Cropping conference coming up

FAR's chief executive Nick Pyke says the conference will provide relevant and practical papers on maize and arable research and management practices.

"The main aim is to provide growers and industry personnel with ways in which to capitalise on changes which are, and are likely to face these industries now and in the future. We not only want growers to become more productive in their cropping systems, but we also want them to become more efficient and sustainable in order to meet the demand of a growing world population, climate change and environmental degradation."

FAR has also secured Robert Nielsen, Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, US for the two-day conference.

Nielsen, a familiar face to may New Zealand maize growers, is an expert in extension education in corn management systems for the state of Indiana. He will be sharing his knowledge in advanced farming systems and new technologies for the maize industry. He will also talk about drought resistance and fertiliser management based on the results of trials at the FAR Waikato Arable Research Site.

Another overseas speaker is Robyn Murray, chief executive of Go Grains Health and Nutrition Ltd, a membership-based organisation which links the Australian grains industry value chain from grain growers to food manufacturers.

Agriculture Minister David Carter, will open the conference on Wednesday, February 15.

Sponsors of the conference include: Pioneer Brand Seeds, Case IH, Agmardt, Nufarm, HSR Seeds, Everris, PGG Wrightson Seeds, Plant & Food Research, John Austin Ltd, Farmlands and Landpower.

Registrations are now open and more information can be found at http://www.far.org.nz/index.php/conference