Farm Tech

Meat & Wool Innovation’s Extension Programme: Using Research On-Farm

Extension strategy

Getting the information to farmers

Meat & Wool Innovation is committed to making R&D information accessible and useful to farmers to improve farm production results. This will be a major consideration when allocating funding.

Meat & Wool Innovation’s extension strategy involves:

• Meat & Wool Innovation staff monitoring and sharing information in specific programme areas
• Bringing together the Meat & Wool Innovation programme leaders and existing R&D project leaders
• Ensuring information is shared through farm management professionals and farmer networks
• Co-ordinating regional and national coverage for programmes
• Working with other organisations to build effective R&D programmes
• Supporting extension through effective communications – liaison with the media, Meat & Wool Innovation publications and co-operation with other organisations.

Impact programme leaders for 2000/01

Information and technology transfer from R&D projects within the five main focus areas is co-ordinated and packaged by ‘impact programme’ leaders. This is to ensure that these five key outcome areas provide effective resources for the extension strategy above.

The impact programmes and leaders are as follows:

Quality and market access

Animal health and welfare

High performance sheep farming systems

Sustainability

Innovative products

Animal health
Alan Marshall (alan.marshall@mwi.co.nz) – Christchurch 03-325 6911

Fibre quality
Lew Willoughy (lew.willoughy@mwi.co.nz) – Napier 06-835 1888
Robert Pattison (robert.pattison@mwi.co.nz) – Mosgiel 03-489 9021

Forages and nutrition
Richard Gavigan (richard.gavigan@mwi.co.nz) – Masterton 06 376 0005

Genetic improvement
Alan Marshall (alan.marshall@mwi.co.nz) – Christchurch 03 325 6911

Sheep handling & wool harvesting
Alan Marshall (alan.marshall@mwi.co.nz) – Christchurch 03-325 6911

Meat & Wool Innovation's Research Programme: Getting the Fundamentals Right

Our research and development philosophy

The priorities for Meat & Wool Innovation’s research and development are set by consultation and industry feedback, with emphasis on delivering improved farm profit and meeting processor and end user needs.

Funding is contestable and allocated annually from an R&D budget approved by the Meat & Wool Innovation board.

Projects are developed interactively to ensure strong programmes that meet stated outcomes. Where necessary they are refereed or reviewed in workshops.

Individual project funding decisions are based on Meat & Wool Innovation priorities, cost-benefit indicators and the quality of the project and the research team.

Intellectual property ownership is negotiated and agreed before a contract is signed.

Development of collaborative projects within and between research organisations is encouraged.

Communication and consultation with other funding agencies is maintained, particularly with FRST.

All R&D projects must report regularly and have strategies for information transfer to farmers.

Programmes are peer reviewed regularly by groups of farmers, researchers and consultants.

Information and technology is shared with farmers through an extension strategy involving Meat & Wool Innovation extension specialists, private consultants and farm servicing groups. Farmer networks including the Sheep, Beef and Goat Council and monitor farms are also involved.

Extension is supported by liaison with the media, videos and publications.