Board of FAR

  • Portrait of Stuart Wright

    Stuart Wright

    Chairman / Northern South Island
    Stuart farms 450 ha in partnership with his brother in Sheffield in Central Canterbury and represents the Northern South Island on the FAR Board. The major arable crops grown are winter wheat, barley, peas, white clover and annual ryegrass. The farm aims to finish up to 10,000 lambs a year and is a major producer of seed potatoes. Stuart has significant interest in research and the effective delivery of benefits from research using electronic systems. Stuart is a past Nuffield Scholar.

  • Portrait of David Grant

    David Grant

    Mid Canterbury
    Dave is an arable farmer from Methven growing a wide range of arable crops. He joined the FAR board in 2003. Dave has hosted FAR trials on his property for a number of years and has had involvement in a number of project management groups. Dave was one of the farmers who was responsible for the development of the Arable Site in Chertsey. Dave is involved in a number of other community groups in the Methven area.

  • Portrait of Colin Jackson

    Colin Jackson

    Northern North Island
    Colin is a dairy farmer and maize grower from near Otorohanga. He grows maize for the grain market and silage (for own use) on the family property near Kihikihi. Colin does most of the ground preparation and planting, and employs a contractor for harvest. He has had FAR funded trials on his property for a number of years. Colin is also a member of the Allied Grain Board.

  • Portrait of Russell Fleming

    Russell Fleming

    Southern North Island
    Russell Fleming is involved in the family business in the Manawatu. He brings a wide range of skills and an excellent knowledge of the region and issues facing the region to the board. The business involves growing, harvesting, drying and storing maize both on their own account and as contractors for a number of farmers. This involves growing maize on a range of soil types for both grain and silage and coping with a range of microclimates (including last year's floods). In addition the contracting business is involved in baleage, maize silage harvesting and trading, harvesting of other cereal crops and transportation. Russell has had a significant involvement with FAR having been a member of the Maize Research Committee since its inception, organised field days and hosted on farm trials.

  • Portrait of Colin Hurst

    Colin Hurst

    South Canterbury / North Otago
    Colin farms with his father at Makikihi in South Canterbury. Colin grows a range of cereal and herbage seed crops on the mixed arable farm and also runs a seed cleaning business. He has been involved in FAR activities for a number of years and ha s had a number of research trials on the farm in that time.

  • Portrait of Howard Clarke

    Howard Clarke

    South Otago / Southland
    Howard Clarke farms at Oreti in Southland. As well as running the arable farm Howard is a partner in Advance Agriculture a company involved in the sales and distribution of agrichemicals to farmers throughout Southland. He also has an interest in horse-racing and involvement in breeding, training and racing thoroughbreds. Howard has wide experience with FAR as he has been a member of the Pulses Research Committee, the Cereals Research Committee and has had significant involvement in FAR extension activities throughout the South Island, including a major role in organising and supporting field days in Southland in the last two years. Howard is also a board member of Crops for Southland.

  • Portrait of John Wright

    John Wright

    United Wheat Growers
    John farms as part of Wright Farms in Methven. This is a diverse farming business with good linkages to the supply chain. As well as growing a wide range of arable crops the farm operates a seed cleaning and dressing plant and a feed mill. John has interest in levy funded research bodies and their investment in basic research and was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to study this topic. John is also Chairman of United Wheatgrowers.

  • Portrait of Barry McCarter

    Barry McCarter

    Appointed Industry Representative 
    Barry has over 30 years of experience in the arable farming sector. During this period he has been actively involved in breeding, research evaluation, seed production and marketing of a range of row crops including maize, wheat and barley.Barry is currently a member of the executive of the NZGSTA and is employed as the Maize Product Manager for Genetic Technologies Limited.

  • Portrait of Dr Mike Dunbier

    Dr Mike Dunbier

    Appointed Member
    Mike has significant experience in research and extension for the arable industry, both in New Zealand and overseas, through his past role as CEO of Crop & Food Research. Mike was a board member of GRDC in Australia. More recently Mike has remained actively involved in science planning through his consultancy business in Christchurch and holds directorships on Sunprime in Australia and Dairy InSight.