Information transfer is a key link between the researchers and experts of an industry to those who are in the position to utilise the information. Horticulture has a strong focus on research and development, whether for new practices, products or varieties, and ensuring this information gets to our growers is a key step in the process. That is why it is great to see some of the industry field days that have happened around the country over the last couple of months.

Onions NZ held field walks in both Franklin and Canterbury, with the events focused on the work being conducted by Dan Bloomer from LandWISE and Bruce Searle from Plant and Food Research to try to measure and map onion paddocks, and identify areas within a paddock that are performing well, or under-performing. It is hoped that by identifying these zones, management decisions can be

made to either lift performance of areas or utilise inputs more efficiently. Plant and Food spoke about the use of nitrate quick tests to try and measure the nitrate nitrogen levels in the soil more efficiently with a fast, straight from paddock test.

Leading agronomist John Sarup visited New Zealand recently, as part of the Potatoes NZ Grower Talks series, organised by FAR. John is a UK-based agronomist who spoke at the Potatoes NZ conference in Pukekohe last year. During this visit, John spoke about a number of issues impacting UK potato growers such as a new strain of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) which is resistant to

Fluazinam, and the ongoing control issues they have with potato cyst nematodes. John spoke very well and answered a number of questions put to him by growers. It is great to see that Potatoes NZ hosted these events in numerous potato growing regions including Pukekawa, Matamata, Opiki, Somerton, Lauriston and Seadown. FAR presented an overview of current Potatoes NZ research projects, with results not available until the end of the season. They have also been looking into the use of nitrate quick tests in potato crops and how these tests could be utilised to make in-season management decisions around nitrogen use.

It is very encouraging to see these events happen, in a range of locations with strong grower attendance. These grower focused talks offer an effective opportunity for two-way communication and to get valuable information to growers.

Pictured above: Potatoes NZ grower talk, Lauriston