Input Supply Management
Growers should be taking a proactive approach to the security of key inputs for their businesses, by ordering supplies for the following seasons in a timely manner, as well as looking at investing in infrastructure that allows inputs to be secured on farm.
With increasing uncertainty and disruption in the Agri-product supply chain, a proactive approach to management of these products is becoming more and more critical, so that an under or late supply, does not impact timely operations of businesses relying on these products for their production systems.
As soon as the current season ends, inputs required for next year need to be finalised and sourced, if not already sourced prior to this point, with orders placed as soon as possible and the logistics for transporting and storing of these inputs planned. Most growers should be able to order 50 % – 80 % of their required inputs early and adjust the remainder when seasonal conditions are known.
For paddocks returning from pasture to the cropping phase or going into a brown manure phase, soil testing can be commenced up to two years in advance, allowing for lime/gypsum and other ameliorants to be ordered, landed and incorporated well prior to the commencement of sowing.
Seed requirements can be ordered as soon as draft cropping programmes are produced.
Phosphorous fertiliser requirements for sowing will be roughly known in advance and can be finalised once harvest is completed.
Chemical estimates from the draft cropping plans can be used to secure most, pre-sowing herbicide and fungicide requirements for the following year.
Fuel supplies may be dependent on the operations of the enterprise, however clients should aim to have six months’ supply of fuel on farm, especially through sowing and harvest.
Nitrogen requirements are likely to be dependent on later deep N testing. However ensuring testing is undertaken in a timely manner and budgeting for early canola and barley Nitrogen top dress applications, it is still possible to predict a significant portion of the Nitrogen inputs required.
Ensuring positive relationships with retailers is also critical to the supply of Agri-products for growers’ businesses. Placing orders earlier and maintaining communication with resellers, assists the stores to forecast demand, which helps ensure orders are filled.
The ability to store products in a high-quality environment on-farm will allow enterprises to secure their required inputs early. It is worth looking at investing in additional storage capacity such as additional fertiliser silos, fuel tanks and appropriate sheds for ag-chemicals and seed. Increased storage capacity will also allow the business to capitalise on opportunities such as discounted products due to low demand.