WHILE some of Scotland’s farmers have suffered torrential rain showers and subsequent flooding recently – yet again enjoying another ‘Scottish summer’ – those farming in parts of Western Australia were faced with the driest April, May and June on record, with only a little rain having fallen so far in the first week of July.
Western Australia as a whole has seen rainfall well below average and temperatures well above average, and as the winter season approaches, some of WA farmers have had to delay planting of crops or abandon the crop altogether.
On a recent trip down under, relatives Tony and Margo Sachse, who farm three hours north-east of Perth, in the Wheatbelt – an area highly suited to agriculture which sources nearly two thirds of the state’s wheat production, as well as wool production and lamb – are feeling a lot of uncertainty for this year’s growing season due to dry weather.
“Our total annual rainfall should be around 325mm but since 1970 it has been just under 300mm on average, each year. We were aware that the seasonal outlook for this year was likely to be dry so we knew that we had to be conservative with input costs, as yield expectations were not likely to be above average,” said Tony, whilst sowing was well under way at the beginning of May. 
Half-way through the month of July, having sown 80% of the crop programme, Tony said: “Some of the crop has germinated but we hope that with the rainfall we’ve had in this month so far, the rest will germinate ok but plant counts will likely be lower in places due to the very light and intermittent rainfall since sowing.”
Tony is the fourth generation to farm in Australia, alongside wife Margo, eldest son Ben, and two other full-time employees on the 30,000 acre unit which is home to a large arable enterprise and 3200 Merino breeding ewes. 
Younger children, Adam and Pheobe, have chosen to live, work and study in Perth.
Overtime the farm size has increased from 4800 acres in the 1970s to around 30,000 acres today, with the majority of the land owned and a small proportion leased. 

The Scottish Farmer:

Ben stands beside the farm’s huge sprayer to add scale to its sheer size

Tony commented that land in the Eastern Wheatbelt of WA is reasonable priced, with the better quality land in the low rainfall zone costing around $300 per acre (£235.08). Higher and medium rainfall land has been selling for up to $1500 (£910.80) per acre depending on locality, soil type and rainfall. 
However, the low rainfall zone land can provide good return on capital opportunities with modern soil conservation and moisture harvesting techniques. 
With some fields on the farm as big as 1000 acres, the Sachse family have the potential to grow a variety of crops and work a rotation of wheat, barley, oats, canola, lupins and legume/grass pasture. It’s oats that prove to be most resistant to the severe frost which can hit the area in August and September, but they can yield up to 3 tonne/ha. 
Milling oats are grown for export, with some feed oats grown as fodder for the ewe flock. Wheat is the biggest output as it grows best with low rainfall, being more drought tolerant. 
The bread-making wheat is generally of higher protein and grade, with last year’s yield in at 1.8 tonne/ha, which is still above average. Noodle wheat is also grown for export to Asian markets.
“The soils here are ancient and not that fertile compared to other parts of the world. Land varies from heavy clays to sandier loams, with some of the sandier, lighter soil having increased soil acidity at depth which is a problem,” commented Tony.
“Canola is more seasonal dependable but is much more costly to grow so on seasons like this one it is a higher risk and you do have to think carefully about putting it in the ground,” said Tony, pointing out that he has grown canola in only one in three years on average. 
In WA, both genetically modified canola and non-GM crop can be grown and delivered to separate segregation and markets. 
Sowing kicks off from early April and is hopefully completed by the end of May using a CAT 865C, an Ausplow Airseeder and Ausplow DBS planter. This uses the parallelogram and press wheel system to control depth of sowing, with a second shoot at the blade base for deeper granular fertiliser placement. 

