New Zealand wheat

[jonnyjon]

If the plant is using it, does it matter?

Yes it does imv, a large % of nz rivers are classified as extremely polluted due to excess chemical fertilizers, large amounts of fertilizers destroy soil health and only drive output of low quality food, depresses prices and increases disease. A chemical guys dream

 

[ajd132]

I do understand that and had a harvest like that last year due to wet backend and drier spring summer although don't do anything fancy 200-240kg/ha N T0, T1, T2 T3 use new varieties generally grown as cheap as I see possible.

Fixed costs are much more important than 30kgN here and a missed spray there. The more I produce the more I sell the lower my cost per tonne. Timing of application and attention to detail important too

Race to the bottom maybe but on a limited area I see it as my way forward. I can see how ranching and sweating the asset on poor land might work too, for a time or having a high P and soil K and being able to utilise the nutrients on the soil whilst returning everything to the soil would work.

Horses for courses springs to mind, that and prices are based around world markets what it depends on if we are a bet exporter or net importer

I agree and we do the same. It if fixed costs are too high spending more on vc’s to insure high yielding crops is just introducing more needless risk.
I agree yield is king but using a NZ model of 400kg/ha and all those fungicides is fairly pointless thing to start trying to copy when In reality we face more regulated use of our nitrogen and pesticides.

 

[ajd132]

Nitrogen use efficency in this country is something pathetic like 50-60% so lobbing on 400kg is pretty irresponsible.

 

[jonnyjon]

@SilliamWhale I see no real diffence from the 1000s of farmers in this country chucking 200kg/ha and more to get 3.5t/acre or less.

If he has land capable of it, then should he not push the envelope. He is doing it without sub, it has to wash it's face. I know it's a bit of Willie waving but it's there to help us all learn and choose not to use it.

I take your point at it being riskier however the stubble Turnips or whatever cover follows it will likely be the better for it.

What I think it shows, in the UK where we have an average 8t/ha of wheat something you and others have woken many of us up to is the importance of soil health it's just how you take advantage of said healthier soil.

My philosophy is to maximise what little I have and try to keep it even.

Fancy having a go at 350kgN on a tram or 2 just to see. Although I would expect to need lifters and provide a defibrillator for my agronomist when I tell him.

350kg n and good soil health are not compatible

 

[Brisel]

Talking about yield and pushing the envelope is great, but I'm more interested in the [sustainable] margin. YEN never boast about margin when they have big yields - have they reduced their margins by applying such massive inputs? Are they just buying all the extra yield?

@Clive posted a table of his osr margin vs the new UK record holder Tim Lammyman's on Twitter recently. It was very revealing!

 

[Gong Farmer]

Doesn't NZ still irrigate a lot of wheat? And many areas have deep, deep well-structured soils that would be off the scale of our soil classification system.

 

[ajd132]

Talking about yield and pushing the envelope is great, but I'm more interested in the [sustainable] margin. YEN never boast about margin when they have big yields - have they reduced their margins by applying such massive inputs? Are they just buying all the extra yield?

@Clive posted a table of his osr margin vs the new UK record holder Tim Lammyman's on Twitter recently. It was very revealing!

I know I have been banging on about this a lot recently but I do think it is important!

 

[yellow belly]

It’s fine looking at those pushing the yield but back on the commercial farm we just need to identify and address the lowest limiting factor as explained to use in the 1980s at college

To grow 16 tonnes needs all the limiting factors eliminated soil water light can only be addressed by moving farm

Fertilise for the likely yield not the hoped yield
In any One year a high yield can be harvested without excessive fertiliser rates if yields are rising then reassess the yield expectation
We have had 10 to 12 tonne from 180 kg of n in the past when the soil had more in it

 

[Clive]

Talking about yield and pushing the envelope is great, but I'm more interested in the [sustainable] margin. YEN never boast about margin when they have big yields - have they reduced their margins by applying such massive inputs? Are they just buying all the extra yield?

@Clive posted a table of his osr margin vs the new UK record holder Tim Lammyman's on Twitter recently. It was very revealing!

I’ve just written an article for Direct Driller issue 5 based around that example

 

[Clive]

I know I have been banging on about this a lot recently but I do think it is important!

It’s actualy a big part of why Uk ag is the current basket case it is imo !

 

[Gong Farmer]

At a recent AHDB meeting an ADAS chap, to his credit, pointed out that the YEN project is not a trials exercise, it is only intended to raise questions to be later addressed in field trials.

Unfortunately many growers, and especially the media, aren't aware of or just won't accept this.

None of the info from YEN farms should be considered transferable to other farms. Replicated, multi-site, multi-year trials are needed for that.

 

[B'o'B]

@Farmer T here's your chance for another therapy session!