FAR Technical Report Issue 2 - Moisture Monitoring Project 2024/25

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.

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.

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.

Read the booklet for the 2025 autumn round up series here. 

FAR's technology manager Chris Smith gives you some tips and tricks to help you pick the best moisture sensor for your system.

In 2023, FAR set up a Moisture Monitoring project at its Kowhai Research Site in Lincoln to provide independent insights into the range of moisture monitoring systems available in New Zealand. This report covers findings from the first year of the trial and outlines key considerations when choosing a moisture monitoring system.

Pure Oil NZ and FAR are collaborating to monitor oilseed rape (OSR) paddocks to identify strategies to improve yields. Their work has identified that many growers could reduce the amount of nitrogen applied to OSR crops without impacting on yield or profit.

This Arable Extra discusses optimal nitrogen rates for crops based on 2024-25 fertiliser and crop prices.