FAR Focus 4 - Irrigation Management for Cropping: A growers guide

Welcome to the Winter 2026 edition of From the Ground Up.

Eight award winners were named on Thursday night (20 August, 2026) and four people/couples were inducted into the Arable Industry Hall of Fame.

Managing runoff and critical source areas (CSAs) on arable farms requires site-specific solutions. A one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective because of the wide variation in soil types, cropping systems, and environmental conditions across farms.

Row spacing is an important management strategy in white clover (Trifolium repens) seed crops. Stolons grow outward from the crown of the plant into the space between rows. Nodes produced along the stolon bear either vegetative axillary growth (e.g. a branch) or a reproductive leaf-flower combination. The more nodes that are produced per stolon, and subsequently per unit area, the greater opportunity for flower production and thereby seed yield. In theory, wider row spacing should produce more flowers/m2 due to more space for stolon proliferation.

Crop Action keeps you up to date with arable crop development and actions right across New Zealand.

Check out the booklet from the Sprayers 101 workshops booklet here. 

A FAR project is helping arable and dairy farmers understand more about the greenhouse gas emissions associated with growing and using feed wheat, feed barley, maize grain and maize silage.

The AIMI survey of New Zealand cereal growers, as at July 1, 2026 is now available online.

Crop Action keeps you up to date with arable crop development and actions right across New Zealand.

Did you know that FAR has a fund to support growers who wish to attend relevant international conferences and events?