Foundation for Arable Research FAR has two staff members working within the herbage industry. Nick Poole is FAR’s Research Coordinator with particular research interests in reduced tillage techniques, crop sequences and disease management. Nick also coordinates FAR’s research programme in Australia which is funded by the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC). Nick is based at Lincoln. (021 544 411). Richard Chynoweth is the herbage seed Project Manager. Richard joined FAR in November 2005 and has responsibility for managing ongoing research projects in the areas of herbage seed and vegetable seed, primarily focusing on issues such as nitrogen, disease control, herbicide options, pollination and bee activity. (021 860 246).
Prioritising research FAR invests in a range of research projects which aim to provide benefits to arable farmers. Although most of the research is shorter term field trials which aim to improve crop productivity, there is an increasing demand for FAR to provide information which will help
farmers in the environmental, climate change and new opportunities areas. This research tends to be longer term and have a broader, less crop specific focus than much of the research FAR has invested in in the past. Often this research has significant co-investment from the government and other primary sectors. FAR has recently formed a Strategic Research Committee (SRC) to help ensure FAR invests in quality strategic research and extension activities which will deliver benefits to New Zealand arable farmers. FAR staff now have significant expertise in ensuring the best research on individual crops is undertaken. FAR will continue to use members of the Arable Research Groups (ARGs) in deciding on future research, the detail of the research and reviewing existing research. The SRC is comprised of selected farmers, FAR staff, research and industry personnel who are expected to provide the range of skills needed to have robust discussions and making decisions in relation to research investments in this area.
Member John Wright Russell Fleming Hugh Ritchie Jim Macartney Craige Mackenzie Stephen Goldson Kevin Marshall Peter Stone Ken Taylor Nick Pyke Nick Poole Andrea Pearson
Representing Chairman and grower Grower Grower Grower Grower Industry/Research Industry Industry Environment Canterbury FAR FAR FAR
The SRC meets three times a year to visit field trials and meet with research providers, review project results and decide on research investment. Contact details for the SRC can be obtained from FAR.
Herbage research strategy A herbage investment strategy has been developed based on the key elements of FAR’s overall research strategy. This strategy is revised and updated each year in response to changes in the industry. The key investment areas are: • • • • •
Physiology Crop management Farming systems Environment Value added products
1. Physiology Unlike cereals, knowledge on how and why herbage species respond to certain inputs and environmental stimuli is limited. FAR aims to invest approximately 20 percent of the herbage budget into the key area of physiology. Key projects include (1) understanding the role of carbohydrates in the seed filling process of perennial ryegrass and (2) understanding how canopy management influences stolon development and flower production in white clover. 2. Crop management (agronomy, plant protection, soil management) Currently FAR has invested the levy in approximately 20 different herbage projects which consist of approximately 25-30 individual trials. There are five projects focusing on nitrogen management. Two examples are nitrogen responses in relation to other inputs (e.g. Moddus® and grazing) and the use of SustaiN® in ryegrass seed crops. Other projects in ryegrass include; fungicide timings and disease control, time of closing, reducing harvest losses and germination issues. 3. Farming systems As well as specific in-crop herbage projects, FAR has increased its investment in farming systems research and looking at relationships between different crops in the rotation. The herbage