A D D I N G VA L U E T O T H E B U S I N E S S O F C R O P P I N G

Foundation for Arable Research PO Box 23133

Templeton Christchurch 8445

Phone: 64 3 345 5783

Fax: 64 3 341 7061 Text: 64 275 ARABLE Visit: www.far.org.nz

From the Ground Up ISSN 2324-1411 (Print)

ISSN 2324-142X (Online)

In this issue:• Biosecurity update

• N on ryegrass

• Microbial seed treatments

A D D I N G V A L U E T O T H E B U S I N E S S O F C R O P P I N G

From the Ground UpISSUE 86 I Winter 2016

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1 mmBruchus pisorum: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae ‘Pea Weevil’

ContentsThis Issue

3 Visit to UK counterparts

4 Great people

5 A word from the Chairman

6 MPI Biosecurity 2025 discussion document released

7 No peas, no weevils

8 Velvetleaf management plans imperative

9 Black-grass update

10 Nitrogen application on ryegrass

11 Industry ambassadors

12 Compaction and herbicide resistance Maize issues in USA and Canada

13 Warm winter increases pests and disease in autumn sown cereals

14 Novel microbial seed treatments

15 Save the date - upcoming FAR events

16 A bus man’s holiday

17 Cultivar performance

18 Potato research update

20 Water extraction of wheat on soils withdifferingstonecontent

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Visit to UK counterpartsRecently I was lucky enough to visit the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in the UK. The AHDB is a combined organisation representing eight levy funded primary industries from various geographic areas within the UK: Cereals and oilseeds, potatoes, horticulture, mushrooms, beef, lamb, pork and dairy. These various groups have only come together over recent years and they are currently in the process of amalgamating provision of corporate services around such things as market information, communication, digital media etc.

I met with staff from Cereals and Oilseeds and Potatoes, the two groups whose growers, research and extension are most closely aligned to FAR’s. Like FAR, their role is to invest levy funds into research and extension with the aim of providing growers with independent, evidence-based information and tools to help them to grow competitive and sustainable businesses. Also, like us, they try to steer away from advocacy, which is done by their National Farmers Union.

UK cereal and oilseed growers are facing many of the same issues as growers here and AHDB research focuses on productivity, cost management and resource use efficiency, which covers issues such as adaptation to and mitigation of climate change and managing soils and water. Pest and disease management is another key focus, with access to agrichemicals under increasing public scrutiny.

AHDB’s Potato Group has a similar remit, delivering research and innovation around production agronomy, plant health, crop protection and crop storage.

AHDB extension has a strong focus on demonstration and monitor farms. They have nearly 30 cereal and oilseed monitor farms, each of which has its own steering group and runs regular meetings and field days. Where possible they try to have all growers within 45 minutes of their nearest monitor farm. Last year they also introduced Strategic Potato (Spot) Farms. These commercial farms pick up the latest research findings and demonstrate them in real time and under real conditions.

FAR benefits greatly from meeting with our Northern Hemisphere counterparts to compare notes and, often, to collaborate on research and extension projects. We, in turn, are pleased to welcome them to New Zealand to share their knowledge with us, and often with you as well, at conferences and field events.

Anna Heslop

22 Farming smarter with ProductionWise®

22 Future cropping options

23 Arable kids competition

25 FAR Board

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Cover photo: Typical grass grub damage in young barley.

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Great peopleThe success of the New Zealand primary cropping is driven by a key asset…people. We have exceptional farmers who are progressive and highly skilled. We also have some very capable people helping to take our industry forward within our supporting industries. The challenge for our industry is to ensure we continue to attract, train and retain the best people for the future. Increasingly young people in New Zealand have an urban upbringing and have limited exposure to agriculture, and in particular to cropping, so it is a challenge to attract them to agriculture and more specifically to our industry. In short, we need great people to deliver the great high quality products to the market. What are some of the things FAR does to help?

Women in ArableThis group has also grown from small beginnings and provides the opportunity for women in the industry to share knowledge and experiences, and to up-skill in a number of areas throughout the year. Like Arable Ys, Women in Arable is based in Canterbury. This group has recently held meetings in Southland following demand from a group in that region.

NuffieldandKelloggA number of cropping farmers have received Nuffield Scholarships and these farmers have often brought new ideas back to New Zealand which are incorporated into our farming systems. FAR have supported Nuffield in recent years and recently extended to support Kellogg as well. Both of these programmes are important in developing industry leaders and it is important that there are farmers and industry people applying to, and participating in, these courses in the future.

PICAIN 2015 FAR joined the Primary Industries Capability Alliance (PICA). This group, which also works under the brand Growing New Zealand, has been set up to coordinate primary industry efforts in encouraging young people into primary industry careers in the coming years.

These are just some of the ways we help ensure there are people with the skills we need in our industry. The small size of the sector provides significant opportunity for farmers and companies to develop a culture of collaboration.

We need to celebrate the success of people within our industry and welcome your interest in being involved in any of these programmes.

Nick Pyke

Industry graduatesFAR has developed a year-long industry graduate programme. Each year we select recent university graduates and involve them in all aspects of FAR activities over a year. This includes having their own research project. At the end of the year we hope they will be employed in the industry and continue to increase their skills to help the industry. Although only in the second year, this programme has been very successful to date.

PhDFAR is currently supporting a few PhD projects. One of these is with our own staff member Richard Chynoweth and others are on projects such as understanding the genetics of shattering in grasses and soil borne diseases of potatoes. The results of these research projects will be of benefit to growers and we also hope to retain the knowledge and skills of these graduates within the industry.

