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From the Ground Up
ISSUE 73 I Autumn 2013
ADDING VALUE TO THE BUSINESS OF ARABLE FARMING
®
In this issue:
Arable options for the
Ruataniwha Plains
Ballance Farm
Environment Awards
ProductionWise ®
In this issue:
Arable options for the
Ruataniwha Plains
Ballance Farm
Environment Awards
ProductionWise ®

Contents
This Issue
3 Welcome to the Autumn edition
4 Is FAR investing in the right research?
5 Great white butterfly – what is the threat?
6 A word from the Chairman
7 The research funding pipeline - How to
keep the arable research flowing
5
8 Results Round Ups
9 20 tonnes by 2020
10 Pathotyping stripe rust
11 Drought and dryland maize
*
*
*
&
12 Strange season brings unusual diseases
14 Tukituki choices for arable farmers…
Arable options for the Ruataniwha Plains
10
15 ProductionWise ® is here!
16 FAR Australia update
17 Managing nutrient losses from cropping
farms – a role for OVERSEER ® ?
18 Ballance Farm Environment Awards
20 Staff changes
12

Welcome to
the Autumn
edition of
From the
Ground Up
20 Arable Y’s off to Europe
21 Masters for Richard Chynoweth
22 Cropping in New Zealand,
an early perspective
22 Arable Research Groups
19 FAR Board
16
20
A lot has been happening in the last few months as harvest
has been completed, results have been collated and
communicated, research groups have met and publications
have been edited. While working on this newsletter, I am also
helping Rob Craigie put the finishing touches to the Autumn
Sown Cultivar Booklet and a FAR Focus looking at Crop
Sensing, and with Diana Mathers on another FAR Focus, this
one looking at growing crops for cows - both on and off the
dairy platform. So keep an eye on your mailboxes for some of
these publications in the coming weeks.
The biggest issue for me in recent times has been decision
making around FAR events. After two highly successful
CROPS Expos at Chertsey in 2011 and 2012 we were looking
forward to a third event in 2013. However, consultation with
sponsors has led to a major, but sensible decision to run
CROPS every second year as part of a co-ordinated North
Island-South Island events programme. That means no
CROPS Expo until December 2014. We will still be running
a major field day at Chertsey in early December, but it will
not involve demonstration sites from outside sponsors,
concentrating instead on FAR’s research trials.
What we are busy working on is the FAR Farmer Focus Day
being held in conjunction with the International Herbage
Seed Group’s (IHSG) four-day International Workshop in
Methven in September. The FAR day will include talks from
FAR and international research staff and visits to local farms
to view trials. Registration for this event is now open via the
IHSG website www.ihsg.org/content/meetings. The cost for
growers is $30 for the FAR Day or $500 for the full event.
More details in the next newsletter.
The end of harvest means planning for the next season
and FAR staff have been putting a lot of effort into planning
research programmes and seeking external funding. We were
pleased to receive SFF funding for a project investigating
options for intensification of land use under irrigation in
Hawke’s Bay. More information about this project, Tukituki
choices for arable farmers, is outlined later in this newsletter.
- Anna Heslop
3

Is FAR investing in
the right research?
Farmers play a critical role in defining FAR’s research and
extension portfolio, ensuring that we invest research dollars
in projects that will deliver real benefits to farm businesses.
During autumn and early winter we develop the detail of
research programmes for the coming season. This process
includes meetings with the Arable Research Groups (ARG) in
each region to discuss these ideas and options. We welcome
your thoughts on what opportunities you see, what problems
you have had and how you think this could be addressed
by FAR research. You can discuss your views with ARG
members in your area, or directly with FAR staff.
What has FAR been up to this season?
Bringing wheat sowing dates forward
This season was the first year of a new programme 20 tonnes
by 2020 and excellent progress was made towards this target.
The early stage of the programme, a joint effort between FAR
and Plant & Food Research, has focused on trying to increase
light capture through early sowing. Changes in plant head
morphology (grain positioning) and yields over 16 t/ha, have
been extremely encouraging. The earliest drilling for the 2014
harvest was late February, with the second drill date in March.
Cereal silage
This was FAR’s first year of a cereal silage research
programme which aims to extend or manage the harvest
window. Trials with an awnless barley were undertaken at
three sites in Canterbury and one in Southland. Early results
show that nitrogen and irrigation treatments have markedly
influenced the rate of dry down. Other treatments include
testing the effects of PGRs and fungicides to lengthen the
harvest window, and the use of glyphosate to manipulate the
harvest window. This work is being carried out in conjunction
with Plant & Food Research, with MPI SFF funding.
Cereals in farm systems
Cereal silage and cereal grain (wheat and barley) made their
debut at the Waikato Arable Research Site (WARS). This
research is part of a focus on developing a farming system
approach, with these crops either grown in rotation with
maize, double cropped with maize or grown instead of maize,
to allow early pasture reestablishment. Apart from significant
bird pressure, these autumn sown crops performed well
both as cereal silage and grain, and this work is expected
to continue.
Maize establishment
Previous work with direct drilling maize has had mixed
results yield wise, particularly when crops were drilled in
less than ideal conditions. In past years the yield from direct
drilled maize at WARS has been similar to the cultivated
trials. However in a dry season, the direct drilled maize
yielded better than the cultivated maize. Direct drilling
reduces moisture loss during cultivation and improves
moisture availability to the crop, potentially through improved
soil structure. This season will be a real test of the resilience
of maize in relation to the tillage system.
Marrowfat pea colour
Trials aimed at developing techniques to improve the quality
of marrowfat peas (colour) have been undertaken over the
last two years. In 2012 shading treatments appeared to
improve pea colour. In this last season peas were shaded
at different times with different intensities of shade, as
well as exposed to increased weathering treatments. The
visual differences in colour between treatments were very
clear and the quantitative method FAR has developed to
measure colour may have potential for measuring colour in
commercial pea lines.
Cocksfoot
Research into PGRs in cocksfoot over in the 2010/11
and 2011/12 seasons resulted in yield increases of 50%.
Unfortunately our 2012/13 trial was not helped by the
weather, and yield response is down on previous years.
However, PGR treatments still look promising.
Barley fungicides
A new fungicide seed treatment in barley is one product
to watch. The disease protection results in trials at the
Chertsey site in winter barley were very encouraging,
even in spring barley, which moves rapidly through the
growth stages.
4

