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  • Blackgrass And Fall Armyworm Levy Update

Blackgrass and fall armyworm levy update

Black grass 1

Seed and Grain Readiness and Response Incorporated (“SGRR”) is a biosecurity entity for the arable sector. It was established in 2020 under the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity (GIA). It is currently collecting levies to cover the costs of the two biosecurity incursions, black grass and fall armyworm. 

Blackgrass
SGRR and its GIA partner Biosecurity New Zealand have been working closely over the past year to monitor properties that were affected by the blackgrass incursion of 2021/2022. Regular inspections have been carried out, with no new findings identified. 

Fall armyworm
Although fall armyworm (FAW) has not been under an active response since 2023, FAR continues to assess the seasonal impacts of this pest on maize crops across the country via an SFFF programme. The aim of the programme is to gain a better understanding of FAW biology in New Zealand conditions and how to manage it effectively.

Levy payment
From 1 April 2024, SGRR put a biosecurity levy order in place to pay for the arable sector’s share in these two responses. Levy collection for both maize and arable crops has been successful with all of the players in the value chain making their proportional contributions. 

The maize levy collected so far is close to recovering the costs incurred for the fall armyworm incursion, so it is envisioned that this levy will be in place for just one more season. The arable crops biosecurity levy has, to date, collected around half the funds required to cover the initial blackgrass incursion costs. This includes surveillance costs and the costs associated with compensation for growers who lost crops as a result of the incursion.

Payment of the levy is via a portal linked to the payments of the FAR levy and the United Wheat Growers levy. Some growers pointed out to us that the ability for making payments on products not sold to merchants was a problem. This has now been resolved and growers self-reporting arable crops need only to pay the 0.05% which is their share of the levy.

If in any doubts about the levy, its use, or on making payments, do not hesitate contact us on info@sgrr.org.nz

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