Monday, 16 January 2012 14:38

Cropping conference coming up

Written by 

The Foundation for Arable Research's (FAR) is hosting its fifth North Island conference in Hamilton next month.

FAR's chief executive Nick Pyke says the conference will provide relevant and practical papers on maize and arable research and management practices.

"The main aim is to provide growers and industry personnel with ways in which to capitalise on changes which are, and are likely to face these industries now and in the future. We not only want growers to become more productive in their cropping systems, but we also want them to become more efficient and sustainable in order to meet the demand of a growing world population, climate change and environmental degradation."

FAR has also secured Robert Nielsen, Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, US for the two-day conference.

Nielsen, a familiar face to may New Zealand maize growers, is an expert in extension education in corn management systems for the state of Indiana. He will be sharing his knowledge in advanced farming systems and new technologies for the maize industry. He will also talk about drought resistance and fertiliser management based on the results of trials at the FAR Waikato Arable Research Site.

Another overseas speaker is Robyn Murray, chief executive of Go Grains Health and Nutrition Ltd, a membership-based organisation which links the Australian grains industry value chain from grain growers to food manufacturers.

Agriculture Minister David Carter, will open the conference on Wednesday, February 15.

Sponsors of the conference include: Pioneer Brand Seeds, Case IH, Agmardt, Nufarm, HSR Seeds, Everris, PGG Wrightson Seeds, Plant & Food Research, John Austin Ltd, Farmlands and Landpower.

Registrations are now open and more information can be found at http://www.far.org.nz/index.php/conference

More like this

'Building resilience key to success'

To survive and thrive in this changing world, New Zealand farmers must take a new look at what resilience means to them and their farming operations, Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) chief executive Alison Stewart says.

Soil nitrogen way to reduce maize growing costs

Agronomic tools and practices are available for maize growers facing the headwinds of increasing costs of production, extreme weather events and environmental considerations, Foundation for Arable Research senior maize researcher David Densley says.

FAR referendum

Arable farmers are being encouraged to vote before the August 23 deadline in a referendum, which will determine the future of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).

Planting green on display

Planting green a developing trend here and overseas where growers plant directly into a green crop, will be demonstrated at the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) premier maize field day near Hamilton this month.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

AGTEK and ARGO part ways

After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’…

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter