THE past year has been a roller-coaster for many farmers who were affected by the Pinery fire and harvest was always going to be a testing time.
Despite weed issues, croppers in the fire zone are experiencing above-average yields. Salter Springs farmer Michael Day started harvest in early November at his family property, Macaw Peak.
“It’s a late start this year. So far we’re seeing well above-average yields,” he said.
Mr Day farms 1300 hectares – including 400ha of leased land – with his parents Trevor and Helen. In addition to cropping, they run 1200 Merino ewes. Their first load of canola with a oil percentage of 47 was delivered to Roseworthy on November 10.
“We’re about 10 per cent through the cropping program and expecting an exceptionally late finish compared to recent years,” he said. “We’re hopeful for a six-tonne mark in the wheat, but we’re reaping on the fire ground and it is the best I’ve ever seen.
“We’re running nearly one month behind recent years, spray topping of legumes have only just been completed where last year most legumes had already been harvested,” Mr Day said.
The bushfire destroyed 240ha of their land last year, and Mr Day suffered burns to 55 per cent of his body fighting the blaze.
He said there were minor issues from the fire, but summer spraying on the burnt ground due to dust proved to be difficult.
“There was a lack of cover from the summer spraying before seeding without the ground cover,” he said.
“The plants are so strong because there wasn’t any moisture and were hard to kill, so high rates of herbicide were needed early on. But even then we struggled,” Mr Day said. The burnt paddocks were sprayed several times, but there were still issues.
“Early broadleaf spray was used on the wheat due to wild radish,” he said.
Crop varieties used on the property include Scepter, Mace and Trojan wheat, Samira beans, Stingray canola, Compass barley, Hurricane lentils and Mulgara oats. Seeding time is from April 25 onwards, and this year the wheat had more than 200 kilograms of urea applied. Mr Day said getting crop rotations right was important.
“It helps in ryegrass control and potential yield and nitrogen use,” he said.
“We rotate canola and two wheat varieties, or a legume, two wheat varieties, and a barley or another legume.”
The year included a total rainfall of 750 millimetres, with 15mm for November. Mr Day said the late November rain had little effect on the crops.
“This is the best outcome you can have following a bushfire,” he said.
