Price lift call as poppy growers feel pressure
AFTER battling cold, windy and drought-like conditions to deliver an outstanding crop this season, poppy growers deserve a price rise says Poppy Growers Tasmania chief executive Keith Rice.
Mr Rice said while poppy processors had lifted prices a notch this season from a low base, they had been outpaced by the extra expenses and sheer hard work imposed by a trying season.
“It was a costly year this year,’’ Mr Rice said.
“Poppies are still a crop that farmers like to grow. Growers are still in there, but they can’t keep doing it just because they love it, they need to make a few dollars from it as well.”
Mr Rice said the poppy industry’s contraction from about 30,000ha to as low as 11,000ha since 2013 had reduced grower numbers by almost half.
He said despite some stabilisation with poppy areas at around 13,000ha for the past two seasons, he had noticed a trickle of farmers exiting the industry.
“Some have taken the opportunity to rest ground … or are trying some other venture,’’ he said.
Mr Rice said the price had dropped roughly 30 per cent since 2013.
Tasmanian Alkaloids field operations manager Noel Bevan said Tasmanian Alkaloids’ area of about 7000ha had been the company’s biggest crop for several years, “prices are up for several varieties this season” and he believed that a corner had been turned.
Mr Bevan said growers had excelled themselves.
“We see the possibility of getting some very good yields, good weights. An outstanding crop in the face of an adverse season,’’ he said.
Mr Bevan said the season had been tough, exacerbated by persistent winds which interrupted fungicide spraying.
Mr Rice said in addition to increased water consumption and the early exhaustion of water allocations, the dry conditions had hiked up growers’ costs and workloads associated with constant irrigation.
Tasmanian Alkaloids began its harvest on January 8, but the Tasmanian harvest did not get into full swing until January 20. It is expected to wrap up by the end of February.
Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the Smart Cities and Suburbs Program supported use of technology-based solutions to improve the liveability of cities and regional centres.
Tasmanian Minister for State Growth Michael Ferguson said the smart traffic system was the type of project the Launceston City Deal was intended to deliver.
“The Launceston Smart Traffic project will transform how we plan and deliver transport infrastructure and ensure we can effectively manage current demands and the future growth of the city,” Mr Ferguson said.
Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said the investment in a live-streaming multimodal traffic system would also encourage use of alternative modes of transport. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of the year.