Vegetable Seed - Research & Extension Programme

Foundation for Arable Research FAR has three staff members working within the vegetable seed industry.

Richard Chynoweth is FAR’s Vegetable Seed Research Project Manager. Richard joined FAR in November 2005 and has responsibility for managing ongoing research projects in the areas of vegetable seed and herbage seed, primarily focusing on issues such as nitrogen, disease control, herbicide options, pollination and bee activity. (021 860 246).

Nick Pyke is FAR’s Chief Executive. Nick is involved with sustainable production systems for vegetable seeds, with specific responsibilities of interaction with NZGSTA and the wider industry on levy issues and industry good initiatives.

(021 374 083).

Nick Poole, FAR’s Research Coordinator has particular interests in reduced tillage techniques, crop sequences and disease management. Nick also coordinates FAR’s research programme in Australia which is funded by the Grains Research Development Corporatior (GRDC). (021 544 411).

demand for FAR to provide information which will help farmers in the environmental, climate change and new opportunities areas. This research tends to be longer term and have a broader, less crop specific focus than much of the research FAR has invested in in the past. Often this research has significant co-investment from the government and other primary sectors. FAR has recently formed a Strategic Research Committee (SRC) to help ensure FAR invests in quality strategic research and extension activities which will deliver benefits to New Zealand arable farmers.

Vegetable seed research strategy

FAR staff now have significant expertise in ensuring the best research on individual crops is undertaken.

FAR will continue to use members of the Arable Research Groups (ARGs) in deciding on future research, the detail of the research and reviewing existing research.

• Seed Crop Isolation Distances (SCID) • Pollination • Crop Management

The SRC is comprised of selected farmers, FAR staff, research and industry personnel who are expected to provide the range of skills needed to have robust discussions and making decisions in relation to research investments in this area.

Prioritising research

Member John Wright Russell Fleming Hugh Ritchie Jim Macartney Craige Mackenzie Stephen Goldson Kevin Marshall Peter Stone Ken Taylor Nick Pyke Nick Poole Andrea Pearson

Representing Chairman and grower Grower Grower Grower Grower Industry/Research Industry Industry Environment Canterbury FAR FAR FAR

FAR invests in a range of research projects which aim to provide benefits to arable farmers. Although most of the research is shorter term field trials which aim to improve crop productivity, there is an increasing

The SRC meets three times a year to visit field trials and meet with research providers, review project results and decide on research investment. Contact details for the SRC can be obtained from FAR.

The research investment in this area of FAR’s work has increased dramatically over the last three seasons, reflecting the importance of this sector to current arable farming and the New Zealand economy.

Increased interaction with other sectors of research worldwide (such as Washington State University in the US) has also lead to a number of new projects.

Overall, FAR investment has been split into the following key areas.

1. Seed Crop Isolation Distances (SCID) FAR, with the support of MAF Sustainable Farming Fund (MAF SFF), and in conjunction with the wider industry, has invested five years of research into creating and operating a successful web based seed crop isolation distance programme. This world leading research aims to raise awareness of isolation conflicts before sowing, therefore allowing time for crops to be repositioned to avoid cross contamination. This is becoming increasingly important as the production of outcrossing species for both forage and vegetable seed crops escalates. The ability to continue to increase market share in this area will depend on the ability to utilise the available land resources, while maintaining high levels of genetic purity.

2. Pollination Pollination of seed crops is essential for sustainable production. FAR, in conjunction with MAF Sustainable Farming Fund (MAF SFF has funded research into identifying key pollinators for various seed crops. This has included work on honey bees’ behaviour and alternative pollinators such as flies, bumble bees, native bees etc. The establishment of the varroa mite in 2000 has raised awareness of the industry’s reliance on honey bees and the

problems associated with new disease and pest issues. The research includes investigating pollen loads, number of seeds fertilised per visit, number of flowers visited per minute and estimates of bee numbers required per hectare etc.

3. Crop Management The diverse and specialist nature of crops in this sector has lead to a large number of different issues being addressed. i) Plant protection Working with industry here in New Zealand and with researchers overseas, FAR currently has investment addressing: - Disease management in carrots where fungicide input can represent a large proportion of grower cost and is crucial to the success of both seed yield and quality.

- Downy mildew control in beet looking at screening different products and rate for efficacy in this important disease.

- White rust control in brassica.

- Brassica herbicide screening, examining whether different brassica species involved in vegetable seed production have differential tolerance to commonly used herbicides. ii) Nutrition Following observations on spinach production around the world, it has been suggested that one of the key factors in productivity of this important crop is soil pH. It would appear that other production centres around the globe are centred in soils with higher pH than New Zealand. As a consequence, FAR in conjunction with growers and industry have set up a trial to examine the influence of soil pH on spinach. iii) Agronomy Making use of resources in precision agriculture and irrigation, FAR, working with key industry representatives is examining the role of underground T-tape for irrigating carrot seed crops. There will also be a small investment in plant population and influence on carrot seed quality.

Our extension activities • Combinable Crops - FAR’s Major Annual Field Event held at the FAR Arable Site, Chertsey.

• Field days and results meetings to review the season’s trials and results.

• Regular FAR Arable Updates and Harvest Snippets - mailed to farmers and industry subscribers.

• Regular Crop Action emails.

• Workshops - FAR has delivered workshops on soil management, machinery replacement and costings, spray technology, financial sustainability, precision agriculture, irrigation, approved handler for agrichemicals and grass weed identification.

• International conference - a two day event held every three years.

• Autumn seminar - a one day event held every three years.

F O U N DAT I O N F O R

ARABLE RESEARCH

Vegetable Seed RESEARCH & EXTENSION PROGRAMME

How can I find out more?

If you are a grower and are not receiving FAR information, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the FAR office. As a combinable crop levy payer you are entitled to this information free of charge. If you are a New Zealand industry representative and would like to benefit from FAR’s independent information then there are special membership terms available.

F O U N DAT I O N F O R

ARABLE RESEARCH

www.far.org.nz Head office Ph 03 325 6353, far@far.org.nz Richard Chynoweth Ph 021 860 246 chynowethr@far.org.nz Nick Pyke Ph 021 374 083 pyken@far.org.nz Nick Poole Ph 021 544 411 poolen@far.org.nz ADDING VALUE TO THE BUSINESS OF ARABLE FARMING

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is a farmer driven non-profit organisation responsible for managing applied research and extension for the arable industry. FAR is funded by a compulsory levy; for vegetable seeds this is set at 0.8% of sale value for open pollinated crops and 0.5% of sale value for hybrid vegetable seed crops.

Around 75% of the levy is invested in research projects and 25% used for extension. To make your research dollar stretch further, FAR co-funds many projects with organisations such as MAF Sustainable Farming Fund, AgMardt, FertResearch, regional councils and private companies.