Level II Agricultural Business Operations

What is a crop rotation?........ is the practice of growing a series of

different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons..........

Developed by Charles “Turnip” Townshend in 18th Century

Based on Wheat, Turnips, Barley, Clover

Benefits◦ Nutrients◦ Organic matter◦ Pest Control◦ Disease control◦ Optimum use of land◦ Incorporate organic manures◦ Spread workload

Disadvantages◦ Soil Structure ◦ Machinery Requirements

Wheat after Break crop vs Wheat after Wheat

Choice of crop and variety

Management of crop

Marketing of crop

Is there a demand?◦ Price / Profitability◦ Ease of marketing

Is your land and climate suitable?◦ Soil type◦ Temperature, sunlight, precipitation

Do you have / can you plant a suitable mix of crops for a suitable rotation?◦ E.g. WOSR could be difficult without WB

Do you have the labour?◦ interest◦ expertise◦ seasonality of demand for labour

Do you have the machinery and buildings?◦ ownership◦ access

Is it in demand?Yes Is it high quality? Variety dependent. Is it high-yielding? Variety dependent. Does it require a high chemical input?

◦ disease resistance◦ pest resistance◦ competitiveness against weeds

Site◦ location (near/far)◦ soil type (light/heavy)◦ surrounding crops (e.g. maincrop potatoes/early

potatoes) Place in rotation

◦ diseases and pests◦ soil fertility and structure◦ timeliness

Seedbed preparation◦ pH◦ cultivations◦ tilth◦ compaction

Sowing◦ date◦ rate◦ depth

Seed rate, ok! Date, depth, tilth, compaction?

Fertilisers Nutrient Management Planning

◦Major Nutrients eg. N, P, K

◦Micronutrients

◦Use of organic manures

◦Yield & Profitability

◦Cost/benefit

◦Soil type

◦Previous cropping

◦Timing

Weed control◦ field History◦ competitiveness of crop/weeds◦ sowing date vs seed rate◦ previous cropping◦ cultivations◦ mechanical weeding◦ Herbicide mode of action

Disease control◦ Improve crop condition

◦ Varietal resistance

◦ Order of rotation

◦ Reducing need for chemical treatment

Wheat after Wheat?

Wheat after Maize?

Wheat after Barley?

OSR after Cabbage?

Volunteer Potatoes?

Wheat after Wheat? Take All

Wheat after Maize? Fusarium

Wheat after Barley? Take All

OSR after Cabbage? Club Root

Volunteer Potatoes? Blight

Pest control

◦ soil type◦ previous cropping◦ weather◦ crop growth and development◦ pest populations◦ chemicals (seed treatments, sprays, environment)

Rotation allows better utilisation of resources

◦ Labour

◦ Machinery

◦ Drying

◦ Storage

Spreading risk Meeting Specification

◦ moisture content◦ storage duration◦ end user◦ facilities

Storage◦ price◦ facilities

Contracts◦ quantity◦ quality◦ environmental standards◦ minimum price◦ bonuses

Open market◦ price volatility

Options

◦ insurance against price volatility

Pool marketing

◦ delegation of marketing decisions

Choice of crop and variety◦ Choose crop and variety to suit farm conditions◦ Chose crop to make best use of resources

Management of Crop◦ Plan rotation to reduce pests, weeds & diseases◦ Plan rotation to maximise nutritional benefit

Marketing of Crop◦ Choose crops with a ready market◦ Choose crops which spread risk◦ Use local / speciality markets