ATTRACTED by the high prices, Kangaroo Island producers Christine and Lloyd Berry have increased the area sown to broad beans to a third of their program.
The couple farm 1000ha, including 680 hectares of crop at Macgillivray, which also includes Impala biscuit wheat and canola, alongside a Merino flock.
They have made the switch to Karema broad beans, from Aquadulce, as the larger bean size is also expected to attract a premium. “Anything larger than 16 millimetres, we get nearly $1000 a tonne,” Mrs Berry said.
The Berrys also graze the bean stubbles, while any unsuitable beans are used for livestock feed on-farm.
“Beans are also good because of the nitrogen they leave behind for the next year’s crop,” Mrs Berry said.
She says their bean crop normally averages 1.8t/ha.
“But it should increase with a better season,” she said.
This year has been “nice and wet”, with 280mm of rain during the growing season, and 373mm for the year.
Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
