FAR 2010

FAR International Conference 2010 Sowing the seed for a brighter future Improving the economic and environmental performance of New Zealand arable farming

Mark it in your diary now Tuesday 27th to Thursday 29 July 2010 Ashburton Trust Events Centre

Register online NOW at www.far.org.nz

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FAR International Conference

Sowing the seed for a brighter future FAR International Conference 2010 Sowing the Seed for a Brighter Future is the theme for the Foundation for Arable Research’s (FAR’s) fifth International Conference in Ashburton from July 27-29.

The conference will be held at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre, a first-class venue which has hosted a number of high profile events.

The programme starts with a preconference cocktail evening on July 27 followed by two full days of a mix of indoor and in-field presentations.

“We are delighted to be hosting a great range of speakers, several from overseas, who will be speaking on an array of relevant, practical topics on arable research and management and ways to capitalise on the changes facing the global arable industry,” said FAR chief executive Nick Pyke.

“This conference will highlight the future potential of New Zealand arable farming.

Sustainable arable production is foremost in producers’ minds, as is the incorporation of new technologies and market opportunities.

“This conference will cover these aspects of arable production, for both grain and seed.

It is important for the arable industry as a whole to evaluate new market opportunities and maintain up-to-date knowledge on all aspects of arable production if the industry is to remain competitive and sustainable.”

FAR board chairman, Stuart Wright will open the conference July 28 followed by a session which will focus on future technologies for modern farming systems.

Prof Paul Miller of The Arable Group (TAG) UK is a well renowned agricultural engineer specialising in precision agriculture. He will present on the use of precision agriculture focusing on the use of sensor technologies going forward.

Dr Peter Stone is deputy chief of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Sustainable Ecosystems. Peter has extensive expertise in the area of crop models and will be sharing his knowledge with growers on the role they play in our modern farming systems of today.

Other topics at the forefront of growers’ minds such as pests and pollination, climate change, advances in agronomy and a global outlook will be covered at length.

Professor Rod Smith is presently NCEA Professor of Resource Engineering and Head, Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. Professor Smith will be talking about the future of irrigation followed by Dr David Wratt, Chief Climate Scientist who is responsible for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research’s

ADDING VALUE TO THE BUSINESS OF ARABLE FARMING CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Conference numbers are restricted so early registration is encouraged. Please use the enclosed registration form and return (with payment) to FAR, PO Box 80, Lincoln no later than Friday 9 July 2010. Any registration received after this date may not be accepted if registration is full. If the limit on numbers is reached before close, some prioritising of attendees (growers will be given top priority) may be required.

Please note: A late registration (if accepted) fee of $20 (incl GST) per delegate will apply.

CONFERENCE COSTS

FAR Levy Payers: $135 (inc GST) FAR Subscribers: $235 (inc GST) Non FAR Levy Payers/ Subscribers: $270 (inc GST) This includes two days’ conference attendance, all morning and afternoon teas, lunch on two days and field trip transport. The conference dinner is not included. GST invoices will be supplied with confirmation. A one day rate is also available, please refer to enclosed registration form.

There will be a pre-conference cocktail party on the evening of Tuesday 27 July 2010 at The Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, Ashburton. Please advise on your registration form if you will be in attendance.

(NIWA) National Climate Centre who will explain to growers the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability associated with climate change.

Dr Donald Reicosky, former Research Soil Scientist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) lead a discussion on soil carbon matters and outlook. He will be joined

by Dr Jeff Baldock of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) who talk to growers about the benefits of being able to quickly identify individual soil carbon pools.

Cameron Bagrie is Chief Economist for the ANZ National Bank. Cameron was well received by growers and industry personnel at the FAR International Conference in 2007; we’re delighted to announce that he has once again agreed to join us at our 2010 conference where he will again highlight the bank’s economic forecasts for the New Zealand arable industry.

About FAR The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research and information transfer organisation, primarily responsible to New Zealand arable growers – providing independent, quality, cost effective research, to add value to the business of arable farming.

FAR was formed in 1995 and operates under the Commodity Levy Legislation. FAR is required to hold a referendum of growers every five years and in the referendum in 2005 had 80% support from arable farmers who voted on cereals and herbage and 60% on maize.

How FAR is funded: An Arable Commodity Levy is collected at the first point of sale for all grain and seed.

The levy rate for 2008 is: Maize – 90c per 10,000 seeds purchased; Herbage and amenity seed – 0.8% of sale value; All other grain and seed crops (cereals, pulses etc) – 0.8% of sale value Hybrid vegetable seed crops – 0.5% of sale value FAR also receives funds from research grants such as MAF SFF (MAF Sustainable Farming Fund) and Agmardt, commercial activities such as seminars and non-grower subscriptions and from other participants or beneficiaries of the research.

Crops FAR collects levies from: Wheat, barley, oats, maize, pulses, herbage seeds, brassicas, borage and other arable crops. Vegetable seeds. www.far.org.nz

CONFERENCE DINNER

There will be a conference dinner held at The Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, Ashburton on the evening of Wednesday 28 July 2010.

The conference dinner is an additional cost of $50 (inc GST) per person and includes dinner and drinks.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Ashburton - 03 308 3059 Standard room (twin share or single occupancy): $120 per room per night - room only Continental breakfast $17.00 per person Ashburton Motor Lodge - 03 307 0399 Standard room (twin share or single occupancy): $115 per room per night - room only Continental breakfast $11.00 per person Ashburton Regency Motel - 0800 55 32 23 Standard room (single occupancy): $95 per room per night Standard room (twin or triple occupancy): $120 per room per night Continental breakfast $11.00 per person Transport to the conference venue will be provided on both days from the Hotel Ashburton only.

Register online at www.far.org.nz

FAR International Conference

FAR Programme

FAR International Conference 2010

Tuesday July 27 (Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, Ashburton) 6:30 – 8pm

Registration and welcome

Wednesday July 28 (Ashburton Trust Event Centre, Ashburton) 8am - 8:40 8:50 – 9am

9:10 - 10.30

Registration Welcome and opening remarks Rachel Greenwood, FAR and Stuart Wright, FAR Board Chairman

SESSION 1: FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES FOR MODERN FARMING SYSTEMS

Kindly sponsored by Ravensdown Fertiliser • Use of PA, in particular use of sensor technologies going forward Prof Paul Miller, The Arable Group (TAG) UK • Crop sensing for improved N use efficiency Nick Poole, FAR • Crop models and their role in modern farming systems Dr Peter Stone, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 10.30 - 10.50 Morning tea and a chance to visit the sponsors’ displays 10.50 - 12.05 SESSION 2: PESTS AND POLLINATION Kindly sponsored by Syngenta • Birds - how can we control them to reduce bird damage?

