It's all go for CROPS 2020 at Chertsey on Wednesday (2 December). This year the event doubles as FAR's 25th birthday celebration.
Over 600 farmers and industry personnel are expected at CROPS 2020 making it New Zealand's largest one day agricultural extension field event. This year the focus is on the future of New Zealand cropping, with a range of expert speakers translating the latest research into practical ‘how to’ messages for arable growers.
FAR CEO, Alison Stewart, says the arable industry’s importance to Kiwis has been highlighted this year as the Covid-19 lockdowns impacted food supplies.
“New Zealand’s $2.1 billion arable industry supplies key ingredients such as locally grown grains, which form an important part of many Kiwi’s diets.”
“The team at FAR are proud to recognise the role of the arable farmers whose efforts fuel our local economy, particularly in times of hardship and disruption such as those experienced this year. CROPS 2020 is our chance to acknowledge and applaud the resilience of our industry members,” says Dr Stewart.
Arable growers around the country supply grains and seeds for a wide range of bread and baked produce, beer and oils as well as providing critical grass seed and animal feed for the $20 billion livestock industry. While remaining relatively unknown to their fellow Kiwis, the 11,500 workers employed in the sector are global leaders in the production of carrot, radish, ryegrass and white clover seed as well as holding the world yield records for both wheat and barley.
“CROPS 2020 provides a much-needed social and educational event for our industry after a challenging year.”
“We’re excited to share our research findings, as well as our sponsor’s machinery, cultivar, agrichemical and other product demonstrations during the course of the day and we’ll also be welcoming participants to a celebration dinner to mark FAR’s quarter century of supporting the arable industry.”
CROPS 2020 is more than just an average field day, the programme is broad, touching on seed and cereal productivity, and environmental issues around soil and nutrients. Each speaker will present twice throughout the course of the day so that participants can attend as many talks as possible.
Since its inception in 2002, CROPS has become a 'must-do' on the agriculture calendar. Hosted at the FAR Arable Site in Chertsey, north of Ashburton, the day promises to provide an opportunity for industry members to enjoy a day away from the farm, taking the time to make important social connections as well as looking to the future of their business.