A review of recent research and extension on dryland lucerne in New Zealand

摘要

To maintain scientific integrity requires the publication of research articles in journals of high international standing. Results from such work are frequently discounted as irrelevant and of low value to practitioners wanting to interpret results for their farm situation. This creates a dilemma for funding bodies, scientists and industry good organizations. This paper outlines the strategy that has evolved to develop a dryland research programme based around lucerne. This aimed to satisfy the requirements of data integrity for excellent science output, yet maintain currency and relevance for wide-spread agricultural adoption. This utilized high quality science by a series of postgraduate students, and engaged industry good and Government organizations to provide funding support to demonstrate the key results, and for technology transfer. The successful adoption of information required the lead scientist to engage in all aspects of the science and extension. As the demands of each increased, digital 4technology in the form of a website, 'txt' alert service, and a blog were used to communicate to a wider audience and maintain accurate and timely advice. The development of a case study around 'Bonavaree' farm provided a focus for on-farm adoption and added currency and relevance to the scientific data. This allowed scientists, agribusiness professionals and on-farm practitioners to communicate with a farmer or scientist at a level that they felt most comfortable. The collective result has stimulated on-farm change to a greater extent than could be expected from a focus on any individual component of research, demonstration or technology transfer.