74 | New Zealand’s highest-yielding grain trial Kelly Deeks In a first for the Rangitikei district, local grain growers Simon and Kate Nitschke of Arable Solutions in Marton have been awarded the Paul Baker Cup for New Zealand’s highest-yielding grain trial for the 2023 season. Simon and Kate planter their winning trial was planted on October 10 and harvested in early May, achieving a maize grain yield of 20.2 tonnes per hectare with the Pioneer brand P0937. “It was the biggest tonnage we’ve seen around here,” Simon says. Arable Solutions is no stranger to this 25-year-old national competition, or to high yielding crops, having won the regional cup three times. This season, everything came together perfectly for them to take out the national cup for the first time. “We think the cyclone on the East Coast and Northland growers affected by rain has contributed to our success in the Paul Baker Cup, but we like to think we could have won anyway because our grain yield was one tonne higher than the previous year.” And Arable Solutions was also affected by severe weather events. Simon had to buy in tracks for his combine harvester to allow it onto the wet crops at harvest time. “We had 100ha we couldn’t get on to, so without the new tracks we wouldn’t have achieved our highest ever maize grain yield or won the Paul Baker Cup.” Arable Solutions is a third-generation arable farming and contracting family business which has grown over the years into a large scale, fully integrated feed grain supply, storage, and transport company. RURAL SERVICES » Arable Solutions Farmer to farmer: Arable farmers share their award-winning tips for highest yield Ballance Agri-Nutrients customers Simon and Kate Nitschke of Arable Solutions in Marton have been awarded the Paul Baker Cup for the highest-yielding grain trial for the 2023 season. The winning trial was planted on October 10 and harvested in early May, achieving a maize grain yield of 20.2 tonnes per hectare with the Pioneer brand P0937. The competition has been running for 25 years, but this is the irst time the cup has been awarded within the Rangitīkei region. The long and challenging farming days and unsettled weather this season were made extra special by being able to celebrate the arable industry and the growing conditions of the Rangitīkei region with the Paul Baker Cup. Simon and Kate say attention to detail contributed to their success, and so did surrounding themselves with industry experts who could guide them and support them. “It’s important to use top quality products and not to cut corners,” Simon says. “Actyva S suited our crop demands, particularly for our on-farm grain strip trials, and having a mix of nutrients in each granule ensures a good spread. It is good value for money.” YaraMila Actyva S is a high-quality compound fertiliser. With high concentrations of the key macro-nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, Actyva S makes an ideal fertiliser for a range of horticulture, arable, and forage crops. The inclusion of sulphur, magnesium and three trace elements (boron, manganese, and zinc) help provide additional nutritional support for these crops. Ballance key account nutrient specialist for Whanganui/Upper Rangitīkei Amy Tomsett provided soil tests, crop nutrition advice, and back up support for Arable Solutions during this trial. She says Simon and Kate wanted high performance, high yields, and the best crops they could get. “Actyva S will help growers with all of these,” she says. “It’s a premium product, and a compound not a blend, so every granule has NPKS and trace elements available to the plant to make it grow.” Getting the most out of this season with reduced on-farm budgets is top of mind for many. Ballance is here to help with strategic advice on ways to manage costs and help drive productivity. When operating on a limited budget, prioritising the right nutrients in the right areas will help farmers to navigate the current period and mean their farms will be better placed to bounce back when things inevitably come right. Ballance recommends prioritising spend on the most productive areas on farm and those activities critical to protecting both revenue and farm system, and remember that applying some is better than none to protect long term soil health. Contact your local Ballance Horticulture and Arable Nutrient Specialist to chat about making the most out of your fertiliser spend this year. 0800 222 090 ballance.co.nz We’re here to help youmaximise yield and quality With its roots in barley and wheat, with Rangitikei town home to New Zealand’s largest malting factory Malt Europ, Arable Solutions followed the agriculture industry’s lead into maize grain about 10 years ago. “We’re now putting 10,000 tonnes through our silo complex every year, and 6500 tons of maize, and we’re getting better at it every year,” Simon says. “It’s exciting to be recognised as growing good quality grain for selling on, and doing it at that top end.” Arable Solutions is always looking to increase its yield and does everything properly, skimping on nothing even during tight times. Simon says it only takes one attribute to be skimped on out of a whole chain of attributes to produce a sub-par yield. “It’s important to use top quality products and not to cut corners. We used the high-quality compound fertiliser Actyva S which suited our crop demands, particularly for our on-farm grain strip trials. Having a mix of nutrients in each granule of Actyva S ensures a good spread and still provides good value for money.” The Pioneer brand P0937 proved to be a highyielding hybrid, well adapted to the Rangitikei and very defensive against northern leaf blight, which had impacted many crops last season. Arable Solutions’ Paul Baker Cup and their regional ManawatuRangitikei grain yield trophy were a welcome celebration after long and challenging days on the farm and unexpected weather patterns. “To be able to celebrate our industry and the growing conditions the Rangitikei offers makes this season extra special.” Arable Solutions is now putting 10,000 tonnes through their silo complex every year, and 6500 tons of maize.
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