Canterbury University Engineering StudentsFor the last three years FAR has supported one or two final year engineering student projects. This is a great opportunity for the industry to develop new engineering solutions for cropping. In the first year the students developed Hydrofix, a water filled bag to secure irrigators in strong winds. This year the two groups of students are working on a novel solution to bird scaring and an innovative way to manage tractor wheel slip. We hope as a result of exposing these students to agriculture they will continue to work in agricultural engineering.

Arable YsArable Ys is a real success story. It combines the opportunity for young growers, industry personnel and students to learn new skills or refresh existing ones and interact in a social environment. Arable Ys has now been operational for seven years and is attracting increasing numbers of people to meetings and on trips. This year members of the group will have a field trip to and around Southland, with members from Canterbury being joined by people from the North Island and Southland.

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Whether you believe in climate change or not, this winter has been unusually warm and we are all wondering what the coming season has in store for us. While most of the country has had good, or in some cases, too much winter rain, parts of the east remain very dry with low groundwater levels. For those dry areas, early planning and having contingency plans in place may make the difference between a good or poor season.

In the last issue of From the Ground Up I hoped that we would see some improvements in grain markets. Unfortunately we haven’t, and with little indication of the dairy market improving in the near future and increasing global stock piles, the opportunities for well priced sales will be reduced. It is times like this that relationships with your end users are either rewarded or tested. Remember that good relationships are about the longer term outcomes and not just the current market position.

This raises the interesting question of why would someone buy your grain or produce over someone else’s? Whether you are selling in the domestic market or on the global stage, it is important to understand your product’s point of difference. In the future, our products will not only be competing against products from other countries, but also against plant proteins processed to look like foods (Google Impossible burger or Impossible foods to find out more). New Zealand’s arable industry has the advantage of natural, sustainable production in a clean environment. This is something we could develop and brand as our industry’s point of difference to ensure our products remain desirable in the future.

The disconnect between rural and urban communities is a growing issue now that more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. The recent debates around the herbicides and insecticides we use for crop protection and their effect on the environment and food safety, are of major concern to our

A word fromthe Chairman

businesses and to global food production. Unfortunately the science and facts around these discussions have become secondary to perception and public opinion. As farmers we need to engage more with the public and present ourselves as producers of high quality food for New Zealand and the world. If New Zealand agriculture could achieve this it would add another aspect to the New Zealand food production story and help to renew the connection between farmers, the food they produce and the people who buy it.

The three recent biosecurity incursions across the country are incredibly disappointing and are having significant impact on some growers’ finances. FAR along with Federated Farmers and NZGSTA continues to support MPI with advice and management options on the incursions and are progressing toward an industry GIA (Government Industry Agreement) in the near future. One area of biosecurity that is often over looked is inside the farm gate. Be mindful of any potential transfer of material onto and within the area of your own farm.

FAR’s current business strategy runs through until 2017. The FAR Board is currently working through a review of the strategy to ensure that it remains relevant to the ever changing world that we farm in. Looking forward to what cropping and FAR might be like in five years time is interesting, given the amount and speed of change we have seen in the last five years. The one constant over time is FAR’s role in delivering and adding value to your cropping business. While parts of the strategy may change to reflect the changing world we farm in, the purpose of FAR will always remain the same.

As spring approaches I am sure we will see some positive market options open up and that the weather will be kinder!

David Birkett

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MPI Biosecurity 2025 discussion document releasedMinistry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking public feedback on a long term direction for the biosecurity system. A discussion document, Biosecurity 2025, was launched at the end of July and is open for submission until Friday 9 September.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says New Zealand has a world leading biosecurity system, but the challenges and opportunities we face are changing rapidly. Now is the time to identify the changes and improvements that will be needed to maintain a resilient biosecurity system over the next 10 years.

“The primary sector is a significant part of New Zealand’s economy, making up around half of all our exports. We need to protect our producers from unwanted pests and diseases, which is why biosecurity has always been my number one priority as Minister.

“In the future we can expect challenges from an increasing number of tourists and imports bringing a greater diversity of risks. Opportunities from new technologies will better connect people and information to identify and quickly act on risks.”

The Biosecurity 2025 discussion document, Protecting to grow New Zealand, outlines five key areas of focus:• A Biosecurity Team of 4.7 Million – Every New Zealander

and every New Zealand business becomes part of the biosecurity team.

• A Toolbox for Tomorrow – Making the best use the best use of innovation, science and technology.

• Free-flowing Information Highways – Underpinning the biosecurity system with all available information to better to inform risk management in real time.

• Effective Leadership and Governance – System-wide leadership and inclusive governance supports all participants in their roles.

• Tomorrow’s Skills and Assets – A capable and sustainable workforce and world-class infrastructure provides the foundation for an effective system.

“We want industry, stakeholders and the wider public to have their say now on guiding principles and strategic directions for the biosecurity system, as well as proposed first steps.

“The first steps are just the starting point, we are keen to hear from you, what further actions you, and others should take to make sure the biosecurity system continues to be resilient into the future.

“The result of this consultation will be a Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement, providing a future direction for our biosecurity system.

“In recent years we’ve beefed up our border protection and the new Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement which emerges from consultation will help build on that. Last year’s funding boost of $27 million has meant more detector dogs, x-ray machines and inspectors.

“We also have the new border clearance levy, a new in-flight video for international passengers, and an $87 million biocontainment laboratory under construction at Wallaceville.”

A full copy of the discussion document is available at: www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity2025.

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Formal controls have been put in place in order to eradicate pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) from the Wairarapa.

