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
programme is funding work investigating variations in crop yields following ryegrass nitrogen trials. The MAF SFF/FAR non-inversion agronomy and cropping sequence projects are other examples of this work. 4. Environment (water, soil and air quality, contaminants, climate change) A three year project developing irrigation management guidelines for individual crops so that growers achieve the best economic and environmental outcomes within their farm.
How can I find out more? If you are a grower and are not receiving FAR information, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the FAR office. As a combinable crop levy payer you are entitled to this information free of charge. If you are a New Zealand industry representative and would like to benefit from FAR’s independent information then there are special membership terms available.
An Eco-N trial investigating if nitrogen can be retained in the soil over winter from cattle grazed pasture for use by a subsequent cereal crop.
F O U N DAT I O N F O R
ARABLE RESEARCH
Herbage RESEARCH & EXTENSION PROGRAMME
Our extension activities • Combinable Crops - FAR’s Major Annual Field Event held at the FAR Arable Site, Chertsey. • Field days and results meetings to review the season’s trials and results. • Regular FAR Arable Updates and Harvest Snippets - mailed to farmers and industry subscribers.
F O U N DAT I O N F O R
ARABLE RESEARCH
• Regular Crop Action emails. • Workshops - FAR has delivered workshops on soil management, machinery replacement and costings, spray technology, financial sustainability, precision agriculture, irrigation, approved handler for agrichemicals and grass weed identification.
www.far.org.nz Head office
Ph 03 325 6353 far@far.org.nz
• International conference - a two day event held every three years.
Nick Poole
Ph 021 544 411 poolen@far.org.nz
• Autumn seminar - a one day event held every three years.
Richard Chynoweth
Ph 021 860 246 chynowethr@far.org.nz
ADDING VALUE TO THE BUSINESS OF ARABLE FARMING
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is a farmer driven non-profit organisation responsible for managing applied research and extension for the arable industry. FAR is funded by a compulsory levy; for herbage this is 0.8%. Around 75% of the levy is invested in research projects and 25% used for extension. To make your research dollar stretch further, FAR co-funds many projects with organisations such as MAF Sustainable Farming Fund, AgMardt, FertResearch, regional councils and private companies.