The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research and information transfer organisation responsible primarily to New Zealand arable growers.
There are over 2,700 farmers in New Zealand involved in arable cropping activities, with combined farm gate sales of approximately NZ $1Bn, including cereal grains, pulses, maize grain and specialised seed crops for export and domestic markets. Annual crops are grown from the northernmost parts of New Zealand down to Southland, with maize being the dominant crop in the North Island whereas cereal grains (wheat, barley) and seed production (grass seeds, legume seeds and vegetable seeds) is carried out mainly in Canterbury and Southland.
We have been made aware of the identification of a single brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in the Bay of Plenty.
The single live male BMSB was found on a private property in Mount Maunganui on 15 December. It's not known where the stink bug came from and inquiries are continuing to try to determine a pathway. The investigation to date has found no evidence of an established BMSB population.
Biosecurity New Zealand is laying special traps designed specifically to lure brown marmorated stink bugs in an area in Mount Maunganui, following the detection. This is a precautionary step following this detection.
FAR is an Incorporated Society which operates under a Constitution. Following our external review and in order to ensure that we comply with new legislation governing Incorporated Societies, we plan to make amendments to the Constitution at our AGM in December. We believe that the proposed changes will enhance the governance of FAR and provide growers with greater membership rights.
Key proposed changes
All levy paying growers will become official members of the Incorporated Society. Members will be able to nominate themselves or other members onto their respective Arable Research Group (ARG). Members will be able to attend the AGM and table items for discussion.
The seven ARGs will remain in place. Each ARG will be able to nominate three ARG reps to sit on the Members Council and one ARG rep to sit on the Research and Development Advisory Committee (RDAC). ARG chairs will no longer automatically go on to the FAR Board. Regional representation will occur at the RDAC and Members Council levels and the Board will be skills based.
The RDAC will be made up of a representative from each of the seven ARGs and up to seven other appointed members from industry etc. The RDAC provides input into research priorities and makes recommendations to the Board and Senior Management. ARG representation on the RDAC ensures growers' voices are heard on issues of research prioritisation.
The Members Council (21 elected members from the ARGs) selects Board members and members of the Board Nomination and Remuneration Committee (N&RC)
The N&RC is a subcommittee of the Members Council that deals with board nomination and remuneration.
The Governance Board will be skills based. It will include five to nine Directors, of which the majority must be levy paying directors. The chair of the board will be a levy payer. Read proposed new Constitution here
