Cut the Crop!

Sustainable Vegetable Systems (SVS) is a nitrogen budgeting tool to help growers optimise their nitrogen management practices. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Andrew Barber of Agrilink tells Scott Champion that while the tool was initially set up for vegetable growers it now also incorporates arable crops. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are wheat yields still increasing, or has wheat hit a yield plateau? In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR cereal researcher Jacqueline Straathof and Lincoln University lecturer Mariana Andreucci discuss wheat yield trends and the components required to achieve a high yielding wheat crop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 40 solar demonstration farms have been established across New Zealand in a government-backed initiative to provide real-world data so farmers are more informed. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Chris McArthur of EECA talks through some on-farm considerations including whether it makes sense for irrigation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A free public GPS service, SouthPAN, improves accuracy and reliability for farmers, contractors and other users. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith says that using GPS tools like guidance, auto-steer and variable rate application can provide savings in inputs and diesel use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A large-scale research project being led by FAR aims to establish a diverse and sustainable toolkit of weed management strategies in the face of rising rates of herbicide resistance. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Matilda Gunnarsson says growers need to shift to a more integrated approach rather than just relying on herbicides to kill weeds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Reports from growers that tall fescue seed yields fall away after the first season has led FAR to research post-harvest management of the multi-year crop. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Owen Gibson says research to date shows three cuts rather than two have a yield advantage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scottish arable farmer and agronomist Gordon Rennie likes to swap his winter for a New Zealand summer. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Scott Champion that low crop returns and fewer chemical options are leading UK growers to look at other income streams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unprecedented sharp rise in aphid numbers in cereals in late October has FAR staff pondering whether this led to yield losses due to YDV infection this harvest. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior field officer Ben Harvey looks back at an unusual season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Growers to Bakers programme has been initiated by FAR to better match grain quality with the requirements of millers and bakers. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR research lead Jo Drummond and NZ Flour Millers’ Association director Phil Jackson of Mauri Mills say that protein numbers aren’t everything when it comes to flour quality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

FAR’s Technology Manager Chris Smith surveyed growers on their 2025 harvest losses in conjunction with the combine set-up workshops. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he says this showed that growers who measure with drop trays, whether commercial or improvised, record half the crop losses of those that don’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of growers and crop samples involved in the Grain Nutrient Analysis project, organised by FAR regional facilitator Donna Lill, is increasing each year. In this episode of Cut the Crop, South Otago arable grower Craig Whiteside talks about the changes he has made to crop nutrient applications as a result. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three years on from Cyclone Gabrielle, FAR’s North Island manager Dirk Wallace has been part of a team developing a guide to assist growers to recover from extreme weather events. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he emphasises the importance of patience, rather than knee-jerk reactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith checked out the latest in precision ag during a visit to the UK and the Agritechnica trade fair in Germany. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he says that along with AI applications, there were lots of tine and camera weeding options. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Handshake deals may be a thing of the past following the launch of an Arable Industry Code of Conduct. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Federated Farmers' arable chair David Birkett says that by providing a standardised set of expectations, the code offers greater certainty and aims to prevent costly disputes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An updated version of “The drying and storage of grain and herbage seed” book has just been released. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Editor John Hampton, Professor of Seed Technology at Lincoln University, talks about how much drying techniques and technology have changed since the first book was published 26 years ago. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arable production underpins the productivity of many key agricultural industries through the supply of grains and seeds directly to both farmers and industry, an AFIC report shows. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s general manager business operations Ivan Lawrie outlines some of the report’s trends and opportunities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ivan Lawrie of FAR was one of a delegation of growers, seed industry people and researchers who attended the 12th International Herbage Seed Group conference at Launceston in Tasmania in November. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he describes some of the similarities and differences in seed production on either side of the Tasman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fall armyworm’s arrival means an additional caterpillar pest that loves to feed on maize and sweetcorn. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Graham Walker and Jeremy Gonthier of Plant and Food Research, a division of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, talk about the role a tiny parasitic wasp  Cotesia ruficrus  will have in its control. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

While arable growers have a good handle on in-paddock crop gross margins, many don’t account for their overhead costs like rates and insurance. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Leeston arable farmer David Birkett test drives a new FAR overhead costs spreadsheet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As well as managing established pests and weeds, like Fall armyworm and velvetleaf, the arable industry, in conjunction with Biosecurity NZ, remains vigilant about keeping out other unwanted imports. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s biosecurity officer Ash Mills talks about the threat from yellow-legged hornet, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and others. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Getting the most up-to-date research information out to growers is a key part of FAR’s role. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s Communications Manager Anna Heslop talks about the latest and easiest way to search FAR’s extensive research database, using the new Ask FAR AI App. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growers participating in the combine workshops and follow-up in-field visits last season saved about $115 a hectare, says organiser, FAR technology manager Chris Smith. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he says it is worth attending the latest round of workshops in early December even if growers have been before. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FAR’s big annual event at its Chertsey research site is on November 26. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s Communications Manager Anna Heslop says that as well as having a diverse range of topics and speakers, ARIA is a great chance to catch up with others before the busy harvest season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Momentum is building for the NZ Grown Grains logo following its launch in Auckland. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s Ivan Lawrie, a driving force behind the campaign, says the level of interest has been much bigger than expected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Land and Water Science director and principal scientist Dr Clint Rissmann is one of the creators of Landscape DNA, an interactive, online mapping tool which provides a new approach to water quality modelling. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Scott Champion that what’s underneath our feet can cause variations in water quality between neighbouring farms and even paddocks. See omnystud...