On 27 July, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) placed a two year ban on growing peas within a specified area and placed controls on moving pea material within, in and out of this area. The controls, which have been developed in partnership with the pea industry, are set out in a legal Controlled Area Notice which makes the whole of the Wairarapa, up to and including Pahiatua a controlled area. MPI’s Director of Investigation, Diagnostic Centres and Response, Dr Veronica Herrera says the team, along with the pea growing industry, considered a range of measures to control the insect pest, but ultimately agreed with international experts that the temporary ban on growing peas in the Wairarapa would have the greatest chance of success. “Pea weevil larvae only feed on young growing peas, damaging crops, so removing their food source will, over two years, wipe out the population. In essence, no peas, no weevils. “We know that the local pea growers are making a sacrifice to protect their grower counterparts in other regions. We’re currently considering options for alternative crops and a future support package for local growers to ensure the necessary controls have as little financial impact as possible.” says Dr Herrera. Wairarapa home vegetable growers are also being asked not to plant peas or sugar snap peas for the next two seasons and MPI is working with garden centres and retailers to remove pea seed and also pea straw from shelves in the controlled area. They are also developing communications to home gardeners to make sure that they are well aware of the ban and anyone driving into the controlled area will be reminded of the ban by roadside signage.

MPI is reviewing its importing requirements and procedures including the fumigation process used to treat all incoming pea seed.

What is FAR’s role?FAR has been involved with the Technical Advisory Group and staff are on hand to advise MPI or growers around aspects of the eradication programme. In early August we ran a grower meeting in Masterton to outline potential replacement crop options for growers looking to fill the space that peas would usually take up in their crop rotation.

No peas, no weevils

Background • A new insect pest, the pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) has

been found in pea seeds grown on several properties in the Wairarapa.

• Testing indicates an established population of the pea weevil is present in the Wairarapa region.

• Pea weevil is a new-to-New Zealand pest, and has the potential to have long-term implications for pea production in New Zealand.

• No other country has attempted eradication. However, we have caught this early enough to have a good chance of eradication.

Pea weevil control area.

Pahiatua

1 mmBruchus pisorum: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae ‘Pea Weevil’

Waione

Makuri

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Farm management plans are the key to containing velvetleaf and preventing its spread. As such, they are the current focus of the velvetleaf incursion response.

MPI has contacted the owners of all properties where the weed has been found and advised them of the importance of making good decisions around stock movement and crop choices for paddocks where velvetleaf has been found. They have also developed a velvetleaf management template and offered support to all affected farmers who want help in completing that plan.

Recommendations for stock movement• Record stock movements for up to a week after grazing

infested paddocks. - Monitor those paddocks in the future.

• Record the route used when walking stock to another farm. - Monitor the route in the future.

• Inform stock truck operators of the potential for velvetleaf seed contamination in effluent.

• Ensure all stock truck effluent is disposed of in an approved disposal site.

• Keep newly arrived stock in a holding paddock for 24 hours. - Monitor that area in the future.

Recommendations for following cropsThe choice and management of crops that are planted in a paddock where velvetleaf has been identified the previous season is also important for the ongoing management of velvetleaf. Crops which are in the ground long enough for any self-seeded velvetleaf plants to drop more seed should be avoided, as should any which grow tall enough to make spotting velvetleaf difficult.

Crop choice• Aim to sow crops as soon as possible.• Select annual crops that do not grow taller than one metre.• Select crops that can be harvested in December and

January before velvetleaf seed sets.• Select crops where selective herbicides can be used.• Suitable crop choices include cereal crops for silage, annual

ryegrass and short season crops such as process peas or beans.

• Avoid growing cereals for grain or long season crops such as maize or forage brassicas.

Crop establishment• Do not cultivate below 5 cm.• Cultivate in the same direction as the previous year.• Cultivate infested areas last and clean machinery before

leaving the paddock.

Velvetleaf management plans imperative

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Black-grass update• Investigations into the recent detection of black-grass

continue, and one further black-grass seed has been found after re-dressing, see below.

• The two known contaminated lines have been redressed; a small sample was taken from the redressing offal for further analysis and the remainder securely destroyed.

• The Seed Analysis Certificate (SAC) for the 10 tonne line is positive for black-grass and the line will be destroyed.

• The SAC for the 3 tonne line is negative and the line is eligible for export.

• A sample of the original dressing offal has been taken and sent for analysis; including the viability of any black-grass seed should it be detected.

• The working group, comprised of MPI and industry staff (which includes FAR), met on 22 July to discuss the future direction for the response and beyond. Discussion included initiating trace-back of paddocks where past ryegrass cultivation is linked to the current response.

• The paddocks from where the ryegrass contaminated with black-grass seed originated from were surveyed before livestock were allowed on for grazing; nil black-grass was detected.

Information provided by MPI on 5 August 2016.

Crop management• Inspect all crops for velvetleaf before feeding or harvest.• After harvest leave paddocks fallow for a few weeks to

allow any velvetleaf seeds to germinate.• Aim to sow a winter crop as soil temperatures begin to

cool in March.

Meanwhile, MPI is continuing to test all imported fodder beet seed lines and has put new rules in place around the importation of all pelleted seed being brought into New Zealand. Any seed lines that test positive for velvetleaf will either be re-shipped or destroyed. To date velvetleaf seed has only been found in seed lines sourced from Italy.

Fodder beet lines that have tested positive for velvetleaf contamination as of 8 August 2016 are listed below. This list is on the MPI website, and any updates will be there.