Great white
butterfly –
what is the
threat?
Autumn sown oats
An evaluation of N responses in autumn sown oats
in Southland found very clear differences between
plots. Previous FAR work on autumn sown oats was
promising and further work on time of sowing in the
autumn is planned.
These projects make up a very small part of FARs
agronomic research portfolio. We also have significant
investment in environmental research (eg see the
managing nutrient losses article) and improving your
farm business (ProductionWise paddock recording
and benchmarking software is freely available for FAR
farmer levy payers www.productionwise.co.nz). All these
ideas originated from discussions and consultations
with growers. We look forward to hearing what has and
hasn’t worked for you this season, and your ideas on
what you need to know to increase business profitability
and sustainability, so we can invest in the right projects
to deliver benefits to you.
- Nick Pyke, FAR CEO
Brassica seed crop growers should be aware of the arrival of
the great white butterfly (GWB) in New Zealand, but not overly
alarmed by its presence.
The great white butterfly (Pieris brassicae) has been declared
an unwanted organism in New Zealand under the Biosecurity
Act 1993, and FAR is contributing funds to the DoC led
eradication programme.
GWB is a serious pest of forage and vegetable brassicas in
several countries, and was first identified in a Nelson garden in
2010. It is a voracious feeder and is capable of causing serious
damage to all types of brassica crops. New Zealand brassica
seed growers should remain informed of GWB’s presence, but
FAR CEO Nick Pyke says there is no need for alarm at this stage.
“The arable industry, like all primary industries is deeply
concerned by any biosecurity incursion of this nature, and as
the pest has the potential to affect brassica growers, we are
contributing to the eradication programme. However, there
are two things that growers should keep in mind. Firstly, the
pest is currently contained within the Nelson/Richmond area,
and a large scale project is underway to eradicate it, and
secondly, if it spreads beyond that region, GWB should be able
to be controlled in seed crops with the use of existing pest
management programmes.”
Photo supplied by Entecol.
5

A word from
the Chairman
After a much simpler harvest season compared to last year,
we now face crop establishment in a very dry environment,
especially the North Island. The dry was late enough in the
growing season to allow reasonable yields, except for the late
season crops such as unirrigated maize. We can only hope that
the drought breaks and doesn’t continue to have lasting effects
into next spring.
FAR’s ability to service the North Island has always been an
issue due to both the geographic distances and the range of
climatic conditions that exist across the island. A proposal is
currently before the FAR Board that would see the North Island
divided into three zones instead of the current two. These new
proposed zones would comprise of Northern North Island, East
Coast North Island and South West North Island. Each region
has differing and specific crops and issues, and the ability
to target growers in each region with the information that is
relevant to their zone is a more efficient way of grower extension
than a blanket approach.
The three zone system would also help with logistics around
regional Arable Research Group (ARG) meetings, and the ability
to organise field days that are relevant to the issues and crops
of each region. The proposed increase in irrigation schemes
also means there is a potential increase in arable areas,
especially along the east coast and the ability to utilise existing
irrigation research.
industry wide issues, and individual companies asking growers
what areas of contention can be discussed and addressed.
This free discussion between growers and merchants, around
crop requirements and contract clauses can only help us better
understand each-others’ businesses, leading to greater level
of trust and an end result that we are all happy with. The more
information that is shared between each party, the better the
chance of a quality product being produced, which is what we
need to maintain our international reputation of producing high
quality seeds.
At the board level we have had a change representing the
Northern North Island, with Alan Henderson replacing Colin
Jackson. We would like to welcome Alan onto the board and
thank Colin for his contribution to the organisation and for
representing Northern North Island growers.
Let’s hope we receive some good moisture during the winter
and set us up for a good spring.
- David Birkett
This change would mean a change to the make-up of the
board, with seven elected grower representatives instead of
the current six, and up to three appointed representatives.
This would increase the grower representation on the board,
assuring that growers’ concerns are addressed. Meetings will
be held with the affected ARGs and growers to get input and
feedback on the proposal.
The interactions amongst our grain and seed merchants and
growers have steadily increased over the last few years. This
is partly due to the loss of land to the dairy sector and an
understanding from both sides that we are all in this industry
together and without each other we don’t have an industry. It
has been great to see increased communication with the New
Zealand Grain and Seed Trade Association (NZGSTA) over
6

The research
funding pipeline
- How to keep the arable research flowing
FAR has taken an active role in developing arable research
bids for the $38 million Biological Industries Research
Fund managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE). Director of Research Development Roger
Williams says FAR is working closely with universities, CRIs and
other industry good bodies to develop project proposals that
are focused on the needs of the cropping sector.
“We have helped tailor research programme objectives to
arable sector problems, we have committed to hands-on
involvement in several of the proposed programmes through the
work of our own team of trials and agronomy experts, and, of
course, we have undertaken to deliver practical outcomes from
the work to cropping farmers.
“By supporting certain programmes with hands-on involvement
and not simply cash investment, we will have much greater
influence over the outcomes and be much better placed to
ensure that the work delivers bottom-line benefits to arable
farmers around the country.
“Dynamic and successful industries depend on a strong flow
of science down a pipeline that is usually fed by curiositydriven
‘blue-skies’ research, which establishes new scientific
understanding and methodology; progresses to nearermarket,
strategic research focused on addressing specific
and well-defined issues and concludes with applied research,
development and extension which translates new information
from strategic research into practical outcomes.
“Until recently, levy organisations have primarily provided
co-investment into MBIE-type research programmes and left CRI
and university scientists to do the work. However, over recent years
FAR has adopted a more proactive role in the development and
delivery of strategic research for the cropping industry. Successful
proposals in this funding round will feed the pipeline for the next
five to six years so it is critical for our sector to be engaged.
“The research pipeline in New Zealand is in better shape than
in some other developed countries, but we need to influence
investment in the science that feeds it from top to bottom. I hope
to be able to report on some successful, crop-focused MBIE
funding applications later in the year. In the meantime, everyone
at FAR is keeping their fingers crossed.”
The project bids FAR is involved with include those investigating
aspects of seed technology, pollination, endophyte, weeds,
biopesticides, crops for animals and irrigation.
7

