November 2007

E-news Number 18 for project teams and all those interested in Sustainable Farming in New Zealand

Dear all                          He mihi nui ki a koutou

In this edition:

• Launch of the 2008/09 funding round
• New SFF brochure
• Communications guide for project teams
• Poplars and willows for environmental management and fodder
• Dry rot in swedes
• Native trees on farms
• Wormwise workshops underway
• Small crops forum

Launch of the 2008/09 funding round

The 2008/09 SFF funding round is now open. We invite applications from farmer, grower and forester-led groups for projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to New Zealand's primary sectors. Applications close on Monday 11 February 2008.

Click here to download the guidelines and applications form from the SFF website.

Remember:

• Applications for small projects (grants under $20,000) and the Phase 1 application for the larger projects (grants greater than $20,000) use the same application form.
• Please read the guidelines! They explain the key features of the Fund, the application process and the assessment criteria. They also outline the information we require in each section of the application form.
• All application forms must be submitted electronically by the closing date - faxed or hard copies will not be accepted. Email your application to sff@maf.govt.nz with the title of the project as the subject line.

SFF Project Advisors are available to advise project teams putting together an application. Click here for SFF contacts or call us on 0800 100 087.

Interested in finding out more?

To download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation (5.11MB) given at the 2007 Applicant Workshops click here or call us on 0800 100 087 to be sent a printed copy.

Previous projects funded by the SFF click here.

New SFF brochure

We have a new colour brochure to introduce people to the SFF. If you would like copies to pass out at events or field days contact Amanda Hall (phone 0800 100 087).

To download the pdf (216K) of the new SFF brochure click here.

Communications guide for project teams

What do you want the legacy of your project to be? Presumably more than a volume on a shelf or a line on your CV? What do you want to happen as a result of communicating about your project?

Simple questions... but ones that project teams don't always think through carefully at the start of the project. In some cases groups focus on the what - "we'll build a website" or "we'll publish a manual" without thinking through the who, why, how and when. Groundwork Associates Ltd has put together a Communications Guide for MAF SFF projects, which summarises the information presented by Annie Perkins at the recent SFF applicants and communications workshops.

We recommend that all SFF project teams read this well-written guide. It will help you with:

• building a basic communications plan;
• being brand aware;
• getting media savvy;
• preparing for life after funding;
• providing you with links to useful resources.

Interested in finding out more?

To download A Communications Guide for MAF SFF projects from the SFF website click here.

Poplars and willows for environmental management and fodder

Planting trees on farms is a good thing to do! If you are planting poplars and willows, or have mature trees that need managing, then check out Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms. Well-managed poplars and willow don't take up productive land or become an unmanageable nuisance - they benefit your stock, your land and the planet.

This booklet draws on farmers', land managers', researchers' and consultants' experiences of using trees for soil conservation, shelter, shade, supplementary fodder and landscape enhancement. It combines this on-the-ground experience with scientific research to provide practical solutions.

Sections in the booklet cover:

• the different species and clones that are available in New Zealand;
• planting and establishment methods;
• tree management, including pollarding, browse blocks, shelter belts, and as coppiced plantations to effectively resolve farm effluent nutrient dispersal;
• risk management, including safety equipment and procedures for pruning;
• pest and disease control, such as poplar rust, willow sawfly and possums;
• costs and benefits of tree fodder.

Pollarding demonstration at a recent Hawke's Bay field day

In the words of project leader, Peter Gawith, "The polar and willow projects came as a request from farmers in the Wairarapa after the 1998 drought to better understand the potential of both poplar and willow as a feed source, and expanded to include most of the drought prone areas of the country from Otago in the south to Gisborne in the north. Farmer involvement alongside the scientific researchers provided for sound, common-sense solutions to the problems raised by farmers. All the information gathered has been made available in a form that is easy to use and has gone through out New Zealand, and as far as Australia . These two tree varieties are vital to New Zealand's pastoral hill country firstly for soil stability in times of extreme rainfall events, and secondly, as a valuable source of fodder in times of drought."

Fodder trials were an important aspect of the project

Interested in finding out more?

To download an electronic copy (pdf 1.32MB) of Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms click here. Booklets can be purchased ($12.00 incl GST per copy) from Grant Douglas, AgResearch, Palmerston North (phone 06 356 8019 or email grant.douglas@agresearch.co.nz ).

To read more about this project on the SFF website click here.

Dry rot in swedes

Southland and Otago farmers plant approximately 50 000 hectares of swedes each year for winter feed. But dry rot (Leptosphaeria maculans) can cause farmers to lose up to 95 percent of their crop, creating serious consequences on farms, as well as a source of spores that will infect the following year's crops. The SFF-funded Dry Rot Study Group has been investigating this problem, and has summarised what is known about dry rot in an excellent field day handout.

