Crops and Forage

South Canterbury grower Nigel Rathgen has had difficult-to-eliminate grass weeds in some cropping paddocks for a few years. Words Heather Chalmers.

A paddock in Mid Canterbury is providing a platform for the Foundation for Arable Research to offer a glimpse into the future of arable farming. Words Heather Chalmers.

As nitrogen fertilisers are a substantial expense on arable farms, growers are looking to incorporate short-term cover crops and legumes as a way to provide an alternative home-grown nitrogen source to the usual bagged supply. Words Heather Chalmers

Livestock plays an important role on most arable farms. Heather Chalmers of the Foundation for Arable Research talks to two Mid Canterbury mixed arable farmers about how they are optimising the integration of cropping and livestock.

The Agyields database - a central library housing all of New Zealand’s historic and future pasture and crop growth and yield data - has come to fruition thanks to the forward thinking of Professor Moot,

A demonstration site is allowing farmers to check out what moisture probe readings look like on provider companies’ software platforms.

Farmers growing maize can save money in nitrogen (N) costs as well as make environmental gains by making better use of plant-available N naturally present in the soil,

Without endophytes, ryegrasses suffer. Sandra Taylor reports on research into the fungi, their positives and negatives.

He’s only 22 years old, but Canterbury farmer Luke Hurley has a wise head and a thirst for knowledge. His efforts are paying off with a big win at a recent winter feed competition. Story and photos by Annabelle Latz.

Australian crop production is expected to be hit with rainfall deficiencies starting to emerge across several agricultural regions.