Able to avoid frosts and the flooding that persecuted eastern states growers this Tammin WA grower prepares for consecutive record harvests following a stellar growing season
For thirty-one-year-old Western Australia farmer, Oscar York, it’s a matter of rolling up his sleeves ahead of what he predicts to be yet another record harvest on Anameka Farms at Tammin WA, following a remarkably strong finish to the growing season.
This record result for season 2022-23 is more remarkable as it’s coming of the back of last year when the York family, Oscar, his father Tony and uncle Simon harvested a record 30,000 tonnes of crop, averaging 2.8 tonnes/ha of wheat and 2.6 tonnes/ha of barley.
For harvest season 2022-23, Oscar York said an unprecedented run of no frost events at the end of the growing season had created ideal conditions for the crop to reach three tonnes to the hectare.
“For the last two months before harvest, the main thing we are wary of is frost. Our entire farm is susceptible to it, and we can experience catastrophic frost damage. This year, we have managed to get through without any frost events,” Oscar York declared.
“Even last year, when we still managed a record harvest, part of it was lost to frost.
Throughout 2022, the York’s sowed 11,500ha of crop and 3,500ha of sheep pasture for their self-replacing flock of 4,500 Merino ewes. The cropping area is split into 4,900ha of wheat, 3,300ha of barley, 1,100ha of canola, 1,300ha of field peas and 1,000ha of lupins.
“We have also had ideal seeding conditions,” Oscar continued.
“After a dry summer we had an early break in April and seeding was amazing. Everything went smoothly and we had 320 to 400 millimetres of rain across the farm at the right time.
“Since August, we’ve had more than 100 millimetres over most of the crop, which is unusual, but provides an ideal finish so we’re really excited for this harvest.”
Big harvest needs big machinery
To help meet labour demands of the operation, Anameka Farms employs four full time workers and a mechanic, plus an additional six to eight seasonal workers for harvest and at seeding.
It was the prospect of a second record harvest that prompted the York’s to boost their harvesting capacity by investing in two new John Deere X9 1000s with 15.2m (50ft) hinged draper fronts, to ensure crops are taken off quickly.
“Last year the 2021-22 harvest seemed to go on forever. We started in October and were still going in January, so it took about 11 weeks instead of the usual eight,” Oscar York explained.
We put in 600 hours each on two John Deere S680 headers with 13.7m (45ft) flex fronts, so we decided to sell one and buy two new John Deere X9s with 15.2m (50ft) hinged draper fronts, to give us extra capacity.”
The giant X9 harvesters feature a dual separator, faster unloading and wider headers to handle additional crop flow and will join the York’s stable of John Deere machinery including two 8R 370 Tractors, an 8335R and an 8430, as well as two 9570R Tractors.
Farm management unlocks record harvest
While the predicted record harvest will be a result of ideal weather conditions, and good farm management, the York’s have also sought efficiencies to maximise profitability and implemented more sustainable practices.
For example, to further grow production efficiency, the Yorks secure their supply of Morell lime from their own farms to manage pH and reduce soil acidity, with regular soil testing helping to identify areas that need to be dressed.
“We used to truck coastal lime in from three hours away, so we’ve cut out the freight costs by using our own Morell lime for the past two years, and the results are really promising. Some of our neighbours are doing it as well after finding some in their own paddocks,” Oscar added.
The York’s also believe adding sheep, peas and lupins to the crop rotation has also been beneficial.
“One of the biggest things for us to further reduce input costs has been our rotations with peas and lupins and adding sheep in the mix. A lot of our pasture is sown with the hard-seeded, deep rooted annual legume, biserrula, which fixes nitrogen for crop rotations and is suited for use on acid soils.
“So, this year we have 600 hectares sown with Biserrula, and that will set us up nicely for next year to plant wheat or canola, and not need as much fertiliser.” Oscar concluded.
John Deere X9 Series combine harvesters are available on wheels or tracks with Control Traffic Farming configurations. The X9 1000 grain tank can hold up to 14,800-litres, while the X9 1100 holds up to 16,200-litres.
Folding unloading augers with adjustable spouts are available for the X Series in 7.9, 8.7 or 9.4m lengths.
Follow the John Deere X9 1000 harvester under demonstration through the 2021-22 winter season last year when NSW growers had to contend with threatening weather. It was one of three machines under demonstration in grain regions across the country, prior to the model’s release for this season, see this link.
John Deere X9 Series Harvesters specs
