24 October 2001
Paddock mapping systems aims to increase profitability
A new computerised paddock mapping system that will allow seed crop farmers to maximise profitable production has been given a Government grant of $111,938 to help its development.
The system's being developed by the Canterbury Specialist Seed Crop Growers of the Lincoln-based Foundation for Arable Research.
It has been given the grant as part of the MAF Sustainable Farming fund which was set up to help fund projects of benefit to the rural sector and its communities.
Sustainable Farming Fund Manager, Kevin Steel says the project is intended to be a cost-effective means to identify and allocate paddocks suitable for specialist seed crop production.
He says these paddocks need to be the prescribed isolation distance from other crops that have the potential to cross pollinate and contaminate the high value seed crops.
The project will develop an interactive internet based paddock mapping system to manage isolation distances, allow paddocks to be identified either by local knowledge of location, by previous history within AgriBase or by inputting GPS co-ordinates.
The programme will encourage communication between growers and merchants in the seed industry to eliminate overlaps on isolation distances.
It will also help minimise the problem of weeds and reduce reliance on herbicides and expensive hand weed options.
Ends
For more information contact Nick Pyke, Foundation for Arable Research Tel. 03-325-6353 or Kevin Steel Tel. 04-460-8780
Contact for Enquiries
Fund Administrator
Sustainable Farming Fund
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
Tel: 0800 008 333
Fax: 04 894 0746
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