From the Ground Up, Issue 83

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.

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.

View the latest AIMI Survey of Cereal and Maize Areas and Volumes to 1 July 2026.

If you’re an East Coast maize grower interested in improving nitrogen use efficiency, profitability and environmental outcomes, read on! FAR is offering several opportunities for maize growers to learn, collaborate and help shape future nitrogen management recommendations.

Here you can find the booklet for the 2026 maize winter workshops.

Plantain has become an increasingly important component of pasture seed mixes, driven in part by heightened environmental concerns regarding nitrate leaching from grazed pastoral systems. Nitrogen (N) fertiliser management is widely regarded as the principal agronomic lever for increasing plantain seed yield, especially in environments with low inherent soil fertility. This project aims to improve the agronomy of plantain seed production by identifying optimal biological and economic N application rates.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the main ryegrass species grown for seed in New Zealand, supporting both pasture and turf markets. Canterbury leads production, with around 12,000 ha sown annually. This study pulls together results from ten Canterbury field trials to assess how different fungicide programmes and timings affect seed yield. It compares early versus late applications and offers practical advice to help growers improve rust control and maximise returns.

Catch up on the booklet for the white clover seminar held April 2026. 

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

Find the booklet for the autumn round up 2026 event series here.