A push for farmers to fight wheat shortages by planting more

Cooking brand Edmonds has been forced to source wheat for flour from Australia - after bad weather affected crops.

South Island wheat centre, Canterbury, had about 110 millilitres of rain five days out from the main harvest in February.

Luisetti Seeds managing director, Edward Luisetti, says because of low price offers, farmers didn't plant enough last year.

He says we have to be more self-sufficient.

Luisetti says prices has increased to close to 200 dollars a tonne - which may continue as the shortage bites.