [Greensquare] has these comments: -

My regional report for Nelson

The 2016-17 season has been a challenging one for us, Nelson had a relatively severe frost quite late for us (-2 celsius in early September). For us as outdoor growers this was very damaging, not only destroying a significant portion of this year’s crop but also affecting new growth that would set up next season’s crop, and killing new plantings that were just shooting away and at their most vulnerable.

Overall though our export markets continue to be relatively stable, and being an export focused business the restructuring of the local Auction markets has had no impact on us.

The major issue on the local front continues to be the debate over whether or not the council / community will support a water augmentation dam. This is a major capital project ($82.5 M) and seen by the urban residents as solely benefiting the irrigators, however under new regulations our water resource is massively over-allocated and without a dam there is not even enough water to satisfy urban use over the dry summer months, requiring the council to invest in some form of water storage. In a proposed partnership between council and irrigators, council and irrigators will become shareholders in the dam and share the operating costs. As always seems to be the way with local politics there are some that are so fiercely opposed to the proposal that they will never accept the need for a dam.

Otherwise we are enjoying some wonderful clear sunny days in Nelson, and think of you all working hard while we ride on some of our amazing new mountain bike trails.

Regards  Richard.