Ian Crawford

21 December 2001




Ian Crawford

Ian Crawford farms 570ha

(1425 acres) of rented

ground from Ashley Hall,

Altrincham, Cheshire,

growing crisping and

pre-pack potatoes, milling

wheat, oilseed rape and

beans. He also owns and

manages 2000ha (5000

acres) of mainly arable

land in Australia

THE combines are in the wheat with dust everywhere. As you have probably guessed, I am back in Australia.

Harvest progress has been slow due to the unusually cool weather – a very pleasant 20C (68F) instead of the 30C (86F) norm at this time of year. The odd light shower delayed things by about a week and as there isnt a grain dryer within 500 miles, patience is the watchword.

Until we get weight tickets back, it is difficult to determine what the final yield will be, but I estimate 3.1-3.7t/ha (25-30cwt/acre) for the noodle wheat which today is trading at A$300/t, about £108/t.

Since arriving here, we have received a steady stream of UK farming visitors. Some seriously looking at Australia as a future, some just inquisitive.

Without exception they ask: "You only get just over 1t/acre. How can that pay?" They cannot get their heads around the fact that Australia can produce wheat cheaper than the UK and in a global market cost/t is what it is all about.

We have just bought our first Australian machinery – a grain bin and a mobile auger.

The bin is a 45-50t circular mobile field bin with its own large discharge auger. Combines work round it emptying into the bin then the pocket road train fills up at one go from this. The 15m x 23cm (50ftx 9in) mobile grain auger is to fill the seed silos around the farm.

Our car hit a kangaroo the other night leaving everybody a little shaken but not hurt, which is more than I can say for the car. What a mess! I only hope the insurance will put things right.

Back in the UK, I am told the weather, like the demand for potatoes, is not good. Poor quality is still depressing prices, hopefully only for the short term. It is a long time until next seasons new crop and anything can happen with potato storage – and usually does.

Got to go because we cant keep the combines waiting. Happy Christmas. &#42

Harvest is in full swing in Australia, where wheat yields are about average, says Ian Crawford.


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