SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FARMER GIVES COSTS OF WHEAT GROWING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17862, 2 June 1926, Page 13

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FARMER GIVES COSTS OF WHEAT GROWING.

DIFFERENT SYSTEM TO THAT IN DOMINION. (Special to the “Star.”) ASHBURTON, June 1. The cost of wheat-growing in South Australia is the subject of an interesting letter received by Mr G. W. Leadley, of Elgin, from Mr T, R. Brinkworth, trustee of the South Australian Farmers’ Co-operative Union, Limited. Mr Brinkworth says:— “Referring to your inquiry re cost of growing an acre of wheat in South Australia, I would first like to say I was very much interested in the figures supplied by you, but I can see Uiere are many differences with regard to wheat-growing in South Australia and New Zealand. “I would point out that wheat is not grown year after year on the same land in South Australia. The most frequent intervals which it is grown is every other year, but a good many farmers go in for a three years’ period. Fallowing, which is done immediately after seeding for the next year’s crop, is quite a practice in South Australia. This system is being carried out primar ily tp .eppsej-ve the moisture of the soil, as our best wheat-growing areas in this State have a rainfall of 13 inches to 16 inches annually, so that you will readily understand how necessary it is to conserve the moisture in the soil. Fallowing also cleans the land. “In my table of costs I‘have estimated the cost of the land at £ls an acre, at Which price a very good farm can be purchased, although in some of the newly ' opened up country, fair wheat-growing farms can be purchased as low as £3 an acre. Of course, this would only be partially improved! On the £3 an acre land the average crop would be from 9 to 15 bushels per acre, and in many new districts farming is not carried out in the same systematic manner, but. .it.has. been amply proved by all our best farmers that the one sure way to get results is to be systematic in the -working- of the land.” The following table of costs of a 21bushel per acre crop on land valued *at £ls an acre is given:—

Harvesting is done in South Austra lia with a complete harvester, which reaps, cleans and bags the grain in one operation.

Rent or interest on land, in- £ s. d. eluding rates and taxes . 3 Ploughing once 0 Harrowing Cultivating twice in sprint 0 1 0 7s (5d, and harrowing is .. 0 8 6 Cultivating prior to seeding 0 0 Drilling and harrowing ... o Seed wheat. 1 bushel per acre 0 Superphosphate, lewt .. Harvesting n Delivery to rail (estimate) 6 Railway to f.o.b Insurance, supervision, etc. 0 7 0 Total £4 3 C»