Cut the Crop!

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechanical weeding is being researched by FAR senior field research officer Charles Merfield (Merf) as a way of reducing herbicide applications. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that rather than being a relic of the past, the technology is advancing rapidly and can offer exceptional levels of weed control.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is always plenty of interesting trial work happening at FAR’s two Canterbury research sites, Chertsey and Kowhai Farm near Lincoln. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Owen Gibson says that as well as cereal and herbage seed small plot trial work, technology is also being evaluated.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Growers Leading Change group is working to dispel the belief that minimum tillage is too challenging for crop establishment in parts of the lower North Island. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Marton grower David Lee-Jones tells Anna Heslop that having achieved comparable yields for maize, the group is now turning its attention to cereals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Southern Arable Hub at Knapdale near Gore was established by FAR early last year to provide a focus for Southland and South Otago arable farmers. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR deputy board chair and Southland farmer Steve Wilkins tells Anna Heslop that suggestions are sought from growers on planting options, including more marginal crops like maize.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growers often wait until they have a crisis with insecticide resistant pests before seeking to adopt Integrated Pest Management, says Australian IPM expert Paul Horne. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he suggests growers start small with one paddock and that beneficial insects are more abundant than people realise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A five-year weed survey has shown that resistance to commonly used herbicides is widespread on arable farms. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior field officer Ben Harvey tells Alison Stewart that by varying the rotation and herbicide chemistry, growers can reduce the risk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time of the year livestock are arriving on arable farms so it’s important that farmers have a feed plan prepared. In this episode of Cut the Crop, PGG Wrightson Seeds national technical manager Wayne Nichol tells Alison Stewart that most animal health issues occur when stock transition from pasture to specialty feed crops.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aphid Chat is FAR’s new web-based aphid information platform, designed to be a single source for all thing’s aphid. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Ben Harvey and Chris Smith of FAR tell Alison Stewart that by using the interactive platform, growers can calculate their risk level and whether an insecticide is required.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pre-emergence herbicides are a key component of grass and other weed control in cereal crops. However, increasing weed resistance to Group 1 and 2 herbicides means careful stewardship is required. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Bayer NZ market development agronomist Jonno Shields provides advice on ways to maintain the efficacy of herbicides.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year on and another harvest since devastating Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawkes Bay farmer Hugh Ritchie reflects on the progress made and the lessons learned. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he recommends focusing on building up organic matter in silt-affected soils.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FAR’s biosecurity officer Ash Mills is at the forefront of monitoring the spread of maize pest Fall armyworm and the crop damage it can cause. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that crop scouting for both Fall armyworm and beneficial insects is key for timely decision making on control optionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.