The South Canterbury cropping farmer replaces Wairarapa farmer Karen Williams, who has completed her three-year term.
Hurst brings wide experience and an acknowledged reputation for hard work, tenacity and leadership to the role.
He is keen to lift the profile of the arable sector among consumers and fellow farmers.
Sales of arable production and spending generated by the industry contributed $863 million to GDP in 2018.
Hurst will also be following his interest in science and innovation driving improved production and a lighter environmental footprint.
“Most people know we produce cereal grains used in bread and a host of other staples and all the malting barley needed by our brewers.
“We also grow the pasture seeds essential to our livestock farmers not to mention brassicas and other feed crops and seed production for domestic and international markets,” Hurst said.
The arable industry’s export receipts are forecast to hit $260m, a 10.2% increase, this financial year.
Hurst has farmed with his family on a 700 hectare mixed arable farm at Makikihi, south of Timaru, since the mid eighties.
The farm includes 250ha under irrigation, growing mostly autumn wheat, grass seed, plantain seed, radish seed and forestry with heifer grazing, dairy wintering and beef cattle finishing.
As well as serving Federated Farmers at national, regional and branch level Hurst has also dedicated countless hours to the South Canterbury Rural Support Trust, United Wheatgrowers and the Foundation for Arable Research.
He has been a staunch advocate for farmers around the Seed Quality Management Authority table, on the Fertiliser Quality Council driving the development of a physical standard for fertiliser and at a multitude of local authority planning and hearing processes.
Vice-chairmen elected to the Federated Farmers arable board for 2020-21 are Brian Leadley, grains, David Birkett, seeds, Dion Fleming, maize, and Chris Dillon, forage.
FAR chairman Hugh Ritchie also takes a place on the board.