• Kyros DNK -16UB128• Bangor DNK-15UB079• Bangor DNK- 16UB126• Bangor DNK- 16UB114• Feldherr DNK-16UB131• Troya DNK-16UB112

FAR involvement• FAR remains involved in the incursion response at the

Governance and Operations level.• All enquiries about velvetleaf that go to the MPI hotline

are now being referred to FAR.• FAR is providing support for farmers and managers

who are completing farm management plans.

Questions?If you have any questions about velvetleaf identification or management phone the MPI Biosecurity hotline on 0800 80 99 66

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Nitrogen application on ryegrassNitrogen fertiliser is often the most expensive input used in growing grass seed crops and represents around half of the energy and carbon footprint associated with seed production. Ten years and 26 field trials on many Canterbury farms and locations, with a range of cultivars and management practices have shaped FAR’s robust strategy on spring nitrogen (N) rates and timing.

When the trials started, spring N rates of 230 kg N/ha applied (equivalent to 500 kg urea/ha) were common. However, the trials have shown that on average, maximum seed yields are achieved with applying just 135 kg N/ha (295 kg urea/ha) (Table 1). The optimum amount applied depends on the level of mineral N in the 0-30 cm soil profile based on the equation:Spring applied N (kg/ha) = 173 - mineral N [0-30 cm]

Min N N optimum Seed Yield Response0-30 cm(kg/ha)

Applied(kg/ha)

Total(kg/ha)

Nil(kg/ha)

N opt(kg/ha)

Seed/kgapplied N

38 135 172 1483 2239 5.9

August is a good time to pull soil cores for mineral N assessments. These samples need to be kept cool (put into a chilly bin) and frozen as soon as possible. When sending these samples to the lab for testing wrap then well to reduce thawing which can release mineral N.

Table 1. Summary of ten years of nitrogen (N) rate response trials on perennial ryegrass, including mineral soil N (0-30 cm), optimum applied and total available N rates for the optimum seed yield response.

Figure 1. Influence of total available nitrogen (N) (soil mineral N plus applied N) on machine dressed seed yield of perennial ryegrass, cultivar Rohan, grown near Methven in the 2014/15 growing season. Bar is the LSD0.05 for individual data points. Soil mineral N (0-30 cm) in August was 25 kg/ha.

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What did we learn on this 10 year research journey?• The greenest plots were rarely the highest yielding.

Growers have had to learn that crops that look short of N don’t need a top-up of N after head emergence.

• Don’t put on more than the optimum amount of N. Seed yields beyond the optimum are either flat (Figure 1) or depressed because the extra N encouraged leaf growth and secondary release of reproductive tillers that do not produce saleable seed but caused early lodging resulting in lower seed yield.

• Nitrogen is applied in split applications to seed crops, typically pre-closing to provide livestock forage, at closing and about three weeks later. Recent FAR funded trials have suggested that delaying the second post-closing application of N to the application timing for Moddus (250 g/l trinexapac-ethyl, TE) plant growth regulator (typically four weeks after closing) will delay lodging and enhance seed yield.

• The seed yield when N fertiliser coated with the urease inhibitors based on Agrotain® (e.g SustaiN) was applied in spring averaged 135 kg/ha (range -30 to +410) or 6% more than urea treatments applied at the same rate (average of 11 trials). These yields provide a clear economic advantage for the use of Agrotain® products over traditional urea treatments (based on SustaiN® pricing 1 August 2016).

• Many earlier FAR N trials started N applications at closing. These trial fields had usually received an end of winter N application (typically 30 to 50 kg N/ha). In calculating spring N requirements we have assumed that when this N was taken up by ryegrass it would be removed in grazing and partially redistributed in the urine spots and therefore the mineral N assessment would quantify any residual N from the winter N application.

• N uptake is rapid. It only takes three weeks from application to all the applied N being held within the plant. Once within the plant, N is remobilized from older tissue to new tissue and reproductive tissue during seed growth and development.

• The N content of seed is about 2.0 -2.2% (i.e. 20 kg N/1000 kg seed). If surplus N is applied the N is taken up and deposited in the straw.

• Growers have been able to reduce N inputs in a step-wise progression of small incremental annual cuts in a “suck-and see” approach that gave confidence that their own farm situation was behaving as the trial data suggested.

• The economic benefit equates to $130/ha for reduced urea inputs and $250/ha from increased seed yield associated with delaying the time of application of the second N to GS32. This gives a total benefit of $380/ha.

Industry ambassadorsFAR Graduates Sophie Blair and Tim Brooker have been signed up to become Futureintech Ambassadors for the Primary Industries.

Futureintech promotes careers based around science, maths and technology subjects, and Futureintech Ambassadors visit schools to talk about their job and how they got there.

Being involved with Futureintech has several benefits for FAR. Firstly it promotes science and other subjects which are key for future growers and researchers in our industry; secondly, it promotes our industry and FAR’s role within in, and thirdly, it provides our graduates with the opportunity to develop their public speaking and presentation skills and gives them another positive experience to add to their CVs.

Sophie Blair has visited three schools in her role as an Ambassador, and also helped out with the Christchurch YFC Get Ahead Careers day and spoken at SciCon 2016, the biennial conference for New Zealand Science Educators. She says she was surprised by the amount of knowledge, or lack of it, that city students had about food and agriculture.

“The Get Ahead Day was a real eye opener. Senior high school students didn’t know where their food came from; they had no idea that wheat was ground into flour and then made into bread. On the other hand, one of the Year 10 classes science classes I spoke to were able to identify crops from photos taken in paddocks. There is a huge range of knowledge.

