Searching out an alternative to potatoes
Searching out an alternative to potatoes
In our third article profiling farmers weeklys 1998
barometer farms, Charles Abel travels to Ross-on-Wye to
hear how a new high margin crop is being sought to exploit
favourable growing conditions
PRODUCTIVE soils, ample water for irrigation and a favourable climate mean added value crops drive the rotation for western barometer farmer Steven Mackintosh.
But plunging margins from crisping potatoes mean the heat is on to find a new alternative.
As arable manager, Mr Mackintosh looks after 859ha (2123 acres) for E C Drummond and Sons alongside the River Wye north and south of Ross-on-Wye. Cropping includes The Homme, a 218ha (539 acres) unit owned by Eric and Sanna Drummond, four contract management agreements and some rented land.
Potatoes, onions and sugar beet are the key crops, with 331ha (818 acres) of wheat grown for the farms broiler chickens. All wheat is first wheat, averaging 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre) last year. "With 8.5 million birds produced each year were still a net importer of feed wheat, so I dont think well be cutting back," comments Mr Mackintosh.
When he arrived at The Homme two years ago potatoes drove the rotation. But the plunging profitability of crisping potatoes means that is changing.
"We cant afford the risks we took this year. High rejection rates mean prices dont reflect the contract price and some buyers want washed crops from next year. That will cost us £10/t, but theyre offering no extra money."
Two years ago the farm grew 285ha (704 acres) of potatoes; this year it will grow 166ha (410 acres). The hunt is on to find an alternative high margin crop.
Spring and winter onions occupy 60ha (148 acres) but storage prevents further expansion. Last year summer cauliflowers were tried. They suit the rotation and farm workload, but over-supply meant slim margins.
"Its another high risk crop. Weve shelved it this year, but will try again next year, growing early and late crops and working with a neighbour who can pack on the harvester to reduce damage," says Mr Mackintosh.
While the hunt for other alternatives continues vining peas for seed will occupy the extra area this year.
Crop husbandry at E C Drummond follows a familiar pattern – good establishment and attention to detail. "Planting day is the most important day in a crops life, whatever the crop.
"Well pull extra labour in to ensure we get the best planting conditions possible. We can have up to 17 tractor drivers on the go, plus casual staff, so our men can do the establishment work and hired labour lifts and hauls root crops. I reckon weve added 0.5t/ha to wheat yields just by getting establishment right," says Mr Mackintosh, a former Velcourt farm manager.
Indeed, the existing 4m Amazone power harrow/drill is set for replacement. "At the moment high seed rates are needed to compensate for bunching. A more precise drill will allow us to cut seed rates by 10-15% and subsequent crop management will be much easier too."
Compaction is minimised by controlling wheelings throughout the rotation and all land is ploughed ahead of combinable crops to bury vegetable waste. A Lemken Terradisc cultivator follows, with a power harrow pass on headlands and after potatoes.
Wheat drilling starts on Sept 8. The aim is to complete all available land by the end of October. Winter onion sowing then takes over, followed by a return to wheat drilling after potato and beet lifting.
All crops are walked by Mr Mackintosh, who is BASIS and FACTS-qualified. "To keep on top of new developments we use Jeff Golding of Technicrop too. The company also supplies most of our chemical."
Outside expertise is also used for marketing. Gamber Produce of Ross sells all the potatoes and onions on commission. "I reckon theyre getting prices 7% higher than we could achieve ourselves," Mr Mackintosh says.
The drive to find a new high margin crop is heightened by very high fixed costs. Root planting and harvesting equipment, two grading lines, 3000t chilled box store and 1600 and 1200t potato and onion bulk stores soon erode the farms £1140/ha (£461/acre) average gross margin.
"Expansion is not the answer. Its a fine line between having the equipment to do the job and not having enough, forcing us to add to costs by using a contractor," says Mr Mackintosh.
"We need to look at making better use of our skilled labour, with training and more responsibility. A better fit between our equipment and the crops we grow will also help. But the key is to find another high margin crop to replace our falling potato area." *
Finding new high margin crops is the challenge for western barometer farmer Steven Mackintosh, who manages 859ha at Ross-on-Wye.
ECDRUMMOND&SON
• 859ha: 218ha owned, plus some rented land and four contract management agreements.
• Cropping: potatoes for packing (46-52t/ha), crisping (45t/ha), early and salad markets; sugar beet (59t/ha @ 16.6% sugar); spring and winter onions (34-42t/ha saleable); wheat (9.4t/ha); naked oats; oilseed rape; vining pea seed.
• Soils varyconsiderably, from silt to clay loam.
• 60m gall irrigation licences.
• Establishment key to yield.
WHEATWORRIES
Mild winter weather and flooding have put the pressure on at least 50ha of Mr Mackintoshs wheat. "We know were in an early area, but we had fields at GS30 before Christmas." To compound the problem some wheat stood under several foot of Wye flood water for five days. "Managing it is going to be tricky. Some was drilled in the first week of September at 250seeds/sqm and already has 8 tillers a plant. We need to lose several tillers, so Ill let the crop go hungry and hope some die. As soon as we can travel it will get 1.5l/ha of chlormequat plus additive, followed by 1.5l/ha at GS31."