THERE is strong interest in growing poppies in SA, including within areas such as the South East, Riverland and Mallee, according to TPI Enterprises field officer Adam Ashby.
With this is mind, a crop walk and information day was held at Frances and Minimay, Vic, recently.
Attendees saw how poppies performed in the field at Louis Koch’s Tallageira Pastoral property at Minimay.
Mr Koch is hosting a MacKillop Farm Management Group trial, sown with the help of SARDI technical officer Ian Ludwig.
Mr Ashby also spoke at the Frances Hotel about the major agronomic considerations that growers should take into account when considering growing poppies on their farms.
“Paddock selection is key,” he said.
“Poppies don’t like acidic soils, so liming can be important.
“The ideal soil pH for poppies is between 5.8 to 6.5.”
While acidic soils can cause headaches, herbicide residues are another issue to keep in mind.
“Herbicide residues can be a major stumbling block when it comes to growing poppies, especially with trifluralin,” Mr Ashby said.
“Ideally, poppies will fit in as part of a crop rotation, with poppies grown in a certain paddock once every three to four years.”
Access to good quality water is important in terms of yields.
“Irrigation is recommended,” Mr Ashby said.
“While you can grow dryland poppies, water certainly ups the yields, doubling it in some cases.”
While poppies can be sown in either late autumn/winter or spring, Mr Ashby recommended the former as the optimum time for the SE, to avoid extreme temperatures in summer.
“Optimally, seed is sown at one kilogram a hectare, at a depth of five to 10 millimetres,” he said.
“Poppy seed is very small, so having a good seedbed to sow into is essential for good germination.”
Mr Ashby said poppy crops had been successfully sown with a number of different drill types, including disc and tyne airseeders, conventional disc and tyne drills and power harrows with airseeders attached.
Harvesting can be done with a regular combine, and modified forage harvesters with stripper fronts attached can also be used.
“TPI have developed a novel, patent-protected poppy harvester,” he said.
“The higher the alkaloid readings, the more you’re paid as a grower, so getting as little stubble as possible when harvesting is important. You’re trying to just take the tip off the flower.”
Poppies produce ingredients that go into a range of painkillers including Panadeine Forte.
TPI Enterprises is one of three licensed poppy processors in Australia, and the only Australian-owned company.
