After three successful referendums and almost 16 years of research to benefit the arable and maize communities of New Zealand, the Foundation for Arable Research is preparing for its fourth referendum of growers which will occur in August this year.
FAR CEO Nick Pyke, who has been with FAR since its inception says FAR has provided significant opportunities for farmers in the areas of crop productivity, sustainable farming practice, improving grain and seed quality, innovation and more recently in the areas of business, such as marketing and succession planning. "We have developed a strategic research and extension portfolio for the next five years which aims to deliver further benefits to New Zealand arable and maize growers. We have a number of exciting and innovative developments which aim to create new opportunities for our industry in the coming years.
"Although New Zealand is a small producer of most products, it is a large producing nation of white clover and carrot seed and is the third largest producer of grass seed. Yields are extremely high due to the favourable climate, effective use of irrigation and extremely skilled producers. A New Zealand farmer holds the world record for wheat production at 15.6 t/ha and perennial ryegrass seed yields are often in excess of 2 t/ha, well in excess of yields elsewhere in the world. Maize grain and silage yields are frequently well in excess of those achieved by dedicated corn growers elsewhere in the world. Productivity increases in the last 12 years have been phenomenal; wheat yields have increased by 250 kg/ha per year (4% p.a.), ryegrass at 42 kg/ha per year (3% p.a.), while yields for some crops, for example maize, appear to have stagnated even though there is continuing genetic improvement. In parallel with increased yields have been reduced inputs and improvements in input use through greater efficiency of tillage and better timed and targeted fertiliser, water and agrichemicals. The quality of products produced has also improved significantly, particularly seed quality, where not only is there a requirement for high viability and purity but, for many grass seed products, there is a requirement for high endophyte viability as well."
All arable and maize growers will have the opportunity to vote for the continuation of FAR, and in addition, the voting will be extended to include all cereal silage growers; FAR research investment directly related to cereal silage to date has been around the time of harvest for different cultivars. "We are encouraging all cereal silage, arable and maize growers who are not currently receiving information from FAR to register so they are able to vote. In the referendum in 2005 FAR was encouraged by an excellent voter turnout with 80% support for the arable levy. We have built on that support in the last five years and encourage farmers to participate in the 2011 referendum" Pyke says.
FAR chairman Stuart Wright stressed "While looking for opportunities in the arable industry is one of FAR's key functions, maintaining solid on farm research projects is FAR's core business and has been the major focus of its staff over the years. As we approach this levy referendum it is crucial that our levy payers understand, are well informed on research matters and have the opportunity to have input into deciding what research projects are undertaken. As Chairman I am confident that we are doing all we can to meet these requirements. The FAR levy must be seen as an investment, not a cost to all our farmers' businesses."
Ian Gavin who farms at Gordonton says "Over the years my FAR levy has more than paid for itself due to the savings I've been able to make from the results of just one FAR research project, namely the starter fertiliser trials for maize. That work gave me the confidence to look at starter fertiliser quite differently than I had previously."
Murray Kelly Research Agronomist with PGG Wrightson Seeds says there have been some really positive changes with FAR in recent years. "FAR has done a lot of very, very good work on environmental issues, notably with respect to nitrogen use and leaching potential, and in promoting good soil management and IPM systems. There's no way the seed industry could have done this work itself. FAR has shown real leadership there, and I'm impressed with that. Also, in the area of seed production research, there is real co-operation between FAR and the industry. It's a very collaborative approach that has been recognised internationally. If we go to overseas conferences, we go there as NZ Inc, and organisations from other parts of the world are quite open in their admiration of the way we're doing things."
For more information or to register please contact FAR by phoning 03 325 6353 or emailfar@far.org.nz
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