The Scottish Farmer:

A liquid system allows for liquid fertilisers, trace elements and fungicides to be applied at sowing in furrow. 
Fields which are planted with wheat are pre-sprayed with herbicides such as trifluralin, diuron, metribuzin and trisulphuron for pre-emergent control of grass and broad leaf weeds. 
“Last year there was a high activity of aphids and we found we were virtually spraying the whole crop programme. Apart from the rotation of chemical groups for weed resistance, our pasture rotations definitely help, allowing less herbicide pressure,” said Tony. 
He added: “Some farmers without livestock opt for a chemical fallow for moisture retention and weed control. We value our livestock production system and have been able to maintain this over the years.”
It’s a similar state of affair to the UK, however, as Tony finds that all costs across the board are only increasing. 
“Per hectare, costs for an average wheat crop can be around $60 for chemicals, seed $15, fertilisers $60 and variable costs $50 to $70,” said Tony.
“I’m trying to get variable costs down as much as possible for the season. Both nitrogen and herbicide costs have been dropped by $20 per ha, while we’ve reduced a further $4 per in not applying fungicide in furrow. However, depending on how the season develops, the nitrogen and fungicide might need to be applied later. 
“Post emergent herbicide options remain for crop protection. 
“If you can get $240 per tonne at a farm price rate for your grain, then a yield of around 0.7 tonne would cover the variable costs, but, of course, the break even is higher than this, depending on the level of fixed costs. 
“Economies of scale can help the bottom line but drought years with large spraying programmes can be a concern too,” he added. 

The Scottish Farmer:

When you are miles from the farm steading, you need a rig like this to keep the seeding operation going with seed and fertiliser

The majority of grain grown sees a proportion kept for seed and fodder, while around 10,000 to 13,000 tonnes can be sold at a contract price to five or six exporters, with some milling wheat sold locally. 
Last year, the overall price for grain dropped but saw the best milling and noodle wheat sell for 4255 per tonne on farm, while lower protein wheat went for as low as £190 per tonne on farm. During 2016, oats had been selling well but last year dropped to below $200 and malting barley sold for $190-$200 per tonne. 
Over recent weeks, prices for both old and new crop have increased significantly providing pricing opportunities for those holding grain or with favourable seasonal conditions. 
Tony noted that in a dry season he might only sell 5000 to 6000 tonnes and in 2002 due to a severe drought, he produced as little as 500 tonnes. 
Precision farming is a route the Sachses have gone down as they strongly rely on the likes of soil testing, yield, biomass and topography mapping. They have been using an RTK system for almost 10 years now, with three base stations around the farmland used for sowing, harvesting and spreading. 
Inter row sowing, with RTK mapping down to 2cm, has become extremely important and works well with a full stubble retention system. Controlled traffic farming is a method they hope to introduce soon to increase yields, improving soil health and minimising compaction. 
It’s not just the arable enterprise that is taken into consideration as the sheep are a huge player in this family run business. 
Not only do they bring in extra income in terms of meat and wool, but they provide a rotation on the pasture and minimise crop inputs costs.
“The main flock younger Merino ewes are tupped with a Merino sire, while the older flock which are around five to six-years-old go to a traditional Suffolk or Australian White Suffolk.  Cross-breds lamb from April to May, while Merinos lamb later from June onwards.”
They’re fairly low maintenance as they survive on harvested stubbles and salt bush. Once the ewes have lambed, the outfits are manually fed with a mixture of 20% lupins and 80% feed oats.
Progeny is finished on the farm preferably on paddock pasture but otherwise using finishing fodder pellets in ad-lib feeders. Lambs mostly go direct to the slaughterhouse at 42kg liveweight or 19kg deadweight, selling for around $6.40 per kg dressed. 
Prices generally fall in August and September as more lambs come onto the market, with on farm prices below $100 per head. Older, larger frame ewes in good condition have been cashing in at $100 per head, with younger breeding ewes close to $150 to $200. 
“Merino wool has been quite strong recently with sales up to $2000 for a bale of wool which weights 180 to 190kg,” said Tony. 
Although the weather has caused real concern for a lot of farmers in this part of the world, there is still hope that with a reasonable, later winter and spring rainfall, some sort of result can be achieved. Tony says: “We are mostly exporting grain, wool and some sheep meat and do not receive any subsidies in Australia so poor seasons or marketing decisions can be costly. 
“However, with our produce being sustainable and of good quality, there is optimism for the future.”
He added: “If you’re happy living where you are and enjoy doing what you do, then that’s all that really matters.”
n Currently, £1 equals $0.61Aus.