Results Round Ups
8
Results from the 2012/13 harvest season
were presented at Round Up meetings
in Timaru, Ashburton, Templeton and
Methven at the end of April.
The meetings, each of which attracted 30 to 50 people,
overviewed climate data in relation to crop yields, before moving
on to summaries of several research projects and their results.
Prof Robert Park, Director of the Australian Cereal Rust Control
Programme also spoke at the first three meetings.
Topics included:
20 tonnes by 2020
Nick Poole and Rob Craigie explained work aimed at increasing
feed wheat yields by extending the period of light interception.
Parts of this project mirror one being carried out by NIAB TAG in
the UK and uses the same methodology and cultivars. Work to
date has shown that:
• With March sowing, yield was more strongly correlated to
the number of grains per ear, than to the number of ears/m 2
or thousand seed weigh (TSW).
• Overall it is number of grains per m 2 that most correlates
to yield.
• Newer generation fungicides were uneconomic at low
levels of N input (140N) but very cost effective at high N
(240N) input.
• Long season cultivars Conqueror, Wakanui and Claire were
most suited to pushing productivity boundaries (when sown
in March with an ability to irrigate).
• Characteristics contributing to high yields in March sown
wheat include stiff straw, good disease resistance and
late development.
Legume crops – the influence on nutrient
management for the following wheat
Nick Pyke and Nick Poole outlined a project aimed at
determining the productivity of faba beans, peas and lupins as
silage or protein crops and determining their influence on the
following autumn wheat crop, especially with regards to the
response to soil and applied nitrogen. Key findings included:
• Lupins were the highest yielding silage crop while grain
yield was highest for faba beans.
• Protein yield was highest for faba beans and lowest
for lupins.
• The best gross margin was lupins for silage ($3316/ha)
and the worst, lupins for grain (-$258/ha).
• Soil N post-harvest was highest for peas (180 kg/ha)
and lower for lupins (125 kg/ha) and faba beans (103
kg/ha).
• Wheat yield when no N was applied was highest
following lupins (12.6 t/ha) followed by peas (11.9 t/ha)
and faba beans (11.2 t/ha).
• When no N was added the wheat crop had an N uptake
of between 220 and 245 kg N/ha after the legume crop:
N uptake was greatest following faba beans (lowest soil
N) and lowest following peas (highest soil N).
• Application of additional N (240 kg/ha) was needed to
reach the maximum yield irrespective of the previous
legume crop.
• The greatest economic response to the application of
N was generally for levels below those that maximised
yields (160 to 240 kg N/ha).
Non chemical control options for Ripgut
brome in winter barley grain crops
Richard Chynoweth discussed some non-chemical options
for the control of ripgut brome. He explained that:
• On average the stale seedbed reduced the number
of ripgut brome seeds from 700/m 2 in March down to
300/m 2 by late April.
• Burning reduced the number of seeds/m 2 , while
ploughing buried the majority of seeds too deep to
germinate and emerge.
• Minimum tillage did not bury seeds deep enough to
reduce brome populations.
• Burning followed by either ploughing or top working
produced good grain yields and reduced brome seed
heads.
• Without burning, ploughing was required to maintain a
similar grain yield and to reduce the brome population.
• Increasing the target plant population increased grain
yield but did not significantly reduce brome seed head
numbers.

20 tonnes
by 2020
It’s not that uncommon to still have some of last year’s grain in the
silo at the start of harvest, but how about having next year’s crop
in the ground before you’ve put the header away for the season?
Autumn planted oilseed rape
management
Jen Linton discussed the yield potential of different
autumn sown oilseed rape cultivars; the benefits of
autumn, winter and early spring fungicide applications for
stem canker disease control and the impact of grazing on
dry matter production for autumn sown oilseed rape. She
has found:
Cultivar Evaluation
• The widely used commercial hybrid cultivar Flash
yielded the highest at 5.68 t/ha but there was no
significant difference between the top five cultivars
(Flash, Exstorm, DK Sensie, DK Expower and DK
Explicit) this year.
• 2012/2013 harvest mean yield of 4.80 t/ha was less
than last season’s due to the poor performances this
year of two cultivars: Taurus and Compass.
Fungicide trial
• No significant difference in disease incidence or
severity was seen until the early spring application,
where sequenced applications of Proline ® (both at
200 mls/ha and 400 mls/ha) show lower infection
levels.
• No significant yield differences between any fungicide
treatments.
• A mid flowering fungicide application targeted at
sclerotinia control yielded the highest, suggesting a
trend towards a yield response to sclerotinia control.
Grazing
• Pre grazing DM was 4600 kg/ha and 1900 kg DM/ha
was removed over a seven day grazing period
in winter.
• The grazed crop struggled to compensate, so that
by pod set there was still a 5500 kg DM/ha difference.
• At all sampling dates (except September) DM
production was significantly greater in the
ungrazed crop.
• No significant differences in harvested seed yields,
harvest loss or total seed grown were observed
between treatments.
While most Canterbury cropping farmers were approaching the
end of their grain harvest, one property in Ellesmere had already
sown some of next year’s wheat crop. The early drilling at Paul
and David Birkett’s is part of a research project aimed at finding
new ways of increasing feed wheat yields and this year the first
sowing was carried out on 20 February, the second on 26 March
and the third on 15 April. Project Manager Rob Craigie explains.
“FAR and Plant & Food Research are working on a research
programme called 20 tonnes by 2020. As the name suggests we
are aiming to increase wheat yields, hopefully up to 20 tonnes per
hectare by the year 2020. Sowing dates can have a big impact
on wheat yields, so for the last couple of years we have run trials
comparing early and traditional sowing dates.
“Results to date have shown that bringing the time of sowing
forward to the end of March has either increased yields or been
neutral in its effect. These new investigations into February and
March planting will look at a range of factors including yield,
cultivar choice, frost risk and crop management requirements in
comparison to more standard April planting dates.”
At the Ellesmere site, a seven hectare commercial paddock has
been divided into three segments being sown in February, March
and April, with the aim of carrying out in-depth studies on both
small plots and a commercially sown crop. Nick Poole, FAR’s
Director of Research and Extension, says the project represents
the first in what is expected to be a series of major collaborative
research programmes between FAR and Plant & Food Research.
“The project has already attracted much interest from within New
Zealand and overseas, with agricultural companies looking to
evaluate products in an environment where yields can top 15 t/ha.
We know that early sowing will not suit every property or rotation,
but we believe it is important to fully evaluate these options.
“So while operating headers and drills at the same time might
cause some logistical headaches, as with all things on farm, if the
benefits are great enough systems will change!”
• Currently the average yield for feed wheat in New Zealand
is around 9 t/ha, while the world record, also grown in New
Zealand, stands at 15.63 t/ha.
• In last season’s trials at the Ellesmere site the highest trial plot
yields were almost 17 t/ha, a new record for FAR small plot work.
9