Catriona MacLeod, Landcare Research • The role of integrated pest management (IPM) Dr Paul Horne, IPM Technologies and Abie Horrocks, Plant & Food Research • The importance of successful pollination of arable crops Nick Pyke, FAR 12.05 - 13.00 Lunch and a chance to visit the sponsors’ displays 13.00 - 17.00 SESSION 3: FIELD TRIP • Farm visit and case study Courtesy of growers David and Ros Grant, Methven • Farm visit looking at post harvest quality and storage Courtesy of growers John and Stephanie McKay and Farm Manager Mark Hillier, Methven 17.00 - 18.30 Free time 18.30 - late SESSION 4: FAR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2010 DINNER Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, Ashburton Starting with happy hour and nibbles and an address from the Hon David Carter, Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry

Clearwater Garden Restaurant

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FAR International Conference

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FAR Programme

FAR International Conference 2010 Thursday July 29 (Ashburton Trust Event Centre, Ashburton) 8.10 - 10.15 SESSION 5: GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS •

Kindly sponsored by Power Farming Arable Y’s: creating confi dence in and opportunities for the next generation of arable farming Richard Chynoweth, FAR, Jeff Hurst, ATS and Earl Worsfold, grower Future of New Zealand Agricultural Industries Prof Jacqueline Rowarth, Massey University How can we increase the demand for New Zealand grain?

Craig Rust, Business Innovators and Prof Tony Zwart, Zwart & Associates Future opportunities for our industry Nick Pyke, FAR Morning tea and a chance to visit the sponsors’ displays

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10.15 - 10.45 10.45 - 12.30 SESSION 6: CLIMATE AND CROPPING Kindly sponsored by Power Farming • The future of irrigation

Prof Rod Smith, University of Southern Queensland • The impacts, adaptation and vulnerability associated with climate change

Dr David Wratt, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) • Life Cycle Analysis

Andrew Barber , AgriLINK • Adapting to a drier climate and the launch of the FAR irrigation calculator

Dr Hamish Brown, Plant & Food Research and Rob Craigie, FAR • The ETS, what does it have in store?

Andrew Hume, The Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MAF) 12.30 - 13.25 Lunch and a chance to visit the sponsors’ displays

13.25 - 14.30 SESSION 7: CROP PRODUCTION AND ADVANCES IN AGRONOMY

Kindly sponsored by Syngenta • Faba beans heading for 10 t

Nick Pyke, FAR • Cereal disease management - a strategy for New Zealand

Nick Poole, FAR • Carrot blight (Cercospora) - risks and rewards

Richard Chynoweth, FAR • What is the next step in N efficiency?

Rob Craigie, FAR • Endophytes and NZ outlook

Dr Syd Easton, AgResearch 14.30 - 15.00 Afternoon tea and a chance to visit the sponsors’ displays 15.00 - 16.45 SESSION 8: A GLOBAL OUTLOOK • Soil carbon matters/outlook

Dr Donald Reicosky, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) • A personal perspective on the European agrifood policy

Dr Paul Miller, The Arable Group (TAG), UK • Identifying soil carbon pools

Dr Jeff Baldock, The Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research

Organisation (CSIRO) • What does the future have in store?

Cameron Bagrie, ANZ National Bank 16.45 - 18.00 Closing address and prize giving followed by post conference drinks and nibbles

Nick Pyke, FAR

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FAR International Conference

Oblivious to the technology FAR International Conference 2010

The 500 head of Angus cattle grazing on Graeme and Randal Hanrahan’s Ashburton farm are oblivious to the technology used on their feed-scape.

The young cattle will stack on up to 100kg in three months before heading to Five Star Beef’s feedlot for further fattening and a date eventually with the slaughterman.

Precision farming helps Randal achieve weight goals for his cattle, and for a variety of other cereal crops grown on 307 hecatres alongside State Highway 1 at Fairton.

He uses irrigation, GPS and seasonal controlled trafficking of vehicles in paddocks to get the most out of crops and have precise control over all farm inputs; his advance farming methods save at least 5% on farm costs.

Soon, he predicts, other farmers will catch on to precision agriculture. Flicking on the GPS when they get into the tractor cab will be as automatic as taking off gumboots at the farmhouse door.

Randal and his partner Louise are the third generation of Hanrahans to farm at Fairton and, with child number four on the way, they are unlikely to be the last.

Farming in the future will mean following in Dad’s footsteps, adapting to changes in the environment and embracing new technology.

The Hanrahans have a history as cropping farmers. They grow wheat, malting barley, grass seed, clover, maize and process crops like sweetcorn .

They also run a contracting business specialising in maize and fodder beet planting, and up until a year ago Randal

also sold GPS equipment to farmers.

Louise also owns and operates a preschool in Ashburton (Hannah ‘n’ Henrys).

Randal said maize silage is the perfect cow conditioner, it puts weight on cows and allows round length and pasture cover to be increased.

“We also grow it for Five Star Beef, for silage.”

The contracting business uses a 16-row 12 metres wide planter. AutoFarm 2cm accurate RTK GPS technology means the tractor towing it moves in straight lines, with no overlap. Auto-steer also prevents driver fatigue and allows the operator to concentrate on monitoring the planter and operate as productively as possible.

“It has certainly made my life easier.”

Randal said GPS advances in the past six years meant original systems bought for $100,000 back then were the first generation of the technology. But time and demand had also reduced the cost of a good system today to around $25,000; simple push-button systems have made way for user-friendly touch-screens, with more features available and a higher level of functionality.

The technology is worth every dollar, he says, and eventually every farm will have it in some way, shape or form.

He believes agriculture is one of the few industries using GPS to its full financial potential. While GPS in cars and cellphones is widespread, there is little return.

GPS in tractors can be used in the horizontal and vertical plane, to identify high spots in a paddock, underground wiring to centre pivots, guide machines in

a straight line, and gather data on a crop as it grows and is harvested.

Randal says farm expenses like fuel, fertiliser, seed and chemicals can be cut by 5-10% using the new technology such as variable rate and sectional control.

On the Hanrahan farm, vehicles in paddocks to cultivate, spray or spread all use the same tracks – meaning soil is compacted on as little as 35% of the available land. Uncontrolled traffic movements in a paddock can affect up to 95% of the area. Electro-conductivity maps are being captured on the property to prove this point and to move towards creating zones for variable rate farming.

Compaction hinders crop growth, especially on headland areas, as a result there has been a major redevelopment of their irrigation systems to combat this.

The farm draws its water from the Rangitata Diversion Race, via the Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Scheme.

They are end users on the scheme and use their water-take for traditional border-dyke irrigation and spray irrigation through two on farm storage ponds.

Comparing the two methods of irrigation, Randal says yields are better on the block irrigated by the 580m lateral.

Maize crops spray irrigated yielded 23 tonnes per hectare in a previous season, compared to 17 t/ha on another part of the farm.

Randal said the higher yields and other anecdotal evidence of precision agriculture had encouraged him to change farm implements and become a more efficient farmer.

