Ag. Sci. conference programme varied

Press, 20 July 1984, Page 18

Ag. Sci. conference programme varied

The 1984 Institute of Agricultural Science conference in August will cater for a wide variety of pastural interests. The conference convener, Mr Malcolm Smith, said the organising committee was keen to attract significant non-member attendance at the convention, to be held at the University of Waikato.

"We feel the programme contains the right ingredients to attract non-member interest We are keen that all N.Z.LA.S. members make an effort to promote the conference to their friends and acquaintances.” Mr Smith said the degree of sponsorship from the commercial sector had been encouraging and reflected their appreciation of the general interest nature of the programme. More than $12,000 worth of sponsorship had been received or pledged. It had made possible pre-publica-tion of conference proceedings in an enlarged edition of the society’s journal. “This publication will be a valuable record as well as a resource for future advice and extensions.” The conference will be opened on Monday, August 27, by the Vice Chancellor of Waikato University, Dr D. R. Llewellyn. Following Dr J. P. Kerr’s presidential address, the Dan Watkins lecture will be delivered by Mr W. M. Gallagher, managing director, Gallagher Electronics, Ltd.

Session two will include two papers on ‘The Value of Pasture in New Zealand" and “The Physical Boundaries of Temperature Pasture”.

On Tuesday, August 28, there will be sessions on soils and nutrients, herbage growth, pasture cultivars and pests, pasture management, animal limitations to efficient pasture use, crops as a supplement or substitute and pastoral land — horticulture and forestry as competing land uses. A field day will be held on the Wednesday with bus tours to selected sheep and dairy farms.