Mechanical weeding is being researched by FAR senior field research officer Charles Merfield (Merf) as a way of reducing herbicide applications. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that rather than being a relic of the past, the technology is advancing rapidly and can offer exceptional levels of weed control.

There is always plenty of interesting trial work happening at FAR’s two Canterbury research sites, Chertsey and Kowhai Farm near Lincoln. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Owen Gibson says that as well as cereal and herbage seed small plot trial work, technology is also being evaluated.

A Growers Leading Change group is working to dispel the belief that minimum tillage is too challenging for crop establishment in parts of the lower North Island. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Marton grower David Lee-Jones tells Anna Heslop that having achieved comparable yields for maize, the group is now turning its attention to cereals.

A Southern Arable Hub at Knapdale near Gore was established by FAR early last year to provide a focus for Southland and South Otago arable farmers. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR deputy board chair and Southland farmer Steve Wilkins tells Anna Heslop that suggestions are sought from growers on planting options, including more marginal crops like maize.

Growers often wait until they have a crisis with insecticide resistant pests before seeking to adopt Integrated Pest Management, says Australian IPM expert Paul Horne. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he suggests growers start small with one paddock and that beneficial insects are more abundant than people realise.

A five-year weed survey has shown that resistance to commonly used herbicides is widespread on arable farms. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR senior field officer Ben Harvey tells Alison Stewart that by varying the rotation and herbicide chemistry, growers can reduce the risk.

This time of the year livestock are arriving on arable farms so it’s important that farmers have a feed plan prepared. In this episode of Cut the Crop, PGG Wrightson Seeds national technical manager Wayne Nichol tells Alison Stewart that most animal health issues occur when stock transition from pasture to specialty feed crops.

Aphid Chat is FAR’s new web-based aphid information platform, designed to be a single source for all thing’s aphid. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Ben Harvey and Chris Smith of FAR tell Alison Stewart that by using the interactive platform, growers can calculate their risk level and whether an insecticide is required.

Pre-emergence herbicides are a key component of grass and other weed control in cereal crops. However, increasing weed resistance to Group 1 and 2 herbicides means careful stewardship is required. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Bayer NZ market development agronomist Jonno Shields provides advice on ways to maintain the efficacy of herbicides.

A year on and another harvest since devastating Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawkes Bay farmer Hugh Ritchie reflects on the progress made and the lessons learned. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he recommends focusing on building up organic matter in silt-affected soils.

FAR’s biosecurity officer Ash Mills is at the forefront of monitoring the spread of maize pest Fall armyworm and the crop damage it can cause. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that crop scouting for both Fall armyworm and beneficial insects is key for timely decision making on control options

The decision by ProductionWise’s owners, ReGrow, to discontinue the platform, has left many arable farmer users unsure of what to do next. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR CEO Alison Stewart provides advice on what to do with your data and what to look for in an alternative provider.

Following two visits by a team of Australian combine harvester specialists, FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith outlines key ways growers are reducing losses and improving harvesting efficiency and capacity. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop that adjustments of a few millimetres can make all the difference in terms of combine performance.

United States biologicals expert Connor Sible spoke at FAR’s maize conference about the huge market growth in these products. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that growers need to look beyond the marketing claims and improve their understanding of how they work.

In recent years the arable industry has faced biosecurity threats from an incursion of invasive arable weed black-grass and the discovery of tropical maize pest fall armyworm. To help fund the response, an arable biosecurity levy has been enacted. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Seed and Grain Readiness and Response chair Ivan Lawrie explains why it is needed.

Some European markets for high value vegetable seeds have banned the use of diquat, used to desiccate crops. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Nick Davies tells Anna Heslop that while there is no agronomic reason to use something else, alternatives are being trialled so growers have an option if a ban is implemented.

FAR senior cereals researcher Jo Drummond has taken a look back at how crop disease control strategies have evolved over the last 50 years. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she tells Alison Stewart that the threat of fungicide resistance in key Mode of Action groups means growers need to do all they can to protect chemistry and cultivars to retain their long-term use.

 Autumn management is critical for seed head formation in tall fescue and cocksfoot, but less so in other grass species. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Richard Chynoweth of FAR details how to encourage early tiller development, while FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith provides some tips on how to get the best out of soil moisture probes.

Weeds are a significant challenge in wheat production, particularly as resistance to herbicides becomes more widespread. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Matilda Gunnarsson of FAR and Pieter-Willem Hendriks of Lincoln University discuss research focused on making wheat plants more competitive.

FAR researcher Abie Horrocks is trialling the oversowing of a legume in ryegrass regrowth after harvest as a way of extending the value of ryegrass seed crops. In this episode of Cut the Crop, she tells Anna Heslop that it is showing promise as a management tool, adding nitrogen and improving feed.

Passing the farm on to the next generation can be a complex and sometimes difficult exercise. In this episode of Cut the Crop, Rural Coach partner Chris Coughlan who advises on succession planning says that communication is key and people come first, before structure and legal documentation.

FAR’s maize expert David Densley looks back at three years of maize research as well as future possibilities. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that the main focus remains profitability, resilience and the environment.

Vulpia hairgrass is a common and problematic grass weed in ryegrass seed crops, while the parasitic weed small broomrape is becoming an increasing issue in clover seed crops. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR researcher Sean Weith and Nick Davies of AgResearch talk about why these weeds are hard to control and chemistry they are trialling.

FAR is holding its 2024 maize conference in Hamilton on February 12-13. In this episode of Cut the Crop, FAR’s senior maize researcher David Densley says the conference has everything from international speakers on precision ag and biologicals, to grower discussion panels and a research site visit.

Visiting English arable farmer Rob Waterston says that the prevalence of invasive crop weed black-grass as well as the loss of traditional crop chemistry is forcing UK growers to change their rotation and management. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Alison Stewart that environmental payments are also influencing crop choice.