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FAR International Conference

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) FAR International Conference 2010 The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research organisation responsible to New Zealand arable growers and invests in research and technology transfer to deliver benefits to these growers.

FAR was formed in 1995 and operates under the Commodity Levy Legislation. FAR needs to hold a referendum of growers every six years and in the referendum in 2005, FAR received over 80% support from arable growers who voted and 60% support from maize growers who voted.

Chief executive Nick Pyke says: Here in New Zealand we have an excellent reputation in both the domestic and vegetable world markets for growing grass, clover and speciality seeds. A large proportion of the productivity gains in New Zealand’s pastoral industries have been generated from improved pasture grasses and clover produced for New Zealand by the arable industry.

The New Zealand arable industry produces about 900,000 tonnes of grain, with exports of grain products worth in the region of $245 million. The industry has been innovative in the development of new varieties and markets such as for specialist bread wheats, flour mixes and bakery products, malt for brewing and feed, and feed mixes for the pig and poultry industries. New Zealand growers have become

some of the best in the world with one farmer currently holding the world record for his wheat yield at 15.36 t/ha. This is an accurate indication of the motivation and dedication of the New Zealand arable industry which, through its rapid uptake of new technologies from FAR investment in research, are among the best producers of arable crops in the world.

We pride ourselves on providing innovative research and information transfer to meet the needs of our industry and will continue to do so in order to make sure New Zealand has the best arable farms in the world.

FAR’s objectives are to: • Invest in research, extension and training to deliver benefi ts to New Zealand arable farmers. • Develop and maintain an accurate contact database of arable farmers.

Develop a technical information database - this includes FAR funded research, data from other NZ sources, information from overseas, particularly Australia, America and Europe. • Communicate with growers using the most effective medium - FAR Arable Updates, FAR Arable Extras, newsletters, FAR Focus’, booklets, ARGs and the Strategic Research Committee, media (newspapers, radio, television), internet, email, field days and seminars, discussion groups and workshops, conferences, training courses and demonstration research. • Develop effective communication strategies - with researchers, Government (local and national), MORST, FRST, industry groups

(seed companies, chemical companies, grower groups etc), both in NZ and overseas (including levy funded groups) and, where possible, develop cooperative research programmes. • Develop effective communication with other related sectors such as the pastoral industry, vegetable industry etc and identify and co-operatively fund joint research and information transfer initiatives.

Why do research in New Zealand?

The New Zealand arable industry is a world leader. New Zealand possesses an ideal climate, high quality soils and proactive farming systems which, along with the best arable farmers in the world and an excellent support industry and infrastructure, enable us to produce highest quality grains and seeds for New Zealand and the world. • New Zealand is a world leader in vegetable seed production supplying significant quantities of carrot, radish, beet and other brassicas to the world. • New Zealand arable farmers have held the world record for wheat yield, currently 15.637 t/ha, for the last six years. • New Zealand is the world leader in endophyte technology in pasture and amenity grass seed. • New Zealand arable farmers produce all the seed (grass, brassicas, cereals and maize) and a significant quantity of feed and forage for the NZ$6 billion dairy industry. • New Zealand arable farmers undertake high quality cereal, pea and maize seed

multiplication for both the northern and southern hemisphere countries. • New Zealand arable farmers operate sustainable farming systems with excellent crop rotations, high water use efficiency, optimal agrichemical and nutrient use through decision support systems and effective integration with livestock. • New Zealand arable farmers rapidly introduce new technologies such as crop models, precision agriculture, reduced tillage and Integrated Pest Management into their farming systems. • New Zealand arable farmers have an excellent support industry and infrastructure from science to on farm advice. New Zealand is not a large arable producing nation but our farmers grow the best yields, best quality grains and seeds using sustainable farming systems. FAR is an integral part of the process undertaking the research, extension and training to ensure our farmers remain the best in the world.

FAR in an international world FAR delivers benefits to New Zealand farmers using information from New Zealand and international research. FAR is also active in undertaking research on arable crops throughout Australia and is involved in research activities in USA, Canada and Denmark. FAR has links with the NIAB TAG group in the UK to access information and expertise. FAR also partners with GRDC Australia in a research programme in New Zealand. In Australia FAR has run a large multi-state research programme, funded

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FAR International Conference

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) FAR International Conference 2010

by GRDC, since 2002. This programme has expanded to all the High Rainfall Zone in Australia and FAR expertise in disease and canopy management has been fundamental to the success of this programme. FAR expertise is now utilised in a broad range of research and extension activities, including irrigated crops, cultivar evaluation, precision agriculture and agrichemical evaluation throughout Australia.

Benefits FAR offers FAR can provide a total, independent New Zealand research management service this includes identifying the best research provider, developing research contracts and effective costings, monitoring research planning and trial design, monitoring in-field research quality and progress reporting, interpreting data and ensuring reporting requirements are met and determining the correct conclusions are reached. FAR can often keep the costs of research to a minimum by incorporating treatments, such as the evaluation of agrichemicals or cultivars, into existing or planned research projects and by utilising the skills of FAR staff to do field, lab, data analysis and reporting.

Research results from FAR trials are viewed as independent and credible by New Zealand arable farmers, aiding the marketing of products to this group. FAR can ensure confidentiality of results from research where required.

FAR is successful in communication and technology transfer to user groups.

The FAR Arable Research Sites aim to provide visitors with a representation of FAR funded research at a ‘one-stop’ field site.

Visitors can (with the use of on-site handbooks and plot labels) navigate themselves around the sites in their own time and understand the objectives of the trials. However should any visitors wish to discuss any of the trials in more detail, they are welcome to contact the FAR office www.far.org.nz/contact to be put into contact with the relevant Project Manager. FAR runs other events at these, and other sites throughout the year and also encourages farmers to visit at their leisure. The FAR Research Sites host two key events per year; ‘Combinable Crops’ which is an event held at the Chertsey Arable Research site in the South Island and ‘Maize’ which is held at the Hamilton research site in the Waikato. These events have grown over the years and are now key events in growers’ diaries. They provide farmers with an excellent opportunity to view current trials and hear up-to-date research findings from experts from around New Zealand and overseas.

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FAR International Conference

Unlocking Mid Canterbury’s potential FAR International Conference 2010

Mid Canterbury’s arable farmers are doing their best to make sure the district keeps its title as the best and biggest grain and seed producing region in New Zealand.

Water and technology are being used by innovative farmers to unlock the potential of soil and seed, ensuring the district’s economic

future is safe and sustainable. Farmers here grow grains and pulses like wheat and peas, pharmaceutical crops like evening primrose and borage, brassica seeds, process crops including potatoes and carrots, vegetable seeds for the northern hemisphere, as well as blackcurrants and grapes.

Around 50% of the country’s grain is grown on the productive flat land between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, along with 60% of all small seeds.

