Sales figures from the Plant Breeding & Research Association (PBRA) show more than 10,700 tonnes of branded proprietary pasture seed was sold to farmers last year.
This is up 21% on five years ago and the strongest sales year on record.
Proprietary seed, which comes with built-in technological advances to increase performance, is increasingly recognised as the one of the best investments farmers can make in their land, association president David Green said.
“This is the highest quality seed you can buy,” he said.
“As well as its advanced performance attributes, it’s certified, meaning it has been grown under regulatory supervision, has passed inspection for purity and germination, and is fully traceable.”
The current market for forage seeds shows ryegrass and clover dominates the category.
Most of this seed is produced by specialist growers in the Canterbury region.
Certified ryegrass and clover seed was grown on 29,000 hectares in the 2020 season.
Different ryegrass types comprise 81% of grass seed sales by volume, with red and white clover making up 9% of the legume sales by volume.
New Zealand pasture seed development is underpinned by intensive and local private breeding programmes.
“Breeders are focused on delivering new locally-adapted seed genetics and desirable traits for our pastoral farmers,” he said.
Seed breeding and development can take up to 10 years and cost up to $1 million before a new cultivar is ready for the commercial market.
“There are many variables with seed selection, and proprietary seed is genetically superior to older public domain varieties and the degenerating quality of farm saved, or farm traded seed, the latter of which is illegal under the Plant Variety Rights Act,” he said.
“Forage genetics and seed technologies farmers use is more important than ever, and proprietary seed is reliable and high-performing for long-term success.”