Pathotyping stripe rust
It is 10 years since New Zealand growers and researchers
knew exactly which strains of stripe rust were hitting their
cereal crops. New Zealand stripe rust pathotyping used to be
done in Australia, but changes to their quarantine laws meant
that our disease samples could no longer be sent across the
ditch for testing.
To resolve this problem, FAR, along with Plant & Food Research
arranged for the collection and culture of stripe rust samples
from around New Zealand and then hosted Prof Robert Park,
leader of the Australian Cereal Rust Control Programme
(ACRCP), for a week of testing here in New Zealand.
Prof Park, who is based at the University of Sydney’s Plant
Breeding Institute, worked in the lab/glasshouse at Plant &
Food, Lincoln, testing stripe rust samples collected by growers
and industry reps on a range of wheat cultivars in order to
determine which pathotypes of the disease are present in New
Zealand. These samples have been stored at -80 o C since being
collected in spring last year.
Nick Poole of FAR says it is very important to know which
pathotypes are present in New Zealand as cereal cultivars are
protected from stripe rust and other rust diseases by particular
rust resistance genes.
“Stripe rust populations can change over time depending on
what cultivars are grown. In addition, new pathotypes can be
generated or introduced rendering cultivars that were previously
resistant, susceptible. For example, the milling wheat cultivar
Conquest was very resistant to leaf rust prior to 2010, but very
susceptible after that season. Knowing what pathotypes or
strains are present allows pathologists and breeders to examine
how other cultivars being bred or selected for New Zealand
might be affected.”
During his visit, Prof Park spoke at Results Round Up meetings
at Timaru, Ashburton and Templeton, outlining the history of
rust spread in Australasia and explaining the work his research
group is doing to understand the development of resistance.
Prof Park will return to Lincoln later in the year to analyse results
and report on his findings.
Photo: L-R Matthew Cromey (Plant & Food Research),
Robert Park, and Rachael Warren (Plant & Food Research).
What is a pathotype?
Different strains of the same pathogen which attack different hosts are known as pathotypes. For example, stripe rust is
caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis. Different pathotypes of P. striiformis will cause stripe rust in different cereals or
cereal cultivars. Identifying these strains is called pathotyping.
10

Drought and
dryland maize
About 95% of the maize grown in New Zealand is unirrigated,
with most irrigated crops occurring in Canterbury. Although
rainfall varied greatly within and between regions, drought
affected most maize growing land from Nelson/Marlborough
to Kaitaia, and maize silage yields have generally been 20
to 30% down on average. At the time of writing, maize grain
is still being harvested, but yields appear to be at least 10%
down to date.
What lessons have we learned?
If (and remember last season was wet) dry seasons are going
to continue, dryland growers have several options for reducing
the effects of drought.
• Maize, unlike other self-pollinated crops, has both
stigma (silk) and pollen exposed during pollination and
is therefore, especially vulnerable to drought two to
three weeks either side of flowering. Drought at this time
reduces growth per plant, can delay silk emergence
relative to pollen shed (a lack of synchrony), and can cause
kernel and even ear abortion. Shorter season hybrids offer
a lower yield potential, but do allow earlier planting and
should have completed flowering prior to the often dry
early/mid-January period.
• Did you notice this season where a plant was missing
how the neighbouring plants had better stay green and
kernel numbers and size? High plant populations offer
better yield potential, but in a dry season, can cause
increased stress between plants. Therefore reducing plant
population can be an option. This is particularly so on
lighter or more compacted soils which are more vulnerable
to moisture stress.
• If applicable, change the cultivation practice – see the FAR
website for the latest report on cultivation practices carried
out at the Waikato Arable Research site. Key points are
summarised below.
Managing drought - the role of cultivation practices
Mike Parker (FAR) and Paul Johnstone (Plant & Food Research).
The WARS trial was established in spring 2007 to compare
the effect of cultivation practices on crop performance, soil
characteristics and profitability. The trial looks at full cultivation
(FC), strip tillage (ST) and direct drill (DD) in a rotation which goes
from summer maize (for grain) followed by DD winter grass.
Maize planting date variants (early/late) x hybrid duration (short/
long) were added in 2011/12.
Cultivation and crop performance:
• Direct drilling reduces establishment costs ($200/ha).
• Yields are comparable across practices.
• Pay close attention to factors influencing establishment
success under reduced cultivation.
• In 2007/08 drought year, yield was substantially higher in
direct drilled (3.6 t/ha).
Cultivation and soil moisture
• Overall trend, including in this drought season, for consistently
higher soil moisture availability in direct drilled plots at both
0 - 0.4 m and 0.4 - 1.2 m depths. This is due to immediate
evaporation resulting from surface disturbance, and long term
differences related to soil physical characteristics.
• Differences in soil moisture between direct drilled and full
cultivation increased during the season.
Key take home messages
• Direct drilling cost less and generally yielded the same as
the other establishment practices, but pay close attention to
factors that influence crop establishment.
• Direct drilled soil retained more moisture, which may increase
crop yield in dry seasons or in other water-limiting conditions
(e.g. light soils, compacted soils).
11

Strange season brings
unusual diseases
Cereal growers in both islands have had to deal with unusual
weather patterns in the 2012/13 season. Some have also had
to deal with some fairly uncommon and difficult to manage
crop diseases.
In the North Island, barley growers have been hit by ergot,
while some South Island wheat growers have been learning
about tan spot. Both diseases are uncommon, but not
unheard of in New Zealand, and both are the result of unusual
climatic conditions at crucial stages of crop development.
Ergot
Ergot, caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, affects all
cereal crops and a wide range of grasses. Its most important
host is perennial ryegrass. The disease has very little direct
effect on crop yield, but when spores infect grass or cereal
flowers, they can produce ergots instead of grain on the seed
head. These hard, purple-black ergots can be up to 2 cm
long and contain large quantities of alkaloids, highly toxic to
people and animals. Ergots are very obvious in standing crops
and infected grain and seed. Very careful cleaning is required
before infected crops will be accepted by end-users.
Glen Simmonds, Production Manager for Malteurop in Marton,
says ergot has been a challenge for the company and several
malting barley growers in the Manawatu, Rangitikei districts
this year. Affected growers are now beginning the removal of
ergots from their segregated lines using a third party. Slow
and expensive, this task will take some time to complete, but
diligent work, from contracted malting barley growers and the
expert set up and handling of the cleaning machinery required,
is achieving the desired result.
Although ergot is not a seed-borne disease, it can be spread
by ergots in contaminated seed. Once flowers are infected, it
can be spread further by insects. Rain splash or direct contact
can also spread infection over short distances.
Cool, wet conditions during flowering facilitate ergot spore
production and prolong the flowering period making infection
more likely. Susceptibility decreases rapidly after pollination.
For further information on managing ergot in cereal crops, see
FAR Cereal Update 199, March 2013 (also available on the FAR
website www.far.org.nz; then search ergot).
Ergots are very obvious in standing crops and infected grain and seed (photo courtesy of Agricom).
12