Water is vital to arable farmers. Centre pivot and lateral irrigators anchored all around the district supply reliable water that that has

doubled production for some farmers.

Technology, like GPS, means they can monitor their crops and yields, applying the right amount of fertiliser or chemical in the right place at the right time.

Grow Mid Canterbury chief executive Rob Brawley says the district has about

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FAR International Conference

Unlocking Mid Canterbury’s potential

FAR International Conference 2010 500,000ha of actively farmed land, and includes the largest area of flat land in any district of New Zealand.

Central to the successful development of agricultural land has been the 66km Rangitata Diversion Race, an irrigation water canal which runs from the upper reaches of the Rangitata River across the full width of the district to the Rakaia River.

“Mid Canterbury is the grain bowl of New Zealand.” he said. “No doubt about it. It accounts for over half of the country’s arable farming industry and is a major facilitator of New Zealand’s key export industries.

“We lead the world in the development of hybrid vegetable seeds and are becoming increasingly important to Asian countries that are highly reliant on our seeds for their food crops.”

A few statistics – Mid Canterbury supplies: • 50% of world requirements for radish seeds • 35% of world requirements for white clover seeds • 33% of world requirements for carrot seeds approx 30% of world requirements for Bok Choy seeds • 25% of all New Zealand feed grains • 60% of the seeds for growing pasture underpinning a $9bn export industry • 26% of New Zealand’s raw materials for animal feed (This doesn’t even include; calf feed, dairy meal and feed for other animals such as deer, beef, cattle and sheep • 21.5% of New Zealand’s milling wheat An extremely diverse range of businesses are reliant on the arable sector

There are also a number of agricultural processing businesses operating in the Ashburton District. These businesses include: • CMP meat processing • Silver Fern Farms Meat Processing • Ashburton Meat Processors • Talley’s vegetable processing • LeaderBrand’s vegetable processing • McCain Foods • Plains Produce Canterbury Ltd • Two international flower bulb grower/processors Mr Brawley said the vegetable growing industry, in particular potatoes, had grown strongly but quietly over the past several years. Growers are limited in number but have continued to increase production through increasing farm sizes, leveraging intellectual capital and the use of up-to-date technology.

A number of agricultural industry experts point to the higher returns offered from vegetable farming even when compared to dairy farming which is currently experiencing a renaissance in this country.

Grow Mid Canterbury defines the arable sector as fruit and vegetable growing, cropgrowing, plant nurseries, and cut flower and flower seed growing.

Industries supporting arable farmers include those in a strong engineering and trades sector.

“For example our engineering firms are 1.5 times the size of typical New Zealand engineering businesses and can make anything from agricultural equipment to ski lifts, automatic barges and hydraulic stages.”

In Mid Canterbury, the engineering sector includes: • 23 firms • 357 employees • 34 million direct GDP • 5% of all wages and salaries paid in the district “New Zealand faces its greatest opportunities in agriculture since the Second World War, with world population set to increase from six billion to nine billion.

“These three billion people have to be fed.

And what’s more a growing middle class in Asia and India can afford to pay for our quality food products. Mid Canterbury is uniquely well placed to capitalise on these opportunities.”

About Ashburton Ashburton town is the third largest urban centre in Canterbury, and the wider Ashburton District (also known as Mid Canterbury). It has a growing reputation for agriculture and its economy in general. Last year out of all New Zealand districts, Mid Canterbury had the: 11th fastest GDP growth 5th fastest business unit growth 6th largest employment growth And was ranked 4th most successful regional economy by BERL New Zealand’s second-largest city – Christchurch - and the country’s second international airport is located 85km north of Ashburton, and the district is located between two major seaports of at Lyttelton (Christchurch), and Timaru, 65km south.

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FAR International Conference

In the genes

FAR International Conference 2010 Brent Austin has arable farming in his genes. The 29-year-old Lismore man farms 580ha with his parents Barry and Roylyn, growing mainly wheat, barley, grass and maize. They also offer winter grazing for dairy cows.

Brent says learning the trade from his father has been valuable, but he was also growing his knowledge base with a group called Arable Ys. The group is aimed at generation Y (35ish or under) farmers and farm workers involved in growing crops.

Brent said the extra learning gave him confidence to assess crops, and collaborate on problems.

“It does help me make decisions on the farm and gives me confidence to look by myself and pick out different weeds, then make suggestions to my father about what sort of chemical to use on it.”

The Austins use technology like yield mapping to continually improve their harvest yields and Brent said the Arable Ys’ link to FAR provided the latest information.

“We have been doing yield mapping for a couple of years and probably the next step would be variable rate fertiliser.”

He said Arable Ys provided the perfect forum for people to ask all sorts of questions, without feeling they should know the answer.

With dad Barry on the FAR board years ago, young Brent went along to his share of FAR field days. “Sometimes the information there is aimed a bit high. It can be technical, and you had to almost grow

up in that environment to understand it.

“Sometimes when you are with a lot of top growers, you don’t to ask any questions, let alone the simple ones.”

FAR’s Richard Chynoweth invited Brent, a former school buddy, to be part of a steering committee for Arable Ys in 2007 and the group has been running successfully for two years.

He said there were plans to set up another in the Timaru area.

The Ashburton group meets monthly and includes business and practical farm work sessions to improve participants’ knowledge of the industry. Most evenings, some 35 people attend, with up to 80 at field days, depending on the topic.

It also provides a chance for young farmers to network socially.

“For arable farming to remain a critical part of the New Zealand farming scene, the next generation of farmers needs to up-skill on information as early as possible and keep asking questions of researchers and agronomists,” he said “Arable Ys aims to kickstart the process.”

The group is funded by MAF’s Sustainable Farming Fund and covers topics such as succession planning, crop growth stages, the basic principles of chemical application, record keeping, communication, weed identification plus many more.

The meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month primarily at the Hotel Ashburton from 7pm-9pm with drinks following. Details are usually on FAR’s website.

Brent Austin (left) and father Barry hosted the Arable Ys group at their Lismore farm recently to talk about eradicating troublesome weeds.

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FAR International Conference

11

The next generation of arable farmers FAR International Conference 2010

Lynette and Philip Lovett, Seaview Lovett Farm Ltd Lynette Lovett says she and her son Philip personify two sectors of the arable industry FAR has targeted with great results women, and the next generation of arable farmers.

Lynette has belonged to Women in Arable, FAR’s specialist discussion group for women, for many years. Without the support and expert knowledge she has gained from the group, she says it would have been hard to continue farming after her husband Rod died in 2002. Now she’s delighted that Philip, 28, has become part of Arable Ys. This is a new initiative by FAR to provide younger arable farmers with their own forum and discussion group.

