CROPS 2026 is the Foundation for Arable Research's annual arable field day, held 25 November 2026 at its Chertsey Research Site in mid-Canterbury, bringing researchers and growers together to see current crop-science trials in the field.
CROPS 2026 is a one-day arable field day run by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) at its Chertsey Research Site in mid-Canterbury, scheduled for 25 November 2026 from 10:00am to 4:15pm (FAR's event page). It is an open-air research expo where FAR scientists walk growers, agronomists and industry through the season's trial work in the paddocks where it is grown, rather than a conference-style programme indoors.
CROPS is FAR's flagship arable field day, held each November at the Chertsey research site as one of a rotating pair with ARIA (Arable Research in Action). FAR describes the day as a chance to "catch up with researchers, growers and others from the industry" and to see FAR-funded research demonstrated in one place. Entry is free and lunch is provided, with RSVP requested for catering (FAR event page).
The event is organised by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), New Zealand's arable sector research and extension body. FAR is funded by a commodity levy on arable crops under the Commodity Levies (Arable Crops) Order 2006, so its research programme is grower-funded; field days like CROPS are how that work is returned to the levy payers. FAR runs four arable research sites nationally, with Chertsey the focal point for its Mid Canterbury work (far.org.nz).
The day is aimed at arable growers, agronomists, researchers and others across the cropping industry. The 2026 programme published by FAR covers a full spread of current trial topics, including arable feed footprints from seed to feed (Dirk Wallace, FAR), cultivar performance and genetics (Adam Christie, Scottish Agronomy; Jacqueline Straathof, FAR), nitrogen use efficiency and the SVS tool (Andrew Barber, SVS; Abie Horrocks, FAR), managing soil compaction for profit (Philip Wright, Wright Resolutions UK; Dirk Wallace), pest management in mixed cropping rotations (Jo Drummond, FAR; Daniel Sutton, NZVeg), weed mapping and management (Chris Smith and Owen Gibson, FAR), an agri-chemical pathway for minor-use crops (Bruno Gatimel, A Lighter Touch; Andrew Pitman, FAR), and white clover seed yield research (Fiona Anderson and Sean Weith, FAR). The Carrfields rural health van and Fire and Emergency New Zealand will also be on site, with FENZ discussing the fire season (FAR event page).
This is a working arable research farm, not a convention venue. The Chertsey Research Site sits in the Chertsey locality of mid-Canterbury, in the heart of the region's cropping country between Rakaia and Ashburton; FAR records the research site address as 1904 Rakaia Highway, just south of Rakaia (far.org.nz). It is a 16-hectare site hosting cereal, seed-production, environmental and long-term cultivation trials under both dryland and irrigated conditions. Access is by road through rural mid-Canterbury, and as an outdoor paddock-based event attendees should expect field conditions and on-farm parking rather than built conference facilities.
Arable cropping is a cornerstone of the Canterbury rural economy, and CROPS is one of the main points in the year where FAR's levy-funded trial results are shown directly to the growers who fund them. Seeing cultivar, nitrogen, compaction, weed and pest trials in the ground supports on-farm decisions for the coming season across the mid-Canterbury cropping belt.
CROPS alternates with FAR's ARIA (Arable Research in Action) field day, also held at Chertsey in November, and sits alongside FAR's annual conference (held mid-year, e.g. Lincoln, Canterbury) within the organisation's grower-extension calendar (far.org.nz).
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