From the Ground Up, Issue 84

Farmers face three levels of biosecurity risk; regional biosecurity incursion risk; border biosecurity, regional biosecurity and on-farm biosecurity. This Maize update discusses the importance of on-farm biosecurity, the one factor you have control over.

The AIMI survey of New Zealand cereal growers, as at 1 July, 2024 is now available online.

This book outlines trial-specific yields and individual cultivar disease ratings for spring sown wheat and barley cultivars included in the 2024-2025 CPT trials.

High rainfall across most regions created challenges throughout the growing season, with sowing in some cases delayed until late November. Weather conditions also impacted crop management during the season.

The Autumn Cereal Cultivar Evaluation Book for 2024/25 is now available to read.

Planting a crop consisting of multiple cereal cultivars (cultivar mixtures) enhances genetic diversity, which can improve both seasonal and long-term agronomic performance and slow or reduce disease spread. To assess the viability of this approach for feed wheat production under current commercial conditions in New Zealand, FAR conducted a series of field trials in Chertsey, Mid Canterbury, between 2021 and 2024.

Keep up with the latest fall armyworm updates for the 2024/25 season, including regional updates and cultural control options for FAW.  

This Maize Update discusses key issues for consideration in the choice and establishment of over-winter cover crops, along with the results of a five-year trial at FAR’s Northern Crops Research Site which researched the potential for over-winter cover crops to suppress weeds in the following no-till maize grain crop.

Watch the recording for a webinar with FAR Senior Field Officer Ben Harvey on managing herbicide resistance pre-autumn sowing, covering what is herbicide resistance and methods to reduce the risk of herbicide resistance.

This FAR Focus on maize weed management covers research on issues maize growers currently face, including; Herbicide resistance, problem weeds, herbicide options and on-farm biosecurity.