“I think the Futureintech programme can make a difference. It was great to see a Year 13 class make the link between biology and chemistry in the classroom, and jobs in the wider primary industries. I think most urban students only think of agriculture as muddy gumboots on farms, but in that class, where I was one of several speakers from different industries and organisations, we were able to show them a whole range of potential careers with a primary industry focus.”

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A tour of maize farms and research facilities in the USA and Canada has emphasised the fact that issues such as soil compaction and weed managementaredifficulttomanagewherever you are in the world.

FAR researcher Mike Parker, who has recently returned from North America, found no ‘one size fits all’ solutions. Rather, he says, growers there are tailoring solutions to suit farm size, soil types and climate.

“In the northern part of North America, where winters are generally cold and snowy, soils, especially clay types, are slow to dry and many growers are practising vertical strip-tillage in the autumn with another pass in the spring. Fertiliser, apart from nitrogen, is often applied from giant carts towed behind the strip till machinery in autumn or spring. Most nitrogen is applied as anhydrous ammonia in the spring but some growers apply in the autumn. Side dressed nitrogen is now often applied at V6 and again at post tassel (R2).

“The common use of multiple passes of very large fertiliser carts, tractors, planters and sprayers has led to issues with compaction. This is compounded by generally wet conditions in both spring (snow thaw) and in the late autumn harvest window. Those on the lighter soils, particularly in states further south, have generally moved to direct drilling to improve soil quality, while the heavier more northern soils are generally vertical strip-tilled.

Compaction and herbicide resistanceMaize issues in USA and Canada

“Herbicide resistance is wide spread and maize growers have moved back to pre-emergence herbicides plus glyphosate on Roundup-ready treated maize, as well as post emergence herbicides. The benefits of transgenic crops appear to be reducing over time, so growers are increasingly returning to rotations (including weed smothering cover crops), the use of multiple herbicide modes of action and minimal tillage techniques to manage weeds.”

Mike says North American farmers are now recognising the cost of managing these issues as they are forced to purchase expensive machinery, such as tractors and planters with tracks to reduce compaction and high clearance sprayers for post-emergence herbicide application. These costs reinforce the messages for New Zealand growers. Make sure you maintain use of agrichemicals through sensible rotations of modes of action to reduce the risk of herbicide resistance, and be mindful of machinery size, soil conditions and the number of passes on each crop.

Key messages for New Zealand maize growersWeighupthecostsandbenefitsoflargemachinery,assoilcompactionisarealproblem.Keep managing to reduce herbicide resistance by rotating crops and chemical modes of action.

High clearance sprayer

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Warm winter increases pests and disease in autumn sown cerealsAccording to the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) the first six months of 2016 were the warmest on record across New Zealand. The average monthly temperature at the Chertsey FAR research site was higher than the ten year average for most months this year to July, except for January and April. Apart from the long term warming due to greenhouse gas increase in the atmosphere there are two local factors at play: sea surface temperatures in the Tasman Sea are exceptionally warm and there has been more northerly flow than usual over New Zealand.

The warmth has made winter more pleasant but has promoted pests and diseases in some crops. Leaf rust is a not a disease normally seen in winter but has been present this winter in early March sown wheat trials at Wakanui, Canterbury. As rust can quickly damage a crop it was sprayed with fungicide. There is also a low incidence of Septoria tritici blotch present in the trials. Previous trial work has shown a yield and economic response to a more intensive four spray fungicide programme starting at GS30-31 in these early sown wheat crops.

Average monthly long term and 2016 temperature at the Chertsey FAR research site.

The warm temperatures have also provided conditions conducive to cereal aphids and the number of flying aphids caught in the Lincoln trap over autumn and winter have been much higher than average (as reported in Crop Action and on the FAR website). Interestingly this is the opposite of the 2005 season when there were many BYDV damaged crops and aphid numbers were high in spring.

Autumn sown crops have been showing the effects of the warm weather. Early sown cereal crops are looking growthy. Also if the low rainfall continues through to spring, soil mineral nitrogen may be higher than usual promoting early growth. These crops may need more plant growth regulator than usual (and less applied nitrogen) to prevent lodging. Trials on early sown wheat crops in the 20 by 2020 research have shown that when lodging risk is high, mixes of chlormequat and trinexepac ethyl at GS30 and GS32 have been effective at preventing lodging.

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FAR and AgResearch have been collaborating to identify effective environmentally benign microbial seed treatments for use by New Zealand’s arable farmers. These treatments are based on soil bacteria that have been isolated from New Zealand pastures and shown to kill grass grub. These bacteria are under development as biopesticides in the MBIE-funded research programme “Next Generation Biopesticides”.

Novel microbial seed treatmentsGrass grubs are significant pests in autumn sown cereal crops, and crops that follow pastures in a rotation are particularly at risk when the pasture has harboured high numbers of grass grubs. Insecticide seed treatments are common practice to protect seedlings against root feeding insects but many insecticides will be phased out in coming years so alternative solutions are needed for growers.

Microbial insecticides, or biopesticides, can be effective alternatives to chemical insecticides in many situations. Inoculation of seed with insecticidal microbes places the microbe close to the plant roots where the target pest feeds. This ensures rapid contact between the microbe and the pest. There is increasing interest globally in development of microbial seed treatments.

Since 2012, FAR and AgResearch, with support from the MPI Sustainable Farming Fund, have been testing microbial

treatments of wheat seed for their ability to protect seedlings from grass grub attack. Field trials were conducted in small plots on commercial farms in Southbridge, Canterbury. Seeds treated with insecticidal bacteria resulted in higher yields than untreated seeds where grass grub was present, and in some years these treatments were as effective as current insecticide seed treatments.

