Cut the Crop!

New Zealand’s agricultural drone industry is doubling every year, with more than 100 drones now used for spraying and spreading. In this episode of Cut the Crop, NZ Ag Drone Association president Craig Simpson and FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith say that while drones offer plenty of potential, there are still unknowns, particularly for broadacre application and efficacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the last three years, FAR has been collecting Cost of Production data on five key crops, based on a Mid-Canterbury irrigated arable farm case study. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s Ivan Lawrie says that the data shows margins are tight, so any cost savings will have a positive impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following interest from growers, Canterbury-based Pure Oil NZ has successfully trialled spring-sown oilseed rape using new imported varieties. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Pure Oil agronomy manager Keith Gundry tells Alison Stewart that sunflower yields and planting areas are also increasing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As well as providing benefits such as protecting soil and reducing nitrate leaching, cover crops can also suppress weeds. In this week’s Cut the Crop, FAR senior field research officer Sam McDougall says that in a trial, use of cover crops successfully cut herbicide use from two applications to one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hawkes Bay mixed arable and livestock farmers Simon and Lou White, of Ludlow Farms, have just won not one, but two prestigious farming awards. Despite the setbacks of Cyclone Gabrielle and a farm accident, Simon tells Alison Stewart that he is investing in value-add off-farm and is more positive than ever about the future of mixed arable farming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Profitability is an increasing concern for arable farmers, which is why FAR has chosen it as the theme of its two-day conference, starting June 30. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR Communications Manager Anna Heslop says speakers will discuss how farmers can potentially reduce costs, improve productivity, diversify and adopt new tools.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solar farms are popping up across New Zealand, but is this an option on high-value arable land? In this episode of Cut the Crop, Anna Heslop talks to Alan Brent, Professor of sustainable energy systems at Victoria University of Wellington about how alternative energy technology is transforming rapidly and what factors farmers need to consider.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury rural professional and farmer Thomas Holmes last year participated in the Kellogg Rural Leadership programme, focusing his study on opportunities and challenges for arable. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that arable growers need to collaborate more and consider co-ops.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chaff decks, attached to the back of a combine harvester to reduce the weed seed burden, are widely used in Australia, but have not been adopted in NZ. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Chris Smith and Charles Merfield of FAR outline the results of a Canterbury chaff deck demonstration and why growers should consider using one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a second harvest, a FAR demonstration block at Chertsey is showing the potential gains from using more future focused approaches including direct drilling and fewer inputs where possible. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Owen Gibson talks about the latest results as well as detailing a second similar project in Southland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of pests and disease have blown into New Zealand from Australia. We can’t stop them from arriving this way, but work is underway to provide us with a better idea of what might arrive, and when. In this episode of Cut the Crop, we hear from Ilze Pretorius, part of a Scion team developing an Aerobiologial surveillance and prediction system (ASAP).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maize silage in the UK is not just grown for beef and dairy feed, it is also used as an energy crop to generate bio-gas and electricity. In this episode of Cut the Crop, visiting UK maize expert Jon Myhill tells Anna Heslop that challenges include a short growing season, loss of agchem including bird repellents, and a nitrogen cap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visiting US herbage seed researcher Nicole Anderson is here to test a new rapid seed moisture testing device for grass seed under New Zealand conditions. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she tells Anna Heslop that herbicide resistance and the grass seed market oversupply are issues globally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Populations of maize pest fall armyworm are two to three weeks more advanced than in previous seasons. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR biosecurity officer Ash Mills says that crop scouting is key, to assess not only fall armyworm, but also natural predator activity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting the best value from maize management is the focus of FAR’s premier annual maize field day at its research site near Hamilton on February 4. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Dirk Wallace of FAR says that it is a chance to catch up on the latest in maize nitrogen management and weed strategies, as well as with other growers, before the maize harvest starts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FAR has just implemented a new regional strategy aimed at increasing grower engagement and feedback in the regions. This will be based around FAR’s seven regional Arable Research Groups, with support from facilitators. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR Communications Manager Anna Heslop encourages growers to have their say on FAR activities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arable growers are invited to supply samples of their harvested crops as part of the UK-YEN programme, which measures nutrients in grain and seed. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR regional facilitator Donna Lill tells Alison Stewart that this provides another way to measure the effectiveness of fertiliser applications and crop uptake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, FAR adopted AI to make it easier to search its website, had another successful round of combine set-up workshops, and initiated YEN grain testing, as well as continuing to provide a wealth of resources on agronomy, crop protection, biosecurity, soil health and the environment. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR ceo Alison Stewart wraps up the highlights of 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arable farmers are experts at growing crops, but not as skilled at capturing value beyond the farm gate. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Federated Farmers arable group chair David Birkett talks to Alison Stewart about a new arable strategy which aims to assist farmers with the financial skills, quality assurance and infrastructure needed to get out of the commodity trap.

The Government is ending New Zealand's nearly 30-year ban on genetically modified and edited organisms outside the lab next year. So how informed are you on the topic? In this episode of Cut the Crop, Alison Stewart talks to Emeritus scientist at AgResearch Tony Conner about some of the potential positives and challenges for arable growers.

Seed cleaners are reporting increasing dressing losses in ryegrass and other small seed crops, with losses often as high as 25%. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Methven farmer and seed cleaner John McCaw and FAR technology manager Chris Smith talk about the importance of combine harvester set-up, which will be examined at a series of December workshops.

In this week's Cut the Crop, Alison Stewart talks to three growers in Manawatu, Southland and South Canterbury about how the season and market prospects are looking. With the sun finally coming out in some regions and the lift in dairy payout, has the outlook turned a corner?