Tan spot
Tan spot is an uncommon wet weather disease caused by the
fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. It was recorded at high
levels in a number of wheat crops in coastal South Canterbury,
the Fairlie Basin and the Hakataramea Valley in the 2012/13
season. Disease incidence was more widespread than ever
recorded previously in New Zealand, and a number of crops
showed infection despite receiving three or four spray fungicide
programmes.
As tan spot is stubble-borne, it will be more severe in second
and continuous wheat crops. The initial infection & is caused by
spores that travel short distances from the fungi’s black fruiting
bodies * in the straw. Under wet conditions these spores can
infect the leaves of the new crop. The disease develops very
quickly under favourable conditions since the latent period
is * particularly short (approximately seven days). Later in the
season wind-blown spores (conidia) develop on the infected
*
leaves. These conidia can travel further and give rise to infection
in first wheat crops.
The disease is particularly associated with no-till or minimumtill
full stubble retention farming systems growing second
or continuous wheat crops. The principal cereals at risk are
wheat and triticale, although barley and rye may also suffer
from limited levels of infection. Oats are resistant. During a
wet harvest, straw from several cereal species can act as a
substrate for the disease.
&
Last season’s infection means that tan spot inoculum will be
more widespread in 2013/14, particularly in South Canterbury,
where wheat crops sown on wheat stubble should be carefully
monitored for this disease. If you believe you are seeing the
disease please contact the team at FAR, we are interested to
hear where and when it is being observed.
&
a) Tan spot on the flag b) Tan spot (close up) c) Tan spot (spores)
*
13

Tukituki choices for
arable farmers
…Arable options for the Ruataniwha Plains
A new project funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund, FAR
and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will provide information
to assist farmers with their irrigation investment decisions.
Hawke’s Bay is drought-prone and climate change scenarios
suggest that it is likely to become more so in the future.
Farmers without irrigation have adapted to this environment
and manage their farms conservatively to reduce potential for
losses in drought years. Those with irrigation have diversified
their systems to capitalise on a secure water supply. However,
studies of the surface water systems of the Tukituki catchment
in Central Hawke’s Bay have shown that water extraction for
irrigation is now exceeding levels that are environmentally
sustainable. This means in the future the water supply for
irrigators will be less secure and consents and controls more
stringent. Water will be the limiting resource for new farming
opportunities.
replicated trial data, but to provide an opportunity for the
Hawke’s Bay farming community to view and discuss the upand
down-sides associated with intensive cropping systems.
It will use ProductionWise ® and OVERSEER ® to benchmark
the economic and environmental performance from a range
of Central Hawke’s Bay arable farms. Four case studies will
be prepared for reference to provide information on integrated
arable and pastoral systems, for both sheep and beef finishing
and dairy support.
A range of crop sequences for intensive arable/vegetable and
arable/sheep and beef finishing systems will be established
at a new demonstration site. This will enable farmers to view
cropping opportunities and to discuss management practices
to reduce any environmental impacts presented by individual
crops or components of the rotation.
One potential solution under consideration is the Ruataniwha
Water Storage Project which will increase irrigable land on the
plains from 6,000 to 25,000 ha. This will significantly change
the opportunities for farming in Hawke’s Bay and intensification
is the likely outcome, with both opportunity and challenge for
the region.
Arable farmers are well placed to benefit from irrigation and
they will have a number of options to consider. The Hawke’s
Bay Regional Council’s feasibility studies for the water storage
project have shown that irrigated broad acre cropping for
arable and vegetable rotations, and intensive sheep and beef
finishing, are potentially profitable options for farmers. But with
a wide choice, it is important that arable farmers can compare
the profitability and environmental sustainability of these
systems to be able to make informed investment decisions
about irrigation. It is important to take the feasibility studies
into the paddock so that farmers can consider their options in
a real-world setting.
14
The Tukituki choices for arable farmers project will be
managed by Diana Mathers and focus on collecting
background information about the economic and
environmental performance of existing and future irrigated and
dryland systems. The intention of this work is not to generate
!

ProductionWise ®
is here!
ProductionWise is an integrated online farm management system
that allows you to map your paddocks, record management
practices and inputs, and automatically generate reports and
gross margins. Originally developed by Grain Growers in Australia,
it has been modified by FAR to suit New Zealand cropping
systems and is now freely available to all FAR levy payers.
ProductionWise has four key features: digital Farm Mapping,
My Farm to view your farm status, My Diary to enter paddock
specific operations and inputs, and My Grain to manage grain
stocks, sales and contracts. It has been set up in such a way that
you don’t need to be a computer whizz to create a personalized
farm map, record daily paddock management and it automatically
calculates paddock and whole farm gross margins.
Melanie Bates, who has been managing ProductionWise’s
transition from Aussie to Kiwi, says a huge amount of work has
gone in on both sides of the Tasman to fine-tune the programme
for New Zealand growers.
“When we ran the original version of ProductionWise past a testgroup
of New Zealand growers, they commented that they liked
what it could do, but that typing in every cost per operation or
input was going to be too much work. With this in mind, we have
compiled exhaustive up-to-date lists of New Zealand operations,
fertilisers, chemicals, crop types and varieties and recording
data is now as simple as clicking on a dropdown list to make
your selection. ProductionWise now further assists users by
remembering costs and prices of operations and inputs added in
the paddock diary. We have also ensured that we can quickly and
easily update these lists, so growers will be able to record their use
of any new cultivars or chemicals as they come on to the market.”
Melanie has run several ProductionWise training sessions in the
last few weeks and says she has been pleased, but not surprised,
to see farmers who have never used recording software before,
picking it up very quickly.
name. Do this a few times and your farm is set up and ready
for paddock diary entry.
Recording activities related to those paddocks is just as easy.
Click on My Diary selecting single or multiple paddock mode
select an operation i.e. cultivation, sowing, fertiliser or chemical
application, add the input or whatever you are doing with that
crop on the day, and save it.
My Reports enables you to view or export to pdf or csv
spreadsheet paddock diary information, in a consistent and user
friendly format; it has the ability to view all operations and inputs
for each paddock for any farm, production year or season that
you have paddock information entered for.
The Gross Margin Analysis is a decision making tool used to
track the running costs of production during the season to help
you make your informed operational and input decisions based
on the current grain price and forecasted yield. Great for your
scenario planning purposes, you can change the yield and price
manually to view the implications on the gross margin of different
outcome scenarios.
My Grain enables you to manage your grain stocks and
handling, sales and contracts and provide an overall summary
of net physical grain position taking stocks and contracts into
consideration. Data for the My Grain information is automatically
drawn from data entered in My Farm and My Diary, providing a
seamless transition of data within the diaries.
Another advantage to ProductionWise is the fact that it is web
based, iPhone and iPad enabled, which means that users can
add data at any time whether inside the tractor cab or the office.
Melanie says ProductionWise will continue to be developed in a
way to assist the needs of growers.
ProductionWise has been developed with a strong emphasis
on ease of use. For example to set up your farm, just register at
www.productionwise.co.nz and an automated email will provide
you with your log in details. Once registered, you will be directed
to the My Farm home page to commence farm setup and
digitising your paddocks with Google maps. Paddock boundaries
can be marked simply by clicking on each corner of a paddock
and once the boundaries are confirmed, giving the paddock a
For more information about ProductionWise:
Contact the FAR office or register your farm at www.productionwise.co.nz
15

