Tasmanian Alkaloids provides seed and assists with paying for sowing of the crop. Tasmanian Alkaloids also pays advances on the crop to help with the cost of weed and disease control. These advances are deducted from the final crop payment.
Crop payment is calculated on assay alkaloid content and total crop weight, although adjustments may be made to compensate for trial or seed crops. The following table shows a range of payment rates for the 2005/2006 season (before deductions for advances):
MORPHINE
NORMAN
% Alkaloid Morphine
$ Per Tonne
Dry Crop
% Alkaloid Thebaine
$ Per Tonne
Dry Crop
2.0
1,210.00
2.0
1,462.00
2.1
1,313.10
2.1
1,561.50
2.2
1,416.20
2.2
1,661.00
2.3
1,519.30
2.3
1,760.50
2.4
1,622.40
2.4
1,860.00
2.5
1,725.50
2.5
1,959.50
2.6
1,828.60
2.6
2,059.00
2.7
1,931.70
2.7
2,158.50
2.8
2,034.80
2.8
2,258.00
2.9
2,137.90
2.9
2,357.50
3.0
2,241.00
3.0
2,457.00
For example, a morphine crop of 5 hectares containing 2.6% alkaloid and yielding 2 tonnes per hectare (dry basis) would have had a crop payment of $18,286 (less any advances).
Tasmanian Alkaloids covers the cost for harvesting the crop and cartage of the crop to the factory.
(This information is provided as an example only. Actual payment will be determined by the signed TasAlk Poppy Growing Agreement and harvest assay.)