“This is a very important focus. The next generation is our future, and the future of our industry. Arable Ys has got good support and I think it’s a really positive step.” Together Lynette and Philip crop close to 80% of their 491 ha livestock and arable property, growing feed, biscuit and purple wheat, feed barley, oats, ryegrass seed, marrowfat and garden peas, red beet, radish and linseed. FAR has helped with everything from cultivar selection and chemical programmes to machinery purchase and a move towards minimum till, she said.

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FAR International Conference

On target for October FAR International Conference 2010 Contractors installing the first vital supply lines for the Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation (BCI) Scheme have laid 15km of underground pipes, and are on target to deliver water by October.

The job of making big plastic pipes for the $40 million project will soon be complete and the pipes welded into 100 metre strings, ready to bury underground for the remainder of the 60km network.

BCI water will bring a touch of magic to soils in the upper plains area, boosting crop yield and economic spin-offs to the district.

The scheme has been decades in the making, and finally got underway this year with a $10 million injection from community partner Electricity Ashburton, but it has been a race against time to draw water before BCI’s 17 cumec water-take consent expires in September.

While some main pipelines will not flow until October, the water-take will be exercised in time when three cumecs is siphoned off further downstream in the Rakaia River to farmers in the Acton area.

BCI chairman John Wright will be singing when water rains down from his irrigator near Methven come December.

He has championed the scheme to farmers since 2006, persuading them to take an intergenerational view of the investment – it was a hard sell at the time of international recession.

Work on the main distribution lines to Methven, Highbank and Ashburton Forks is first on the construction agenda.

Mr Wright said while Rakaia water would not flow until mid-December, BCI was working with

Rangitata Diversion Race management to access shoulder season water if it was available.

“November and December will be critical months to get delivery of water. We are finalising alternatives.”

He expected demand would not be near the three cumecs BCI planned to pump.

“There is a lot of work going on on-farm, with infrastructure going up and piping going into the ground. People are excited and nervous.”

Around the Methven area, farmers who signed up for water have been preparing their farms for its arrival, earthmoving, taking out trees and buying spray irrigators.

Methven farmer Bevan Lill will kick four new spray irrigators into action come spring, providing water for the small seeds and cereal crops he grows on 400ha of historically dryland.

Irrigation means he can iron out the fluctuations in yield caused by a lack of water at growing times.

“In a bad season we might only produce 4.5 tonnes of wheat per hectare. In an average good season we produce more like eight tonnes.

“With water, we would push past that on a regular basis. It gives us confidence to put more inputs, like fertiliser, on.”

The Lills will connect their irrigators to hydrants on the farm; no electricity is spent pumping water to where it is needed.

“For the district, it is the most significant new scheme development for a long time,” Mr Lill said. “We have had individual farms access groundwater for expansion, but not a major co-operative approach to irrigation as BCI has.”

A conference session on climate and cropping will include the future of irrigation, impacts of climate change, and adapting to a drier climate. FAR will also launch its irrigation calculator.

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FAR International Conference

13

Big water savings

FAR International Conference 2010 The Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Scheme is claiming big water savings since converting part of its open race network to pipes 12 months ago.

Scheme chairman John van Polanen said measurements of the piped flow showed at least 15% savings. “We think it is closer to 20%.”

Data is also being gathered from farmer shareholders to measure on-farm savings.

“We do know that some farmers have made substantial gains in efficiency, the ones making the biggest gains in water are using spray irrigation. We are still collecting the data, but they are using substantially less than the border-dyke systems.”

The Ashburton Lyndhurst scheme (ALIS) is one of three irrigation schemes that

draws water from the Rangitata Diversion Race, an open canal that takes water from the Rangitata River across the plains to the Rakaia River.

ALIS has consent to take 12,000 litres of water per second, that water delivered to farmers to make crops and grass grow. Piping the top part of the scheme cost $8m; the project uses the natural fall of the land to generate pressure in the supply system to run centre pivots and lateral spray irrigators.

Farmers save money by not having to run pumps but they have paid for the improvements.

Mr van Polanen said soil in the top part of the scheme was porous, so pipes made a huge difference.

He estimates savings across the scheme of 18%.

“If we can save 18% of our water, we can irrigate 18% more area.”

The scheme area under irrigation increased from 24,500ha to 25,100ha with piping, and piping the rest of the scheme could add another 4500ha.

An RDR storage lake at Klondyke would add even more reliability to the scheme, encouraging farmers to further develop their operations.

Farmers who have taken out border-dykes to make way for spray irrigation gain productive land that has previously be taken up by open channels and head races.

ALIS shareholders will be called on to

make a decision later this year about further enhancements to the scheme. The project could cost $70 million, but will need a compromise between committed border-dyke irrigators and spray irrigators for it to go ahead.

Mr van Polanen said the Government could be asked to act as guarantor for the money that would need to be borrowed. While initial talks were in the middle of the credit crunch eight months ago, banks were also becoming more open to that scale of lending now.

“Obviously if we can save water and sell it to others who want water, it helps to fund the piping.”

Three major construction firms are currently preparing quotes for the job. Shareholders will make a decision in September.

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FAR International Conference

Women in arable

FAR International Conference 2010

FAR’s Women in Arable group was formed in 2001 when a cluster of Canterbury women promoted a business orientated discussion group for rurally based women involved in arable farming.

The group was initially jointly funded by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and MAF Sustainable Farming Fund (MAF SFF). Now in its ninth year it continues to receive the exceptional support of arable women in the Canterbury region.

Women in Arable consists of more than 90 members with an average of 25 members attending each monthly meeting. FAR provides a range of presentation opportunities from high profile and well respected industry representatives, which in turn have allowed the women to become more involved in the day-to-day running of their businesses.

In 2009 Women in Arable received presentations on a number of varied topics including; Weed Identification, Time Management, Record Keeping, Health and Safety on Farms, Growth Stages, Human Resources: Employing Staff, Contracts, Good Employer Responsibilities and Sales and Marketing. The members are extremely motivated and committed to learning more about their business.

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FAR Scholarships and Studentships FAR International Conference 2010

The FAR scholarships and studentships were set up with the aim of encouraging more students into the agricultural science and research arena, providing fi nancial assistance with both course and day-to-day living fees.

FAR Scholarships The FAR scholarships valued at $7,000 each are open to fulltime students at Lincoln University and Massey University who are planning to undertake postgraduate research in agricultural science and related fi elds, which in turn assist with increasing knowledge within the New Zealand arable farming sector.

FAR Studentships FAR invites students to work over the summer period to gain hands-on experience of working in the arable research arena. Two FAR Trials Offi cer roles have emerged from studentships, an excellent example of how work experience can encourage young people into our industry.

Awards FAR Researcher of the Year FAR presents this award annually to the person it feels has made an outstanding contribution to research and extension for the New Zealand arable industry.

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FAR International Conference

MAF’s out look for our arable industry FAR International Conference 2010

In 2010, the New Zealand domestic arable sector has a plentiful supply of grain on hand, which is weighing on prices.

