Thursday 3rd December 2009 is FAR's major field event of the year
One again the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) has put together an outstanding programme for their key annual event, Combinable Crops 2009.
This event, which is to take place on Thursday 3rd December at the FAR Arable Research Site in Chertsey, provides arable farmers with an excellent opportunity to view current trials and hear up to date research findings from experts from around New Zealand and overseas.
Keynote speaker Jim Wilson of Soilessentials Precision Farming Solutions in the UK is often asked to present at conferences all around the world. Jim has over 10 years experience in providing precision farming solutions, his work sees him setting up large farm operations and problem solving smaller issues for farmers both in the UK and around the globe. Helping growers pick their way through the science, costs and accessible technology of precision farming and supporting businesses and the decisions that they must make based on the data that they have collected. He combines those rare qualities of, understanding the science and technology with being a practical farmer and an excellent communicator.
Other keynote speakers in the area of Precision Agriculture include Ian Yule from Massey University and Carolyn Hedley of Landcare. Jim Wilson and grower Craige Mackenzie will also provide a Crop Sensor demonstration and discussion during the afternoon.
With registration at 1pm, there will be ample opportunity for delegates to attend presentations running throughout the afternoon, sessions will include:
- Precision in Arable Farming - Current practice and future potential
- Crop Sensors - Fancy new toys or a genuine advance in better N use efficiency
- EM Mapping and its use for site specific crop management - with particular reference to current research in Variable Rate irrigation
- Soil Carbon and its relationship to climate change
- Disease Management/ Variety Interaction in Cereals
- Successful Pollination in the presence of varroa
- Improving water use efficiency - Making money with less water
- When do I wet my wheat? - Irrigation Trials
- Novel Chemistry to reduce Nitrogen input
- Maize - the other side of the coin - Maximising winter production with maize
- Strip Till and Advanced Farming Systems
- Closing Date and Moddus Rate
The open day will include demonstrations, discussions and hands-on workshops. A number of local speakers will also be discussing trial outcomes and a range of topics of foremost interest for farmers.
The day will also see the announcement of the FAR Researcher of the Year and presentations for other awards including FAR Studentships and Women in Arable.
The evening will conclude with a light hearted and entertaining address from Dick Tayler, best known for his triumph in the 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974.
Nick Pyke, FAR's Chief Executive says Combinable Crops is a key event in the calendar for farmers and industry personnel who are serious about the arable sector, ‘the day will provide attendees with the latest information on a broad range of topics which will help growers farm more productively " .
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their continued support; their collaboration makes it possible for us to bring along world experts in areas which are important for the future sustainability of New Zealand arable farming."
Ongoing sponsors of the FAR Chertsey Arable Site: BASF, PGG Wrightson, Zelam, CASE, Norwood Agriculture, Plains Irrigators Ltd and Plant & Food Research.