Cut the Crop‪!‬ Foundation for Arable Research (NZ)

Visiting United States Professor of Agricultural Communications Dwayne Cartmell says that US farmers, like their Kiwi counterparts, often feel that the general public doesn’t understand what they do. In this episode of Cut the Crop, he tells Anna Heslop that farmers need to tell their stories without getting bogged down in science, or getting defensive.

Birds provide biodiversity, but on arable farms can cause significant crop losses and farmers have few options for effectively controlling bird damage. In this episode of Cut the Crop, University of Canterbury masters student Fergus Lowen outlines his study comparing common bird deterrents and bird activity in exotic and native hedgerows.

 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.