FAR's biggest annual event of the year, CROPS, is being held at the Chertsey Arable Research Site on Wednesday November 27. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR's Communications Manager Anna Heslop says the range of topics covered means there is something for everyone.

By factoring in soil-available nitrogen when making fertiliser decisions, maize growers can save money on input costs as well as benefit the environment. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior environment researcher Abie Horrocks says trials show no maize yield or quality differences when soil N is used.

When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, increasingly the conversation is about “Scope” emissions. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior environment researcher Dirk Wallace explains what this means and its implications for arable growers, particularly those supplying dairy farmers with feed.

The inclination of farmers to be “tidy Kiwis” by repeatedly spraying the vegetation along fence-lines is increasing the risk of herbicide resistance, says FAR senior field researcher Charles Merfield (Merf). In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart about a demonstration trial at Kowhai Farm looking at alternative approaches.

Marton maize and cereal grower and contractor Simon Nitschke is the 2024 Arable Farmer of the Year. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that his family's decision to move up the value chain and expand their maize grain storage, drying and blending business means better understanding and meeting the needs of end-users.

FAR has summarised 15 years of research into cocksfoot seed production into a guide for growers. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior herbage seed researcher Richard Chynoweth says the aim of the guide is to bring all the information together in one place for growers.

A Cyclone Gabrielle study has examined the ways growers dealt with silt on their land and their return to profitable cropping. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior environment researcher Dirk Wallace tells Alison Stewart that it is hoped the study can assist future growers by documenting what worked and what didn't.

 In this week's episode of Cut the Crop, Alison Stewart talks to three growers in Southland, Mid Canterbury and Manawatu about how spring and crop market prospects are looking.

Travelling the world as NZ's Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr says that what we consider “normal” for agriculture here is different elsewhere. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop that everywhere he goes, the main talking points are climate change and emissions.

The 2024 Arable Awards' Positive Environmental Impact winner, Waikato maize grower Daniel Finlayson, has fully integrated environmental considerations into his farming system. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop that profits and yields are up, and greenhouse gas emissions down, through actions like switching to strip till and trying alternative nitrogen sources.

FAR has developed a fungicide decision tree which poses a set of questions for growers to help them to decide whether a T0 fungicide is needed in wheat. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior cereals researcher Jo Drummond tells Alison Stewart that rather than adopting a “just-in-case” approach, growers need to retain chemistry for when they really need it.

UK plant pathologist Dr Aoife O'Driscoll visited in August as part of the ‘A Lighter Touch: A new approach to crop protection' events. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she tells Anna Heslop that increasing disease pressure and rising agchem costs in the UK have led to a trend towards more resistant wheat cultivars, use of wheat cultivar blends and wheat grazing.

Catch crops are sown as soon as possible after grazing of winter forage crops to mop up nitrogen during the coolest and wettest months. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Plant and Food Research team leader Brendon Malcolm tells Anna Heslop that catch crops not only reduce nitrate leaching but also provide production benefits.

Waikato dairy farmer and maize grower Alan Henderson is part of a Growers Leading Change group trying out alternative nitrogen products in maize crops. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that as well as trying dairy effluent and chicken manure, he is using legumes faba beans and hairy vetch as cover crops to fix nitrogen in the soil.

Mixing multiple wheat cultivars and sowing them together in the same paddock is being trialled by FAR and tried by some growers with promising results. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR cereals researcher Andrei Costan tells Alison Stewart that mixes have the potential to reduce disease pressure and spread, as well as increasing yield stability.

An all-women Canterbury Growers Leading Change group aims to support its members to gain a better understanding of their arable business. In this episode of Cut the Crop, group member Erica Callaghan tells Anna Heslop that it is also valuable for making social connections.

Growers wanting to reduce agrichemical inputs in their crops but not sure where to start have the opportunity to learn more at a series of ‘A Lighter Touch' events in August. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior cereals researcher Jo Drummond says there will be something for everyone to adopt on-farm.

FAR senior environment researcher Abie Horrocks last month travelled to Groundswell, a popular UK regenerative agriculture festival. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she tells Alison Stewart that the event was huge, with hundreds of speakers catering for every interest, both rural and urban.

To assist growers to make the most of new tools and technology, FAR has developed a wide-ranging research strategy. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR technology manager Chris Smith tells Anna Heslop that this includes everything from independently evaluating opportunities with digital tools to a back to basics look at maximising farm machinery.

A Mid Canterbury Growers Leading Change group is looking at ways to reduce applications of synthetic nitrogen to maintain profit and contribute to environmental compliance. In this episode of Cut the Crop, group member Darryl Oldham says that nitrogen alternatives including biological products and legumes are promising.

FAR is holding five maize winter workshops in the North Island in July. To encourage growers to head along, FAR senior environment researcher Dirk Wallace tells Anna Heslop in this episode of Cut the Crop about research which shows that legumes can reduce and even eliminate the need to apply nitrogen to a maize crop.

Visiting United States Professor of Agricultural Communications Dwayne Cartmell says that US farmers, like their Kiwi counterparts, often feel that the general public doesn't understand what they do. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop that farmers need to tell their stories without getting bogged down in science, or getting defensive.

Birds provide biodiversity, but on arable farms can cause significant crop losses and farmers have few options for effectively controlling bird damage. In this episode of Cut the Crop, University of Canterbury masters student Fergus Lowen outlines his study comparing common bird deterrents and bird activity in exotic and native hedgerows.