Each year, the Australian University Crops Competition rewards the highest scoring competitors with an international study tour to further their knowledge of the international crops industry, while also providing them with an opportunity to research a component of the industry that is of interest to them and that will benefit them in their chosen career.

In January 2010, the top five competitors of the 2009 competition visited New Zealand on a three day study tour. The destination for the international study tour for the 2010 competition is still to be determined but New Zealand, Switzerland, South America, United States of America and the United Kingdom are all being considered.

2009 International Study Tour - New Zealand

Sandy Middleton (CSU Wagga Wagga), Michael Noble (University of Adelaide), Annieka Paridaen (La Trobe University), Denielle Kilby (UNE) and Alex Byrne (La Trobe University) traveled to Christchurch, New Zealand from the 24th - 29th January 2010.

Over the five days in New Zealand, the top five toured the Canterbury region, visiting the following enterprises:

Industry Visits:

• Lincoln University
• PGG Wrightson – NZ largest agribusiness
• NZ Institute for Plant and Food Research
• Syngenta
• Midlands Seeds
• SI Seed Dressing and Storage Co
• Foundation for Arable Research (FAR)

Farm Visits:

• Springston Farm
• Altonbrook Farm
• Lincoln University Dairy
• Greenvale Pastures & Dairy – Mackenzie Family
• Darfield Farm - Andrew Gillanders
  

Guest SpeakerS:

• Professor Bruce McKenzie (Lincoln University, Dean of Agriculture & Life Sciences)
• Brent Rawstron - Rossendale Winery & Farmer
  

Dinner Guests:

• Professor Hamish Gow, (Massey University, formerly at Michigan State University USA)
  
• Professor Neil Gow, (Lincoln University)
• 8 ‘FAR Arable Y’s’ young farmers

While in New Zealand each of the Delegates carried out an industry research project:

1. Sandy Middleton
Integrated pest management of NZ cropping systems and opportunity for technology adoption within southern NSW farming systems

2. Michael Noble
The differences between South Australian & Canterbury Plain crop production systems

3. Annieka Paridaen
The use of plant growth regulators (PGR's) in NZ and successful adoption in Australia

4. Denielle Kilby
Investigating the effect New Zealand’s tractability regulations have on Australian grain entering the country

5. Alex Byrne
Comparison between Australian and New Zealand On-Farm Grain Storage and Quality Assurance