These trials have demonstrated that microbial seed treatments can protect cereal seedlings effectively from grass grub attack and suggest that further work and investment to scale-up microbial seed treatment processes is warranted.

FAR and AgResearch wish to thank all the growers and companies who allowed trials on their farms.

For further information contact Richard.Chynoweth@far.org.nz

Photo: Wheat treated with a range of grass grub treatments. Left: Poncho + 10 kg/ha Suscon Green; Centre left: Poncho + FAR 12/01 (microbial) + 10 kg/ha SuSCon Green; Centre right FAR 12/01 + FAR 12/02; Right: Poncho+ 5.5 kg/ha Diazinon + 10 kg/ha Suscon Green.

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Save the date!Preparations are well underway for three major FAR events: CROPS 2016, NCRS 2016 and FAR Conference 2017.

CROPS will be held at FAR’s Chertsey Arable site on Wednesday 7 December. The format will be similar to

previous years, with FAR trials and research topics on display and up for discussion, as well as international speakers and

demonstration plots from our sponsors.

Full programme details will be available soon.

Northern Crop Research Site Field Day 2016Thursday 15 DecemberFollowing the success of our inaugural Northern Crop Research Site Field Day FAR will be running another this year. The NCRS day, will also feature 12 national and international speakers, covering a range of agronomy and broader industry issues.

FAR Conference 2017Thursday 29 and Friday 30 JunePlanning is beginning for our FAR Conference, which next year will be held at Lincoln University. We already have interest from some international speakers.

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A bus man’s holidayBus drivers take bus journeys for their holidays; and agronomists go to field days and research stations!

Phil Rolston explains that while on recent family holiday in the UK and Ireland, he managed to attend Cereals 16, and visit Teagasc Oak Park Campus in Carlow, Ireland and IBERS-Aberystwyth University in Wales.

“Cereals 2016, at Duxford near Cambridge, was big, with 25,000 visitors over two days and 450 exhibitors. Amazingly I bumped into six Kiwi’s there!! There is something for everyone; machinery, spraying technology and equipment, grain handling and storage, agrichemicals, fertiliser, farm business and advisory support, seed companies and research. I spent time talking with researchers/extension people from AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Cereals & Oils, PGRO (pulse levy funded), the research institute displays of Rothamsted and John Innes Centre/IBERS/BBSRC. The scale of Cereals is impressive, and I would recommend a visit to anyone associated with the arable industry.

“Oak Park includes the Irish National Centre for Arable Crop Research of Teagasc on a 225 ha campus with a focus on arable and grassland breeding, agronomy and agriculture environments. Dr John Spink and his ryegrass breeding team gave me an overview and field visits. Elin Arnaudin from FAR has spent the northern summer here with the group.

“IBERS, the old Welsh Plant Breeding Station and now University of Aberystwyth has a long New Zealand connection and is the source of the ‘Aber’ ryegrass and white clover varieties that are often multiplied in New Zealand. Dr Athole Marshall, a breeder with a strong interest in seed production and an old friend, gave me a tour of their fields and phenotyping facilities. They have been big beneficiaries of EU science funding and are nervous about the implications of Brexit. Aberystwyth is an attractive seaside town surrounded by the rolling hills and valleys of Wales; pretty but a real journey to get too.

“A bus man’s holiday. I would not do it any other way.”

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Cultivar performanceThe CPT system has now been running trials for over 30 years. This means that we can look at the most recent data and also at historical data to help us in making decisions around which cultivars to grow. Thus, in selecting cultivars it is important to look at this season’s result but also to compare that with data from previous years.

For example, there has been a significant increase in yield of spring barley from 1996 to 2015. Dash barley was a game changer in 1996 and the average yield of Dash was 6.7 t/ha as compared to the mean of all other cultivars at6.3 t/ha. Now the average yield of Dash is 9.1 t/ha – this indicates that through improved management growers can expect to achieve an extra 2.4 t/ha an increase of 120 kg/ha/year. The average area of barley in New Zealand is around 50,000ha, thus if improved management resulted in the same yield increase in barley production on every hectare in New Zealand each year approximately 6,000 extra tonnes of barley per year would be produced of the same area.

The increase in the mean yield of cultivars has been from 6.3 t/ha to 9.4 t/ha, some of this due to management improvements (2.4 t/ha) and some due to genetic improvement (0.7 t/ha). Thus genetic improvement has been resulting in a

yield increase of 35 kg/ha per year. This means the increased productivity in tonnes of barley of the same area in New Zealand due to genetic gain each year would be 1750 tonnes.

Since 1995 there were no new game changing barley varieties for a number of years but in the last few years a number of new varieties have become available which are markedly better than traditional varieties. This is evident as the wider gap between Dash and the mean of all other varieties in the graph below.

Genetic gain has also been significant in wheat cultivars and this is clear when comparing the yields of older and newer varieties.

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Yield Spring Barley CPT - Canterbury

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Potato research update As the organisation that manages research and development for Potatoes NZ, FAR is involved in more than a dozen potato research trial. In some, we are the lead research provider while in others we collaborate with other research and industry groups including Plant & Food Research. Below is an update of some the key projects from 2015 - 2016. Data from these trials is still being analysed and full reports will be available at a later date.

Soil borne diseasesA field trial was carried out to assess the impact of different fungicide and pesticide treatments on seed tuber or soil-borne diseases and potato yields. The treatments were applied to potato seed tubers or as in-furrow planting treatments in a second year potato field in South Canterbury. The plots were hand-planted with 33 seed tubers (cv. Innovator), on 12 October, 2015. Plant emergence was recorded and tubers and plants were assessed for incidence and severity of soil borne diseases twice during the season.

