Latest results to be revealed at the FAR Maize Conference 2009
Maize – a global crop in a changing world. That’s the theme for the Foundation for Arable Research’s (FAR) fourth maize conference which will be held in Hamilton on 18th and 19th February 2009.
The conference will be held at Mystery Creek Convention Centre in Hamilton, the same venue FAR used for its very successful Maize Conference in 2006, which was attended by over 350 delegates.
The programme consists of two full days which will be a mix of indoor and in-field presentations. “We are delighted to be hosting a great range of speakers, several from overseas, who will be speaking on a range of relevant, practical topics on maize research and management and ways to capitalise on the changes facing the global maize industry,” says Andrea Pearson, FAR’s Maize Research Coordinator.
“This conference aims to highlight the potential of maize, due to its versatility, to continue to be a major crop in the New Zealand farming environment. Sustainable maize production is foremost in producers’ minds, as is the incorporation of new technologies and market opportunities. This conference will cover aspects of maize production for both grain and silage. It is important for the maize industry as a whole to evaluate new market opportunities and maintain up-to -date knowledge on all aspects of maize production if the industry is to remain competitive and sustainable.”
Hon David Carter, Minister of Agriculture will officially open the conference on the morning of Wednesday 18th February followed by representatives from the maize industry in the US, UK, Germany and Australia who will all give their viewpoint on the maize production in their respective countries.
Prof. Bob Nielsen of Purdue University in Indiana has been extremely popular with New Zealand maize growers and will again join us to discuss how we can achieve our potential yield.
James Booker of Lincoln University is currently carrying out a study on the importance of the maize industry to the New Zealand economy; the results of this study will be released at the conference.
The first field trip will take place on the afternoon of 18th February at the FAR Waikato Arable Research Site where delegates will learn about maximising yield potential. A mix of local and international speakers will focus on topics such as diseases in maize, climate change, tillage options, weed management and spray technology.
Session one of day two will look at the changing world, focussing on topics such as genetic engineering, new agricultural technologies and climate change. Delegates can have their say through a panel discussion after the session. Delegates will then have the option to learn more about trends in the livestock and food grain industries, both nationally and overseas or can hear more about the feed value of maize and using it to increase profit and environmental performance in dairy and beef cattle production.
The final part of the conference will involve a trip to Dairy NZ’s Scott Farm where a number of speakers will focus on growing and using maize on dairy farms.
A conference dinner will take place at Le Grand Boutique Hotel, Hamilton on the evening of Wednesday 18th February. We are fortunate to have secured ANZ National Bank Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie who will highlight the bank’s economic forecasts for the New Zealand maize industry.
Sponsors of the conference include: Pioneer Brand Products, Case IH, Nufarm, New Holland, Landpower, Corson Grain, Allied Grain, Environment Waikato, Four Seasons Agriculture, Rorisons RMD, Alltech, TAG and Rural Supplies, John Austin Ltd, Hill Laboratories, PGG Wrightson Grain, Plant & Food Research, Ballance, Dairy NZ, Agmardt, HSR Seeds and Agrecovery. Nick Pyke, FAR’s Chief Executive comments, “On behalf of FAR I’d like to extend my thanks to all our sponsors for their continued support. This is extremely important in the running of our Maize conferences and as such, allows us to create a very valuable and motivating conference for New Zealand Maize Growers.”