Production was stimulated by high grain prices globally in 2008, but prices subsequently fell in response to the global economic crisis and increased international stocks.

After the peak in 2008, international prices are anticipated to settle at levels slightly higher than in the mid-2000s.

For New Zealand’s specialist export seed sector, exports have increased steadily to an estimated $176 million in the year ended 31 March 2010.

The global recession has reduced demand for grass seeds globally. Compounding this, New Zealand has an excess of seeds thanks to favourable weather in the last two seasons.

The International Market Increasing consumption of grain-fed meat in Asia, and the resumption of bioethanol production in the US and Europe, in particular, are the two main sources of grain demand. Bioethanol distillery capacity in the US has more than doubled over the past three years and, based on current US government incentives for biofuel production, this source of consumption is expected to continue expanding.

Wheat production increased in the last two seasons, showing that production capacity remains plentiful on a global scale. Grain stocks increased in response to the global price increase in 2008 and are higher than they have been for many years.

The Domestic Market There was a significant increase in cereals production in New Zealand for the year ended 30 June 2009, driven by high global commodity prices at the time of planting. The area of wheat and barley harvested for the year ending 30 June 2010 is estimated to have fallen back to the levels of two years ago.

Good growing conditions have resulted in yields per hectare that are higher than usual, and production in year ending 30 June 2010 is expected to be around 360 000 tonnes for wheat and 350 000 tonnes for barley. As a result, domestic stocks are not expected to clear completely until the year ending 30 June 2011, which will have a dampening effect on prices received by growers.

Increased maize production has been more rapidly absorbed by the market as a result of more efficient pricing. The majority of maize is grown in the North Island, where the main domestic feed market is located.

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FAR International Conference

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Huge potential market FAR International Conference 2010

AgResearch Grasslanz Technology believes it has a grass that birds don’t like and don’t return to.

That gives it a huge potential market for airports, golf courses and parks around the world, says Grasslanz chief executive John Caradus.

The grass has an endophyte that reproduces relatively high levels of ergovaline, which causes weight loss and can be a poison to ruminants.

“But in places that ruminants (such as cattle and sheep) don’t graze, it has real potential,” Dr Caradus said.

There are places that don’t want birds, because they are a threat to safety or can damage aircraft, or their faeces are a problem.

It is those places this grass was most suited for, he said.

“It doesn’t kill the birds, but eating the grass makes them ill.

“Our three-month research shows they remember – they’re not bird brains – and (they) don’t come back.

The grass has been trialled at the Christchurch International Airport, where it was shown to work, and there have been other field tests in the region.

Dr Caradus said there was a huge number of potential sites where the grass could be used .

Orly Airport, near Paris, had 1500 hectares, and there were 6000 airports in the United States alone. “These are large areas, so the potential is vast.”

The high-ergovaline grass was developed by AgResearch scientists at its Lincoln campus.

There has been renewed attention because Palmerston North-based company Grasslanz Technology, the Foundation for Arable Research and PGG Wrightson Seeds have received $1.7 million in funding from the Government’s Primary Growth Partnership.

Dr Caradus said the Foundation for Arable Research saw that growing the seed had potential for its members, and it would be marketed by PGG Wrightson Seeds.

He said AgResearch already had a patent on the grass.

“There are others producing a bird-reduction grass, but because of our endophyte, I don’t think they will be as good.”

The grass also reduces insect populations, making the area unattractive to insect-eating birds.

Grasslanz hoped the grass would be be tested over a wide area, and Dr Caradus said within a year or two, it expected to be able to release it for bulk production.

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FAR International Conference

Fine tradition continues FAR International Conference 2010

But that still left a good number of other issues that have been progressively addressed to the extent that Annand Company has now patented The Jangler.

After a few years of an on-farm R&D programme with a cost running well into six figures, Scanlon had the confidence to offer solar-powered Janglers to a small group of farmers for a discounted price in order to test it again in the field.

In a one-farm trial the year before The Jangler area outyielded a netted area by 20%, which in turn outyielded an unprotected control area by 40%. Andrew Scott was another farmer who tried them last season, in a ninehectare paddock of hybrid radish at Somerton in Mid Canterbury. He says he was convinced they work one day when he switched them off to run the irrigator through.

“When I came back about four hours later to put the wires back up, there was quite a flock of birds on the paddock but as soon as I started the Janglers up again they all took off.

“While the Janglers are going it’s hard to see how well they’re working because you don’t see any birds around but when you turn them off you soon see just how many birds are hanging about.”

He also sees another very significant advantage of this technology over the most commonly used alternative, bird netting.

“You can harvest with the Janglers still going. With bird netting, you have to take it off the day before, and if you don’t get the harvesting finished straightaway, it’s open for the birds.”

The Jangler is still undergoing further development, but Annand Company is sufficiently confident it has an excellent and reliable product to be planning more trials next season.

More information, and a brief video of The Jangler in action, is at www.thejangler.co.nz.

In the fine tradition of great Kiwi farmerinventors, a Canterbury seed producer has devised an innovative high-tech bird scarer. The Jangler is harmless to birds, it’s sustainable and it’s sufficiently innovative to have gained a patent.

Over the years Jay Scanlon, proprietor of vegetable seed producer Annand Company, and his team have tried just about everything to drive birds out of highvalue seed crops.

He says small flocking birds like finches and waxeyes are a pest peculiar to Canterbury — he is not aware of any seed production areas elsewhere in the world with this scale of bird problem.

They’ve tried chemicals, they’ve tried attracting larger predatory birds, and they’ve tried every gizmo brought to market.

All these attempts, however, pointed inevitably to the fact that the ultimate successful method would be one that continually and randomly unnerved the unwelcome diners.

“If you put some visually and auditorily disruptive items on a long wire and jerk the wire in a particular way, you can set up a sine-like wave that progressively and randomly jangles those items around. It’s chaotic and birds don’t like it. They fly away.

“Of course it doesn’t keep a paddock 100% free of birds. But almost. Our measurements indicate that we get 20% better yield than netting and 40–100% better than we do from simply panicking!”

What was required was a gentle, oscillating pull, sufficiently firm to despatch the wave the entire length of the wire, which the Annand people have established is best at 350 metres although The Jangler still works on a 550-metre setup.

The gentle tug was finally achieved by a disk, rotating in the same plane as the length of wire, with the wire anchored to a point on the outer edge of the disc. One rotation of the disc produces one jerk of the wire.

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Andrew Scott with The Jangler in the paddock where the device successfully repelled birds last season.

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FAR International Conference

19

Hybrid Cabbages

FAR International Conference 2010

Some Mid Canterbury arable farmers are growing speciality hybrid cabbages for seed that will be planted by hundreds of market gardeners in Asia.

