It’s not that uncommon to still have some of last year’s grain in the silo at the start of harvest, but how about having next year’s crop in the ground before you’ve put the header away for the season?
While most Canterbury cropping farmers are pleased to be at or near the end of their grain harvest, one property in Ellesmere has already sown some of next year’s wheat crop. The early drilling at Paul and David Birkett’s is part of a research project aimed at finding new ways of increasing wheat yields, as Project Manager Rob Craigie from The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) explains.
“FAR and Plant & Food Research are working on a research programme called 20 tonnes by 2020. As the name suggests we are aiming to increase wheat yields, hopefully up to 20 tonnes per hectare by the year 2020. Sowing dates can have a big impact on wheat yields, so for the last couple of years we have run trials comparing early and traditional sowing dates.
“Results to date have shown that bringing the time of sowing forward to the end of March has either increased yields or been neutral in its effect. These new investigations into February and March planting will look at a range of factors including yield, cultivar choice, frost risk and crop management requirements in comparison to more standard April planting dates.”
At the Ellesmere, site a 7 hectare commercial paddock has been divided into three segments being sown in February, March and April, with the aim of carrying out in-depth studies on both small plots and a commercially sown crop. Nick Poole, FAR’s Director of Research and Extension, says the project represents the first in what is expected to be a series of major collaborative research programmes between FAR and Plant & Food Research.
“The project has already attracted much interest from within New Zealand and overseas, with agricultural companies looking to evaluate products in an environment where yields can top 15t/ha. We know that early sowing will not suit every property or rotation, but we believe it is important to fully evaluate these options.
“So while operating headers and drills at the same time might cause some logistical headaches, as with all things on farm, if the benefits are great enough systems will change!”
Note:
• Currently the average yield for wheat in New Zealand is around 9t/ha, while the world record, also grown in New Zealand, stands at 15.63 t/ha.
• In last season’s trials at the Ellesmere site the highest trial plot yields were almost 17t/ha, a new record for FAR small plot work.
• An in depth analysis of last season’s work in this area will be presented at FAR’s Regional Results meetings this April.
Early sowing for high yields