Different fungicide treatments did not affect the emergence or establishment of the plants. There was also no difference in the incidence or severity of soil borne diseases. Diseases detected included Rhizoctonia stem canker and tuber black scurf, Spongospora root galls and tuber powdery scab, and Sclerotinia white mould on stems. There was no difference in marketable or unmarketable yield. The average mean yield for the trial was 83 t/ha.

Foliar disease and pest managementIn 2015/16 the focus was on further verification of the psyllid management options and how these vary by both region and pest pressure. The aim was to provide a range of effective commercial psyllid management options suitable for growers in the three key regions (Matamata, Manawatu and Canterbury). Three trials were carried out in potato crops, with one trial in each of three regions (Matamata, Manawatu, and Canterbury). Treatments ranged from calendar based sprays to IPM based spray programmes. Five spray programmes were used in Matamata and Manawatu, and six in Canterbury, plus a no spray control. In Canterbury, a further treatment comprised a mesh treatment (plot covered by a mesh to exclude psyllids).

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For the two North Island sites the degree day (DD) threshold was 980 DD, and for Canterbury 712 DD. Yellow sticky straps were placed at each site to assess and monitor TPP numbers throughout the season. Plant disease (blight) and harvest assessments were also taken. Neither marketable weights nor numbers varied significantly between the treatments at any of the sites. Zebra chip likewise did not vary between treatments at any of the sites.

Soil quality, crop rotations and biofumigant cropsThis project continues research quantifying the contributions of multiple biotic and abiotic factors that influence potato yields. In the first year of this SFF project, soil physical quality and plant health have been monitored in potato crops, in a range of climatic and soil environments in different potato-growing regions of New Zealand.

Eighteen commercial potato crops were monitored in the 2015/16 season in three regions; Canterbury (12 fields), Pukekohe (3 fields) and Manawatu (3 fields). • Pre-plant soilborne pathogen DNA levels were measured to

help pinpoint sources of disease. Soil was also removed from each field, placed in planter bags in a shade house trial at a centralized location and planted with surface-sterilised seed tubers from the same line used to establish the field crop. This aimed to determine respective differences between the fields in soilborne disease potential.

• Each crop was assessed at three growth stages (emergence, full canopy and late canopy), for a range of diseases, with the emphasis on soilborne disease. Methods used were based on previous research indicating timeliness and extent of effective assessments.

• The effects of crop history and pre-plant cultivation practices on soil structure were investigated.

• Soil physical properties and crop rooting characteristics were measured after planting and at full canopy

• The disease incidence and severity data sets are large and complex, as up to 12 different disease types and forms have been assessed on potato stems, roots and daughter tubers at three stages through crop growth. These parameters are being related to pre-plant soilborne pathogen DNA levels and the performance of the shadehouse-grown plants.

To explain soil physical environment effects on crop productivity, a range of soil properties (structural condition, aggregate stability, texture) are being related to plant root growth patterns, previous cropping history and intensity of pre-planting cultivation. This soil information will be linked to disease patterns, thus obtaining a comprehensive assessment of the main causes of yield limitation in each crop.

For further information please contact Potato Research Manager Jen.Linton@far.org.nz

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Water extraction of wheat on soils with differing stone content

Thefirstwinterwheatcrophas now been harvested from lysimeters at Plant & Food Research Lincoln.

The crop was irrigated from October to January and a customised irrigation system was developed to produce irrigation conditions similar to those on farm and provide even irrigation of the lysimeters. This was achieved using a single sprinkler suspended from an overhead cable running the length of the lysimeter facility. The sprinkler was on a roller assembly attached to a drive cable and motor which was able to move

the sprinkler over the lysimeters at a constant speed. Water was supplied to the sprinkler via a hose on an automatically retracting real so that surplus hose was wound in as the sprinkler moved along. Water was pumped from a nearby tank and pressure was maintained at 30 psi to ensure the sprinkler gave the intended spread and droplet size. This system provided an even wetting pattern over all lysimeters and the speed of the drive motor could be varied to give applications ranging from 5-30 mm in a pass. The crop achieved a modest yield of 8.5 t/ha with no treatment differences.

Analysis of the water balance of each treatment showed the wheat in the stone free soils used the most water followed by the stony and very stony soils and that crops on soils with shallow gravels used less water (Figure 1). Drainage was the

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opposite of this, with the crops using the most water draining the least. Under common irrigation, the highest available water capacity soil (Deep, StoneFree) drained only 5 mm during the irrigation season with the lightest soil (Shallow, VeryStony) draining 100 mm.

All treatments were irrigated in common, so the relative water deficit of the shallow soils was greatest by the time irrigation was applied and the lower water use in these treatments suggests deficits were reaching levels that restricted crop water uptake. However, deficits did not drop to levels that caused water stress as there were no differences in crop yields or biomass production. Crop water use and yield models can now be validated with these results and used to conduct detailed analysis on how irrigation might be applied to zones of differing soil type under variable rate irrigation.

An important parameter for crop models is how much water the roots may extract from each layer of soil and this may be quantified as the maximum proportion of plant available water that can be extracted from a given layer. One of the main drivers for developing the stony soil lysimeter facility was to provide information for quantifying the maximum extraction rates (MER) in stony soils and a sophisticated analysis was conducted to determine this (Figure 2). The MER for the stone free soils was ~0.1 in the top soil layers and reduced to ~0.04 in the sub soil which is consistent with reducing root density as the soil gets deeper. The MER for the stony soil showed the same sort of reduction with depth but values were consistently higher. This suggests that the presence of stones is concentrating roots at a higher density in the soil between the stones and enabling a higher extraction rate. The MER for the very stony soils was between the stony and stone free values in the top soil and this may be due to root deflection by the high rock content causing incomplete exploration of the soil and constraining water extraction. The MER of the gravels in the shallow treatments was similar to that measured in the stony soils. This information will be invaluable for the modelling of crop growth and water use in stony soil situations.

