Foundation for Arable Research

 

Who We Are

 
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research organisation responsible to New Zealand arable growers and is involved in funding of arable and maize research and technology transfer. FAR was formed in 1995 and operates under the Commodity Levy Legislation. FAR needs to hold a referendum of growers every five years and in the referendum in 2011, FAR received over 85% support from arable growers who voted and 70% support from maize growers who voted.
 

How FAR is funded

An Arable Commodity Levy is collected at the first point sale for all grain and seed, with the exception of maize which is collected on the seed purchased. The levy rates for 2012 will remain the same as 2011 at:
  • Maize - 90c per 10,000 seeds purchased.
  • Herbage and amenity seed - 0.8% of sale value.
  • All other grain and seed crops (cereals, pulses etc) - 0.8% of sale value.
  • Open pollinated vegetable seed crops - 0.8% of sale value.
  • Hybrid vegetable seed crops - 0.5% of sale value.
  • Onion seed crops will be zero rated.
  • FAR also receives funds from research grants, co-operative research and information sales.

 

Crops FAR collects levies from:

Wheat, Barley, Oats, Maize, Pulses, Herbage seeds, Brassicas, Borage and other arable crops. Vegetable seeds.
 
 

Structure

Arable Research Groups (ARG's)

Groups of growers elected by growers in six regions, responsible for organising local activities (eg. Seminars/field days), updating mailing lists, and identifying research priorities.
 

Strategic Research Committee

The FAR Strategic Research Committee (SRC) helps to ensure FAR invests in quality strategic research and extension activties which will deliver benefits to New Zealand arable farmers.
 
The SRC is comprised of selected farmers, FAR staff, research and industry personnel who are expected to provide a range of skills needed to have robust discussions and make decisions in relation to future research investments.
 
The SRC meets three times a year to visit field trials and meet with research providers, review project results and decide on research investment. Contact details for the SRC can be obtained form FAR.
 

FAR Board

Consists of the chairperson of each Arable Research Group and commodity/industry representatives.
 
 

Objectives

  • Develop and maintain an accurate mail list.
  • Develop a technical information database - including FAR funded research, data from other NZ sources and data from overseas researchers.
  • Communicate with growers using the most effective medium - Arable Updates, Arable Extras, newsletters, books, ARGs, media (newspapers, radio, television), internet, email, video, field days and seminars, discussion groups and workshops, conferences, training courses and demonstration research.
  • Develop effective communication strategies - with researchers, government, industry groups (seed companies, chemical companies, grower groups etc), both in NZ and overseas (including levy funded groups) and, where possible, develop cooperative research programmes.
  • Develop effective communication strategies with other related sectors such as the pastoral industries, vegetable industry etc and identify and cooperatively fund joint research and information transfer initiatives.
 

Areas of Research Funded

1. New innovative products - innovation with seed and food/smart products for the future

  • Endophyte
  • Vegetable seed
  • Cereal seed
  • Advanced seed production
  • Protein sources
  • Health foods
  • Grain products for changing dietary demands
  • Bio-pestices from biomass

2. Feeding environmentally friendly dairy and intensive livestock  industries

  • Supplements
  • Additives
  • Replacements
  • New markets

3. Building better and more robust farms

  • Innovative farming practices inc remote sensing, intercropping/multipe crops, precision agriculture, bioenergy
  • Sustainable farming systems inc water, innovative crop establishment, maintaining and building soil carbon, optimising nutrient use, reducing on farm energy use, protecting and building from biodiversity, the role of animals
  • Crop productivity inc species and cultivars, managing weeds, pests and diseases, crop input demands, marketable products

4. Delivering benefits and outcomes

  • Marketing your products/business
  • Future planning
  • Cost of production and benchmarking
  • People management

 

How is information transferred?

  • Mail-outs - quarterly newsletter, Arable Updates (over 500 since 1995).
  • Seminars
  • Field-days and Discussion Groups
  • Workshops
  • Media (radio, television, consumer and trade press)
  • Web site at www.far.org.nz.
  • Books
  • Conferences
  • Weekly email updates
 
Electronic subscriptions to FAR information for NZ industry representaives is available free of charge at the discretion of FAR.
 

Why do Research in NZ?

Research in New Zealand:
 
  • Can be very cost-effective due to exchange rates, availability of quality cost-effective research providers and land.
  • Can allow you to produce two seasons' data in one year.
  • Can help to develop a data set which will aid the registration, promotion or release of new products for the New Zealand market.
  • Can be effective in early screening for suitability of products for New Zealand conditions.
  • Will be in a GE-free field environment.
 

Benefits FAR offers

  • FAR can provide a total, independent New Zealand research management service - this includes identifying the best research provider, developing research contracts and effective costings, monitoring research planning and trial design, monitoring in-field research quality and progress reporting, interpreting data and ensuring reporting requirements are met and determining the correct conclusions are reached.
  • FAR can often keep the costs of research to a minimum by incorporating treatments, such as the evaluation of agrichemicals or cultivars, into existing or planned research projects.
  • Research results from FAR trials are viewed as independent and credible by New Zealand arable farmers, aiding the marketing of products to this group.
  • FAR can ensure confidentiality of results from research where required.
  • FAR is successful in communication and technology transfer to user groups.
 
For further information please contact: Nick Pyke, Chief Executive (pyken@far.org.nz)