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