Dual-purpose crops now fit with many producer’s mixed-farming enterprises, and making the most of the available productivity was highlighted during the GRDC Farm Business Update held in Wagga Wagga recently.
The opportunities and risks associated with grazing dual-purpose winter crops are reasonably understood: however the complex economic value is now being addressed.
Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services, Geelong said the potential returns have typically been assessed by what he termed ‘simple economics’.
“But the reality is, when considered in a whole-farm context it doesn’t value the potential grain yield penalty,” he said.
“Nor does it capture the flow on effects.”
Mr Nicholson was referring to the higher condition of breeding animals after grazing which can have a huge bearing on their future performance.
“What does it actually mean 12 months down the track to put one condition score on ewes?” he mused.
“Increased wool cut and less supplementary feeding are hard to factor in but they have a value.”
One other value, what he calls ‘seasonal reality’: the opportunity to spell pastures if there has been a good autumn break and reduce the amount of significant supplementary feeding.
“To me, the reality and the volatility you get from year to year, the extra feed you get from your crops is worth gold,” he said. “But in a big year, with feed everywhere it is not worth as much.”
However, when Mr Nicholson surveyed farmers, their greatest response was the increase of pasture biomass, through being able to spell paddocks.
“The pastures are better, and that is a value we have to capture,” he said. “Also, the extra weight gained flows through to slightly higher lambing percentages and improved growth of young animals, has a value and all these flow on effects mean something especially during May to July.”
Supplementary feed reductions was a key saving that increased the livestock gross margins.
Increased wool cut and less supplementary feeding are hard to factor in but they have a value
- Cam Nicholson
Maximise grazing winter crop returns
Successful grazing of winter crops requires planning from the outset of the season to reduce crop yield losses and maximise livestock productivity.
The complexity of production dependent upon seasonal conditions, factoring in high or low grain or sheep and wool prices, makes it difficult to value winter crop grazing, according to Cam Nicholson, Nicon Rural Services, Geelong speaking during the GRDC Farm Business Update in Wagga Wagga.
“In a really good year, when things stack up, when livestock prices are good and crop prices are a bit low, so reduction in yield doesn’t cost as much, it is worth about ten percent,” he said.
“But in the worst year, you will actually lose money.”
There are actions which can be taken, however, to ease the loss, or even lift returns, according to Mr Nicholson.
“Sowing crops earlier saw yield increases that often outweighed the marginal yield declines from grazing and further provided feed earlier in the season,” he said.
“But high value animals, like twin-bearing ewes that made additional gains from grazing helped overcome the cost to crop yields.
“Shifting flocks to twin bearers is less risky than increasing flock size to capitalise on extra feed in season.”
