Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Over 600 farmers and industry personnel are expected at CROPS 2020 making it New Zealand’s largest one day agricultural extension field event. This year the focus is on the future of New Zealand cropping, with a range of expert speakers translating the latest research into practical ‘how to’ messages for arable growers.
Chief Executive of FAR, Dr Alison Stewart, says the arable industry’s importance to Kiwis has been highlighted this year as the Covid-19 lockdowns impacted food supplies.
“New Zealand’s $2.1 billion arable industry supplies key ingredients such as locally grown grains, which form an important part of many Kiwi’s diets.”
“The team at FAR are proud to recognise the role of the arable farmers whose efforts fuel our local economy, particularly in times of hardship and disruption such as those experienced this year. CROPS 2020 is our chance to acknowledge and applaud the resilience of our industry members,” says Dr Stewart.
Arable growers around the country supply grains and seeds for a wide range of bread and baked produce, beer and oils as well as providing critical grass seed and animal feed for the $20 billion livestock industry. While remaining relatively unknown to their fellow Kiwis, the 11,500 workers employed in the sector are global leaders in the production of carrot, radish, ryegrass and white clover seed as well as holding the world yield records for both wheat and barley.
“CROPS 2020 provides a much-needed social and educational event for our industry after a challenging year.”
“We’re excited to share our research findings, as well as our sponsor’s machinery, cultivar, agrichemical and other product demonstrations during the course of the day and we’ll also be welcoming participants to a celebration dinner to mark FAR’s quarter century of supporting the arable industry.”
CROPS 2020 is more than just an average field day, the programme is broad, touching on seed and cereal productivity, and environmental issues around soil and nutrients. Each speaker will present twice throughout the course of the day so that participants can attend as many talks as possible.
Since its inception in 2002, CROPS has become a ‘must-do’ on the agriculture calendar. Hosted at the FAR Arable Site in Chertsey, north of Ashburton, the day promises to provide an opportunity for industry members to enjoy a day away from the farm, taking the time to make important social connections as well as looking to the future of their business.
For more information on this event, visit the following website. https://www.far.org.nz/
About NZ’s Arable Industry
Arable production includes everything that is grown as a crop and harvested by combine. This includes cereals, maize, grass & legume seeds, and high value vegetable seeds. Arable crops are produced on 180,000 hectares of land around New Zealand with the bulk of cereal and seed production centred in Canterbury, Southland, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay. Maize is predominantly grown in the North Island but is becoming more common in the South Island.
Annual sales of arable products in New Zealand are approx. $800 million. Annual export sales, principally of high value seed, are $260 million per annum. A significant contributor to New Zealand’s economy, the annual direct and indirect spending associated with the arable industry is $2.1billion.
About the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR)
Formed in 1995, FAR (The Foundation for Arable Research) is the levy-funded research, development and extension organisation for the arable industry. FAR invests in research and extension to improve profitability, sustainability and resilience across the cropping industry.
For more information visit www.far.org.nz or join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundationforarableresearch/
