Maize - Research & Extension Programme

Foundation for Arable Research FAR has two staff members working within the maize industry.

Andrea Pearson is FAR’s maize and soil Research Coordinator. Andrea worked on many maize research programmes in her previous role with Crop & Food Research. Andrea is responsible for developing and managing the maize research and extension programme, managing the budget and finalising contracts with research providers. Andrea is based in Hawke’s Bay. (021 764 522).

Mike Parker is the maize Project Manager and is also a maize grower. Formerly with John Austin Limited, Mike was involved in crop management of 1500 ha of maize cropping and prior to that worked as a field supervisor for Genetic Technologies.

Mike manages FAR’s field trials and provides technical advice and assistance to FAR’s research providers.

Mike works four days a week for FAR and is based in the Waikato.

(021 960 078).

Member Colin Jackson (Chair) Ian Gavin John Austin Cameron Power David Clark Tom Goodin Russell Fleming Randal Hanrahan Barry McCarter John Russell David Miller

Representing Waikato/Northland Waikato/Northland Waikato/Northland Bay of Plenty East Coast North Island Taranaki Manawatu Canterbury Seed Feed Dairy

The maize research committee meets two to 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 MRC can be obtained from FAR.

Maize research strategy A research investment strategy has been developed by the maize research committee. This strategy is revised and updated each year in response to changes in the industry. The four key investment areas are:

The maize research committee (MRC) has recently been restructured to reflect changes to the maize research levy. Eight of the eleven MRC members are maize growers or contractors, each representing a region. Three industry members represent the seed, feed and dairy industries. One third of the committee retires by rotation each year and nominations from the region/industry are sought for vacant positions.

• Winter roadshow to review seasons trial results - held in each region during July.

• Summer field walks to visit field trials - held in each region during December/January.

• Maize Action - a fortnightly email newsletter free to all.

• Regular FAR Arable Updates and joint Industry Updates mailed to farmers and industry subscribers.

• Waikato Arable Research Site - FAR’s 2ha maize research and demonstration site located 5km south of Hamilton on State Highway 1 hosts the annual Maize field day in January.

• Workshops - FAR has delivered workshops on soil management, machinery replacement and costings, spray technology, financial sustainability, precision agriculture, irrigation, approved handler for agrichemicals, grass weed identification.

• National maize conference - a two day event held every three years.

• Comprehensive website containing all our extension material with free access for all levy payers.

• Crop management (agronomy, plant protection, soil management).

• Right to farm / environment (water, soil and air quality, contaminants, climate change).

Your maize research committee

Our extension activities

• Farming systems (energy, winter crops).

• End use (food grade maize, silage and grain quality, biofuels).

We have projects with a range of time frames for both project duration and benefit realisation. We also aim to have projects with a range of certainty of outcome. And of course, all projects must add value to the maize industry.

Our research programme In any one year, there is between ten and twenty maize projects being conducted. As well as maize projects, FAR also invests in research projects that are relevant for all growers. The major project themes follow.

Maize Forage Trading and Development Group Initiated in 2001 by contractors and industry groups, the Maize Forage Code of Practice (COP) was released in 2004 after extensive field trials. In

consultation with the Forage Trading committee, FAR is responsible for the continuing development of the COP. We ensure the document remains current by updating it with new information, plus preparing new material such as the standardised trading contract.

AmaizeN AmaizeN is a computer based maize yield and nitrogen fertiliser forecaster developed with funding from FAR, FertResearch and MAF SFF. AmaizeN Lite was released in 2008 and is an important tool for maize farmers to maximise return on fertiliser N as well as demonstrate to regional councils that the maize industry is serious about the responsible use of fertiliser N. AmaizeN is under constant development to keep hybrid and weather information current, plus including new information (eg effect of land history on N response).

Nutrient Management for Maize Silage on Dairy Farms Dairy farmers growing maize silage on-farm can reduce their fertiliser bill by growing their maize on their effluent blocks. We have found that considerable nitrogen is released when long term pastures are cultivated, in most cases sufficient to meet the needs of a maize crop. We are investigating the effect of different tillage practices on N release, as well as using dairy effluent as a nutrient source for maize grown on long term cropping ground (eg maize grain crops or a dairy run-off).

Weed Management Poor weed control can reduce yields by 40%.

Our weed projects investigate a range of weed management issues including grass weed control, weed seed longevity in the soil and silage stacks, winter management of paddocks, timing and type of both pre and post emergence herbicides.

Tillage Practices How various tillage practices (direct drilling, strip tillage, conventional cultivation) affect crop yields, N mineralisation and soil quality are being investigated in various projects including a long term trial at the Waikato Arable Research Site.

Maize crop rotations Winter crops for both maize grain and maize silage production systems to optimise total annual DM production and profitability are addressed in several projects. Where relevant, we work in with dairy industry initiatives in the Pasture 21 programme.

How can I find out more?

All maize growers pay a research levy when they purchase seed. To gain the full benefit from your research levy, we need your contact details. 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.

F O U N DAT I O N F O R

ARABLE RESEARCH

Maize RESEARCH & EXTENSION PROGRAMME

Contact the FAR office for your maize welcome pack.

F O U N DAT I O N F O R

ARABLE RESEARCH

www.far.org.nz Head office

Ph 03 325 6353 far@far.org.nz

Andrea Pearson

Ph 021 764 522 pearsona@far.org.nz

Mike Parker

Ph 021 960 078 parkerm@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 maize this is 90c per 10, 000 seeds.

Around 30% of the maize levy is used for extension purposes and the remainder invested in research projects. To make the levy money stretch further, FAR seeks co-funding from other organisations such as MAF Sustainable Farming Fund, AgMardt, FertResearch, Horticulture NZ, regional councils and private companies.

Until 2006, all FAR’s maize research was funded only by maize grain growers. At the 2006 referendum, maize growers voted to change the levy to the seed at purchase. Now all maize growers, grain and silage, benefit from FAR’s research and extension programme.