!
!
!
Update
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16
Controlled Environment Study
!"#$%"&&'()*#+,%"#-'#$).$/(0)
FAR Australia’s first controlled environment study is under
way in conjunction with the Plant Breeding Institute at
Sydney ! University. The work, which is part of the Australian
Cereal Rust Control Programme (ACRCP), is looking at the
curative activity of foliar fungicides on stripe rust in cultivars
"#$!#%&'()*+),&!
with differing levels of adult plant resistance.
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6+'8!2+--1(+0;!*131*&!/-!)2%*'!C*)0'!(1&+&')0.1?! !
The research involves applying fungicides with different
modes of action, at four day intervals after inoculation with
stripe rust. The work will complement the field studies
which took place last season using the same fungicide
chemistry.
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Dr Will Cuddy (NSW Department of Primary Industries) places
Early +0/.%*)'+/0!6+'8!&'(+C1!(%&'?!@81!6/(A!6+**!./4C*1410'!'81!-+1*2!&'%2+1&!68+.8!'//A!C
sowing
plants in the spray cabinet for fungicide application at
"+;%(1!H!! ! ! !
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the Plant
! "+;%
The first trial plots for the 2013 season of the FAR Australian Breeding Institute.
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"+;%(1!H?!J(!K+**!D%225! EL=K!J1C)('410'!/-!9(+4)(5!

Managing nutrient losses
from cropping farms
– a role for OVERSEER ® ?
The concept of ‘farming within nutrient limits’ has been a
recurring theme through the last few editions of From the
Ground Up. In Issue 70, the pros and cons of input versus
output limits were discussed. Output limits such as capping
nitrate leaching losses from the farm offer more flexibility than
input limits, but managing to output limits is dependent on
good computer models. These are needed to simulate the
complex soil processes that lead to nitrate leaching because
direct measurement isn’t usually feasible.
In Issue 71 we announced the launch of FAR’s peer review
of the cropping model in OVERSEER, the computer decision
support tool that looks set to underpin New Zealand’s national
and regional strategies for reducing diffuse nutrient pollution
from agriculture. The review was initiated over concerns about
whether OVERSEER was adequately developed to model
nutrient losses from cropping farms because its origins are
firmly in the pastoral sector.
FAR is currently collecting data from cropping
farmers on nutrient management practices
over a wide range of different cropping systems
around New Zealand. This will enable us to
further test OVERSEER’s ability to model the
complexity of our cropping rotations, to develop
appropriate protocols for preparing nutrient
budgets for arable farms, and to identify the
most useful improvements to the user interface
of OVERSEER.
If you would consider supporting this project by
providing FAR with some of your cropping and
nutrient management farm data, please get in
touch with Diana Mathers (mathersd@far.org.nz).
And in the last issue (72), we reported on the key findings of
the review which include the need for further validation of the
OVERSEER cropping model and improvements to the user
interface. Since then, FAR has been working with the owners
of OVERSEER (AgResearch Ltd, The Fertiliser Association
of New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries) to
ensure that the review recommendations are implemented.
Although it is still early days, users should start to see some
improvements in OVERSEER releases over the winter.
Alongside a series of recommendations specifically related
to the cropping model, the FAR review panel drew attention
to some generic concerns about how computer models are
used in the implementation of public policy. It is therefore
encouraging that the recent Ministry for the Environment
paper Freshwater Reform 2013 and Beyond recognises some
of these concerns and in particular notes: ‘However, it may
be some years before systems like OVERSEER are precise
enough to be used as the basis for enforcing quantitative
conditions on land use.’ In the meantime, FAR will continue
to work with the owners of OVERSEER to make sure that the
cropping model is based on the best available science and is
fit for purpose.
17

Ballance Farm
Environment Awards
Cropping has been well represented in this year’s series of Ballance
Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) with growers making the finals in
several regions and winning the Supreme Award in three of them.
Canterbury winners
Methven farmers Craige and Roz Mackenzie of Greenvale
Pastures Ltd received the Supreme Award at the Canterbury
event in March in recognition of their management system
which the judges said makes the most of natural, financial and
human resources.
Greenvale grows mainly specialist crops, with last season’s
rotation including radish, chicory, wheat, ryegrass, fescue,
barley and faba beans. The judges noted Greenvale’s simple
and effective crop rotations, describing the farm as a neat and
tidy property that is “a high performing unit in every aspect”.
Along with 200 ha Greenvale, Craige and Roz also hold a
50 percent equity share in a neighbouring 330 ha dairy unit,
and with their daughter Jemma they co-own Agri Optics
New Zealand, a provider of precision agriculture technology
which focuses on crop sensors and farm and field mapping
technology. Their use of this technology was one thing which
really impressed the judges who noted that the Mackenzies
had “taken technology to the next step on their irrigated farm
using every available tool to improve their production and
cost efficiency”.
They commented on Greenvale’s use of electromagnetic
soil mapping, which is used to give a clear picture of water
holding and productive capacity within specific zones, and
commended the use of technologies like variable rate irrigation
and variable rate fertiliser spreading. They noted that the use of
this technology is leading edge and deserves recognition, while
acknowledging that this level of intensive precision agriculture is
not necessarily where all farms need to go to be sustainable.
As well as the Supreme Award, Craige and Roz also collected
the Ballance Nutrient Management Award and the Environment
Canterbury Regional Council Water Efficiency Award.
Greater Wellington winners
Michael and Karen Williams’ 224 ha arable, lamb finishing
and beef unit near Carterton took out the Greater Wellington
award. The pair, who have only been farming in their own
right since 2009, impressed the judges with the considerable
business acumen they apply to everyday decisions.
The range of crops they grow on the farm’s flat land includes
wheat, barley, ryegrass, peas and red clover, as well as
onion, mizuna lettuce, coriander, carrot and celery seed
crops. They finish around 3800 lambs annually and winter
90 yearling bulls which are sold before their second winter to
avoid soil damage.
The judges noted that the operation generates exceptional
production and revenue per hectare, with excellent
crop yields achieved through meticulous planning and
management, and that Michael and Karen’s focus on
maximising production runs alongside a respect for natural
resources such as soil and water.
For example, a Whole Farm Nutrient Management Plan
enables the accurate matching of nutrient requirements
of crops to different paddocks, and with the exception of
onion seed, all crops are established using a cross-slot
drill. Non-effective areas have been retired and the couple
has put considerable effort into protecting and enhancing
two hectares of bush remnant. Judges also noted the
preservation of non-cultivatable flood channels into planted
riparian zones. A 2.8 km stretch of the Ruamahanga River
along the farm’s boundary has been fenced off, and work
continues on smaller waterways.
Michael and Karen also won the Ballance Agri-Nutrients-
Nutrient Management Award and the Hill Laboratories
Harvest Award.
18

