HAY production and a focus on geographic risk management has become a Ngapala cropper's "insurance policy" to help mitigate frost damage and reduce weed competition.
Anthony Pfitzner farms about 2300 hectares at Ngapala, Farrell Flat and Coomandook and spreads his cropping rotation across the three properties.
"Ngapala is a reliable area and after last season, the most difficult years would have been 2006 and 2007," he said.
"But this year we are down on rainfall by about 100 millimetres, so cropping across three areas gives us options when things go wrong.
"Ngapala is supposed to be a 475mm annual rainfall area but so far, this year, we are only at 193mm."
To help combat seasonal risks, the Pfitzner family bought 1000ha at Coomandook in April.
"As the seasons continue to change and become more difficult to plan for, we decided to add diversity to our business," Mr Pfitzner said.
"By spreading geographic risk across the farms, it gives us an opportunity to set the farm up for the future."
About 350ha of barley, 300ha of dryland lucerne and 350ha of pasture have been sown at their Coomandook property.
Mr Pfitzner said so far, their venture south had been a "big learning curve".
"Coomandook has a mixture of soil types, including non-wetting sand and we are still learning about how to make the most out of soil-types down there," he said.
"But with help from locals, we are beginning to understand the landscape better."
He said because the areas had different sowing and harvesting periods, integrating the rotation at Coomandook was "doable".
"We sow towards the end of May to early June at Coomandook, which works well with Ngapala and Farrell Flat crops because we have finished sowing," he said.
"We begin harvest at Ngapala in about December, so we will harvest Coomandook crops in between cutting hay and Ngapala's harvest."
Increasing hay production has also become a part of Mr Pfitzners risk management strategy.
Initially, hay production began as a weed management tool but its role within the cropping rotation has increased, after five consecutive seasons of frost damage and increased ryegrass competition was causing a "headache".
"It's a crucial part of the cropping rotation. Last year we cut an extra 300ha of hay because of frost damage," Mr Pfitzner said.
"A paddock we know that is either dirty or prone to frost we will sow with oaten hay or a crop we know that can be cut for hay."
This year, he is growing about 330ha of oaten hay.
"We have also chosen to do that because of the dry year and the opportunity to benefit from a lack of supply," Mr Pfitzner said.
Commitment to hay paying off
THE export hay market has remained a priority for Ngapala graingrower Anthony Pfitzner for more than eight years because he believes it can provide long-term benefits.
Mr Pfitzner said the export hay market's reliability had meant the majority of his hay was committed to fulfilling export contracts.
"Despite the domestic market demand at the moment, we will continue to make our export hay contracts a priority because it provides stability in a tough season," he said.
"Its definitely a long-term risk strategy."
Mr Pfitzner also said the domestic market's volatility meant demand could fall away quickly, and therefore anyone growing hay needed contracts in place before committing to growing the crop.
"The key is to grow hay that will meet export specifications," he said.
"Domestic demand is high at the moment but as soon as it rains, it will fall away."
Despite domestic hay prices reaching about $350 a tonne to $400/t, Mr Pfitzner said a few seasons ago the local market was "non-existent".
"Three years ago we had an entire shed filled with hay with no home," he said.
"Hay is expensive to grow and has time constraints at harvest - you need to market hay efficiently to get a return that was worth the extra work."
Mr Pfiztner believed domestic hay prices would ease in the coming months as new-season hay hit the market.
