Wild oats can have a very significant impact on cereal grain yields. But so too can a common seed and grazing crop on many arable farms, namely ryegrass.

New grass bred for yield and animal health is helping one sheep and beef farm wean more lambs off mum in the drought-prone hills of southern Hawke’s Bay. 

High insect pest pressure in spring-sown pastures and crops means close surveillance is even more important than normal as summer advances.

Novel chemistry from one of New Zealand’s leading crop protection specialists was in strong demand during the spring spray-out and early establishment phases, with high populations of springtails, army worm and cut worm reported.

Corteva marketing manager Glen Surgenor says a mild winter in many areas may be part of the reason.

Almost 3000 insects, spiders and mites have been found in native planting at a Pukekohe demonstration vegetable farm, designed to provide food and habitat to maintain beneficial species populations over winter.

Over a century ago, at FMG’s inception, the idea of being safe online would have been a vastly foreign concept.

Imagine this. You’re woken from sleep on a Sunday night to be told your well-established agri supply business is literally in flames.

Headstart, containing 50 grams per litre flumetsulam with inbuilt adjuvant technology, has established itself as a key tool for early weed control in pasture.

Nufarm has achieved Toitu carbonreduce certification, demonstrating its commitment to measuring, managing, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The team behind novel yet simple technology that reads plant moisture status directly from the stem of permanent crops like grapevines, kiwifruit and apple trees has beaten an impressive line up of finalists to win the 2024 Innovation in Irrigation Award.

It could be the perfect storm. Diminishing margins and rising costs, combined with forecast higher temperatures meaning increased insect pressure on crops.

Syngenta attended the Foundation for Arable Research CROPS event at Chertsey late last year, as a platinum sponsor of this flagship industry event.

Risks posed by chlorpyrifos to humans and the environment now outweigh its benefits, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says.