General Comments (September 2016)

Another wet August like those of old, has left many wishing that there hadn’t been quite as much rain as has fallen.  Predictions are for above average rainfall to continue for the remainder of the year, which if it occurs, should lead to the best growing season for a number of years.

However in many cases, these wet years are more difficult to manage than drier years, as costs blow out on crop fungicides etc plus their aerial application.  Also extra Nitrogen fertiliser used on crops increases costs.  There appear to be more issues to deal with which come out of left field in wet years, than in dry years where issues are more predictable.

Livestock also have greater metabolic problems in wet years, especially Merino sheep, which have not evolved eating lush green, protein-rich feed.  In contrast to grain prices which have all headed south, livestock prices for all categories have remained buoyant.

There is a wide variation in how crops have handled the wet conditions.  Generally, those sown early in the sowing window, allowing for significant root development prior to the onset of wetter and colder conditions, have performed better to date.

Only a few days difference in sowing time, has resulted in significant differences in crop growth in some cases.

How much of this difference translates into differences in grain yield remains to be seen, but at this stage, most of the early sown crops appear that they will have significantly higher yields.  Again, the positives of early sowing appear to far outweigh the negatives.

Large differences have been observed between the crops grown on “tired” country and those grown in rotations which include grain and manured legumes or perennial pastures, especially those containing lucerne.  Crops grown on country which was in pasture one to two years ago, are much more healthy due presumably to higher soil Nitrogen levels, plus the decaying lucerne roots have left drainage channels in the soil, leading to better aeration and higher Oxygen levels in the root zone.

Legume based pastures which include a proportion of perennial grass such as phalaris, have again been the most productive during the winter months, while also having fewer metabolic issues with grazing animals, especially Merino sheep.

Care should be exercised when insuring crops this year to ensure that the gross income per hectare (yield (t/ha) by price ($/t)) is a realistic figure on which premiums are based. It is suggested that a gross insured value of somewhere between $700 and $800/hectare is a realistic maximum figure upon which to be paying an insurance premium.  While estimated yields need to be somewhat realistically higher than average to prevent co-insurance being triggered in the event of a claim, grain values can be adjusted down to achieve the desired $/ha figure.