FAR’s Arable Research in Action (ARIA) event will run in bubbles this year, as it manages its way through covid Level 2 restrictions.
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is forging ahead with its annual research field day, but this year it will be different to the usual.
Scheduled for November 24, FAR has scaled-down the Arable Research in Action (ARIA) event at its Chertsey site near Ashburton, to manage under covid Level 2 restrictions.
“With so many events being cancelled due to covid restrictions, FAR is very pleased to be going ahead,” organiser Anna Heslop said.
“We were determined to go ahead under Level 2 restrictions and have ended up with a plan for a scaled-back, half-day event.
“We’ve worked out a colour-coded bubble zone approach that will still allow up to 300 people on site.”
The main difference from previous years will be in the number of talks and how growers choose what they attend.
“We have had to reduce the number of talks from 12 down to six, and instead of attendees picking and choosing which presentations they wish to hear, they’ll be escorted in their bubble groups from talk site to talk site,” she said.
All attendees will hear all six talks, as well as get the opportunity to see all the trials as they progress around the site.
“It will be a bit different, but we’re all getting used to doing things differently now; the recent very well-run Ellesmere and Ashburton A&P Shows have proved that with a bit of innovation the rural worthwhile events can still go ahead for the rural community,” she said.
The gates at ARIA will open at 9am for registrations, with the first talks beginning at 10am.
Early arrival for registration is recommended to allow time for bubble group parking and allocation.
Lunch will be provided following the final talks at 1pm and attendees can choose to stay and eat with their bubble group or take the food with them.
ARIA 2021 topics include nitrogen use in ryegrass seed crops; deliberate decisions for arable crops; biodiversity for beneficial insects; biopesticides – knowing where to start; managing grass weeds in cereals; and technology for managing bird damage.
For more details and pre-event registration, visit www.far.org.nz/events