South Pacific Seeds (SPS) has developed the hybrid cabbage seed production for their plant breeding customers and ha plots around Mid Canterbury last year, including 1.5ha on David Butterick’s Lauriston farm. Hybrid cabbage seed is produced from two parent lines of stock seed that are cross pollinated to make the hybrid seed.

The cabbages are planted in February. Winter temperatures spark the reproductive process and the cabbage heads are then cut open to allow the bolter and flowering heads to emerge. The crop usually flowers in October/November and the seed pods it produces are harvested in January and then dried and cleaned.

“It’s a long process,” SPS director John McKay said.

The seeds will be sold in Asia, mostly to market gardeners looking for uniformity in size, colour and shape.

Mr McKay said it was also important for market gardeners that cabbages planted at the same time, matured at the same rate, so harvesting could be scheduled. This can allow regular supply of quality cabbages to the fresh vegetable markets; this was a feature of the hybrid cabbage.

Balanced natural mineralised fertiliser programs •

Growing green: The seeds of these hybrid cabbages will be sold in Asia.

Guan o Pho

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“We can not solve the problems of today using the same thinking that we used to create them”.

Healthy Soils biological farming consultant. Donald Hart 0274 320 187

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Healthy Soils - to effect beneficial mineral, biological and physical changes to farmed soils.

Improving the flow of nutrients, enhancing crop and livestock production thereby assisting human health.

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Biological Sustainable Solutions for today’s Agricultural Challenges

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Healthy Soils

FAR International Conference

20

New projects

FAR International Conference 2010

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is embarking on seven new projects which aim to benefit the New Zealand arable industry. These projects are: • • • •

Understanding the Post Harvest Logistics for New Zealand Grain Optimising the Use of Dairy Shed Effluent for Crops’ Arable IPM Training and Transitional Support Programme Getting the Best from Beans

• A Guide to Nutrient Plans for Arable Farms • Sustainable Weed Control on Arable Farms • Variable Rate Irrigation for Improved Irrigation Water Use Efficiency

                      

  



 



            

               

  



 

         

                           



This rich agricultural region stretching from the alps to the ocean, bordered by      and       impressive braided rivers, encompasses Ashburton, Methven, Mt Somers High        the   Country and Rakaia areas, with various activities including:         • Adventure • Art & Culture • Skiing & Snowboarding  •    • Ecotourism / Nature Fishing & Hunting • Events / Conferences

• Gardens & Parks Tours / Trails  • Heritage

 •  Golf 

• Hiking & Walking

 • Film Site Locations



Visit the friendly, knowledgeable staff a the Ashburton  and Methven i-SITE Visitor Centres to help you with    information and reservations for activities, attractions, tours,  accommodation and transport services.    

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  

Ashburton i-SITE Visitor Centre

Methven i-SITE Visitor Centre

 East Street Ashburton, 160 Main Street Methven,      

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New Zealand New Zealand Ph +64 3 308 1050 Ph +64 3 302 8955     Fax +64 3 308 1064 Fax +64 3 302 8954  E Methven@i-site.org   E ashburton@i-site.org  

 

www.ashburtondistrict.co.nz 

   

Ashburton Trust Event Centre

    

Including: Weighbridge, moisture testing, drying, storage, precision processing, registered MAF officers, packaging, container loading and cartage.

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  

Situated in Ashburton’s CBD and just 60 minutes from Christchurch International Airport, the  Event Centre is ideally situated away from the noise and distractions of city life. The Ashburton Trust Event  Centre is Ashburton’s only purpose-built facility designed to cater for your every need when  it comes to hosting conferences, stage shows, trade displays, seminars and product  launches. We are passionate about what we do and look forward to meeting you.  The ideal venue for conferences, shows and trade displays. 

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www.ateventcentre.co.nz

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Specialising in export quality processing of: • Vegetable Seed • Grass Seed • Cereals • Clover • Brassicas • Pulses

Smallbone Drive, Ashburton Phone 307 8383 Fax 308 1497 Email office@siseed.co.nz

FAR International Conference

21

New projects

FAR International Conference 2010

The projects are being supported by MAF’s Sustainable Farming Fund (MAF SFF). FAR will not only be involved in all these projects but will also lead a number of them.

The New Zealand arable industry produces milling, malting and feed grains, pasture and vegetable seeds for domestic use and export and maize silage predominantly for the dairy industry. However New Zealand has no data on the projected production of crops during the growing season, it has no system in place to monitor the amount of grain in store at any one time and has no dedicated transport mechanism in place from the farmer to the end user, especially in the case of getting South Island grown grain to end users in the North Island.

As a result, it has become more difficult for buyers and sellers to operate in a market with confidence, certainty of supply

and consistence in quality at a financially sustainable level on a long term basis.

FAR chief executive Nick Pyke said the project involving post-harvest logistics aimed to deliver a report which will help to determine and understand the production quantities, transport and storage logistics of New Zealand produced arable and maize crops and the constraints to post harvest grain handling and storage.

“In the long term, we trust that the outcome will be one that will assist with ongoing forecasts of crop production, quantities and locations of crop in store. This will be coupled with new and revised transport and storage practices which will be designed to ensure farmers and other industry participants can confidently utilise high quality New Zealand grain in their business.”

This project will take place over 12 months and will receive co-funding from

FAR, Federated Farmers and United Wheat Growers. The Arable Food Industry Council (AFIC) is also supporting this project.

With an investment of more than $250,000, the Arable IPM Training and Transitional Support Programme is a three-year project which aims to ensure a widespread uptake of integrated pest management practices among arable farmers. Research into IPM adoption suggests that an initial change in the ‘spray an insecticide just in case’ attitude is required, therefore with better understanding of IPM, we trust that decision making will become considerably easier for the farmer.

This project will take place over three years and will be co-funded by FAR, Elliot Chemicals and Sumitomo with science and technical input from Plant & Food Research.

Sustainable Weed Control on Arable Farms will be driven by Diana Mathers, FAR

research co-ordinator. Herbicides are a key management tool for controlling weeds in arable crops with poor weed control reducing crop yields by as much as 60% in the worst cases. This three-year project co-funded by FAR, Nufarm, Orion and Zelam will receive an overall investment of $500,000.

Since the 1960s, irrigation in New Zealand has approximately doubled every decade.

The project involving variable rate irrigation aims to provide an opportunity to save water on a very large land area. This project will be co-ordinated by Rob Craigie, FAR Project Manager. Dairy NZ will also be co-funding this project.

Tracey Wylie, FAR trials officer, will head up the Getting the Best from Beans project.

She said that over the last 10 years there had been significant efforts to identify suitable legume grain crops for New Zealand arable production.

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22

FAR International Conference

New projects

FAR International Conference 2010

“Faba beans could be a valuable break crop for New Zealand, producing high yields of high quality grain in a number of environments and producing a deep nodule laden root system which improves soil quality.”

