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Graham, Hamish and Stuart Marr in the tractor workshop built by Graham’s father in 1969.
photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Methven farmer Hamish Marr is proud to showcase farmers’ and growers’ innovations to overseas governments “and anyone who buys our products”, he said.
The Special Agricultural Trade Envoy works with governments to support key objectives and advocate for the development of the agricultural sector.
“If I can contribute to the longevity, success and sustainability of our agricultural sector, then I have done my job.”
Hamish has travelled extensively since taking over as special envoy from Mel Poulton last year.
“So I went to Australia first, which was great, and then I went to Europe.
“I’ve been to India and recently returned from the United States and Canada.”
Hamish poses with some busts in India.
photo: supply
He spent a lot of time meeting with government departments and agricultural groups. He also tried to arrange farm visits in each country to see how local farmers were making ends meet.
“I feel really privileged to have had the opportunity to witness this firsthand. There are so many people working behind the scenes for us, both here at home and overseas, on government-to-government trade to ensure our products keep flowing to the market.
“World trade rules are very, very complex. There’s a lot to work with.”
In September, Hamish will travel around China to learn about the current meat market and attend a red meat conference.
January is the busiest month at the Marr family’s Longfield Farm on the Canterbury Plains.
photo: supply
“This is my first time in China, so I’m very interested in understanding what the terrain is like, where the opportunities are, and where the obstacles are, because we are so dependent on China.”
Hamish farms with his brother Stuart and father Graham on the south bank of the Rakaia River.
They produce seed for global export and run a 500 hectare dairy, heifer and sheep grazing business that has been in the family for over a century.
One of their biggest sources of income is cattail seeds, which are sold mainly to the Australian market, but also to the United States, Canada, Northern Europe and South America.
Harvest chicken grass for seed.
photo: supply
Graham, 74, said the Marr family has been growing the resilient grass since 1910.
“That’s because they had seven loads of wheat and one load of ryegrass to cart to the railway terminal in Methven, and the ryegrass was worth more than the seven loads of wheat, so they decided to go ahead and it’s been that way ever since.”
They also grow red clover seed, barley seed, malting barley, processing peas, wheat, oats and winter fodder crops.
Seeds are cleaned, bagged and shipped in a custom-built facility on the farm.
Bags of seeds waiting to be shipped around the world.
photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
“My grandfather built it, and generation after generation has continued to expand on it,” Stewart said.
There is no need to send the seeds for cleaning, which saves a lot of time.
“It still costs something, but the benefit is that we can clean the seed when we need it, in the order we need it, and then it’s just a matter of loading the seed into containers and shipping it overseas in time for us to get paid!”
When Graham wasn’t bagging seed or doing the accounts he was singing and was a long-time member of the Mid-Canterbury Choir in Ashburton.
Graham bags seeds at his own seed-cleaning facility.
photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
The choir members’ favorite piece of music is Handel’s Messiah (You can hear part of the song he sang in the farmyard at the end of this audio story).
“I’m a bass player, and I’ve been one since my high school days,” he said.
The tractor cab became his farm practice room.
“In fact, I sing a lot on my tractor. It feels great. Sometimes you try to tune your voice to the sound of the exhaust and then you can start singing!”
A Mal tribe man enjoys the beautiful view of the Rakaya River in the paddock.
photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
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