50 | Adapting to challenging times in arable farming Margins are tight with prices not keeping up with increasing risks facing growers. Kim Newth Mid Canterbury’s Eric Watson is one of the country’s most accomplished and experienced arable farmers. An optimist by nature, he nevertheless describes the past year as one of the toughest he can remember. “To be honest, the whole year from last harvest has been a shocker,” says Eric. “We had a wet autumn and a wet winter. Getting crop in the ground in autumn was a challenge. With the very wet winter, many arable farmers had to redrill areas of wheat. The very windy spring had a big effect on spring-sown crops like spinach. Cow salad looked like a good option for us last autumn but a nor ’wester was so strong at harvest in November that we lost half of it. Hail damage has been problematic for a lot of growers too, though we were fortunate to miss it.” Adding to the challenges, margins are tight with prices not keeping up with increasing risks facing growers. “We’re an under-recognised part of the farming industry in many ways, arable doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Yet we are a very vital part of that industry, especially here in Canterbury.” According to a report commissioned by the Arable Food Industry Council, in 2024 the arable industry produced 2.3 million tonnes of grains, maize silage and seeds with direct sales valued at $1.2 billion. Eric and Maxine bought their 490 hectare farm in 1992. They grow a wide range of crops including cereals, vegetable seeds, alternative pasture species, beans and grass seed varieties on their irrigated land along the Ashburton River. Eric is a renowned grower having twice secured the Guinness World Record for the highest-yielding wheat crop (in 2017 and 2020). Precision-farming techniques are deployed on the farm to get best results, including variable rate irrigation, auto steer machinery, autonozzle shutdowns on sprayer and fertiliser spreader, and intensive soil testing. “We have very good drying facilities too. These are vital to our operation. You can’t farm without them these days, with the changing weather patterns. You also have to make sure you invest in enough storage capacity as well, as the more grain you grow, the more storage you need.” Eric is adapting to the changing environments, both ecological and economic, as best he can. For example, ryecorn is being grown this year as a good hardy second cereal option – the added advantage is its good contract price, and he is always willing to try new crops. In his operation, Eric values the expertise of a number of very good people: a farm consultant, a plant pathologist from Lincoln University, and reps from Bayer and Yara, exploring ways to enhance yields. “I have also bought a bigger harvester this season - a new model Case, with another 30% capacity compared to our last one. It will enable us to get the harvest done more quickly, enabling us to ARABLE » Rangitata Holdings 1.99% FINANCE OVER 36 MONTHS cochranes.co.nz Talk to a Cochranes sales team near you. Blenheim - Amberley - Leeston - Ashburton - Timaru ˀˢ˟˟ˢˬ ʴ˚˥˜˖˨˟˧˨˥˘ ˜˦ ˣ˥ˢ˨˗ ˧ˢ ˦˨ˣˣˢ˥˧ ˅˔ˡ˚˜˧˔˧˔ ʻˢ˟˗˜ˡ˚˦ ʧʣʥ ˀʸˇʻˉʸˁ ʶʻʸ˅ˇˆʸˌ ˅˂ʴʷʟ ˀʸˇʻˉʸˁ ˯ ʣʦ ʦʣʥ lzʣʬlz ˯ ˊˊˊʡˀ˂ʿʿ˂ˌʴʺʡʶ˂ʡˁˍ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“I have also bought a bigger harvester this season - a new model Case, with another 30% capacity compared to our last one.” get the next crop in on time.” While farming is currently quite difficult for arable farmers in Canterbury, Eric is not about to give up. “I’m a reasonably positive person; I’ve been farming for a long time and am still very focussed on this industry.”
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