Maize 'guru' to address field day

FAR is hosting University of Illinois Professor of Crop Physiology, Fred Below. He will be keynote speaker at the event on February 14 at FAR’s Northern Crop Research Site at Tamahere near Hamilton.

Below is one of the researchers and authors responsible for the “seven wonders of the maize yield world”, the top seven list of management factors that each year can have a positive impact on maize yield.

The considerable gap between the average yield produced by most growers and record yields shows the opportunity to increase maize yield through enhanced crop management, he says.

FAR senior maize researcher David Densley says the opportunity to come and listen to Below is “probably once in a lifetime”.

Below has two presentations on the day: the morning keynote address is on emerging trends in maize production in the US and the last presentation on the day will discuss the latest maize research findings and why this will likely have an influence on maize production practices in the future.

Densley says that with increasing fertiliser costs and environmental requirements it’s an opportune time to hear the latest research results.

Other speakers include FAR researcher Dirk Wallace on reducing nitrogen inputs, AgResearch scientist Trevor James on cover crops for weed management, Densley on precision agriculture for maize productivity and quality and FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith on sensor technology. FAR’s Abie Horrocks will discuss longterm crop establishment and some of the impacts that cultivation has on soil structure and water infiltration.

Apart from the keynote speaker, talks are repeated in the morning and afternoon. There will also be an update on the maize pest fall armyworm which was first identified in New Zealand in March last year.

Below will also attend an afternoon field day on February 15 at the property of Colin Jackson, Te Awamutu, one of the farmers hosting FAR onfarm maize research.

Densley says that FAR’s research always aims to answer one of three questions. “How can this research drive a grower’s profitability? How can the research help to bring more resilience into my production system and three, can it help me meet my environmental requirements moving forward?”

There will also be static displays on ProductionWise, E-Check, soil and plant nutrient sampling and biosecurity risks.