Significant quantities of commercial crops were grown in 2009-10 with variable results from 1-2 t/ha to 8.5 t/ha. This programme plans to undertake a survey of commercial crops to identify what is limiting yield at some sites and to investigate how to improve yield across all fields.

Previous FAR research has shown that there are clear benefits associated with using dairy shed effluent as a nutrient source for arable crops which have created win-win outcomes for both dairy and arable farmers.

In order to maximise the benefits from the effluent, farmers need to know when to apply it in relation to the nitrogen mineralisation processes in their soils and when and how much of the plant-available nutrients are released during the growing season.

A one-year project entitled Optimising the Use of Dairy Shed Effluent for Crops will be cofunded by FAR, Dairy NZ, Genetic Technologies and Environment Waikato. Some $50,000 will be invested into this research with the aim of building on previous work to answer these critical questions and to provide definitive recommendations for the efficient use of effluent to maximise crop yields and minimise potential environmental impacts.

The final project in this line-up is titled A Guide to Nutrient Management Plans for Arable Farms – a technical guide and checklist for growers.

Managed by Nick Poole, FAR research co-ordinator, this project will introduce the principal components of nutrient management plans for arable farms with a view to developing a self help guide to nutrient managements plans, dissemination of such to all New Zealand arable farmers, delivery of a number of workshops to introduce nutrient management plans and nutrient budgeting and to carry out a survey of growers to ascertain the current methods of nutrient budgeting in order to assess adoption and scope for further extension.

This project has been developed based on the mandated requirement for regional councils to ensure that the quality of New Zealand’s fresh water is enhanced.

FAR says these new areas of research are important for the New Zealand arable industry.

“The New Zealand arable industry is one of the world leaders in both its practices and performance,” Mr Pyke said. “It is vital that we continue to conduct research and extension activities, especially in those areas likely to have the largest impact on our industry in the future if we are to remain world leaders.”

Growers will be kept up-to-date on these projects throughout their progression through FAR’s extension activities such as Crop Action, Arable Updates, field days, FAR newsletters plus others. FAR also encourages growers to visit the members’ area of the FAR website where they can access all FAR’s latest research results.

We are a specialist vegetable seed production company We work with farmers to produce High Value, High Quality Vegetable Seed for elite international customers.

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FAR International Conference

FAR Research goals FAR International Conference 2010

FAR research goals New Innovative Products Adding value through innovation with seed a. Endophyte - deterrant endophytes in grasses for turf uses, endophytes in cereals to manage pests and diseases and the potential for endophytes in other crops such as brassicas and maize. Priority A. b. Vegetable Seed - specialist seed production techniques and systems to produce high quality seed of species suited to New Zealand’s environment. Priority A. c. Cereal Seed - producing cereal seed for export to Australia. Priority B. d. Advanced Herbage Seed Production advanced seed production practices for non determinate and grass species, plant physiology. Priority A. Food/Smart products for the future e. Protein Sources - dairy replacements using a cereal as the main ingredient to produce oat ice-cream, yoghurt etc. Priority C. f. Health Foods - bean snack foods from a grain protein source, innovative foods, glucagel, gluten free. Priority B. g. Grain Products for Changing World - udon noodles, rice, ethnic foods. Priority C. h. Bio-Pesticides from Biomass - use of straw and forage by-products from herbage seed production to produce biologically active compounds to control pests, diseases and promote growth. Priority A. Feeding Environmentally Friendly Dairy and Intensive Livestock Industries a. Supplements - grain/maize silage to reduce methane and nitrate emissions in animal production. Priority A. b. Additives - using grain/maize silage to balance the diet in cows and sheep to optimise animal performance, animal fertility etc, new protein grains (beans).

Priority A. c. Replacements - total diets for pigs, poultry, sheep and beef to optimise animal performance through use of cultivars, species and production systems. Priority B. d. New Markets - Developing systems to produce quality feeds for the farmed fish industry. Priority B. Building Better and More Robust Farms Innovative farming practices a. Remote Sensing - use of crop and soil sensors to manage nutrients, water, soil quality, etc. Priority A. b. Intercropping / Multiple Crops management of co-crops, crop sequences and rotations to deliver benefits such as improved nutrient use, weed control and soil quality. Priority A. c. Precision Agriculture - improving the efficient application of inputs, variable rate water/nutrients, reducing labour, reduced energy through reduced overlaps etc.

Priority A. d. Bioenergy - production and use, the use of by-products straw etc to produce bioenergy. Priority C. Sustainable farming systems e. Water - understanding crop needs, delivering crop needs, whole farm water management, reducing nutrient losses, self management plans, efficient water use.

Priority A. f. Innovative Crop Establishment - use of

modern equipment to reduce the number of passes through the crop, crop residue management, soil quality, crop rotations.

Priority A. g. Maintaining and Building Soil Carbon - use of residues, role of different carbon fractions, impact of cropping on soil carbon.

Priority A. h. Optimising Nutrient Use - self management plans for efficient nutrient use, crop models, soil movement. Priority A. i. Reducing On-Farm Energy Use - improved efficiency of farming systems, reduced passes, new methods, cultivars etc. Priority A. j. Protecting and Building Farm Biodiversity - beneficial species (including pollinators), modification of on farm biodiversity, manipulating species to minimise pests (birds, insects etc). Priority B. k. The Role of Animals - optimising returns through grazing crops (cereals, brassicas, grass), using animals to supply nutrients (effluent, strip grazing etc), weed, disease and pest management. Priority A. Crop productivity l. Species and Cultivars - evaluation to produce high yielding, high quality, fit for purpose grains and seeds to meet markets and match the environment, current and future. Priority A. m. Managing Pests, Weeds, Disease, Birds - integrated pest management, forecasting, agrichemical and crop residue management, biosecurity (internal and external). Priority A. n. Crop Input Demands - defining crop water and nutrient requirements, fertiliser, plant growth regulators (PGRs), new products etc.

Priority A. o. Getting it in the Bag - efficient pollination, harvest techniques, harvest losses, storage practices. Priority A. Delivering Benefits and Outcomes Business - building a resilient business - training a. Managing Your People and Time - staff management etc. Priority A. b. Marketing Your Products/Business training promotion, market opportunities, market trends. Priority A. c. Planning for the Future - Strategic planning, business planning, succession planning. Priority A. d. The Dollar Dimension - Cost of Production, benchmarking, financial management, machinery operation / replacement. Priority A. Telling and selling the story e. Information To and From Farmer and Industry - building benefits, extension, communication, liaison with farmers, effective use of farmer groups, participatory learning using verbal, written, visual and electronic tools. Priority A. f. Influencing the Influencers - extension to and working with regional councils, government, other primary sectors. Priority A. g. Bridging the Rural/Urban Divide educating, informing the public. Priority B. h. Advocacy of Science - outlining need, benefits and science outcomes. Priority A. i. Communicating the Science - delivering to the international and national science community. Priority B.

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