The following is based on the summary provided by Keith Milne of Scandrett Rural Ltd.

Swedes have a place in winter feed programmes, but we must use best husbandry practices to ensure they are a reliable crop:

• Monitor brassica paddocks and record infection rates so you can make informed decisions about how to cultivate and what and where to sow next.
• Break the disease cycle and lower the spore pressure on next year's crops by:
  • not second cropping swedes;
  • not second cropping with kale if dry rot was present in the previous crop;
  • using cultivation methods that effectively bury as much residue as possible;
  • not sowing swedes directly down wind or beside a paddock that has had bad dry rot infection the previous year;
  • using the most recently bred, dry rot tolerant cultivar if dry rot is a problem in your environment.
• Be aware that:
  • the application of fungicides has been shown to slow the progress of the disease, but their use may not be cost effective and, to date, no chemicals are registered for such use;
  • early sowing can increase the risk of dry rot and bolting.
• Don't pin your hopes solely on the release of new cultivars - without lowering the disease pressure the tolerance of these cultivars will quickly break down.
• Resistant swede varieties have been developed, however, it can take more than 13 years to breed a new cultivar and under current farming practices dry rot tolerance is breaking down within three to four years.

Interested in finding out more?

To download the full handouts from the Swede Dry Rot Field Day off the SFF website click here.

To read more about this project on the SFF website click here.

Native trees on farms

"There is a widespread assumption in New Zealand farming circles that agriculture and native plants don't mix. The purpose of this Bulletin is to combine the experiences of farmers and researchers to demonstrate that they can and do mix well".

So states the introduction to "Farming with Native Trees", a 60 page booklet that has been published by Ensis as part of a SFF project run by Tane's Tree Trust. The booklet highlights farmers' experiences with using native plants in their farm systems and uses case studies from farms in Waikato and Northland. The on-farm experiences are supported by up-to-date research and knowledge from researchers, consultants and agency staff. Although the work was done in the Northern North Island, this booklet is recommended for all landowners throughout New Zealand.

Interested in finding out more?

Copies of the bulletin can be obtained from the Publications Officer, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, email publications@scionresearch.com; or from Tane's Tree Trust, see http://www.tanestrees.org.nz/pubs.php

There is a small cost to cover printing and postage.

For a summary of "Farming With Native Trees" click here

For more information about this SFF project click here

Wormwise workshops underway

Wormwise Workshops focus on practical internal parasite management techniques in sheep and beef cattle. The workshops are part of the wider national Wormwise Management Strategy and an SFF co-funded project.

Upcoming workshops will be held in:

• Dannevirke (20 November);
• Waipukurau (21 November);
• Raetihi (26 November);
• North Taranaki (27 November);
• Piopio (28 November);
• Marlborough (3 December);
• North Canterbury (4 December);
• Mid Canterbury (5 December).

For venues, times, and to register interest in the workshops call 0800 GO WORM (0800 469 676), or contact Lab Wilson phone 021 2287 462.

Interested in finding out more?

For more information about the SFF project Development of farmer training workshops and information resources for management of internal parasites click here.

Small crops forum

On 16 July SFF co-ordinated a meeting to explore options for the smaller horticultural and arable industries to:

• improve co-ordination of their research, development and extension activities;
• acheive greater alignment of priorities, partnership and support from funding agencies;
• ensure critical research capability is maintained and applied appropriately.

Attendees expressed willingness to work together on common issues and generated ideas for co-operative projects. One of these projects, "A Scoping Study for the Indentification of Agrichemical Issues in the Horticultural and Arable Industries", is already underway. The forum also provided the opportunity for different industries to network with each other, researchers and policy staff.

Attendees included representives from industry groups (Foundation for Arable Research, Horticulture NZ, berryfruit industries, Passionfruit Growers Association, Olives New Zealand, Nuts New Zealand, Summerfruit New Zealand, Citrus Growers NZ Inc, National Beekeepers Association and the Nursery and Garden Industry Association); research and training providers (Crop and Food, HortResearch, Lincoln University, AgResearch, Unitec, and private providers), and government agencies and funders (SFF, MAF Policy, Foundation for Research Science and Technology, Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, FertResearch and AgMardt). Other industries were interested but unable to attend the forum.

For more information about the Small Crops Forum click here or contact Helen Percy (phone 07 9578 321).

Ending

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Kia rongo korero ano matou i a koutou

Kind regards
Amanda, Craig, Diana, Daile, Katherine and Helen