Plans for the 25th anniversary of the Foundation for Arable Research’s annual Crops day began last year but in March it was put on hold while covid-19 unfolded.
Organiser Anna Heslop said there has been good industry support.
“In June we went back and consulted our sponsors and were delighted that they, like us, were keen to continue.
“We’re now back in full-on planning mode,” Heslop said.
Work on the research plots at FAR’s Chertsey arable site has been going on since lockdown lifted.
However, the industry demonstration sites have been affected by the delay.
“Many of the industry demonstration sites would usually have been sown in autumn but this year they will all be spring-sown plots.
“This has required our sponsors to do some quick thinking around crop types, cultivars and treatments.”
Since its inception in 2002 Crops has developed into NZ’s largest one-day agricultural extension field event, a must-do for farmers and other in the industry.
Visitors can see demonstration plots investigating everything from cultivars to cultivation and see and hear the latest research findings from NZ and international experts.
“The aim is to provide every attendee with new information to take away and apply to their own farming operation,” Heslop said.
Crops 2020 will focus on the future of NZ cropping, highlighting sustainable new technologies and market opportunities for grain, seed and supplementary feed crops.
It will be on December 2 at Chertsey, a 13-hectare mix of irrigated and non-irrigated land north of Ashburton.
