50 years of Lincoln Agritech

45 Pages·2015·6.13 MB·English

50 years of
Lincoln Agritech
1964-2014
A celebration of New Zealand
Agricultural Engineering and Innovation
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The blackcurrant
harvester.
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Contents
2 I ntroduction by the
CEO of Lincoln Agritech Limited
4 Introduction by the
Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University
THE DECADES
6 1963-69
Formative years
10 1970-79
Rapid expansion
16 1980-89
Oil shocks, extension and funding constraints
24 1990-99
A more commercial focus
30 2000-today
Challenging times
41 The final word
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Introduction
by the CEO of
Lincoln Agritech Limited
It is with great pleasure that we bring you
this commemorative booklet celebrating
Lincoln Agritech (and its predecessors) in
its 50th year of operation. In 1964, the New
Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute
(NZAEI) was formed to undertake applied
research and development to support
agritech innovation by New Zealand’s
primary sector. The New Zealand Cabinet
approved the formation of the Institute at
Lincoln College (now Lincoln University)
in October 1963 and the first staff member
joined in October 1964. Financed primarily
by Ministry of Agriculture grants, early
research concentrated on tractor safety
frame testing, fencing, carcass disposal,
farm water supply and agricultural
aviation. In 1994, Lincoln Ventures Limited
was created through merging the NZAEI
with Lincoln University’s Kellogg Farm
Management Unit and the Centre for
Resource Management. In 2012, the
company changed its name to Lincoln
Agritech Limited to better reflect its position ensure applied research is taken up by the
as an agritech-focused science and sector. None of them, or Lincoln Agritech,
engineering research company owned by has become rich off their inventions, but
New Zealand’s only specialist land based we would like to think our inventions and
university, Lincoln University. research have enriched the country.
The success of Lincoln Agritech comes There have been many successes and
from the scores of dedicated staff who some failures. While most will be forgotten
have worked here over the years with a over time, many of these were cutting edge
passion for the discovery and introduction and made a significant difference in their
of new agricultural and environmental day. The early days of NZAEI saw a strong
technologies, and who have been striving to emphasis on extension with demonstrations
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at field days commonplace – something We have some really smart technology
that seems to have dwindled with changes under development and we have very
in science funding in recent decades. This capable staff. I have never been more
booklet brings together some of those excited about Lincoln Agritech’s future than
stories long forgotten, or never known, to I am today. We look forward to supporting
share and celebrate what we have achieved. New Zealand’s primary sector and
Staff, both past and present, can be proud environment through another 50 years.
of their contribution through research to
the technological advances in agriculture,
industry and the environment that have
Peter Barrowclough
emerged from Lincoln Agritech and its
Chief Executive
predecessors.
The company continues to perform
strongly 50 years after its inception and
currently employs over 40 staff, including
scientists, research engineers and software
developers. It conducts applied research
and consultancy for the agricultural,
industrial and environmental sectors, with
current research focused on sensor and
measurement technologies, groundwater
research, precision agriculture, including
agricultural spray drift, and irrigation
software design (IRRICAD).
Business Manager, Kevin Hurren, and Chief
Executive, Peter Barrowclough, unveil the new
company name and logo.
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Introduction
by the Vice-Chancellor
of Lincoln University
Farming doesn’t succeed by biology alone.
Soils, freshwater, sunlight, mico-organisms,
plants, livestock and people are all
important components, but on their own they
are insufficient. Also essential is human
ingenuity in the form of inventions that allow
us to plough or direct drill soils; protect
and then harvest plants; contain, protect
and then milk, shear or slaughter livestock;
and measure, model and manage all these
processes. This is achieved through the
application of technologies and engineering,
activities that have been absolutely
essential to agriculture since its invention
in Mesopotamia c.10,000 years ago at the
end of the last ice age. Agri-technologies,
as we now call them, ended humanity’s
nomadic, hunter-gatherer existence and helping people feed the world, protect the
allowed the development of villages, then future and live well speaks highly of the
towns, then cities – ultimately leading to the staff who have worked for this venerable
industrial revolution and then the information institution over that time. They have been,
revolution. Without agricultural technologies and continue to be, special people whose
and agricultural engineering, our species skills and contribution are needed both
would still be wandering the planet in a in New Zealand and globally. In fact, the
largely unsophisticated manner and at times intensity of that need is mounting. Therefore,
in a state of privation. I am confident – as is Lincoln University
- that in 50 years’ time people will be
That is how important the role of agri-
celebrating a centenary of contribution by
technologies and agri-engineering is –
Lincoln Agritech Limited. Fifty years is just
absolutely vital. Lincoln Agritech Limited
the start.
is New Zealand’s specialist agricultural
technology and engineering research
and development company, owned by the
country’s specialist land-based University. Dr Andrew West
Celebrating 50 years of contributing to Vice-Chancellor
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Dean Waller and John
Milne work on testing
tractor safety frames.
