A project coordinated by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) got off to a flying start last night with more than 35 young arable farmers, farm staff and industry personnel in attendance.

Those who attended this inaugural event have formed the basis for a group which will be known as ‘Arable Y's', New Zealand's next generation of arable farming.

The workshop which took place at the Hotel Ashburton presented three topics: growth stages and what they mean for developing yield, the Wheat Calculator and personality/communication.

A new book, Making Peas Pay, published this month by the Pea Industry Development Group (PIDG) will provide the latest research data and crop management information to growers and industry personnel to assist with maintaining higher yields and higher quality peas.

Almost seven years on, Canterbury women are still dedicated towards their business orientated discussion group held monthly at the Hotel Ashburton.

The group has historically been recognised as Active in Arable, but almost seven years on, its members made the decision to re-launch with a new name - Women in Arable.

‘Barley Crop Management' is just one of many workshops which the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) will be delivering to arable growers this season. The half day sessions are targeted at both new growers and those returning to the crop after a break in the last few years.

With grain prices reaching a record high this year, it appears that many farmers are turning to cropping. With more than 50 new growers having registered with FAR this month, and with many more still filtering through, one would consider this a clear endorsement of this.

Applications are open for the 2008 New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarships.  Farmers have until 2pm on August 29 to apply for New Zealand's most prestigious farming award.

Nuffield Farming Scholarships promote leadership and the implementation of innovative practices in agriculture through worldwide study and networking. The scholarships give successful applicants the opportunity to develop a better understanding of New Zealand and international relationships by studying farming, agricultural marketing or agricultural organisational practices.

Maize residue, the straw left over after grain harvest, is proving a popular form of feed for dry dairy cows. Despite the drought breaking rain in the Waikato last month, dry conditions still prevail and many farmers are struggling to build pasture cover for winter.

DairyNZ recommends maize residue as a feed option only where there is insufficient pasture cover on a dairy farm (less than 1700 kg DM/ha) and pasture silage or hay is not available. If the feed situation is better than this, other options will provide better use of time and money.

New Zealand's primary sector groups today released a document that reconfirms their commitment to the sustainable management of the nation's valuable freshwater resources. 

The release of the Primary Sector Water Partnership Leadership Document sets out a collective action plan which has been endorsed by all the partners. There are also some sector specific targets.

A project in the Waikato is developing options for dairy farmers concerned about nutrient management.

Good results are emerging from the study, which in the first year has tested if maize silage can be used to strip nutrients from high-fertility soils treated for some years with dairy shed effluent.

Crop & Food Research scientist Paul Johnstone says the work has highlighted the opportunities farmers have to manage nutrient loading and at the same time improve profitability.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and Environment Waikato are issuing a warning to all purchasers of baled sweetcorn and maize crop residue to be on the look out for two invasive  weeds, broomcorn millet and alligator weed.

Maize silage growers re-grassing for winter should be aware there may be more soil N available to their winter grass than they expect.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) says growers who have applied fertiliser N to their maize crops, but due of the drought have not achieved the yields they expected, should find that N still remains in the soil; and that N fertiliser is not lost.