Arable Extra Issue 145: Spring nutrient requirement tips

Micronutrients are essential trace elements required by plants in very small quantities (mg/kg dry matter). They are critical for normal plant growth, development, and reproduction. Find out more about micronutrients here.

This fact sheet outlines the differences between urea, urease inhibitors, polymer coated urea (PCU), nitrification inhibitors, calcined ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate or sulphate of ammonia and compound fertilisers.

Plantain has become an increasingly important component of pasture seed mixes, driven in part by heightened environmental concerns regarding nitrate leaching from grazed pastoral systems. Nitrogen (N) fertiliser management is widely regarded as the principal agronomic lever for increasing plantain seed yield, especially in environments with low inherent soil fertility. This project aims to improve the agronomy of plantain seed production by identifying optimal biological and economic N application rates.

The moisture probe trial is back for 2025-26 season. We have moisture probes from different providers installed at our Chertsey research site. View the different companies dashboards here.

Ever wondered about your crop’s nutrient status? Grain nutrient analysis measures the final results of all the decisions you have made in growing your crop. FAR is again supporting growers who wish to submit grain and seed samples for nutrient analysis from the 2026 Harvest.

This arable extra outlines six steps to help you to reduce your nitrogen costs by factoring in what is in the soil using tests and tools available. 

This Herbage Update summarises findings from three seasons of irrigation on browntop trials in Canterbury, New Zealand.

This Herbage Update summarises three seasons of irrigation experiments investigating yield penalties from early versus late-season drought and identifying mechanisms to guide irrigation strategies for improved water-use efficiency.

This report outlines findings from the moisture probe trial including the performance of each of the systems tested in Year 2 (2024-25) and outlines key points to consider when choosing a moisture monitoring system based on findings from both year’s work.

With Spark and One NZ decommissioning their 2G and 3G networks across the country near the end of 2025. FAR has contacted the companies involved with the moisture probe trial to find out how it could affect your farm.