Projects

Our Projects

LandWISE projects seek to maximise sustainable profitability of field cropping through researching and promoting best practices. Maximum profit in the short term, can lead to lower profits in the longer term if resources are degraded.

Through our projects, we work with industry organisations and farmers to co-ordinate on-farm trials. Their help and assistance is invaluable.

The MPI Sustainable Farming Fund, Ministry for the Environment the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority have funded our projects, with financial support from a large number of co-funders and the in-kind contributions of very many farmers, industry groups and regional governments. We thank them all for facilitating our efforts.

Future Proofing Vegetable Production

Future proofing vegetable production requires ongoing rapid change in farm practice to meet cost pressures and increasingly stringent demands from regulators and markets for enhanced environmental performance and water quality.

It will not be easy but with support from the MPI Sustainable Farming Fund, industry and regional councils, we have started a journey. READ MORE>

Smart Tools for Orchard Drainage

Inadequate orchard drainage is an extreme expression of a common problem that can occur anytime of the year. Muddy conditions increase disease, increase labour costs and hazards and increase storage fruit rots. Despite numerous attempts to rectify puddles and mud, the problem remains.

LandWISE has joined with New Zealand Apples and Pears Inc for this project which is drawing on experience from other sectors and access to new precision agriculture technologies to address the problem through precision surface drainage, particularly in established orchards where it is especially difficult. READ MORE>

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 project is funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and major co-funder, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). READ MORE>

Integrated Storm Water Management

The Arawhata is a small, intensively farmed catchment entering Lake Horowhenua. Sediments and accompanying nutrients from farmed land can have adverse effects on the lake’s ecosystems. An integrated catchment drainage and sediment control plan can increase farm production and profitability and decrease the loss of sediment and nutrients to the lake. READ MORE . . .

Enhancing the Value and Profitability of Onions

Onions New Zealand Inc has identified low yields, variability in onion yield and bulb quality as key issues affecting grower profitability and the value of exports. This project aimed to provide the industry with tools to monitor and manage these issues to enable the industry maintain sustainable growth.

This project tested sensor technologies and developed protocols to monitor crop development and yield variation (spatially and temporally) and link these with crop modelling and agronomy to determine why variation is occurring. Crops can be traced from paddock through harvest and storage so that post-harvest quality issues can be related to factors during growth. READ MORE . . .

On-Farm Fertiliser Spreader Calibration

Nutrient budgeting is a critical aspect of fertiliser practice. Knowing what should be done is important. Knowing what is actually done is important too.

This project developed fertiliser application calibration procedures, a calculator and on-line resources suitable for farmers applying nutrients with their own equipment. This allows on-farm checks to ensure and demonstrate that their own or contracted application equipment is performing to expectations. READ MORE . . .

Validating Field Robotics

This proof of concept project sought to validate a commercially available field robot as a viable autonomous platform on New Zealand farms. Our aim was also to develop experience and expertise in this advancing area of interest.

This project was focused on Oz440, a smaller robotic platform developed by Naio Technologies in France. The platform was identified as a commercially available base for locally developed solutions and new high-tech services and exports. READ MORE . . .

Holding it Together

Healthy soils form the basis of profitable and sustainable cropping systems. What can growers do to ensure their soils remain in great condition and provide the essential services a crop needs?

The Holding it Together project set out to support growers as they looked at practical strategies to ensure their greatest asset remained in top shape for the years ahead. READ MORE . . .

Assessing the Cost of Crop Loss at Field Scale

A one year MAF Sustainable Farming Fund project supported by the Horticulture NZ Vegetable Research and Innovation Board. The project is developing quick methods to determine the cost of crop loss. We’ve noted total loss areas caused by surface ponding from irrigation or poor drainage. How much is it costing? Is it worth putting some effort into mitigation? READ MORE . . .

Financial Benefits of Site Specific Vineyard Management

A one year MAF Sustainable farming fund project, supported by Mission Estate, Villa Maria and Kokako Farms. Local viticulturists and wineries have shown clear benefit of vineyard zoning for differential harvesting for high quality wine juice. This project is looking at soil EM and crop vigour mapping to identify zones within vineyard blocks, and at the practical issues trying to manage them differently to optimise juice quality and reduce labour costs. READ MORE . . .

Resilient Cropping

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after an adverse event. When we are generally happy and healthy we can handle most things nature (or life) throws at us. If we are run down, tired and sick, the slightest thing seems to knock us for six. Farms are very much the same.

The “Resilient Cropping” initiative aimed to build resilience into crop farming. It was a joint venture between LandWISE, the Foundation for Arable Research, Horticulture NZ and Tahuri Whenua, the Maori Vegetable Growers’ Collective. The work was funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries. READ MORE . . .

Advanced Cropping Systems

The LandWISE Advanced Cropping Systems project has been completed with publication of the book, “A Guide to Smart Farming”.

Spread from Pukekohe to Canterbury, the Advanced Cropping Systems project followed and supported farmers advancing with technology on their farms. They are making savings on time, machine costs, fuel and other inputs, each is an example of example of technology in and costs out. Some have also experienced early improvements in yields and soil qualities.

Cases ranged from advanced weed management, (RTK-GPS guided mechanical weeding and GPS controlled spraying), GPS contouring to controlled traffic in arable and vegetable crops. Other cases focused on data management, zonal management and implementing GPS into a farming system.

The common themes were increasing profitability and improved soil and farm resilience in the face of climate change.

Protocols for using guidance systems have been developed to help avoid costly and frustrating errors. Other protocols are being written as knowledge is developed in different aspects of Precision Agriculture.

A simple energy calculator was developed to compare different cultivation strategies. It includes estimates of carbon generation and fuel costs. READ MORE . . .

Strip Tillage

We have undertaken several projects designed to test and promote sustainable crop production. From 2003 – 2007 we ran Controlling the Strip in which we trialed innovative field cropping practices. This project built on earlier work done on strip tillage and minimum tillage as well as precision agriculture, irrigation efficiency and enhancement and herbicide resistance.

Controlling the Strip involved more than 20 trials run over 4 years in different parts of the North Island where various production methods were assessed. As part of this project we investigated Banded Fertiliser application and Controlled Traffic for maize and squash