Otago winners
South Canterbury/North Otago board member Peter
Mitchell is part the Mitchell Webster Group which
received the Otago BFEA Supreme Award in April. Their
intensive cropping business produces bird and animal
feed, and spans 1380 ha of arable land in North Otago.
Craige and Roz Mackenzie.
The Mitchell and Webster families joined forces in 1972,
creating, said BFEA judges, “an extraordinary and
inspirational family business that has withstood the test
of time”.
The Mitchell Webster Group encapsulates two
businesses – Topflite Ltd, a birdseed and small animal
feed business, and Mitchell and Webster Ltd, the
growing operation that specialises in the production of
sunflower and canary seed, along with a range of other
crops including feed wheat, barley, ryegrass, hybrid
rape, potatoes, lucerne, fodder beet and maize and
grass silage.
Formed as part of a diversification strategy, Topflite
now sells around 1600 tonnes of birdseed mixes and
associated products annually in Australasia.
Michael and Karen Williams with children Tom, India and Ollie.
The BFEA judges were impressed with the group’s
“remarkable in-business practise, clear lines of
communication and demarcation of roles through the
development of a formal business structure, maintaining
a strong business partnership between the two
families”.
They also praised the growing arm’s sustainable
cropping regime. This long-term sustainability focus
was achieved through research and crop trials, wise
rotations and agri-chemical use, and comprehensive
recording and monitoring.
As well as the Supreme Award, the Mitchell Webster
Group also collected the Hill Laboratories Harvest
Award, the Massey University Discovery Award and the
Ballance Agri-Nutrients-Nutrient Management Award.
Liz Muller (Ballance General Manager for Agro-Science), Peter
Mitchell, Sandra Mitchell, Nick Webster, Kate Webster, Jock
Webster and Helen Webster.
19

Staff changes
FAR has increased trials officer numbers over the last three years
to enable us to deliver research outcomes to growers more
effectively. Using FAR staff more in trials, often in collaboration
with other organisations, means FAR can ensure that science
quality is maintained, have confidence when reporting trial
results to growers, and reduce the costs of undertaking
research. In the last few months we have taken on new trials
officers and there have also been some other staff changes.
Welcome…
Trials Officer Elin Arnaudin began work with FAR in December.
Her thoughts on the New Zealand arable industry are outlined
on page 22. Two other new trials officers, Michael Straight
and Colleen Webb, started in March and April. Michael has
a BSc from Otago University and has just returned from his
OE where he did everything from farm labouring to working as
primary schools’ rugby development officer. Colleen is a new
graduate with a BAgriSci from Massey University who is looking
forward to developing and using her agronomy skills.
Sargia Harrison is our new, full time receptionist and events
assistant. Sargia is first point of contact for callers and visitors
and is fast picking up the ropes around organising and
promoting events. With a background in library work she is a
great asset to the FAR team.
Farewell to…
Trials Officer Hannah Priergaard-Petersen, who has returned
to Canterbury University to study for a Postgraduate Diploma
and a possible future career as a science teacher.
Former part-time administrator/receptionist Donna Rurehe,
continues to work for us on a casual basis.
Photo: Colleen, Michael, Sargia and Elin.
Arable Y’s off to Europe
20
After two successful self-funded study tours to Australia,
this year Arable Y’s are expanding their horizons with a trip
the UK and Europe. The group, accompanied by FAR’s
Jen Linton, will be visiting farms, machinery and chemical
companies in England, France, Belgium, Germany and
Denmark.
The trip is focused around England’s major arable event,
Cereals, a two-day, much larger scale version of FAR’s
Crops Expo. After Cereals the group will travel towards the
South East of England visiting mixed arable farms, flour
mills, breweries and farming estates. Machinery dealerships
Sulky, Horsch and Lemkin, and Bayer CropScience’s Crop
Protection headquarters at Monheim make up the French,
Belgian and German leg of the trip with some sightseeing on
the way. The tour rounds off with a grass seed and small seed
focus in Copenhagen.
FAR and Arable Ys are very grateful for support from Bayer
CropScience for their support of this trip. The group is still
seeking sponsorship to help make the trip more affordable so if
your organisation would like to be involved, please get in touch
with the FAR office.

