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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.

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  • FAR Conference registrations open now!

    A Scottish cereal disease expert, New Zealand’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, a toxicology expert and a future focused farm consultant will all give keynote addresses at the FAR Conference, New Zealand arable industry’s premier event, in June.

    Research Leading Change is the theme for FAR’s conference, which is being held at Lincoln University at the end of June (27-28 June, 2019).Organiser Anna Heslop says the theme was selected to highlight the role of research in identifying the origin of a range of production and environmental issues and in finding solutions for them.

    The conference will have three formal sessions, an afternoon of field visits and a conference dinner. The sessions will focus on Soil Water and Nutrients; Crop Protection and Innovation and Technology.

    We are pleased to announce our keynote speakers are Professor Fiona Burnett, who chairs the UK Fungicide Resistance Action Group; the Hon Simon Upton, New Zealand’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Professor Ian Shaw, a toxicology expert from Canterbury University, and Andy Macfarlane, from Macfarlane Rural Business.

    For full details and to register, go to the Events page on this website.

  • Extreme fire danger

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand have issued a Fire Danger Outlook for the coming month, noting that any rain today and over the weekend will have minimal effect in reducing the extreme fire danger levels in many areas. Prohibited fire seasons (Total Fire Bans) are now in place in many areas, with Restricted in others. Remember to visit www.checkitsalright.nz before undertaking any crop residue burn and take extra care with any activity that could create a spark and cause an unintentional fire.

    The www.checkitsalright.nz allows you to check fire restrictions in your district and to apply for a burning permit to burn crop residue. It only takes a few minutes to fill in the on-line form and you should receive your fire permit by email within a few days.

    • There is no charge for a fire permit.
    • Only one permit is required for the whole of the fire season

    Before burning

    • Prepare your paddock correctly with cultivated fire breaks, water on site etc.
    • Check the weather forecast, wind direction etc
    • Go checkitsalright.nz to see whether a prohibited fire season has been declared.
    • You also need to comply with city/district and regional council burning restrictions, including requirements relating to smoke nuisance and controls under the Resource Management Act.
    • Have your permit with you, in either paper or electronic form, from the time you start preparing your fire to the time that it is put out.

    Fire danger outlook South Island, Feb 2019

    Fire danger outlook North Island, Feb 2019

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