Projects
Our Projects
LandWISE projects seek to maximise sustainable profitability of field cropping through researching and promoting best practices. Maximum profit in the short term, can lead to lower profits in the longer term if resources are degraded.
Advanced Farming Systems
Twelve farms around NZ have been selected as focus farms where case studies of various aspects of advanced farming systems are being developed. The farms are spread through Hawke’s Bay, Waikato , Manawatu, Pukekohe, Gisborne and Canterbury. They present exciting examples of advancing with technology on their farms.
Cases being developed on these farms range through advanced weed management, (RTK GPS guided mechanical weeding and GPS controlled spraying), GPS controlled contouring and drainage and controlled traffic in arable and vegetable crops. Other cases will focus on data management, zonal management and implementing GPS into a farming system.
The common theme is increasing profitability, and improving soil and farm resilience in the face of climate change.
Protocols are being written as knowledge is developed in different aspects of Precision Agriculture. These will be developed over the life of this project and version 1 will be available online from April 2010.
Strip Tillage
We have undertaken several projects designed to test and promote sustainable crop production. From 2003 – 2007 we ran Controlling the Strip in which we trialed innovative field cropping practices. This project built on earlier work done on strip tillage and minimum tillage as well as precision agriculture, irrigation efficiency and enhancement and herbicide resistance.
Controlling the Strip involved more than 20 trials run over 4 years in different parts of the North Island where various production methods were assessed. As part of this project we investigated Banded Fertiliser application and Controlled Traffic for maize and squash
Through our projects, we work with industry organisations and farmers to co-ordinate on-farm trials. Their help and assistance is invaluable.
The MAF Sustainable Farming Fund funds our projects with support from our Gold Sponsors.
