Poppy growers who supply the processor TPI Enterprises at Cressy should speak to the company’s field officers sooner rather than later about their concerns over the harvest, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association’s poppy committee advised today.
The difficult growing season has brought forward a range of issues for growers, according to poppy committee chairman David Hingston.
Mr Hingston and the TFGA’s weeds committee chairman Phil Reader recently held talks with TPI managing director Jarrod Ritchie over some of these issues.
“The main concerns were prevalence of delays in harvesting due to the weather and machinery breakdowns,” Mr Hingston said. “The late rain not only delayed harvesting but caused lodging to occur and weed control became a problem. Growers had to apply a dessication spray.”
Mr Hingston said some assay results, which give the alkaloid level of the poppies, were low, and growers will only be receiving payments at the bottom end of the pay schedule.
“Our observation is that the field officers have been doing a good job in what has been a difficult season but there is a clear message here that when a grower becomes aware a problem is developing, they should get in touch with a TPI field officer as soon as possible, the earlier the better.”
He added that, on the question of the alkaloid assays, growers could ask for the results before the 30-day period after which they were paid. If they thought the results were wrong, they could ask for a retest.
Jan Davis http://www.tfga.com.au/
