Foundation for Arable Research (FAR)

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Levy payers wanting to have more say in FAR’s research priorities and activities now have a great opportunity to be more involved. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR Board chair Steven Bierema says nominations are open to participate in your local Arable Research Group (ARG), a direct communication link between growers and FAR staff. Watch📺 https://bit.ly/35ZJ9cS Listen 🔊 https://bit.ly/2D7RDQq

With herbicide resistance rising in NZ, arable farmers are being warned not to continually rely on the same chemical products. In this week’s Cut the Crop, FAR senior field officer Ben Harvey tells Alison Stewart about the latest results from a multi-year trial assessing the efficacy of commercially available and experimental herbicides against a range of key grass weeds. Watch📺 https://bit.ly/35ZJ9cS Listen 🔊 https://bit.ly/2D7RDQq

Waikato dairy farmer and maize grower Alan Henderson shares some insights from a United States no-till conference he attended. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that US farmers’ expertise in growing maize is ahead of ours. Watch📺 https://bit.ly/35ZJ9cS Listen 🔊 https://bit.ly/2D7RDQq

In this week’s Cut the Crop, Alison Stewart talks to three growers in Wairarapa, Mid Canterbury and South Otago about how they are dealing with the delayed harvest and whether this is having an impact on crop yields and quality. Watch📺 https://bit.ly/35ZJ9cS Listen 🔊 https://bit.ly/2D7RDQq

Applications for FAR's postgraduate scholarship close this Saturday. If you are a Lincoln or Massy student thinking of undertaking research that will add value to the New Zealand arable farming sector, talk to your scholarship office and get applying.

Any farmer that harvests or buys crops risks inviting one of the world’s most invasive pest plants onto their property – to their detriment. Velvetleaf, which is spread by machinery or via contaminated maize, is currently found on 105 properties in nine regions of the North Island: 61 in the Waikato, 20 in Auckland, 15 in Manawatū-Whanganui, three in Hawke’s Bay, two in Wellington, and one each in Northland, Taranaki, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty. North Island Velvetleaf Coordinator Sally Linton, who is employed on behalf of the North Island regional councils, Auckland Council and the Foundation for Arable Research, says the issue is that farmers buy maize from all over the country and even internationally, often sight unseen, and contractors who harvest crops often work multiple properties across large areas. “It’s so invasive that if your neighbour has it and you are sharing equipment then you’re likely to get it if that machine is not cleaned. “To be honest, no farmer that crops is free from risk – and that is the message we need to get out. Biosecurity starts at the gate. It’ll save you a lot of headaches.” Read more ⬇️

Visiting farm data expert Dr Sagi Katz talks about the value of farm data and the development of tools that can use it to support on farm decision making. Watch📺 https://bit.ly/35ZJ9cS Listen 🔊 https://bit.ly/2D7RDQq

Visiting UK agricultural engineer and soil expert Philip Wright says soil compaction can cause significant yield losses. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that while roots and biology can do most of the repair work, sometimes mechanical action is also needed. Watch📺 https://bit.ly/35ZJ9cS Listen 🔊 https://bit.ly/2D7RDQq

If you are an #ArableGrower you are invited to supply samples of your harvested crops as part of a Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) project, which will help determine how well you are managing your biggest input - #fertiliser. The project, which was successfully piloted in 2024, came about after a FAR grower group wanted to learn more about measuring and managing micronutrients to improve crop health and nutrient use efficiency. Learn more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/geaw89Rb If you are a grower interested in being involved in 2025, you will need to collect a grain or seed sample at harvest and provide some paddock information. You can submit samples of cereals, oilseed rape, linseed and peas. This year, these will be analysed in New Zealand at Hill Laboratories rather than being shipped to the UK. The results will then be sent to YEN UK for nutrient analysis and benchmarking. Together with FAR, we (Fertiliser Association of New Zealand) are covering the cost of data analysis and reporting from YEN for the 2025 harvest samples. For more information or to submit a sample, contact Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).