Figure 1. Water balance results from the winter wheat crop grown in the stony soil lysimeters in 2015/16. ET = Evapotranspiration, PET = Potential ET (Penman equation).

Figure 2. Maximum water extraction rates of winter wheat measured at different depths of the soil profile in soils of different stone content.

The Maximising the Value of Irrigation Programme combines expertise from Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research, FAR, Lincoln AgriTech and Massey University. We are internationally collaborating with the Mechatronics and Irrigation Engineering Group, at the Australian National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, based at the University of Southern Queensland; and the APSIM Initiative Team, based at CSIRO, the University of Queensland and Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

The Programme is guided by an Industry Advisory Group, chaired by FAR’s Nick Poole with representation from Horticulture New Zealand’s Vegetable Research and Innovation Board, DairyNZ, Irrigation New Zealand, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Environment Canterbury and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Lysimeters are used to measure the effect of soil stone content on crop water extraction. As part of the MBIE-funded research programme, Maximising the Value of Irrigation, lysimeters have been created with gravels and either 30 or 60cm depth. The fine soils above gravels had 0, 30 or 50% stones by volume (Stone Free, Stony and Very Stony). Soil water sensors have been installed at 8, 23, 38 and 53 cm depth to enable monitoring of water extraction patterns and the lysimeters were installed in the field.

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Farming smarter with ProductionWise®

Future cropping options

season, clearly and automatically reporting on the margins of the crops just harvested and providing a measuring tool to help see your business with real time data. A Gross Margin scenario to compare crop types, varieties or paddock performance is currently being written to help with farm planning.

FAR have also been working with the team which develops the Lincoln University Financial Budget Manual to help draw up generic crop gross margins; this reference manual helps the next generation of farmers to continue farming smarter.

If you require help with ProductionWise, please call the FAR office. We periodically run training workshops and can often solve problems over the phone.

03 345 5783 www.productionwise.co.nz

As regulatory reporting requirements increase, FAR is working hard to simplify the ProductionWise recording system in order to minimise the amount of time spent recording data.

Producing farm data and records at a moment’s notice to meet compliance requirements can be a major challenge, but ProductionWise, the farm recording system which is freely available to FAR levy payers, can help with a number of pre-set reporting functions.

For example, a vendor declaration report can be produced at the touch of a button. Based on a season’s paddock records and grain store activities, this report meets the requirements for traceability auditing. Other reports, such as those required for nutrient reporting, can be produced from the cultivation, sowing, fertiliser application, grazing, irrigation, harvest, soil test, and previous cropping sections of the system.

The ability to measure what it is currently happening or has happened on farm is another asset to a farm’s productivity. Gross Margins can be automatically calculated at the end of a

CEO Nick Pyke says the AGRMARDT funding will be used to identify potential viable crop and product options for existing and new irrigated areas and to discuss these options with a group of industry leaders. Potential options will then be evaluated and issues such as infrastructure and transport requirements, knowledge gaps and market specifications will be investigated.

“As much as possible we want to focus on identifying crops and products that are in demand, nationally and internationally, then look at whether we can grow them, rather than simply seeking new outlets for existing crops.”

“Imagine what crops would be growing in New Zealand today if this country had been colonised from Asia instead of Europe 150 years ago.” This question, posed by speaker Kevin Marshall at a recent FAR event, provided a bit of a wake-up call to a number of us in the audience.

New Zealand arable farmers are skilled at producing high yielding, high quality crops, but we are still, mostly, growing what we know and what we have always known. This would be fine if world markets were screaming out for traditional cereal crops, but unfortunately they are not. A number of factors including the dairy downturn, access to irrigation and growing bans linked to biosecurity incursions are forcing growers to look for new, profitable options.

So...what is in demand and can we grow it?FAR took these questions to AGMARDT in the form of a funding application to run an agribusiness Summit focusing on Crops for Irrigated Areas. The application was successful and planning is now underway for a meeting to be held in within the next couple of months.

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DISCLAIMER This publication is copyright to the Foundation for Arable Research (“FAR”) and may not be reproduced or copied in any form whatsoever without FAR’s written permission. This publication is intended to provide accurate and adequate information relating to the subject matters contained in it and is based on information current at the time of publication. Information contained in this publication is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose. No endorsement of named products is intended nor is any criticism of other alternative, but unnamed products. It has been prepared and made available to all persons and entities strictly on the basis that FAR, its researchers and authors are fully excluded from any liability for damages arising out of any reliance in part or in full upon any of the information for any purpose.

Members of the FAR Board

To get all the latest arable information and updates visit www.far.org.nz

DAVID BIRKETT (Chairman) Northern South Island 03 324 4499

ALAN HENDERSON Northern North Island 07 871 9934

RUSSELL FLEMING South Western North Island 06 324 8641

HUGH RITCHIE Eastern North Island 06 856 8279

DAVID GRANT Mid Canterbury 03 302 8580

PETER MITCHELL South Canterbury/North Otago 03 434 9244

STEVE WILKINS South Otago/Southland 027 437 5209

Dr MIKE DUNBIER Appointed Member 03 358 6479

RICHARD GREEN Appointed Member 027 497 3692

DR TONY GREGSON Appointed Member

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