Crop scene changes

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 20

Crop scene changes

Less experienced parttime crop farmers and sheep farmers trying to supplement their income should remember the cropping scene can change quickly. Although the coming season looks reasonably good for cropping, with some prices up on recent years, dryland crops are not likely to return much more than sheep this year if contractors are used for harvesting and spraying, although there are exceptions. These are if aboveaverage yields (3.75 tonnes per hectare) are achieved, or a good deal is negotiated with a reliable contractor ($125 per hectare) to harvest and cart into storage. Helping with truck driving during the season could swing a better deal.

Thirdly, finding moderately priced seed with a reasonable germination, and the right seed bed and weather conditions to get it into the ground on time. A shortage of seasonal finance and an anticipated large spring/summer feed surplus through low sheep numbers, could also have an impact.

Pasture should be ripped up before midAugust at the latest for dryland barley. Most sheep farmers will have enough stock to use

By QUENTIN WITHELL of MAFTech, Timaru

most of the coming spring and summer pasture growth. If not, sowing new drought-resistant pasture species which grow more slowly in the first year, will soak up the rest. Some grain merchants offer sowing advances at similar interest rates as trading bank overdrafts. There are other options besides contractors, such as renting a header, or share-cropping with an experienced crop farmer. A crop summary

Wheat: —Biscuit wheat is mainly autumn-sown and too much has probably been planted already, so do not sow any Karamu in the spring. Bread wheat contract prices are about $290 for 100 index points in the South Island. Producers of the surplus, non-con-tracted wheat may have to pay cartage to the North Island of about $BO a tonne. Otane is the best variety, but should not be sown late (after early October) without irrigation as it does not handle droughts well. Barley:—lt can be sown later than wheat, and is normally easier to manage with better yields. Prices of $l7O to $230 for

feed are possible. If it is over $2OO, dryland barley would be better than noncontracted wheat for the inexperienced. Triumph malting barley lost a lot of favour this year after taking a hammering from the drought, diseases and an inability to make the competitive $25 a tonne price margin over feed varieties. It has sometimes been better to budget on $lB5 a tonne until further information comes to hand.

Oats:—Preferably winter or early spring sown. Contracts are out at about $2OO a tonne. It is not as high yielding as barley, especially in dry nor-west prone areas, but normally requires less fungicides, and can always be made into oaten hay. If grown in quantity, the price could drop.

Perennial ryegrass:— With forward contracts of $1 to $1.20 a kilogram, it is not a good option if using a contractor. One lesson learnt last year was to avoid strict tonnage contracts. White Clover:—So far it looks goods, with forward contracts over $3 a kilogram suggested, but it could easily drop back to about $2.50 with good yields and large acreage. Again it is not a good option if using contractors.