The Carbon Positive project is progressing well. We harvested the first crop, sweetcorn for McCain Foods, on 11 April. It was planted just before Christmas and given the season we had, we were reasonably happy with an average yield of around 16 t/ ha. We have not had time to analyse all the data yet,…
Category: Projects
Carbon Positive
Can we regenerate soil carbon in soils used for intensive field cropping? To scientifically test regenerative farming principles within a typical New Zealand cropping system, we have established a six-year trial on the Heretaunga Plains. The trial at the LandWISE MicroFarm is a collaboration with the Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Trust. The information produced will…
Welcome Alex
LandWISE Board member Alex has changed her role and is now also our Project Manager: Sustainable Systems at LandWISE! Since starting at the beginning of October, she has been very busy establishing trials at the MicroFarm and at eight local process cropping farms. We are delighted to have Alex on board, with her strong background…
Herbicide Resistance Management
Weed Management Research Herbicide resistant weeds are a real and increasing issue globally and evident in New Zealand. Herbicide resistant ryegrass is for example, a problem in both arable farms and vineyards. We are working with Trevor James and AgResearch in a project focused on improved weed control and vegetation management to minimise future herbicide resistance. The…
LandWISE AGM 2022
Reminder of the 2022 AGM The 2022 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 June at the Green Shed at the LandWISE MicroFarm, 21 Ruahapia Rd, Waipatu, Hastings. The AGM will be accompanied by a free seminar with presentations covering current and future projects and topics of interest. The meeting begins with a…
Asparagus Nitrogen Management
Together with the New Zealand Asparagus Council, we were fortunate to obtain funding from “Our Land and Water” to investigate nitrate best practice management. We surveyed a number of growers about fertiliser and nitrate management practices. We find growers generally have good management for transport, handling and storage. We see a wide range of practices…
Update – BMPS for process vegetable crops
Run in conjunction with McCain Foods, Heinz-Watties and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with support from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, this project builds on work started under the Future Proofing Vegetable Production project. Focusing on sweetcorn, tomatoes, beetroot and green beans, we are comparing current farm practice with either the “Nutrient Management for…