Cut the Crop!

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...

Some FAR trials and projects involve taking risks with new management practices and technology, so farmers can be armed with plenty of data before taking the leap themselves. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Owen Gibson talks about the Future Farms demonstration, while Jo Drummond discusses rationalising pesticide applications through the A Lighter Touch multi-sector project. See omnystudio.com/li...

Nitrogen is a key input to achieving optimum crop yields, but how much can growers source from the soil? In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior environment researcher Abie Horrocks says that by testing and calculating their soil’s available N supply, growers can reduce their fertiliser spend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaft Foods is a Canterbury-based start-up focused on extracting a special protein called Rubisco from the green leaves of plants. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Maury Leyland Penno and Monica Schwass of Leaft Foods say that while Rubisco is in every green leaf, they have selected to grow lucerne for its production and environmental attributes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

FAR senior maize researcher Rene van Tilburg says that when visiting maize crops, he often finds yield-limiting factors such as soil compaction, weeds and pests such as nematodes. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop what he has been doing since taking on the role. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some maize growers worry that if they factor in soil N supply when applying fertiliser, this will deplete reserves for future seasons. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior researcher Dirk Wallace tells Anna Heslop that soil N is continually being replenished and that by measuring and utilising this, growers can save money without impacting on yields. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Ahead of the new irrigation season, FAR regional facilitator and Canterbury irrigation management consultant Cindy Lowe provides some tips on irrigation scheduling. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she says that done correctly, it can save thousands of dollars and improve crop yields. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since starting as FAR’s new CEO on July 1, Scott Champion has been meeting growers and industry leaders. In this week’s Cut the Crop episode, he tells Anna Heslop that he is looking to explore areas of shared interest with other sectors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Collaborating with overseas maize experts is a good way to learn from their failures and successes, FAR senior researcher Dirk Wallace says in this week’s Cut the Crop episode. Following several visits from United States experts, a new United Kingdom collaboration is looking at maize innovations including late application of foliar nitrogen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Seed and Grain Readiness and Response (SGRR) is the biosecurity entity for the arable sector and has played a key role in black-grass and fall armyworm incursions. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s general manager business operations Ivan Lawrie talks about how the biosecurity levy is set and recent changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weeds, pests and diseases and herbicide resistance are just some of the key issues that FAR is researching to provide arable growers with more options for crop management. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s R&D general manager Andy Pitman says that as well as an ongoing programme to increase crop yields, FAR is also looking at ways growers can reduce inputs, and so costs. See omnystu...

During his Nuffield study travels, Central Otago farmer Carlos Bagrie was blown away by the scale and sophistication of arable farming in Brazil. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop that this shows the need for New Zealand to focus on value rather than commodity markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FAR’s graduate programme provides an introduction to all aspects of arable, from research and agronomy to marketing. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Anna Heslop talks to FAR’s current graduate Catherine Harper and a past participant Sonja Vreugdenhil about how applying for the role has opened up many opportunities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After seven years at the helm of FAR, chief executive Dame Alison Stewart has stepped down to pursue semi-retirement mixed with science advisory and directorship roles. Her tenure finished at FAR’s conference. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she reflects on her achievements and the biggest challenges facing the arable industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research shows that native plantings on farms do more than support biodiversity, they can also boost crop yields. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Plant and Food Research scientist Brad Howlett and retired Mid-Canterbury arable farmer John Evans discuss the role native plants play in supporting pollinating insects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Cut the Crop, Irrigation NZ chief executive Karen Williams says she wants a water strategy developed which brings together individuals and groups reliant on water, rather than it being a political football. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.