We are a family farming operation, and have been on the same land since 1900. We started growing Rice in the early 1960s and have grown a crop every year since, until the 2006 drought. The next four years of water shortages meant we grew very little rice, if any. The Seasons have since recovered, but the Rice industry is now not the same. Much water has been sold out of the irrigation districts, and the economics of growing Rice for some have changed forever. We must continue to find ways of minimising costs and inputs, particulary water, as it is now our most precious and competerd for resource.
I farm with my wife Elizabeth, my sister and brother inlaw, Helen and Sean Collins. We are primarily an Irrigated cropping business, Rice being our main focus, we crop annualy up to 700 ha, we also have 600 ha under center pivot, dryland crop 4000 ha of cereals, operate 40 ha of stonefruit, and run 1600 Merino sheep for Wool and Fat lambs.
We also have 5 full time, very capable staff.
In the early 1990s, we started following Minimum Tillage in our dryland cropping. We now operate with a full RTK GPS system, use variable rate sowing, modified tynes for minimum soil disturbance, EM 38 soil surveys, Soil sample yealy, and measure our soil moisture profile before cropping. we have had significant yield increases, and reduced our crop inputs and costs by adopting these methods.
In 2006, when the drought hit, we were already looking at how to use the same technolgy in our irrigated cropping systems.
The Rice industry traditionally, sows pre soaked rice into flooded paddi to establish the crop. The 1st 6 weeks of establishment aere critical, with many of natures elements to overcome. Our soils are very soadic, and highly dispersable. water is easily sent cloudy with wind action, seed is moved and buried, cold weather reduces seedling vigour, pests attack, and the ducks can wipe out ares overnight. All that said, good growers with attention to detail, will alwys get the crop through.
By introducing Min Till to rice, we now sow dry seed into a dry paddi, then flush to germinate, followed by pre emergent herbicides. We may flush 4 times to establish the crop. This sytem has proven easy to, and to use less water, about 1 meg per ha, less chemicals. We can use our existing machinary to grow the crop.
About this time I was encouraged by some local Nuffield Scholars to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship.
I was accepted and sponsered by the Rice Industry, my topic being, Technology Changes in Rice Systems. The opertunity to travel the world looking at Rice systems, Technology, talk with Researchers and Farmers will be a great opertunity.
Accepting this scholarship, will undoubtedly put pressure on my Family and Staff, but I know they are very capable, and are just as passionate about farming Rice as I am, so I must thank them for thier support.
Immediately accepting our Scholarships, we attended a conference in Guelph Canada with other 2013 Scholars, some 60 of us from around the world. After the competion of the conference, we travelled USA, south Graet Lakes for two weeks visiting with researchers, farmers and businesses.
In Late april 2103, we travelled the world in a group of 8, again visiting researchers, businesses, and politicians, giving us an invaluable insight into world politics, relations and trade. We visted the Philippines, USA, China, Holland, France, and Ireland. From there I visited England, France and Italy over 12 weeks.
Now 7 months later, I leave at our busiest time, with our cropping season approaching, corn harvest half complete, and our Rice harvest about to start, to travel back to the USA, Uruguay, England, Italy and the Phillipines, in an effort to solve some of our cropping sytems problems.
Looking forward to the challenges of travel, and especialy seeing how other farmers deal with the challenges of everyday farming.
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