Over 400 people from all over New Zealand and Australia are expected at FAR's Chertsey research site near Ashburton on Wednesday, 2 December to hear local and international speakers cover topics ranging from managing winter barley to increasing potato yields.

FAR CEO, Nick Pyke, says the ARIA day has something to offer all crop growers, whether they are traditional cereal and seed producers, potato growers or farmers offering dairy support. "Cropping farm systems are very diverse and we work very hard to ensure that our events provide relevant information for all our growers. This year's papers cover a range of agronomic topics looking at growing better cereal, seed, potato and fodder crops, but also focus on important environmental, water and nutrient issues. This is the International Year of the Soil and we are really pleased to have Trish Fraser from Plant & Food Research demonstrating how grazing animals affect the distribution of nitrogen in the soil."

There is a strong international presence at this year's event with speakers flying in from Australia, Denmark and the UK. Professor Robert Park, Director of the Australian Cereal Rust Control Programme at the University of Sydney, will discuss trans-Tasman efforts to fight cereal rust diseases; Thor Kofoed, Chairman of the Danish Seed Council will outline the situation in the EU with regards to seed and cereal production and markets; and Professor Mike Wilkinson, from the University of Nottingham in the UK will have some tips for the production of quality silage and supplementary feeds.

ARIA is also an opportunity to recognise achievements in FAR and the wider industry, and among the awards being given out will be FAR’s Researcher of the Year.

ARIA starts at 11.00 in the morning and finishes with a barbecue at 4.00 pm.