Growers set to benefit from Far's annual Southland Field Day

• Tuesday 2nd February 2010 at 1.30pm
• Meet at 29 North Chatton Road, RD3, Gore

The annual FAR South Otago/Southland Field Day gives growers the opportunity to come and see FAR’s trials in the region and implement the latest information to improve their own farm productivity.


The first stop will be kindly hosted by John Gardyne where growers will have an opportunity to view commercial autumn and spring sown oat crops and an oat trial. The next visit, kindly hosted by Steve Wilkins, will be to a commercial crop of barley and a commercial crop of peas under irrigation. The final stop will be made at Gary Collins’ farm where a tour of a commercial crop of wheat, oilseed rape, peas and autumn sown oats will take place.

There will also be an opportunity to view a GPS Self Steer demonstration with the chance to have some hands on experience!

Nick Pyke, FAR’s Chief Executive will discuss the latest in pea crop management and review recent disease survey data being conducted by FAR and PLANTwise. He says “the Southland Field Day has become a key event in growers’ diaries. It attracts growers from around the region and provides them with key research outcomes relevant to their climatic and growing conditions. I look forward to attending and sharing these outcomes with growers.”

Following the trials’ tour, sponsors GPS Control Systems, Harraways, Advance Agriculture Ltd, J P Marshall Grain and Townsend Seeds International Ltd have kindly agreed to supply a barbeque and refreshments which will give growers an opportunity to network and discuss their findings from the day. FAR staff will also be on hand to discuss any issues growers are currently facing.


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EDITOR’S NOTES


About FAR
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research and information transfer organisation, primarily responsible to New Zealand arable growers – providing independent, quality, cost effective research, to add value to the business of arable farming.
FAR was formed in 1995 and operates under the Commodity Levy Legislation. FAR is required to hold a referendum of growers every five years and in the referendum in 2005 had 80% support from arable farmers who voted on cereals and herbage and 60% on maize.

How FAR is funded:
An Arable Commodity Levy is collected at the first point of sale for all grain and seed. The levy rate for 2008 is:
Maize – 90c per 10,000 seeds purchased;
Herbage and amenity seed – 0.8% of sale value;
All other grain and seed crops (cereals, pulses etc) – 0.8% of sale value
Hybrid vegetable seed crops – 0.5% of sale value
There is no levy collection on onions

FAR also receives funds from research grants such as MAF SFF (MAF Sustainable Farming Fund) and Agmardt, commercial activities such as seminars and non-grower subscriptions and from other participants or beneficiaries of the research.

Crops FAR collects levies from:
Wheat, barley, oats, maize, pulses, herbage seeds, brassicas, borage and other arable crops. Vegetable seeds.

www.far.org.nz