Masters for Richard
Congratulations to FAR Project
Manager, Richard Chynoweth
who graduated with a Masters in
Agricultural Science from Lincoln
University in April.
Richard has been studying part-time for the last four years
under supervisor Derrick Moot. His research project was titled
Seed growth and development of three perennial ryegrass
cultivars after treatment with Moddus® straw shortener.
The project involved first year crops of three diploid perennial
ryegrass cultivars, Meridian, Bronsyn and Grasslands Impact,
that contained the AR1 endophyte, sown on 1 April and 14
May 2008. A subsequent application of Moddus (a.i. 250 g/l
Trinexapac ethyl) plant growth regulator at three rates was
used to examine the relationship between seed and stem dry
weight in relation to thermal time.
350°C days following anthesis. Thus, stems competed with
growing seeds from anthesis, throughout the lag phase until
approximately 75% of final seed weight.
When seed demand for carbohydrate was low, lag phase and
early seed growth, the stem was competing with the seed.
As seeds grew and their demand for carbohydrate developed
they drew assimilate from the stem. At harvest, stems were
25% heavier than at anthesis which suggests they were a net
sink for carbohydrate post anthesis and that there was further
carbohydrate available for seed production.
Shorter stems (1600 ml/ha Moddus) competed less with
developing seed compared with longer stems, suggesting
greater amounts of carbohydrate are available for seed
production when stems are shorter.
Key points to have come out of the project
include:
Seed filling of Meridian, Bronsyn and Grasslands Impact
followed a sigmoidal growth pattern (slow after flowering,
followed by a period of rapid growth and then a dry down
phase where seed dry weight is constant). The time from peak
anthesis (flowering) until 95% of final seed weight was constant
for all cultivars and Moddus treatments at 443°C days (base
temperature 0 °C). Therefore the time from anthesis until crop
maturity is determined by the temperatures experienced by
the crop and is outside the control of growers.
The application of Moddus increased seed yield by
approximately 26% for each 800 ml/ha applied from 1715 (0
ml/ha) to 2195 (800 ml/ha) and 2722 kg/ha (1600 ml/ha). The
seed yield increase from Moddus was achieved by increasing
rate of seed filling per seed head, which increased the number
of seeds/m 2 .
For all cultivars, 1600 ml/ha of Moddus produced the highest
seed yield and the shortest total stem length. There was a
15 cm reduction in length between 0 and 1600 ml/ha of
Moddus. Stem dry weight increased to a maximum at
Photo: Richard with daughter McKenna and son Jaryn.
21

Cropping in New Zealand,
an early perspective
Nearly a year ago, Elin Arnaudin hopped on a plane in
Greenville, South Carolina, eager to start a season of New
Zealand dairy farming. In December she changed course
and started work as a Trials Officer at FAR. Elin outlines what
brought about this change of direction, and how New Zealand
cropping systems differs from those in the USA.
"The idea to come dairying in New Zealand was sparked by the
completion of a Master’s degree in forage agronomy, and an
uninspiring American job market. After surviving the toughest
parts of the season (aka calving and mating), a friend told me
about a potential job opening with FAR. Truthfully, the thought of
doing cropping research never interested me back in the US, so
I put the idea on the backburner for a while. But, when I started
looking into the cropping systems of New Zealand it became
pretty obvious that they were quite different from American
ones. It seemed that many of the aspects of cropping that
were such a turn-off in America were either not present, or less
prevalent, in New Zealand.
"The New Zealand cropping system seems to be driven by the
lack of subsidies along with the size and geographical isolation
of the country. The challenges created by these parameters
have resulted in some notable differences in the style of arable
cropping when compared to the American way.
"Some of the bigger shocks to me were: encountering crop
rotations that didn’t just include corn, wheat, and soybeans; the
lack of genetically modified seeds; and often, integrated cropanimal
systems. These differences inspired me to hang up the
cups and get involved with FAR.
"Since joining the FAR team, I have been getting a grand
introduction to all of the trials FAR is involved with. I am most
interested in cereal silage and herbage seed crops because they
are more closely linked to my forage background. While many
farmers seem to feel threatened by the growing dairy industry,
I think that there is a great potential for the arable industry to
grow alongside dairy. There is more and more demand for
supplemental feeds for increasing and extending milk production
when pasture feed is low and it is unlikely that dairy farmers will
willingly transition much land away from pasture into crops. I
believe this provides arable farmers with an opportunity to fill the
growing market for supplements.
"The arable farmers of New Zealand are among the best at finding
and filling emerging markets and I continue to be impressed by the
diversity of crops being grown here. I still have a lot to learn about
cropping in New Zealand, but am excited by what I’ve seen so far
and look forward to seeing where it takes me".
- Elin Arnaudin, Trials Officer
Arable Research Groups
Each of FAR’s six regions has an Arable Research Group
(ARG). These groups are the eyes and ears of FAR in the
regions and also act as sounding boards for ideas about new
research or extension. Each ARG has a Chair, and that Chair
represents the region on the FAR Board. Members may be
levy payers or co-opted from industry.
FAR ran its post-harvest ARG meetings for South Canterbury/
North Otago, the Northern South Island and Mid-Canterbury
in conjunction with Results Round-Ups at the end of April. The
groups received an update on emerging research areas and
shared their ideas on how FAR was approaching issues such
as nutrient management and stubble burning.
Meet the Mid-Canterbury ARG
The Mid-Canterbury ARG is represented on the board by Methven
grower Dave Grant. Members are Barry Austin, Steve Bierema,
Malcolm Cairns, Tim Dale, John Evans, Randal Hanrahan, Graeme
Jones, Brian Leadley, Lynette Lovett, Philip Lovett, Colin Maw,
Bede McCloy, Craige Mackenzie, Anton Nicholls, Ross Polson
and Eric Watson. Please feel free to contact any one of them if you
have any ideas about FAR activities in the Mid-Canterbury region.
Issues which most interested this group at their April meeting were:
• The CPT system
• OVERSEER ® and ProductionWise ® and decision support tools
• Precision agriculture
• Stubble burning
22

Members of the
FAR Board
DAVID BIRKETT (Chairman)
Northern South Island
03 324 4499
HOWARD CLARKE
South Otago/Southland
03 236 9825
ALAN HENDERSON
Northern North Island
07 871 9934
Dr MIKE DUNBIER
Appointed Member
03 358 6479
RUSSELL FLEMING
Southern North Island
06 324 8641
HUGH RITCHIE
Appointed Member
06 856 8279
DAVID GRANT
Mid Canterbury
03 302 8580
Prof TIM REEVES
Appointed Member
0061 352 412 827
PETER MITCHELL
South Canterbury/North Otago
03 434 9244
To get all the latest arable information and updates visit
www.far.org.nz
DISCLAIMER From the Ground Up was prepared by the Foundation for Arable Research staff. If you require any further information on any topics or on FAR please contact
us. FAR offices are located at 185 Kirk Rd, Templeton. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Foundation for Arable Research. ©This
publication is copyright to the Foundation for Arable Research and may not be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from FAR.

®
Foundation for Arable Research
PO Box 23133
Templeton
Christchurch 8445
Phone: 64 3 345 5783
Fax: 64 3 341 7061
Text: 64 275 ARABLE
Visit: www.far.org.nz
ADDING VALUE TO THE BUSINESS OF ARABLE FARMING