16 | No-till drilling core of arable operation Richard Knowler Manawatu arable farmer and contractor, Douglas Giles first became interested in no-till drilling in the mid-1990s, and upon leaving Massey University set up his own contracting business focusing on no-till drilling and planting. That passion for no-till drilling has progressively evolved into an arable cropping and cattle farming operation of his own. Douglas and Rebecca’s 85-hectare home farm is located at Ohakea, in Western Manawatu. Twenty years ago the couple bought some of the home farm from Douglas’ parents, and secured two long term lease blocks totalling 140 hectares, enabling a transition from 100% contracting to doing more of their own arable cropping. While one lease block is four kilometres away, along the banks of the Rangitikei River, the other is 20 kilometres away towards Palmerston North. “The land is all flat and quite good ground,” says Douglas. “It’s all heavy fine textured ground, where drainage is important. The river property is a bit dry to do a lot of reliable arable cropping on, though we’re growing some forage and arable crops on the best parts.” Initially Douglas tried to run a 100% crop system without any cattle, growing in the winter as well as summer crops, but found that in the Manawatu the winter crops weren’t reliable enough, and went into spring crops, with cattle over the winter period. In the spring, all the ground, except for some of the dry river ground will go into some form of combinable spring crop, including malting barley, maize silage, feed wheat, grass seed, and maybe some maize grain and seed oats. In the past seed peas have been grown. “I enjoy growing combinable crops, and particularly enjoy establishing them with no till. I like the idea of being able to continue with crops each year, without having to go through a medium term restorative pasture phase. “We have annual grass in the winter, but I don’t have to go back to permanent pasture to restore the ground. RURAL PEOPLE » Douglas Giles - Federated Farmers P 06 323 0255 M 027 928 8630 W farmworxbikes.co.nz • On Farm Service • New and Used Sales • Fully Equipped Workshop For all your ground spraying needs contact Graham on 027 4574 861 or 06 327 6774 The company with the specialised trucks “ A lot of the ground that I’m on now has been in crop for at least twenty years. The one closest to Palmerston North was in intensive cropping for a number of years before I got it, so we’ve been able to improve it through reduced cultivation.” While the contracting operation has reduced over the years, Douglas still drills or plants approximately 800 hectares annually. There is also a nearby harvesting business run in conjunction with Dalrymples Waitatapia Station. Cattle wise, nearly 400 R1’s and some R2’s are bought in each autumn, and at the present time there is about 530 R1 & R2 cattle on the farm. “Two thirds of those will be R1s, mostly dairy beef cross steers. About 250 yearlings will be sold store soon, with the balance retained to be next year’s R2s. They stay on the river ground where it is not the best for cropping, and will be leaving the farm in the next two to three months as prime cattle.” Looking to immediate on-farm goals Douglas says the first priority is to pay off debt, run a tidy system and tight ship. “I started with nothing and would’ve like to farm more land, however I don’t think that is going to happen. We have more than enough on our plate, and land has become so expensive.” Douglas has been a member of Federated Farmers for over twenty years and this year was elected as Arable Chairman for the Manawatu branch. “I’ve come on board to support Ian Strahan, our local president, and the good people around him, and help to connect with potential members who may be unhappy with how they are being represented. “Really, I’m still finding my feet in the role.” Douglas and Rebecca’s 85-hectare home farm is located at Ohakea, in Western Manawatu. Contractors providing maize planting and grass harvesting services to Douglas Giles & farmers throughout Manawatu. Dean Arnott Mob 0274 458 364 Em arnottag@gmail.com A G R I C U L T U R E DJ & RB
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