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1963-69
Formative years
In 1963, the New Zealand Cabinet adopted Nothing changes
a proposal to establish an agricultural
Experience has shown that it is difficult
engineering testing and research institute
to adhere to a planned research and
at Lincoln College (now Lincoln University).
Detailed proposals were approved in August testing programme because of the
1964 and a Management Committee met number and variety of short-term
for the first time on 12 October 1964. The testing and consulting projects, and
first staff member, Graham Garden, was
ad hoc research and development
appointed in October 1964, with further
tasks, with which the Institute is
staff appointed in 1965. The New Zealand
confronted, often at short notice.
Agricultural Engineering Institute (NZAEI)
activities were formally initiated in a (John Burton, Director 1969)
ceremony at Lincoln College on 15 April
1965.
included carcass disposal, farm water
The Management Committee was a sub-
supply and agricultural aviation. Projects
committee of the College Council and
were almost entirely funded by an annual
NZAEI staff were permanent employees of
grant from the New Zealand Department
the College. The Management Committee
of Agriculture. As the decade progressed,
Chair was Mr John Boyd-Clark and the
work extended to fertiliser spreaders, milk
first NZAEI Director was Professor John
meters, row crop production, farm transport
R. Burton, who was formally appointed on
vehicles, field drainage, fence post testing
5 March 1965. There were eight inaugural
and the construction of farm dams for stock
staff members, increasing to 15 by 1969.
supply and irrigation. By 1966, soil and
Lincoln College staff from the Agricultural
water research had started and this greatly
Engineering Department worked closely
expanded as staff numbers increased. The
with NZAEI staff on joint projects.
same year also saw the beginning of work
The main areas of activity were testing,
research and development, and information
Clockwise from top left:
and extension within the broad field of
Fertiliser spreader testing in the still air lab.
agricultural engineering in New Zealand.
John Boyd-Clark, Chair of the Management
Driven by tractor fatalities and Government Committee 1964-1980.
legislation to fit all tractors with safety
Terry Heiler at the NZAEI newsletter stand at
frames, the major focus for the fledging National Machinery Field Days in 1969.
Institute was to develop tractor safety The new workshop block completed in 1966.
frame testing methods. Other early projects Vehicle fertiliser testing.
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1963-69
on introducing precision farming methods NZAEI staff were not immune to the lighter
aimed at increasing mechanisation, side of life, however. In 1968 at the official
particularly for horticulture. opening of Lincoln College’s Hilgendorf
Wing by Governor-General, Sir Arthur
The recruiting period for staff, buildings
Porritt, two NZAEI staff members (Garden
and equipment was largely complete by
and Harwood) used a remote controller to
March 1966. The Institute’s first building,
manoeuvre an unmanned tractor sedately
the workshop block, was completed in
past the Vice-Regal party. Alarm ensued
early 1966. In 1967, the Government
when the machine began to weave
approved extensions to the workshops, a
eccentrically and a policeman, jumping on
stress-analysis lab and a still-air shed for
the tractor, found no steering wheel. The
fertiliser distribution research. However, a
wayward machine finally stopped close to
shortage of accommodation and equipment
the official car. Strong words ensured that
through insufficient finances hampered the
future pranks be notified to security police
Institute’s ability to deliver the increasingly
prior to the event!
wide range of testing and projects requested
by Federated Farmers, government
departments and other agricultural
organisations. At the close of the decade,
building and equipment were noted as
‘inadequate’ and a ‘major limiting factor’ to
Accolades
the Institute’s activities.
A significant event was the attendance
Information and extension with the farming
of Principal Research Officer, Mr E.
community was an important aspect of the
M. (Mike) Watson, at the International
Institute’s work. This was facilitated through
Standards Organisation meeting in
a newsletter series and a membership
scheme (94 members by 1969), as well Paris on safety frame testing. The
as participation of staff in field days, talks results produced by the NZAEI were
to farmers’ groups and training courses. enthusiastically accepted and have
A television sequence depicting the
formed a basis for further research
Institute’s safety frame testing was aired
in America… and has been a
in Christchurch in June 1966 – the first of
tremendous factor in the international
numerous broadcasts about the Institute’s
work. recognition and reputation of
the Institute.
(J. Boyd-Clark, 1969)
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